China break new ground in team pursuit speed skating at Milano Cortina 2026

In a significant milestone for Chinese speed skating, the team reached the semifinals of the men's team pursuit at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, marking a historic first since the event made its Olympic debut in 2006. Liu Hanbin, Wu Yu, and Li Wenhao clocked an impressive 3:41.66, securing a third-place finish in the quarterfinals.  

In their race, the Chinese team showcased remarkable consistency, ranking top three in lap speeds among all eight competing teams. Their final time edged out the traditionally dominant Dutch squad by 0.19 seconds. Italy, the United States, China, and the Netherlands all advanced to the semifinals.

Reflecting on their achievement, Li expressed a mix of surprise and expectation: "It's both unexpected and anticipated. We have the strength to compete for a top-three finish. From last year to this year, our overall level has been steadily improving. We've been training together for two or three months in preparation for the Olympics, and I believe we can skate even faster in the coming races."

The men's team pursuit semifinals are set to take place on Tuesday.