Chinese skeleton athlete Geng eyes Beijing 2022 Games

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Chinese skeleton competitor Geng Wenqiang is enjoying his first Olympic experience. The 22-year-old said he hopes this will be the first of many trips to the Games. He finished 13th in the men's final on Friday and hopes it is a springboard to a better showing on home soil when Beijing hosts the Games in 2022.

"Before I was selected into the national skeleton team, I was a track and field athlete. All of our training has taken place abroad since China doesn't have the facilities for this sport yet. I was 20 years old when I first tried skeleton," Geng said.

"Among the 20 athletes in the skeleton competition here, three Asians were qualified for the final. That is encouraging for competitors from Asia. The Chinese athlete is looking forward to having a good result at the Beijing Olympics in four years.”

Geng Wenqiang finishes 13th in skeleton in the men's final. /‍VCG Photo

"Four years from now, China will host the Winter Olympics. I will train harder so that I can be stronger in the competition. I hope I can put together a better performance four years from now," Geng said.

China’s bobsleigh team was established only after Beijing won the bid for hosting the 2022 Winter Games. In winter, the athletes were sent overseas for competition and training.

Geng said it is one of the reasons that Chinese athletes have improved so fast.

"I think more and more people in China will take up the sport, and I will spare no efforts in training and improving myself. After all, our country has set up such good conditions for us," Geng said.