China’s short track speed skating team delivered a strong performance at the ISU Short Track World Tour stop in Dordrecht, Netherlands, on Sunday, with Liu Shaoang earning two silver medals in the men’s 1,000-meter race and the men’s 5,000-meter relay. The results added to China’s momentum as the team secured full quota spots for all nine events at the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
The men’s 1,000-meter final began at a steady pace, with the field settling into rhythm through the opening three laps. Italy’s Pietro Sighel moved to the front on the fourth lap, while Liu Shaoang stayed close behind with the Republic of Korea’s Rim Jong-un following in third. The race grew more intense as the skaters increased their speed, and by the seventh lap Liu made a decisive move to overtake Sighel and take the lead.
The closing moments of the race saw a dramatic shift. Rim capitalised on a strong final lap to sprint past Liu and claim the gold medal with a time of 1:25.877. Liu finished less than two-tenths of a second behind, earning silver in 1:26.023. Sighel held on to secure the bronze medal and complete the podium lineup.
In the later session, Liu Shaoang returned to the ice for the men’s 5,000 meter relay, joining his brother Liu Shaolin along with Zhang Bohao and Lin Xiaojun. The Chinese team faced tough competition from Italy, Hungary and the host nation, the Netherlands. The relay unfolded with shifting leads as each team worked to maintain position through rapid exchanges and strategic pacing.
Lin Xiaojun skated the final leg for China and delivered an impressive late surge. His acceleration in the last two laps allowed China to edge past Italy and secure second place with a time of 6:48.724. The Netherlands won the event in 6:48.679, narrowly ahead of China by less than a tenth of a second. Italy finished in third to take the final podium position.
Beyond the individual and relay medals, the overall competition brought a significant achievement for the Chinese team. By the conclusion of the event, China had earned full qualification quotas for all nine short track events at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking an important milestone as preparations continue for Milano Cortina.
The final day also saw recognition for top performers from the broader World Cup season. Canada’s Steven Dubois topped the men’s overall standings, earning the Crystal Globe trophy, while fellow Canadian Kim Boutin claimed the women’s Crystal Globe for her consistent results throughout the season.
The strong showing in Dordrecht signals that China remains a major contender in short track speed skating, with athletes like Liu Shaoang continuing to showcase competitive form on the international stage.
