Para cross-country skier Wang wins 15th gold for host China

CHONGLI -- Para skier Wang Chenyang won the 15th gold for host China at the ongoing Beijing Winter Paralympics in the men's middle distance free technique standing here on Saturday.

Wang, 20, finished the 13km race in 33 minutes and 7.8 seconds, beating five-time Paralympic champion Benjamin Daviet of France by 1.3 seconds.

"I put in 120% effort today. It's my willpower that got me this medal. I am very, very happy for myself," said Wang, who didn't enter the top nine of the four events he had competed at PyeongChang 2018.

"I have been dreaming about it for six years. I was one of the first group of people to join the national team in the winter of 2015, right after Beijing won the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games," Wang said after the race. "My coach was telling me the gap between me and Daviet at every timing point. I was calculating in my mind to see where I can get those seconds back. "

32-year-old Daviet took the silver, and Wang's teammate Cai Jiayun, 21, came in third in 33:18.0.

"I didn't know I would be second, but I have no regrets because I gave everything I have inside, so that's fine," said Daviet, who was crowned in the sprint earlier in the ongoing Games.

"It was a bit difficult today because of the warmth and the snow, but my skis were OK," Daviet added.

Sharing the podium with his roommate Wang Chenyang, Cai said, "I am happy for him. I help him with daily things he can't do by himself while he shares with me his experience in international competitions. We help each other out all the time."

"I am the very person to have witnessed all the hard work he's been putting into training. He deserves the gold medal," the Paralympic debutant added.