Figuring out the future

No longer a world-class contender in events that were traditionally its strength, China's figure skating national program is bracing itself for a bleak Winter Olympic campaign in Italy, yet staying upbeat for the future beyond 2026.

With some of the team's accomplished veterans retiring after the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, Chinese figure skating launched a rebuild under new manager Yao Jia, who took over the once celebrated program last year, with its focus reset on honing the next-generation of skaters for the 2026 Games and beyond.

Filled by a group of fresh-faced youngsters with limited experience of the Grand Prix series, the Chinese squad is approaching the lead-up to Milan-Cortina 2026 with a pragmatic mindset as it tries to qualify as many skaters as possible for the Games through the 2025 world championships in March and the following Olympic qualifiers, knowing that, should they qualify, very few on its current roster boast medal-winning credentials.

Still, they won't give up pushing, even though they are starting from square one, having to qualify for next year's worlds.

"It's really hard for us (to achieve great international results) in the 2026 Olympic cycle, yet we are trying with a collective effort for the best possible outcome. We won't give up on the Milan-Cortina Games," manager Yao said during a recent open training session in Beijing.