China’s Sun Long has made a remarkable comeback, securing a silver medal in the men’s 1,000 meters short track speed skating event at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. This achievement came just two days after a disappointing performance in the mixed relay, where Team China narrowly missed out on a podium finish.
In an exhilarating Final A that showcased some of the world’s top talent, including Canada’s William Dandjinou and Jens van’t Wout from the Netherlands, Sun demonstrated remarkable composure and strategy. He patiently shadowed Dandjinou, a favorite to win, before making his move in the final lap alongside Van’t Wout. The race culminated in a thrilling finish, with Sun crossing the line in a mere 0.028 seconds behind Van’t Wout, who clocked a time of 1:24.537. Rim Jong-un of South Korea secured third place with a time of 1:24.611.
Sun’s emotional victory was a much-needed boost for the Chinese delegation, following the team’s earlier setback in the mixed 2,000m relay, where they finished fourth due to a mistake in the last lap. Reflecting on his journey, the 25-year-old athlete expressed his relief and joy while celebrating with his coach and teammates, emphasizing the importance of learning from setbacks and approaching competition with renewed confidence.
“I made a mistake in the mixed relay when I got impatient and lost control. So today I told myself to stay as calm as possible,” Sun remarked. His determination not only earned him a silver medal but also marked the China team’s first medal at the Milano-Cortina Games, following earlier disappointing performances.
Additionally, China’s Liu Shaoang put forth a strong effort in Final B, concluding in sixth overall, while Lin Xiaojun unfortunately did not advance to the semifinals, finishing 17th. The focus now shifts to Saturday, when Sun, Liu, and Lin will compete in the men’s 1,500m quarterfinals, with hopes of continuing their pursuit of gold. Sun’s silver serves not only as a personal victory but also as a promising signal for China in the ongoing Winter Olympics.