https://www.scmp.com/rss/508934/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com When Zhang Yuanyuan arrived in Norway to train as a cross-country skier for the Winter Olympics, not only had she never skied before, she had never seen snow. The 18-year-old from Sichuan province had trained to be a competitive kayaker until 2018, when she was selected by Chinese sports authorities to swap her paddle for skis, and sent to live in rural Norway, where she has since undergone intensive training. The goal: to compete as a biathlete – the Olympic event combining cross-country skiing... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3122184/norway-chinas-winter-olympics-gold-medal-factory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3122184/norway-chinas-winter-olympics-gold-medal-factory?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Feb 2021 07:45:18 +0000