https://www.scmp.com/rss/511688/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Eileen Gu was one of the stand-out stars of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Now she has captured the attention of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The 18-year-old, US-born freestyle skier and part-time model gained millions of fans around the world for her achievements at the Games, where she won two gold medals and one silver for China. But it was her obsession with Chinese food – dumplings and pies in particular – that bridged a cultural divide and transformed her into one of the biggest celebrities... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3173679/eileen-gus-love-chinese-pies-catches-president-xi-jinpings-attention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3173679/eileen-gus-love-chinese-pies-catches-president-xi-jinpings-attention?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Apr 2022 05:39:12 +0000 Hong Kong Winter Olympian Adrian Yung Hau-tseun will “cherish” his Beijing Games experience for the rest of his life – but less so his runs on the Yanqing slopes. “After the rather poor showing at the Olympics, I’m hungry to redeem myself and show Hong Kong that their faith is not misplaced,” said the 17-year-old alpine skier, who finished with DNFs in the giant slalom and slalom events last month. “I want to bring something back for [fans] to see. To show the world that Hong Kong skiing can be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3170838/winter-olympics-skier-adrian-yung-wants-repay-his-faithful-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3170838/winter-olympics-skier-adrian-yung-wants-repay-his-faithful-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:30:13 +0000 Three of Hong Kong’s most promising sportsmen have been admitted into the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) “Top Athletes Direct Admission Scheme”, the institution confirmed in a press release on Tuesday. Tennis player Coleman Wong Chak-lam, alpine skier Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen, and sailor Russell Williams Aylsworth will receive scholarships of HK$400,000 covering tuition fee waivers, living allowances, residential scholarships, and support for international exchange opportunities. HKU will also... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3170579/promising-hong-kong-athletes-coleman-wong-adrian-yung-and-russell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3170579/promising-hong-kong-athletes-coleman-wong-adrian-yung-and-russell?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Mar 2022 12:44:58 +0000 Defending champion China bagged the wheelchair curling gold at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics Winter Games on Saturday after defeating Sweden 8-3 at the National Aquatics Centre. On a day that saw 11 additional podium spots for China, including four gold medals, the country’s wheelchair curling team defended their title in spectacular style to take the game 8-3 after just seven ends. After China took an early lead, Sweden managed to capitalise on a mistake and level the scoring, but Haitao Wang... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3170234/winter-paralympics-canadian-skier-brian-mckeever-makes-history-16th?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3170234/winter-paralympics-canadian-skier-brian-mckeever-makes-history-16th?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Mar 2022 04:30:20 +0000 Liu Mengtao became the first Chinese Para biathlete to win three medals at a Winter Paralympic Games, after claiming the men’s individual sitting gold on Friday in spectacular fashion. Having previously taken gold in the middle distance and bronze in the sprint, the Paralympic debutant finished first in the 12.5km race in 38 minutes and 29.4 seconds without missing a single shot in the four rounds of prone shooting. Liu clinched gold ahead of Ukraine’s Taras Rad by 44.5 seconds. The 22-year-old,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3170170/winter-paralympics-liu-mengtao-becomes-chinas-first-para-biathlete-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3170170/winter-paralympics-liu-mengtao-becomes-chinas-first-para-biathlete-win?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Mar 2022 10:34:24 +0000 Ukraine’s Winter Paralympics delegation wept and pumped their fists in the air in defiance of Russia’s invasion of their homeland during a moment’s silence at the Athletes’ Village in Beijing on Thursday. On day 6 of the 2022 Games – which saw medal table leader China add one bronze in the alpine skiing event – Ukraine held a solemn ceremony to call for peace, and honour their fallen countrymen and women, during a break from training commitments as well as cross-country skiing and biathlon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169983/winter-paralympics-tearful-ukraine-team-pay-tribute-countrys-fallen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169983/winter-paralympics-tearful-ukraine-team-pay-tribute-countrys-fallen?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:28:44 +0000 Cross-country skiers ploughed through slushy snow wearing T-shirts on day five of the Beijing Winter Paralympics on Wednesday as spring-like weather pushed temperatures well above freezing. The warm spell caught some skiers off guard on the largely man-made snow at the Zhangjiakou cross-country event where six gold medals were up for grabs. Athletes in the Olympics last month at the same venue had battled blizzard conditions and a brutal wind chill, with some events postponed because of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169824/winter-paralympics-slushy-snow-and-t-shirts-athletes-feel-heat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169824/winter-paralympics-slushy-snow-and-t-shirts-athletes-feel-heat?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Mar 2022 08:55:52 +0000 A Ukrainian biathlete withdrew from a competition at the Beijing Paralympics after her father was captured by Russian troops. Anastasiia Laletina did not race in the biathlon middle distance sitting event Tuesday after she heard her father, a soldier in the Ukrainian army was taken prisoner by Russian soldiers, team spokeswoman Nataliia Harach confirmed to USA Today on Tuesday. “They beat him,” Harach said. Laletina, 19, was tended to by a team doctor, Harach said. According to her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169763/ukraine-invasion-paralympian-withdraws-beijing-games-after-father?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169763/ukraine-invasion-paralympian-withdraws-beijing-games-after-father?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Mar 2022 01:28:05 +0000 Chinese Para biathletes Liu Zixu and Guo Yujie won the country’s first gold medals of the Beijing Winter Paralympics in the men’s sprint sitting and women’s sprint standing, respectively, on Saturday. The hosts got off to a super start on day one of the Games, shooting to second in the overall medal table with eight – two gold, three silver and three bronze medals. A much fired-up Ukraine leads the tally with three golds. Aside from Liu and Guo’s golds, teammates Shan Yilin won silver in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169360/winter-paralympics-china-wins-first-gold-thanks-biathlete-liu-zixu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169360/winter-paralympics-china-wins-first-gold-thanks-biathlete-liu-zixu?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Mar 2022 04:35:29 +0000 Team USA Nordic skier Grace Miller is tipped for a breakout performance in what will already be her second Winter Paralympics. The 22-year-old has been excitedly posting Beijing Games titbits on her social media, giving fans a glimpse of slick national team outfits, athlete’s village “smart” beds and 24/7 food supplies- but competing in the mainland holds a much deeper meaning. Born without a left forearm in Guangzhou, Miller was adopted by a single American mother at the age of three. She would... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169197/beijing-paralympics-grace-miller-china-born-us-cross-country-skier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169197/beijing-paralympics-grace-miller-china-born-us-cross-country-skier?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Mar 2022 04:15:13 +0000 Chinese Olympic freestyle skiing stars Xu Mengtao and Wang Xindi announced their relationship via social media last week. Legendary aerial skier Xu, who in Zhangjiakou this month became the first Chinese woman to win an Olympic gold medal in her discipline, has been posting a series of couple photos on Instagram with Wang with the Chinese caption “us” alongside a heart emoji. The 31-year-old posted nine more on Weibo of the pair after various events at the Chang Cheng Ling Ski Resort with the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3168613/winter-olympics-gold-and-silver-medallist-skiers-xu-mengtao-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3168613/winter-olympics-gold-and-silver-medallist-skiers-xu-mengtao-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Feb 2022 01:30:27 +0000 Hong Kong is sending a four-member squad including two Winter Olympians to try to win a first medal at the Asian Alpine Ski Championships, which start in Mzaar, Lebanon on Thursday. Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen and Audrey King, who represented the city at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics last week, will be joined by two young skiers – Chloe Wong and Eloise King, Audrey’s cousin. Hong Kong has never won a medal at the regional championships, with the best result a podium finish in a children’s event,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3168061/hong-kong-pair-hope-put-winter-olympics-disappointment-behind-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3168061/hong-kong-pair-hope-put-winter-olympics-disappointment-behind-them?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Feb 2022 07:15:11 +0000 Eileen Gu is going to Stanford this year, that much is clear. But beyond that, the three-time Olympic medallist is keeping her cards close to her chest, for now anyway. The 18-year-old leaves the Beijing Winter Olympics a bona fide star, a household name in China, and someone who has the world in the palm of her hand. After her historic two golds and one silver at Beijing 2022, California-born Gu now looks ready to slide from the Olympic podium into being one of China’s biggest stars. Her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167969/eileen-gu-had-best-two-weeks-my-life-whats-next-golden-girl-stanford?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167969/eileen-gu-had-best-two-weeks-my-life-whats-next-golden-girl-stanford?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Feb 2022 12:15:24 +0000 Hong Kong’s Winter Olympic delegation will not attend the closing ceremony in Beijing on Sunday night, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (SF&OC) said. Its record-breaking three athletes – short-track speed skater Sidney Chu, and Alpine skiers Audrey King and Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen – alongside coaches and remaining representatives have already left the “closed-loop bubble” Beijing 2022 organisers created over Covid-19 concerns. “As the three athletes from the Hong Kong, China delegation... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167726/winter-olympics-hong-kong-squad-miss-closing-ceremony-olympic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167726/winter-olympics-hong-kong-squad-miss-closing-ceremony-olympic?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Feb 2022 07:19:07 +0000 American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin will leave the Beijing Olympics without a medal, but Johannes Strolz won his third as Austria beat Germany in the mixed team parallel final on Sunday in Yanqing. Strolz, winner of the men’s alpine combined and silver medallist in the slalom, was part of a winning Austrian quartet that also included Katharina Liensberger, Katharina Truppe and Stefan Brennsteiner. It caps a remarkable comeback for Strolz, who went back to traffic police duties and even trained... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167719/winter-olympics-mikaela-shiffrin-ends-beijing-campaign-without-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167719/winter-olympics-mikaela-shiffrin-ends-beijing-campaign-without-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Feb 2022 05:08:08 +0000 Eileen Gu was primed to be China’s golden girl at Beijing 2022 and she played her part to the full on Friday. If the 18-year-old wasn’t a global superstar who transcends sport before the Games, she most certainly is now after winning a second gold medal on her Winter Olympics debut. Even before the competition was over, Gu had gold in the bag in the women’s freeski half-pipe, with no athlete able to challenge her stellar 95.5 in the second run at the Genting Snow Park. While the rest of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167575/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-fulfils-her-role-chinas-golden-girl-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167575/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-fulfils-her-role-chinas-golden-girl-after?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Feb 2022 09:41:34 +0000 Hong Kong Olympic short-track speed skater Sidney Chu shared his delight and relief after learning of the government’s plans to build its first international standard ice skating rink. Following Team Hong Kong’s last competition at the Beijing Games, chef de mission Karl Kwok Chi-leung revealed plans for a rink in Pak Shek, Tai Po while also boasting the Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee’s “communication with relevant ice and snow project leaders” in China. Though there is no... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167455/winter-olympics-hong-kongs-plans-top-class-ice-rink-gift-and-leap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167455/winter-olympics-hong-kongs-plans-top-class-ice-rink-gift-and-leap?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Feb 2022 00:15:23 +0000 Eileen Gu has become the face of the Beijing Olympics but she thinks her grandmother will be “unfazed and unimpressed” by the attention when she watches her Californian-born granddaughter compete for China on Friday. Gu effortlessly topped freeski half-pipe qualification on Thursday and will compete in the final in front of her Chinese grandmother for the first time as she chases her third medal of the Games. The 18-year-old, who in 2019 switched from representing the US to China, has already... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167376/winter-olympics-eileen-gus-chasing-more-gold-expects-chinese-granny-ask?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167376/winter-olympics-eileen-gus-chasing-more-gold-expects-chinese-granny-ask?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:30:30 +0000 Qi Guangpu completed a Chinese freestyle skiing aerials double when he impressively won the men’s individual gold on Wednesday, two days after compatriot Xu Mengtao won the women’s event. China’s record seventh title of the Beijing Winter Olympics, though, failed to spark an expected gold rush on day 12 after the short-track speed skaters were unable to make their favoured status count in the finals. Mixed team gold medallists Ren Ziwei and Wu Dajing, along with Sun Long and Li Wenlong finished... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167317/winter-olympics-chinas-qi-guangpu-finally-breaks-through-gold-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167317/winter-olympics-chinas-qi-guangpu-finally-breaks-through-gold-his?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Feb 2022 14:12:56 +0000 Hong Kong’s Beijing Winter Olympics chef de mission is confident the performances of his record-breaking athletes will improve integration with “our motherland” and “bring positive momentum” to local ice and snow sports projects. Teasing a proposed ice rink to be built in Tai Po, Kark Kwok Chi-leung was proud of Hong Kong’s winter sports “breakthrough” as short-track speed skater Sidney Chu and Alpine skiers Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen and Audrey King wrapped up competitions this week. But the trio... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167268/winter-olympics-hong-kong-can-take-advantage-chinas-winter-sports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167268/winter-olympics-hong-kong-can-take-advantage-chinas-winter-sports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Feb 2022 09:36:24 +0000 Hong Kong Alpine skier Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen wanted to “turn back time” after failing to complete his men’s slalom run on Wednesday morning. The 17-year-old could not complete his run at what looked a more forgiving Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre, with all involved happy to see the back of last Sunday’s heavy snowfall. Yung, who caps Hong Kong’s biggest Winter Olympics athlete delegation campaign, missed one of the early gates while attempting to switch gears. He appeared to save it but... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167221/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-adrian-yung-devastated-after-mens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167221/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-adrian-yung-devastated-after-mens?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Feb 2022 04:55:49 +0000 If Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said before the Beijing Games that he expected it to “change the face of winter sports”, then Su Yiming and Eileen Gu have laid claim to that challenge. The Chinese teenagers bagged their second medals of the Games on Tuesday, and each now possesses one gold and one silver. For the host nation at least they represent a Winter Olympics that is already the country’s most successful ever. Su’s gold was China’s sixth so far; the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167177/winter-olympics-su-yiming-and-eileen-gu-changing-face-sport-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167177/winter-olympics-su-yiming-and-eileen-gu-changing-face-sport-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:34:55 +0000 Hong Kong Alpine skier Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen will be hoping to shake off the nerves from his debut outing last weekend in time for his men’s slalom run on Wednesday morning. The 17-year-old was disappointed not to have completed his men’s giant slalom run at a frigid Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre on Sunday. Capping the record-breaking Hong Kong delegation’s last event of the Games, the discipline’s youngest entrant still eyes his “top 50” goal set from his Bosnia training camp last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167148/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-adrian-yung-expects-better-slalom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3167148/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-adrian-yung-expects-better-slalom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Feb 2022 11:42:45 +0000 When Eileen Gu landed a stunning double cork 1620 to win the gold medal in the women’s big air skiing competition for China at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the reaction in China was so jubilant that people crashed Weibo when they rushed to celebrate online. The social media platform was inundated with people searching her name to praise and congratulate the champion. Never has a professional skier ever scaled such heights of stardom in China. The poster child – a world champion, fashion... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3167128/will-eileen-gu-superstardom-create?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3167128/will-eileen-gu-superstardom-create?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Feb 2022 10:30:14 +0000 Chinese national cross-country team manager Zhang Bei hopes their best-ever Winter Games outing will have a “profound impact” on the country’s future in the sport. Though they are still far from podium contention, China’s 10th-placed finish in the women’s 4x5km relay is considered a serious achievement in the discipline which, like most, are dominated by Norway, Sweden and Russia. China are fielding a record 11 athletes across cross-country events at the Zhangjiakou National Cross-Country Skiing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167133/winter-olympics-chinas-cross-country-progress-ignite-new-generation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167133/winter-olympics-chinas-cross-country-progress-ignite-new-generation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Feb 2022 10:24:52 +0000 China’s freestyle skiing superstar Eileen Gu amazed crowds once again in Tuesday’s slopestyle final, taking home the silver medal after nailing her last run with a grand score of 86.23. She was only 0.33 of a point behind gold medal winner Mathilde Gremaud, of Austria. Gu made sure she kept the crowd on the edge of their seats after two low-scoring first runs, including a fall, left her out of the top three. Her final run was her last chance to impress judges and be among the medals – and she... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167108/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-bounces-back-fall-win-slopestyle-silver-ive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167108/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-bounces-back-fall-win-slopestyle-silver-ive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Feb 2022 08:31:46 +0000 China’s Xu Mengtao finally claimed Beijing Winter Olympics gold when she triumphed in a dramatic final of the freestyle skiing women’s aerials on home snow in Zhangjiakou on Monday, producing a spectacular jump as most of her main rivals faltered. “I am number one. We have won. I have finally won at home,” Xu shouted with the Chinese flag draped around her. She shed tears of joy as she received the ceremonial doll on the podium, with staff at the Games yelling “Xu Mengtao, you are the best !” as... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167031/winter-olympics-tearful-xu-mengtao-takes-chinas-gold-tally-five-kaillie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167031/winter-olympics-tearful-xu-mengtao-takes-chinas-gold-tally-five-kaillie?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Feb 2022 13:51:41 +0000 Eileen Gu, Su Yiming, Xu Mengtao, if you’re a fan of big air then day 10 at the Beijing Games has been one for you, with some of the biggest names in the business in action on Monday. Xu has won the host nation’s fifth gold in the women’s aerials this evening, and Gu will be looking to win hers in tomorrow’s final of the freeski slopestyle after safely securing her spot during the qualification run this morning. There were some nervy moments for the fan favourite, who said qualifying was "way... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166892/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-and-su-yiming-begin-bids-second-medal-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166892/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-and-su-yiming-begin-bids-second-medal-first?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Feb 2022 01:29:21 +0000 Day 10 of the Winter Olympics will see a jumbled-up schedule, with Sunday’s freeski slopestyle and women’s aerials rescheduled because of bad weather. However, this also means that fan favourites and good friends Eileen Gu and Su Yiming will be competing on the same day. As the Games edge well into their second week, some familiar sports will be wrapping up with medal rounds on Monday, with the snowboard big air kicking off with men’s and women’s qualification rounds. Chinese ice dancers Wang... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166904/winter-olympics-five-things-watch-day-10-eileen-gu-and-su-yiming-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166904/winter-olympics-five-things-watch-day-10-eileen-gu-and-su-yiming-back?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Feb 2022 23:00:32 +0000 Hong Kong alpine skier Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen struggled in the first of his two Beijing Winter Olympics events on Sunday morning. The 17-year-old crashed out early in his men’s giant slalom run in poor sub-zero conditions at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre, finishing with a DNF. Visibility and navigation became increasingly unfavourable for athletes tackling the 46-turn piste, with 34 of the 89 competitors failing to complete their runs after slipping or crashing at various... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166857/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-adrian-yung-unable-control-nerves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166857/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-adrian-yung-unable-control-nerves?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Feb 2022 04:54:32 +0000 Alpine skier Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen is living a dream he never thought would come true so soon. The 17-year-old is considered Hong Kong’s best men’s ski prospect after becoming the city’s only athlete to meet the Games’ minimum standard in the slalom and giant slalom events. He is Hong Kong’s first-ever male skier at a Games and one of three athletes from the city to take part in the Beijing Winter Olympics. “I was staring at my phone quite a bit in disbelief. It’s only recently that it’s sunk... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166810/beijing-winter-olympics-adrian-yung-hong-kongs-17-year-old-alpine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166810/beijing-winter-olympics-adrian-yung-hong-kongs-17-year-old-alpine?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Feb 2022 00:15:19 +0000 Alpine skier Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen has been quietly working on his craft as he prepares to close out Hong Kong’s record-breaking Beijing Winter Olympic delegation. The 17-year-old competes in two events – the men’s giant slalom on Sunday, and the men’s slalom on February 16 – following on from teammate Audrey King and short-track speed skater Sidney Chu earlier in the week. Finally seeing the back of the team’s Covid-19 quarantine dramas upon arrival from Bosnia two weeks ago, Yung and head... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166809/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-adrian-yung-eyes-top-50-spot-slalom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166809/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-adrian-yung-eyes-top-50-spot-slalom?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Feb 2022 08:46:23 +0000 Showered with internet-breaking love in China, gold medallist Eileen Gu has been met with an onslaught of criticism from the other side of the world for her decision to represent China and not the United States, where she was born and raised. When she took home gold on Tuesday in the freeski big air competition, her already-exploding Weibo presence crashed the platform temporarily as fans flooded it with celebratory messages. At the opposite end, the 18-year-old has been bombarded with questions... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166731/winter-olympics-top-times-eileen-gu-has-owned-her-critics-olympic-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166731/winter-olympics-top-times-eileen-gu-has-owned-her-critics-olympic-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Feb 2022 11:00:23 +0000 Five female competitors were disqualified from the mixed team ski jump final at the Beijing Winter Olympics over uniform violations. Their jumpsuits were deemed too large, which could give a skier a leg up during the event, according to multiple reports. The skiers disqualified from the Monday competition include Sara Takanashi of Japan, Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria, Katharina Althaus of Germany, and Anna Odine Stroem and Silje Opseth of Norway. “We were looking forward to the second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166454/winter-olympics-five-female-skiers-disqualified-final-because-jumpsuits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166454/winter-olympics-five-female-skiers-disqualified-final-because-jumpsuits?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 16:12:09 +0000 China’s Ren Ziwei’s chances of a third gold medal in the short-track speedskating disappeared with one push on Wednesday night, after he was disqualified from his 1,500m semi-final for blocking Kazakhstan’s Adil Galiakhmetov. The day began with disappointment, and tears too, for Hong Kong skier Audrey King, who crashed out on her Winter Olympics debut in the women’s slalom. King was in good company though, gold-medal favourite Mikaela Shiffrin failed to finish her first run for the second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166444/winter-olympics-chinas-ren-ziwei-pushes-away-chance-third-short-track?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166444/winter-olympics-chinas-ren-ziwei-pushes-away-chance-third-short-track?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 14:46:02 +0000 Chinese netizens have found a new target for their affections, the love-filled friendship between Winter Olympians Eileen Gu and Su Yiming. The pair’s close relationship became one of the top trending topics on social media platform Weibo, after gold-medal winner Gu posted about the friendship online on Wednesday. Gu shared a nostalgic photo of her and Su standing with their snowboards and ski gear, noting that they had “come so far” since training together as children. The freestyle skier... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166414/winter-olympics-chinese-netizens-gush-over-friendship-between-golden?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166414/winter-olympics-chinese-netizens-gush-over-friendship-between-golden?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:30:15 +0000 US broadcaster NBC has come under fire for what many viewers believed was insensitive commentary after American skier and gold medal favourite Mikaela Shiffrin failed to finish her first slalom run at the Beijing Winter Olympics – drawing parallels with the mental health problems suffered by gymnast Simone Biles at the Tokyo Games. “What a mistake. What a disappointment. This will live in infamy for the rest of time,” an announcer reportedly said after two-time Olympic gold medallist and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166383/winter-olympics-viewers-slam-nbc-over-mikaela-shiffrin-commentary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166383/winter-olympics-viewers-slam-nbc-over-mikaela-shiffrin-commentary?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:39:49 +0000 Birk Ruud led from the start to win Beijing Olympic gold in style in the men’s freeski Big Air on Wednesday - even carrying a Norwegian flag in his hand for his third run. A day after China’s Eileen Gu needed a stunning final jump to land gold in the women’s event, Ruud dominated the men’s field from the opening round. The 21-year-old landed a stunning opening leap of five and a half rotations for a near-perfect score of 95.75 points. “I have had this as a goal since I was 13 or 14 years old,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166367/winter-olympics-birk-ruud-flies-flag-norway-and-remembers-late-dad-big?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166367/winter-olympics-birk-ruud-flies-flag-norway-and-remembers-late-dad-big?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:04:47 +0000 Alpine skier Audrey King was left bitterly disappointed after failing to complete her women’s slalom run right at the death on Wednesday morning. The 19-year-old came out of the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre blocks fast, finding her rhythm and hitting designated flags until narrowly missing her final exit. Shaking her head with the knowledge she would finish with a Did Not Finish (DNF), King was visibly upset when talking to local media afterwards. Though it was not enough to qualify... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166347/winter-olympics-tearful-audrey-king-proud-disappointed-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166347/winter-olympics-tearful-audrey-king-proud-disappointed-after?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 04:55:32 +0000 Audrey King is first up for Hong Kong’s record-breaking Winter Olympics delegation – and she is blocking all distractions out as she applies the finishing touches to her preparations for Wednesday’s women’s slalom event on Wednesday. The 19-year-old finally got in some socially distanced slope time at Beijing’s Yanqing National Alpine Ski Centre this week, after coming through a Covid-19 scare last weekend. Subject to a mandatory PCR test six hours before her event, she is set to make her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166266/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-audrey-king-fully-focused-slalom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166266/winter-olympics-hong-kong-skier-audrey-king-fully-focused-slalom?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 00:15:17 +0000 Day 4 of the Olympics provided more golden glory for China, with teen sensation Eileen Gu taking home her first Winter Olympics title in freestyle skiing big air. Now it’s time for Hong Kong to make its bow in Beijing, with skier Audrey King making her Olympic debut in the slalom on Wednesday. Elsewhere, US snowboarding legend Shaun White – who has announced he will retire after these Games – will be hoping for one final hurrah in the half-pipe. You can also expect some fierce competition in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166306/winter-olympics-five-things-watch-day-5-hong-kong-finally-joins-fray?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166306/winter-olympics-five-things-watch-day-5-hong-kong-finally-joins-fray?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:00:16 +0000 Eileen Gu melted hearts and crashed the internet after winning her first Winter Olympics gold on Tuesday, and even questions over her nationality and Peng Shuai’s surprise appearance in the crowd failed to overshadow the occasion. The teenager stormed to victory in the freeski big air competition, nailing an improbable double cork 1620 on her final run to earn a 94.5 and take the lead from France’s Tess Ledeux. Such was the influence of Gu’s performance on the day’s proceedings that it outshone... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166300/winter-olympics-eileen-gus-gold-medal-display-melts-hearts-and-crashes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166300/winter-olympics-eileen-gus-gold-medal-display-melts-hearts-and-crashes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 14:51:00 +0000 Chinese fans are still basking in star freeskier Eileen Gu’s glorious Beijing Winter Games gold medal – and the big air is not even considered her strongest event. The US-born 18-year-old, who landed her first left double cork 1620 on the way to winning the Olympics’ inaugural big air event on Tuesday, has been touted as a heavy favourite in the half-pipe event from February 17 to 18. Gu should also contend for a podium finish in the slopestyle on February 13 and 14, meaning she could leave... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166251/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-broke-chinese-social-media-big-air-gold-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166251/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-broke-chinese-social-media-big-air-gold-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 12:15:22 +0000 China’s “Golden Girl” Eileen Gu has jumped to the defence of embattled figure skater Zhu Yi, who has faced online abuse over her disappointing performance at the Winter Olympics. Zhu, who like her gold-medal winning teammate is Chinese-American, fell several times in the space of two days while performing in the short programme mixed team event. The figure skater left the ice in tears both times and has since been subjected to bullying over her performances, with some suggesting family influence... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166263/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-jumps-defence-really-amazing-figure-skater?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166263/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-jumps-defence-really-amazing-figure-skater?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 10:23:48 +0000 A highly emotional Eileen Gu said she was “so honoured” to have won Winter Olympic gold for China on Tuesday, and hailed the unifying power of sport and the support she had from her US rivals. It was the first gold that China has won on snow this Games, and the Beijing municipal government congratulated “Beijing athlete Eileen Gu” for winning “a precious gold medal for Chinese sports”. The teenager stormed to a first Olympic title of her career in the freeski big air competition, nailing an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166221/winter-olympics-chinas-eileen-gu-so-honoured-win-gold-says-games-force?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166221/winter-olympics-chinas-eileen-gu-so-honoured-win-gold-says-games-force?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 05:45:07 +0000 As one of the most recognisable winter sports, skiing will ring a familiar bell for many fans watching the Beijing 2022 Games, who may enjoy hitting the slopes on holiday. However, when it comes to competitive skiing, the sport is a whole different ball game. There are seven skiing events at the Winter Olympics, from classics that have been featured since the first Winter Games to contemporary additions with elements borrowed from extreme sports like BMX. Here’s everything you need to know about... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166184/winter-olympics-heres-everything-you-need-know-about-skiing-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166184/winter-olympics-heres-everything-you-need-know-about-skiing-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 02:45:17 +0000 Hong Kong alpine skier Audrey King has been in a race against herself her entire career. On Wednesday, the 19-year-old will vie with the world’s best in the women’s slalom event at the Yanqing National Alpine Ski Centre, in what will undoubtedly be the biggest run of her life. But her week leading up to the Beijing Winter Games has been unsettling, to say the least. Upon arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport from her Bosnia training camp on January 30, King tested positive for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166118/winter-olympics-why-competing-beijing-another-race-against-myself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3166118/winter-olympics-why-competing-beijing-another-race-against-myself?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:15:12 +0000 Day 3 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was another action-packed affair, with more success for China on the slopes and the ice. Snowboarder Su Yiming got off to a strong start after he bagged a historic silver medal in the men’s snowboard slopestyle final – which could have been gold, if not for a “glaring judging error”. The Games host later won its second gold and silver in the evening, after speed skaters Ren Ziwei and Li Wenlong were awarded the top two spots on the podium in dramatic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166170/winter-olympics-five-things-watch-day-4-eileen-gu-yuzuru-hanyu-take?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166170/winter-olympics-five-things-watch-day-4-eileen-gu-yuzuru-hanyu-take?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Feb 2022 22:00:17 +0000 China’s Ren Ziwei claimed his second short-track speedskating gold medal of the Winter Games on Monday night, in a drama-filled men’s 1,000m final. Li Welong won silver, the host nation’s second of the day after Su Yiming’s in snowboard slopestyle. Hungary’s Shaoang Liu finished third, benefiting from his brother’s misfortune; Sandor Liu Shaolin, who actually crossed the line first, was disqualified. The Hungarian might consider himself unfortunate, as Ren appeared to grab him as they both threw... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166163/winter-olympics-china-bag-gold-silver-dramatic-mens-short-track-1000m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166163/winter-olympics-china-bag-gold-silver-dramatic-mens-short-track-1000m?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Feb 2022 15:06:56 +0000 Hong Kong only fielded four delegates at the Beijing 2022 Games opening ceremony despite sending a record number of athletes in its Winter Olympics history – much to flag-bearer Sidney Chu’s disappointment. The 22-year-old short-track speed skater was winged by mini Hong Kong flag-waving chef de mission Karl Kwok Chi-leung, Skiing Association of Hong Kong chairman Edmond Yue Kwok-yin and Hong Kong Skating Union chairman Yip Siu-yin at a rapturous Beijing National Stadium on Friday. Alpine ski... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3165994/winter-olympics-hong-kong-flag-bearer-sidney-chu-rues-missed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3165994/winter-olympics-hong-kong-flag-bearer-sidney-chu-rues-missed?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Feb 2022 06:15:12 +0000