Winter Olympics: Hungary’s Liu brothers Shaolin and Shaoang strengthen bonds with China after success on Beijing ice
- Younger brother Shaoang wins gold in men’s 500m short-track speedskating while Shaolin was in Hungary’s bronze-winning mixed relay team
- The pair’s father is from Tianjin and their strong north-eastern Chinese accent is a source of admiration for their China fans
Hungarian-Chinese brothers Sandor Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang arrived in Beijing determined to make an impact at the Winter Olympics, with their skating skills, celebrity looks and Chinese heritage. And they have certainly fulfilled their goals.
It was the younger of the two, 23-year-old Shaoang Liu, who shone brightest, earning Hungary’s first individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics, defeating world record holder Wu Dajing, Ren Ziwei and Sun Long, who all failed to reach the final.
The “speechless” Liu said in his post-final press conference that after he had crossed the line he could hardly believe what had happened.
“I didn’t show any emotions because I still needed some time to realise what happened,” Liu said. “I think that when I go back home, my life will change. It’s going to be crazy. We are here to make history.”
The brothers have tangled with the Chinese skaters throughout their careers in a number of high-profile events. In Beijing, it was the 1,000m short-track speedskating competition where they first clashed. Both brothers qualified for the final alongside Ren Ziwei, Wu Dajing and Li Wenlong.