Winter Olympics: China’s four-time gold medallist Wang Meng tips Hong Kong skater Sidney Chu for Beijing ‘breakthrough’

The mainland’s most decorated Winter Olympian details relationship with team Hong Kong having trained together multiple times

‘Everyone has a chance [to compete with the China national team] in this discipline,’ says the 36-year-old Olympic torch-bearer

Reading Time:2 minutes

Former Chinese Olympian Wang Meng (Front) bearing the torch at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Torch Relay at the Winter Olympic Park. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 1:15pm, 6 Feb 2022Updated: 1:44pm, 6 Feb 2022

Legendary short-track speed skater Wang Meng has predicted a big week for Hong Kong’s athletes at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The 36-year-old is considered China’s most decorated Winter Olympian having won four golds, one silver and one bronze. She is also one of the sport’s most decorated athletes of all time with 18 world championship golds and several World Cups.

In a media scrum after a training session at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre slopes, the former Chinese national team speed skating head coach spoke fondly of Hong Kong’s skaters, represented by Sidney Chu and head coach Sun Dandan at this Games.

Hong Kong short-track speed skater Sidney Chu (left) with head coach and two-time Chinese Olympic silver medallist Sun Dandan training before their Beijing Winter Olympics event. Photo: Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee

Aside from Chu, the city boasts another Olympic-calibre skater in Sui Xin, while six of its total eight Winter Olympians dating back to 2002 hail from the sport.

“Hong Kong and our three northeastern provincial teams have a lot of communication together,” said Heilongjiang native Wang, who famously won three gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 Games.

“We train every year together, and I think their members will have their own breakthrough at the Beijing Olympics.

“Everyone has a chance [to compete with the China national team] in this discipline, and I think they can improve from their previous world rankings.”