“If nothing unexpected happens, Xu Wenlong is very likely to clinch double gold in both the team relay and the men’s 50km classical race,” Qi Jiukui, head of the Harbin alpine skiing team, boldly predicted in an interview with reporters on the 6th.
On the 6th, the cross-country skiing events at the 12th National Winter Games took a “ceasefire” day, with athletes staying sharp and ready for the next day’s men’s sprint freestyle competition. As one of the most watched figures in the event, Harbin star Xu Wenlong—having already won the men’s pursuit race on the first day—attracted media attention for how he would perform in the remaining competitions.
“In yesterday’s race, his performance was still somewhat conservative. I think it might have been because it was the first event and the psychological pressure was quite high. He only really gave it his all in the final 200 meters,” Qi Jiukui commented when reviewing the first race.
In the men’s pursuit race (15km classical + 15km freestyle) held on the 5th, Xu Wenlong adopted a follow-the-leader strategy in the first half. After the classical section, he was only ranked sixth, but in the latter half of the freestyle section, he relied on a strong sprint to eventually overtake the leaders. “This tactic was pre-planned by the coaches. The athlete carries it out step-by-step according to their physical condition. If he had more energy, he might have led the whole way, but he has been under a lot of pressure recently, so he chose to follow and then use his strength in the final sprint, which is his specialty,” Qi Jiukui explained.
Qi Jiukui believes that due to years of competing in domestic cross-country skiing competitions, Xu Wenlong now has a clear advantage in long-distance races. “He remains the most competitive athlete in this event in China. In the upcoming team relay and 50km classical race, if nothing unexpected happens, the gold medal will still be his.”
