Feature: Chinese skater Liu overcomes skull fracture to claim national titles

In just over 100 days, 19-year-old Chinese speed skater Liu Hanbin rebounded from a skull fracture to claim Olympic bronze and three national titles, transforming doubt into a new beginning.

by sportswriters Li Chunyu and Wang Jingyu

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Is it possible for a teenage skater to recover from a skull fracture in December, win an Olympic bronze medal two months later, and then sweep three golds at a national event?

19-year-old Chinese speed skater Liu Hanbin still finds it hard to believe, but he has lived that story in just over 100 days.

At a national speed skating tournament held from Thursday to Sunday at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval, Liu claimed the men's 1,500m, 5,000m, and team pursuit titles.

"This is my first time to be a national champion at adult level. This is my last event this season but a fresh start in the new Winter Olympic circle," Liu remarked.

The past three months have been a roller-coaster. Shaken by a serious injury, Liu admits he doubted himself "countless times" before finally overcoming his setback.

At the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Heerenveen last December, Liu fell in the 10,000m race, resulting in a skull fracture, intracranial hematoma, and facial paralysis.

Doctors advised him to rest and stop high-intensity training, but the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics were just two months away.

"To prepare for the Games, I had been almost non-stop in training and competing. Maybe I was a little bit tired at that time. My head hit the ice and I lost consciousness in that race. Then I was bedbound for a month. I completely broke down," he recalled.

From the injury all the way to the start of Milan-Cortina 2026, Liu repeatedly asked himself why the injury happened to him.

"But I was not alone at all," he added. "Our national team hired professional doctors, therapists and training instructors. They helped me recover from the injury as quickly as possible in a tight timeframe."

"Competing at the Winter Olympics has always been my dream. Coach Li Yan and my teammates encouraged me every day to make Milan."

"I am very clear about my strength. It is impossible for me to be an Olympic champion at the present stage, but merely competing in the Games has already fulfilled my dream," Liu said. "I told myself not to give up halfway. I should live up to the trust and expectation from our whole team."

At Milan-Cortina 2026, his first Winter Olympics went beyond expectations. Alongside Ning Zhongyan, Wu Yu and Li Wenhao, Liu helped China win bronze in the men's team pursuit - the country's best result in the event at a Winter Games.

"The historic moment is unbelievable. I could finally release the pressure and let all the emotions out after reshaping myself," Liu noted. "More importantly, I learned a lot from the world's top skaters at the Winter Olympics, particularly in training, rest and diet. All these experiences will help me better prepare myself in the long run."

Looking back on his three national golds, Liu was pleased but cautious. "Some top skaters didn't compete here. I know I still need to work harder and keep improving," he said.

Known as a fashionable member of China's team, Liu dyed his hair and got a manicure. "After this season ends, I want to relax on an island, riding a bike in a beautiful place, playing basketball and football as well," Liu said.

As for his next goal? "I want to take over the baton from the veterans and become an Olympic champion. For me, it doesn't seem out of reach right now," he noted. ■