MILAN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Speed skater Ning Zhongyan and short track speed skater Zhang Chutong will serve as China's flagbearers at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Chinese delegation announced on Wednesday.
26-year-old Ning, a specialist in middle-distance speed skating, is targeting podium finishes in the men's 1,500m and 1,000m events at these Games. A dominant force in the 1,500m, he claimed two silver and two bronze medals across five World Cups during the 2025-26 season.
Ning also teamed up with Liu Hanbin and Wu Yu to win bronze in the men's team pursuit at the World Cup season opener in Salt Lake City. He previously served as flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Asian Winter Games.
Zhang earned a bronze medal in the women's 3,000m relay at Beijing 2022 at just 18 years old. Now 22, she has competed this season in the women's 500m, 1,000m, and 1,500m events across four World Tour stops, and has also taken part in the mixed team relay and 3,000m relay.
The Chinese delegation said the flagbearers were selected from ice sports athletes competing in Milan and having arrived in the city, a decision aimed at sparing athletes stationed at distant snow event venues from travel fatigue.
The opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics will take place on Friday at Milan's San Siro Stadium.
China's delegation comprises 286 members, including 126 athletes, with 67 athletes making their Olympic debuts at Milan-Cortina.
