Sky's the limit for aerials champ

It took Xu Mengtao, China's star skier, 12 years to clinch her first Olympic gold medal, a long-awaited achievement since her Olympic debut. But, the journey to her first Asian Winter Games title took even longer.

Eighteen years since her debut at the 2007 Asian Winter Games in Changchun, capital of Jilin province, where she won silver in freestyle skiing women's aerials, Xu finally turned that silver medal into gold at the 2025 Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

The wait was undeniably worth it. Two days in a row, Xu soared to victory, winning both freestyle skiing women's aerials and the mixed team aerials, her triumphs celebrated by hundreds of enthusiastic fans cheering her on in her home country.

"When I first competed in the Asian Winter Games, I never imagined that, 18 years later, I would return, and to right here at home. For an aerials athlete, maintaining peak form at this age is no easy feat," Xu said.

"This is my first time competing in Yabuli, and the venue is fantastic, with perfect weather to match. I was fully focused on my performance today, and I'm thrilled to win my first Asian Winter Games gold here," she said.

In the women's aerials final, the 34-year-old Olympic champion delivered a commanding performance, earning 90.94 points to claim the victory, while her teammate Chen Xuezheng secured the silver with 81.58.

Xu's first jump was even more impressive, scoring 97.99 and advancing her to the second round.

"I'm thrilled with my performance," Xu said. "The first-round score is my seasonal best for that routine, which my coaching team and I were very pleased with. In the final, I continued to perform well. With earlier competitors making errors, my focus shifted to maintaining consistency and delivering a stable performance."

At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Xu's jubilant scream after claiming the gold captured the hearts of many, becoming an iconic moment of the Games. With four Olympic appearances, Xu not only fulfilled her own dream, but also secured China's first-ever women's gold in freestyle skiing women's aerials.

Since then, Xu has stayed in the public spotlight, though not only through competition — she has also made appearances on variety shows. It wasn't until a year-and-a-half later that she made her comeback to the sport.

"Every field has its unique charm. By exploring different areas and returning to my specialty, I gain more composure and confidence, allowing me to fully appreciate the sport," Xu explained.

"I've never taken such a long break before coming back, but I've proven to myself I can still succeed. Confidence has been gradually building. The key is never giving up — your efforts will pay off when you need them most."

With the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics just around the corner, Xu has pledged to train harder than ever, aiming to greet her supporters from the top step of the podium in Milan.

"My passion is the main driver. I truly love aerials, and we are helping each other grow," she said. "I believe that by pushing for the Milan Winter Olympics, I will contribute to the growth of the sport."

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn