🥈 Zhang Kexin of the Chinese mainland shone at the FIS Freeski World Cup in Calgary, claiming silver in the women’s halfpipe and taking a big step toward the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
🏔️ In qualification, three of the four athletes from the Chinese mainland advanced to the final. Li Fanghui topped the rankings but hit a snag in her opening run of the final, scoring just 26.40 points after a slip in the closing section.
🤘 Competing third from last in the final, Zhang opened strong with an 84.20-point run that secured her second place. She couldn’t better it on her second try, but that first score was enough to earn silver—quite the comeback after injury setbacks.
🌀 Li Fanghui bounced back with a high-flying second run, showcasing huge amplitude and solid grabs. A slightly messy ending left her on 82.80 points, just outside the podium in fourth.
🥇 Australia’s Indra Brown took gold with 85.20 points. Liu Yishan finished seventh, and Olympic champion Gu Ailing skipped the event to focus on training.
Next stop: Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics this February. Can Zhang carry this momentum into the big stage? Stay tuned! ✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
