- Qitaihe in Heilongjiang launched China’s first 12 year short track speed skating school.
- The school combines academics, sports training, and personal development in one curriculum.
- It aims to build a sustainable model for nurturing sports and education talent.
Qitaihe, a city in Heilongjiang Province known as the ‘City of Olympic Champions,’ has opened China’s first 12 year short track speed skating school. More than 200 students from across the country joined the institution, which integrates academics with professional sports training.
Four time Olympic champion Wang Meng, who attended the opening, urged students to uphold Qitaihe’s tradition of resilience and excellence in skating. The school’s curriculum blends classroom education, physical training, and personal growth, creating a pathway for students to pursue both academic and athletic success.
The training follows a step by step approach for children aged 6 to 8 focus on learning basic skills, while those aged 8 to 12 work on fitness and technical training. After 12, top students may join provincial or national teams.
Experts say this model addresses the long standing challenge of balancing sports and academics, offering students broader career opportunities whether in competitive sports, higher education, or professional roles like coaching and refereeing.
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Qitaihe has produced 14 Olympic and world champions since the 1970s, winning hundreds of gold medals at national and global levels. The new school builds on this legacy while making athlete development more systematic and scientific.
Future plans include expanding training into other sports such as curling, roller skating, and cycling. As China’s winter sports industry continues to grow, the school provides a blueprint for combining sports and education to meet rising demand for talent.
