MILAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Standing at the starting line of the Milan oval, Chinese speed skater Liu Hanbin waved to the crowd, then made a quiet, personal gesture. He raised his right hand and extended his pinky.
"It was a promise I made with my grandfather," Liu said after the race. "He wanted me to skate from a young age, and I grew up with him, but he passed away seven years ago. He never got to see me compete in the Olympics or join the national team. That gesture was my way of fulfilling a promise to him in heaven."
Liu completed his Olympic debut on Sunday in the men's 5,000 meters, finishing 17th among 20 skaters in 6 minutes, 24.25 seconds.
"It would actually be the slowest compared with my performances at sea level," Liu told Xinhua, noting that he had suffered an injury two months earlier. "So just being able to stand on this rink was already satisfying for me."
"I didn't have any specific expectations," he added. "But after the competition, I felt that being able to compete against my opponents was already a big surprise."
It marked the first time in 20 years that a Chinese skater competed in the Olympic men's 5,000 meters. At the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Gao Xuefeng finished 25th in 6:44.78.
"I feel extremely honored to have earned this, and it makes me very happy," Liu said. "I believe Chinese speed skating will very soon catch up with the world in the 5,000 meters, especially in terms of technique."
Liu set a national record in the 5,000 meters at a 2025 World Cup event in the United States, clocking 6:11.10, which also stood as a world junior record.
Long-distance events have not traditionally been a strength for Chinese speed skating, but Liu has focused on the 5,000 and 10,000 meters since taking up the sport.
"Long-distance races last longer, so you can really enjoy the competition," he said. "You can feel the race, your technical movements on the ice, everything. You can hear the cheers in the arena and feel the support from everyone. That's what really attracts me."
Liu said he relished his first Olympic appearance and the atmosphere inside the arena, waving to Chinese fans after crossing the finish line.
"This was the best atmosphere I've ever competed in," he said. "I completely enjoyed myself and immersed myself in the race." ■
