Olympic champion Su Yiming aims high for Milano-Cortina 2026

Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic champion Su Yiming said he has been pursuing his sports dream stemming from his deep passion for snowboarding, and now his sights are set on Milano-Cortina 2026, where he hopes to win another gold medal.

Su began snowboarding when he was four years old. His first snowboard came from his father and it was a lot taller than Su was back then. Su said it was his happiest moment when he stood on the snowboard, and it was love that supported him all the time.

"I have had a great passion for snowboarding since I was a child. The Winter Olympics in Beijing was incredibly important to me because it is held in my own country. It was a rare opportunity for me, and it comes at my perfect age. So, I was extremely eager to seize the chance," said Su.

Before the Spring Festival in 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, went to the National Winter Sports Training Center to visit the athletes who were still preparing for competitions.

Xi encouraged them to enhance their sense of honor in bringing glory to the country, to have unwavering confidence in achieving excellent results, to train diligently, to fully prepare for the competitions, to bravely scale new heights, and to strive for new breakthroughs.

"The Beijing Winter Olympics will push forward the leap-frog development of China's ice and snow sports, and it is a once-in-a-century opportunity. Let's all strive hard and make the most of it," said Xi during the inspection on Feb 1, 2019.

"I was 15 years old at that time, and it seemed like winning the game was a far-fetched dream to me. There was a significant gap between me and those top international athletes. I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to meet the General Secretary, and I still hold onto his words firmly in my mind — bring glory to the country. It boosted my confidence and motivation for the next two years of preparation," said Su.

At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Su delivered a historic victory for China by winning the silver medal in snowboard men's slopestyle and the gold medal in snowboard men's big air.

Shortly thereafter, Su wrote a letter to Xi to share his journey of undergoing rigorous training, surpassing his own limits and fulfilling his dreams. He also conveyed his unwavering resolve to continue striving and contribute to his homeland.

"After receiving the gold medal, I genuinely wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude and joy to the General Secretary. Three years ago, when I was a mere 14 or 15-year-old child, the General Secretary provided us with support and encouragement. Therefore, at that time, I couldn't wait to express my deepest feelings to the General Secretary," said Su.

A few days later, Su received a reply letter from the General Secretary. In the letter, Xi said, "In your letter, you mentioned being born in a great country and raised in the best times, and you felt very lucky to have realized your dream through hard work. The new era is the era of dream chasers, and also the era for young people to realize their dreams."

"I was very surprised when I received the reply letter. There are a few words that have been etched in my heart, urging me forward. I keep those words in my mind during my daily training — keep the motherland at heart, aim high, and have my feet firmly on the ground. I always keep the guidance in mind," said Su.

Xi once said that youth are the most sensitive barometer of the times. And now, the Chinese youth are pursuing their dreams through hard work and dedication.

"Our generation is incredibly fortunate. We are blessed to be born in this remarkable era and have the chance to pursue our dreams through hard work," said Su.

Now, standing at the threshold of 20, Su sets his sights on the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

"I hope I will achieve good score at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, win a gold medal and bring honor to my country," said Su.

Olympic champion Su Yiming aims high for Milano-Cortina 2026

The direct flights between the Chinese capital of Beijing and Cuba's Havana resumed on Friday as an Air China plane took off from Beijing Capital International Airport early in the morning.

The Beijing-Havana route, with a stopover in Madrid, Spain, is the only air route between China and Cuba. Its resumption provides an opportunity to enhance the exchanges between the people of the two countries.

"It's my first time to visit Cuba. I'm leading a group of 20 people, including me. Cuba is a socialist country and China and Cuba are good brothers. The reopening of the flight will help promote economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries," said a Chinese passenger.

"Cuban cigars and Ernest Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea' attract me to visit Cuba and learn more about Cuba. At my age I am more interested in local customs, history and architecture," said another Chinese tourist.

Air China plans a frequency of two flights a week. The flight from Beijing will depart on Tuesdays and Fridays, and return flights from Havana are scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The resumption of the route plays a positive role in promoting connectivity between China and Cuba. Cuban destinations could see significant increases in visits from Chinese tourists, who are also benefit from a new visa exemption.

"This flight, which we hope can increase in frequency, means an increase in both economic and commercial relations. But it will also mean an increase in visitors from this friendly country to our island. That's important for us because we have a great appreciation and attraction for the Chinese. That is to say, the good diplomatic relations that exist between the two countries is more than evident," said Elizabeth Vela Jaime, Cuba's Tourism Counselor in Asia.

"As a Cuban, I'm very happy that this flight exists. Many more Chinese can come to Cuba and get to know us better, just as many Cubans can reach China. Because even if it seems otherwise, we are very similar nations, we are fraternal nations. Cuba was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with China in Latin America. It is very important that there are links of this kind that there is a flight that can connect cultures, friends and stories," said Thalia Fuentes, a journalist for the news website Cubadebate.

On May 4, Cuban authorities officially announced the visa exemption for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports who enter, transit, exit or stay in the country for up to 90 days.

The visa waiver and the restart of the China-Cuba flight seek to strengthen trade ties and cooperation between the two countries, in addition to boosting the tourism sector on the Caribbean island. Cuban officials expect at least 3.5 million tourists to arrive this year.

Direct flights between Beijing, Havana resume