China's first Paralympic alpine skier Liu Sitong said she is hoping for a rewarding trip at the Milano-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games, which will open on March 6.
Liu made her Winter Paralympics debut at PyeongChang 2018 as China's first Paralympic alpine skier.
She won a silver medal and three bronze medals at the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games in 2022.
"I just love the great feeling of freedom in alpine skiing, where I am able to control the speed on snow, like being capable of controlling the rhythm of my life. That has become an integral part of my life. There are many people supporting me in doing this, and these people have been accompanying me through this section of very difficult journey. So my best reward for them is to keep training every day and practice well," Liu said.
She will compete in all the five Alpine skiing events at Milano-Cortina 2026.
"I always wear a sticker of the Chinese national flag on my helmet, which represents a spiritual pillar for me during the matches. I also paste Chinese national flag stickers on the skiing equipment, which gives me great mental strength," Liu said.
Liu once had to stop trainings on snow after injuries in her left hand and rib bone during this winter, but timely treatment and positive rehabilitation trainings enabled her to have a speedy recovery.
Liu and her teammates have spent many Spring Festival holidays at the training center to maximize use of the snow season.
For the Chinese people, the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year holiday, is the grandest annual occasion for family reunion and holiday making.
"We are chasing lofty dreams amid the mountains, and we are capable of charging ahead like horses. We are coming to you, Milano!" Liu and her teammates shouted to the camera in training despite the approaching of the this year's Spring Festival.
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will have around 665 athletes competing in 79 medal events across six sports -- Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling, according to official website of the International Paralympic Committee.
The Games will mark the 50th anniversary of the first Paralympic Winter Games and also see the Games return to Italy 20 years after Torino 2006, the website said.
China's first Paralympic alpine skier hopes for rewarding trip at Milano-Cortina 2026
