Chinese speed skater Yang Binyu made her Olympic debut at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, finishing 17th in the women’s 3,000m event after a remarkable recovery from a severe brain injury sustained in 2023.
Xinhua News Agency, China
Yang Binyu competed in the women’s 3,000 meters speed skating final at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, recording a time of 4 minutes and 7.62 seconds, bettering her previous gold-medal performance at the 2025 Asian Winter Games held in Harbin. She described her first Olympic experience as a valuable learning opportunity and expressed motivation to continue improving and aim to surpass more European competitors in future races.
As the first Chinese speed skater to compete on the ice in Milan, Yang said she managed to keep pressure in perspective, viewing it as motivation to maintain focus on her own strategy rather than be overwhelmed. She reflected on a serious brain injury she sustained in July 2023 during cycling training, which led to several days in intensive care and an extended solitary recovery period in the hospital. Despite the severity of the injury, Yang returned to the ice two months later, a recovery that surprised her teammates.
During her recovery, Yang spent long periods confined to bed, unable to communicate or use her phone, which allowed her time for deep reflection. She realized that her passion for skating stems from pure love for the sport rather than external results, opinions or rewards. Rehabilitating her strength step by step, she remained focused on her goal to return to training on ice, which became her primary source of motivation.
By early 2024, after nearly six months of recovery, Yang achieved a personal best at a World Cup event in the United States, reinforcing her confidence and enthusiasm for speed skating. She explained that she enjoys the sensation and movements involved in skating, comparing it to cycling in its challenge of racing against wind and pushing personal limits rather than direct competition with others.
Yang praised the passionate atmosphere and full capacity crowds at the Olympic oval for her debut event, maintaining calmness and concentration throughout her race. She chose a quiet approach during warm-ups and wore a cat ear-shaped hairband during the competition as a symbol of affection for her pets and a token of good luck for future races. Looking ahead, Yang expressed determination to skate with style, spirit and authenticity in her upcoming events at the Games.
