Para cross-country skiing: A day of training with China's Shiyu Wang

As China's Para cross-country skiing ace Shiyu Wang prepares to turn last season's World Championships triumph into success on the Paralympic stage, the hours of daylight are never enough.

Wang, who won her maiden World Championship medal in 2025, wakes at 05:45 and goes straight to work.

“I do morning exercises, such as general stretching,” the 26-year-old athlete said. “A wonderful day starts in the early morning.”

Her breakfast is practical and balanced, usually consisting of milk, beef, and vegetables, fueling a routine built around consistency, discipline, and long-term preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Wang sees “hard training, day by day, step by step,” as well as encouraging and believing in herself, as keys to her success. She trains twice most days, with sessions in the morning and afternoon. When she trains only once, it is in the morning.

“I often train with our team, both in the gym and on ski tracks,” Wang said.

During the summer, she focuses on roller skiing, strength training, and skiing in an indoor tunnel when possible.

Away from training, Wang keeps her downtime simple to relax between sessions.

“I like to listen to music and play games,” she said.

Meet the world champion

This foundation supported her breakthrough in February 2025, when she claimed her first world title at the Toblach 2025 FIS Para Cross-Country World Championships in Italy, winning the 20km interval start freestyle sitting race.

Heavy snow forced organisers to delay the start of the race while the course was being groomed, but when the race resumed, Wang flew around the five 4km laps to bag her maiden title.

Finishing in 1:14:19.00 after a strong last push, Wang beat USA superstar Kendall Gretsch by more than 23 seconds. Wang had trailed Gretsch by over a minute with two circuits to go but managed to close that gap to just 10 seconds at the end of lap four before taking over the lead in the final 4km.

Another of the sport's main names, Germany's Sochi 2014 gold medallist Anja Wicker, who had won the 10km Classic in Toblach, claimed bronze, more than three minutes behind the first-time winner.

“It was a nice day,” Wang said. “I was so excited on that day, I could not believe it. It was like a beautiful dream.”

The milestone win gave Wang a confidence boost. Now the Chinese athlete knows she can finish first in a star-studded lineup of Para cross-country royalty.

“It meant that I demonstrated my ability, that I can do it,” Wang said.

From Beijing 2022 to Milano Cortina 2026

Her goals for this Paralympic season are, however, not necessarily a gold medal on the courses of Val di Fiemme, Italy, where the Para cross-country skiing races will take place during the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics.

“My hope is that I can achieve better results than those at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games,” Wang said.

In her Paralympic debut on home snow in 2022, Wang finished just outside the podium in the women’s sprint sitting event, won by compatriot Hongqiong Yang.

Wang claimed fourth place, finishing 30 seconds behind bronze medallist Panpan Li, earning plenty of motivation for the four years of hard work before the next Games.

Having understood what works, the world champion has not changed anything in her preparations for the Games.

“I don't think there is anything different in my training; I just keep trying my best,” said Wang, who also competed in Para biathlon at Beijing 2022, with a fourth place as her best result.

Counting down to the Games

China's Para cross-country skiing team has produced strong results throughout the last World Cup season, including in the 20km interval start freestyle, where Wang and her teammates won four of six medals in Toblach.

Preparing for Milano Cortina 2026 as a world champion has placed her among the athletes to watch, but while she is looking forward to the winter “full of anticipation," Wang does not think that she has had her “breakthrough" yet.

“I hope I can have a good performance and give myself a breakthrough in the coming season.”

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org