Since, according to the rules, they have to miss a year together with the peaceful separation, Liu Shaolin can make his Chinese debut at the World Cup in Seoul in March – if he wins his place – since he has not competed since the Beijing Olympics. On the other hand, Liu Shaoang, who won the 500 meters in Beijing, also went to the World Championships in Montreal in April, where won four gold medals (compound, 500, 1000 and 1500 meters), so he will be able to step on the ice again in a big competition at the autumn opening of the 2023/24 World Cup series.
The European Championship starts today in Gdansk, where the continental championship was held two years ago. The Liu brothers were also there at that competition, and although they did not win a single medal, this could be explained by fighting the coronavirus. In the Polish city, our national team finished with a podium finish, in the men’s 1000 meters, Olympic silver medalist Krueger John-Henry, naturalized from the United States, came second; but he has already come a long way, his adventure in Hungary was short… Last year, the European Championship was not organized.
As for our rejuvenated men’s national team born out of necessity, Bence Nógrádi and Dániel Tiborcz will compete individually in the 500 and 1000 meters, Alex Varnyú, who is the only routine player, in the 1000 and 1500 meters, Attila Talabos in the 500 meters, and Balázs Bontovics in the 1500 meters. There is no question that our women’s national team is now clearly stronger. Petra Jászapáti will compete in all three individual distances, like her, Olympic bronze medalist Zsófia Kónya in the mixed relay will compete in the 500 and 1000 meters, while Maja Somodi will compete in the 1000 and 1500 meters, Sára Luca Bácskai in the 500 meters, and Rebeka Sziliczei-Német in the 1500 meters.
The national team brought home two bronze medals from Almaty
Our national team did not travel to the North American World Cup competitions in October and November, but our team was already there in Almaty during the double round in Kazakhstan, where they returned home with two bronze medals. Jászapáti finished third in the 500, but he was also involved in the mass crash at the finish line, and then he was unable to start in the relay final due to an ankle injury.
But the Bácskai, Kónya, Somodi, Sziliczei-Német quartet also took third place behind South Korea and Canada. But let’s also mention that our men’s relay team of Nógrádi, Talabos, Tiborcz, Varnyú finished in fourth place behind Canada, the Netherlands and Japan. And these results definitely entitle me to medal hopes at the European Championships.
– The psychological waves of the past weeks and months affect everyone. The imprint of this is visible. At the same time, the current members of the national team are also capable of great results – stated Ákos Bánhidi, the professional leader of our national team. – Petra Jászápáti and the women’s relay team both belong to the European elite. As for the boys, the performance in the quarter and semi-finals can already be considered good as an individual. The relay, on the other hand, represents constant strength, as shown by its fourth place in the previous WC round. In Europe, the Netherlands stands out, but many teams behind them are at a similar level – added the expert, who led our national team to success together with Zhang Ching Lina last year, but the Chinese coach has returned home and is already working for the success of the Chinese national team. This also triggered the departure of the Liu brothers.
Liu Shaoang and Liu Shaolin are not a topic in the article about the Chinese national team
It is interesting that on the website of the International Skating Union (ISU). in the writing introducing the Eb the following is stated for the men’s all-around event:
“It is likely that a new European champion will be crowned, because the three-time winner Semjon Yelistratov cannot start, and the most successful competitors of the recent period, Liu Shaoang and Sándor Liu Shaolin, are taking a break.”
Well, the Russians won’t be there in Gdansk due to their exclusion, but how about the Liu brothers just taking a break?! We in Hungary don’t know it that way!
In the article, it is mentioned that the Dutch Sjinkie Knegt, who previously won the European European gold medal three times, will be in the field, but he is no longer the old one, so the flag goes to the new star of the Netherlands, 21-year-old Jens van ‘t Wout, who this season, he was able to win World Cup competitions in 500, 1000 and 1500 meters.
