Hard to exceed

PRECIOUS BRONZE: Liu Zhongqing celebrates during the freestyle skiing men's aerials final at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on February 25. Liu finished third in the jump (SHEN HONG)

Despite the more than positive results at these Games, China still has a long way to go in the development of winter sports in terms of people's participation in winter sports.

The Vancouver Games also displayed China's shortcomings in snow sports, despite such traditionally strong events as pair figure skating, women's short-track speed skating and freestyle aerials.

"China has lagged far behind in figure skating powerhouses like the United States and Russia," said Zhao Yinggang, Director of the Winter Sports Administrative Center and Secretary General of the Chinese Sports Delegation to Vancouver. "In terms of ice dancing and individual figure skating, Liu Yan ended up 19th in the women's figure skating final, and Huang Xintong and Zheng Xun failed to qualify in the top 10 in ice dancing."

In ice hockey, one of the most popular sports of the Winter Olympics, the Chinese women's team lost all its matches. The men's team did not even make an appearance because they hadn't qualified for the Vancouver Games. "That means we still have a large gap with the hockey powers such as Canada, which we cannot close up in a short time."

Snow sports like alpine skiing and cross-country skiing, two sports China has made little progress in, are as important to the Winter Games as track and field to the Summer Games. "In alpine skiing, China only gained two quotas from the association. We are among the low-rankings in cross-country skiing as well," said Xiao.

Germany stood out, winning six gold, five silver and two bronze medals in alpine skiing. China won none.

Age is another problem facing Team China. China's No.1 figure skating pair, 36-year-old Zhao and his 31-year-old wife Shen, will not attend the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. China's triple Olympic gold medalist Wang Meng is also contemplating retirement after her brilliant triumph in Vancouver.

"Things always have a start and an end. I will certainly complete this season by taking part in the World Championships in March and then think about my future," Wang said after winning her third gold. Head coach of China's short-track speed skating team Li Yan, who led the squad to a grand slam finish, is thinking about returning to the United States after this season.

Two spiritual leaders of the women's and men's aerial teams, Li Nina and Han Xiaopeng, are also considering stepping down from the stage. Asked whether she would compete in her fourth Winter Olympics in 2014, the two-time runner-up Li commented on the possibility of retirement, "Can I trade these two silvers for one gold? It's impossible for me to chase the gold without a finish line. I have done my best here in Vancouver."

"It's impossible for us to reach the same level as we have done in summer sports, but we will try to minimize the gap as much as we can," Xiao said.

As for the preparation for the next Olympic Games, Zhao said that China will continue inviting foreign coaches and send its top athletes abroad.

Regarding personnel, Xiao indicated the Chinese Sports Delegation to Sochi in 2014 would not be scaled-up. "It's a challenge for us to maintain the Vancouver glory. We cannot achieve the goal by enlarging our personnel. We'll do more work in management and training in the next four years."

Host Canada ranked first in the number of gold medals with 14 (plus seven silver and five bronze) after 17 days of thrilling competition. The United States placed first in the overall medal count with 37 (nine gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze), followed by Germany, with 30, and Canada, with 26.

(Reporting from Vancouver)