Zhao Jiawen Shines at the 14th National Winter Games in Nordic Combined Events
The 14th National Winter Games held in Chongli, Hebei Province concluded recently with China’s “No. 1 Winter Olympics player” in Nordic combined events, Zhao Jiawen, claiming victory in two individual events and one team event, securing three gold medals in total.
The competition, which took place at the National Ski Jumping Center and the National Biathlon Center, the venues of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics, featured three events including skiing, men’s team big jump + 4X5 kilometers cross-country skiing relay and individual standard platform + 10km cross-country skiing.
Zhao Jiawen, who recently made his debut at the Beijing Winter Olympics, impressed with his exceptional skills in the winter sport, showcasing a significant improvement in his platform performance compared to his performance at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The 23-year-old athlete attributed his progress to his coach, Mika Kojonkoski, a world-class ski jumping coach who has coached national teams of Austria, Finland, and Norway.
Zhao Jiawen, who transitioned from being a cross-country skier to Nordic combined training in 2017, overcame difficulties during the transition from summer training to winter training, dealing with injuries and the psychological pressure of competing. But with the help of his coach, he was able to overcome the challenges and deliver an outstanding performance at the 14th National Winter Games.
Looking ahead after the competition, Zhao Jiawen and the team plan to stay in Chongli to train until mid-February before heading abroad for further training and competition. Despite the upcoming World Cup match in March, Zhao Jiawen acknowledges the need for his body to recover and adjust, hoping to achieve a good state by then. With a strong determination and the support of his coach, Zhao Jiawen continues to strive for excellence in Nordic combined events, setting his sights on future international competitions.