Screenshot of Jinyun message

According to a report by Jinyun on March 3, in order to fully prepare for the National Short Track Speed Skating Championships that will open in Beijing on March 24, the Tianjin Short Track Speed Skating Team is actively training in Hohhot and striving for good results. It is understood that in addition to the world champion Liu Guanyi, Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang, who have just joined the Tianjin short track speed skating team, will also represent Tianjin.

This also means that the Liu brothers, who were previously approved by the Hungarian Skating Association to change their nationality, are about to return to the arena.

On November 2022, 11, the website of the Hungarian Skating Association announced that short track speed skating stars Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang requested the consent of the Hungarian Skating Association to start the process of changing their nationality.

The picture shows Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang. Image source: IC photo

Shortly after the Liu brothers applied for a change of nationality, the Hungarian Skating Association agreed, but they needed to pay a compensation. At that time, the Liu brothers said in an interview with local Hungarian media: "We don't know where we are going yet, in other words, no country or association is willing to pay this fee." If the Hungarian Ice Association insists on this cost, we will bear it ourselves. ”

Subsequently, the Hungarian Skating Association issued a statement on November 11 of that year, saying that it agreed to Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang's request to change nationality and abandoned the previous claim.

The Liu brothers said in the interview: "We are going to a new country, which means giving up everything and starting from scratch. ”

Data map: Liu Shaoan at the Beijing Winter Olympics award ceremony. Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Jun

Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang are half-Chinese, their father is Chinese and their mother is Hungarian. In a previous interview with a reporter from China News Network, the brothers were able to switch fluently between English and Chinese with a strong northeastern accent.

At that time, Liu Shaolin recalled, "We trained in China when we were children, knew Wu Dajing, Han Tianyu, and basically understood the current Chinese team members. We almost grew up together and we are very good friends. ”

Talking about Chinese culture, the Liu brothers bluntly said that it is not far away from them. Liu Shaolin said: "Grandpa and grandma are Chinese, they live in Hungary. Every time we went to their house for the New Year, my grandmother would always cook Chinese food for us, and we would communicate with Chinese, and they would give us red envelopes. ”

Data map: The picture shows Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang in the game. Image source: Osports All Sports Images

As short track speed skating stars, Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang have contributed many wonderful competitions to the Hungarian team. At PyeongChang 2018, the Hungarian team led by the Liu brothers won the short track speed skating men's 5000,<>m relay final, the first gold medal in Hungary's history.

Entering the Beijing Winter Olympics cycle, Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoan have made more significant progress, and have been on the podium in international competitions many times.

At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Liu brothers led the Hungarian team to win the bronze medal in the short track speed skating mixed team relay. In the much-watched short track speed skating men's 500m final, Liu Shaoang won the championship in 40.33 seconds, becoming a double Olympic champion. He also won bronze in the men's 1000m short track speed skating final.

Data map: The picture shows Liu Shaolin, Liu Shaoang and Wu Dajing taking a group photo. Image source: Osports All Sports Images

For a long time before, Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang had been following Coach Zhang Jing to train and prepare for battles. Liu Shaolin once posted on social platforms to thank his mentor: In her sports career, Lina's support exists all the time, and we feel the greatest love and unconditional trust in her.

On September 9 last year, the Winter Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sports of the People's Republic of China announced the latest short track speed skating national training team, and Zhang Jing, who previously coached the Hungarian national team, served as the head coach of the training team. At the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, which just ended this month, she led the team to 26 gold and 1 silver as head coach.

The picture shows Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang celebrating victory. Image source: IC photo

According to the news previously announced by the Chinese Skating Association, the 2022-2023 National Short Track Speed Skating Championships will be held at the Beijing Capital Gymnasium from March 3 to April 31. This competition is the first national highest-level ice and snow event to be held at a Winter Olympic venue after the Beijing 4 Winter Olympics.

At that time, Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang, who represent Tianjin, will return to the arena. (End)