In a stunning debut at the Asian Winter Games, Chinese freeskier Li Xinpeng, who celebrated his 20th birthday just 10 days ago, captured two gold medals and one bronze over three days of fierce competition — delivering a performance that exceeded all expectations.

Competing in the freestyle aerials at the Games in Harbin, Li triumphed in the men's individual and the mixed team, and won bronze in men's synchro, a debut event at this year's Asiad. His performance, following his first World Cup podium appearance just last month, marks him as a rising star for China's aerials team, with expectations firmly on the rise for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Li Xinpeng of China celebrates after the Freestyle Skiing men's aerials final match at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Yabuli, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

"While I'm pleasantly surprised by my results, I was of course hoping for gold," Li said after placing third in the synchro event.

"This competition has been a valuable test of my training over the past few years — a key stepping stone before Milan. I'll continue to refine my performance and aim to approach the next challenge with full focus."

Born in 2005, Li started his athletic career on a trampoline at age 8, before transitioning to skiing three years later, training in Heilongjiang. Although he has spent limited time competing in aerials, Li has quickly gained recognition in the sport.

In February of last year, Li took gold in the men's individual youth event at the 14th National Winter Games, scoring 237.66 points.

On Jan 19, at the FIS Freestyle Aerials World Cup in Lake Placid in the United States, Li earned his first World Cup podium finish, taking bronze with a score of 118.10 points in the men's final. The next day, he joined forces with Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Xu Mengtao and Sun Jiaxu to win the mixed team event, further cementing his rising star status.

On the opening day of freestyle skiing aerials at the Asian Winter Games, in a full podium sweep for the home team, Li claimed the gold medal in the men's event. His teammate, 22-year-old Yang Longxiao, took silver, while 34-year-old veteran Qi Guangpu, the Beijing Olympic champion, earned bronze.

Li's path to victory was far from smooth, though. In his first jump, a critical error resulted in a score of just 44.25 points, placing the youngster last in the field. "The wind speed and direction affected my first jump, leading to a landing mistake," Li recalled.

Despite the setback, Li received encouragement and advice from his coach and teammates. "My coach told me: 'What's done is done. Now focus on your next jump. Learn from your first round, avoid repeating the same mistakes, and enjoy the competition'," Li said.

He quickly rebounded, scoring 104.49 points on his second run, reaching the final. In the decisive round, he secured the top spot.

The Chinese team dominated the competition, with Li attributing the success to the strong legacy of China's aerials program.

"China's freestyle skiing aerials is world-class, so young athletes like me have world champions to look up to," Li said. "Thanks to years of training, and support from senior teammates, we've developed the strength we are seeing today. I feel lucky to be part of this golden era for Chinese aerials."

Ji Dong, head coach of China's aerials team, described the Asian Winter Games as a crucial step in its preparation for the Winter Olympics, offering a chance to assess the athletes' progress. The team's mix of veterans, mid-career athletes, and rising stars, like Qi, Wang Xindi, and Li, is the key to their success, he said.

During the medal ceremony, Li, Qi, and Yang proudly posed with the national flag. Qi, smiling at the rise of the younger generation, viewed the result as proof of the team's growth.

"When I was young, older athletes guided me. Now, as a veteran, I want to pass on that legacy," Qi said. "Young athletes must surpass me to ensure the future of the sport."

In Tuesday's men's synchro event, Qi and Li won bronze. Before each jump, Qi would tell Li: "Focus on your jump, I'll find your rhythm." Li credits Qi's guidance as crucial to his confidence, calling him an irreplaceable "pillar of stability" for the team.

In Monday's team event, Li, alongside Qi and Xu, delivered standout performances, helping China secure its first-ever gold medal in the aerials team competition at the Asian Winter Games.

"It's an honor to compete with two Olympic champions. I was a bit nervous at first, worried I wouldn't perform well alongside them," Li said.

"But, today, I felt much more at ease. My teammates provided constant encouragement and support, and when I struggled in previous competitions, they offered comfort, motivation and technical advice."

This was the second time Xu and Li teamed up for a mixed team event, and both times they have claimed gold.

"Our first win was in Lake Placid last month, and I was proud to witness Li's first World Cup victory. Today, we made history again. Li is a dedicated, humble and focused athlete, and I have high hopes for his future," Xu said.

So does Li. After three days of intense competition, Li expressed his commitment to continue refining his skills, so that he will arrive in Milan next year in peak form.