Speeding toward Olympic greatness

Competing in front of a home crowd, Gao won three gold medals at this year's Asian Winter Games, further boosting his experience and confidence ahead of next year's Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

At the opening ceremony of the Asian Winter Games, Gao proudly led the Chinese delegation as its flag bearer. The following day, he claimed the gold in the men's 100m speed skating, finishing the first day of competition on a high.

Two days later, Gao successfully defended his men's 500m title, before teaming up with his fellow skaters to win gold in the men's team sprint.

However, after his men's 500m victory, Gao was seen vomiting. The sight quickly went viral on Weibo, with fans expressing concern over the image of him clutching a trash bin.

"The pressure was immense, especially mentally," Gao admitted. "I might have pushed too hard, the intensity was overwhelming."

In the men's 500m race, Gao faced off against Japanese speed skater Wataru Morishige, who had claimed bronze in the event at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Morishige posted an impressive time of 34.97 seconds in the 11th group, piling further pressure on Gao.

"Seeing his time, my heart skipped a beat, but when I stood on the starting line, I was confident I wouldn't lose to him," Gao recalled. With a time of 34.95 seconds, Gao triumphed by the slimmest of margins.