Two of the best snowboarders on the planet, Liu Jiayu and Cai Xuetong, deprived of any travel abroad, are experiencing surprising preparations for the next Winter Games to be held in Beijing.
They do not have the build of the star of mixed martial arts (MMA) Conor McGregor but have (almost) the same training: blocked in China by the pandemic, two Chinese snowboarders are refining their preparation for the Beijing 2022 Olympics in a center MMA workout. Halfpipe specialists Liu Jiayu, 2018 Olympic vice-champion, and Cai Xuetong, 2015 and 2017 world champion, are two of China’s top medal chances at the Games (February 4-20). Their training plan was simple at the start: participate in international competitions against the best in the world in the main massifs, from the Alps to Canada to Japan. But the Covid-19 has changed everything.
Prevented by the Chinese authorities from going abroad for health reasons, the two sportswomen have been living for a period “really difficult», souligne Cai Xuetong. «This is not the normal life of a snowboarder. Normally we travel to different countries, we participate in a lot of competition. But last season was totally different», She says. The two athletes, however, keep in shape at the training center in Shanghai for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s main mixed martial arts (MMA) league. No shots on the program for the two young women. But a draconian and tailor-made training plan focused on strength training, fitness and nutrition. This is completed by a very thorough analysis of the performance data, in order to identify any physical weak points … and to remedy them.
China is fond of collaborations with abroad
Snowboarders who receive training worthy of MMA fighters. This unusual and visibly fruitful experience underscores the Chinese authorities’ desire to think outside the box. The partnership between the UFC and the Chinese Olympic Committee dates from 2020. A way for China to remain competitive in the face of new global trends in sports, with in particular the analysis of performance data which is playing an increasing role. Despite its sometimes monolithic appearance, China’s state training system is fond of overseas collaborations, notes Kevin Chang, UFC director for Asia-Pacific. “At the end of the day, they strive to be better, just like everyone else», He emphasizes.
It remains complicated because we do not spend enough time on the snow. For a snowboarder this is obviously not good
Liu Jiayu
The UFC training center in Shanghai opened in 2019. Since then, it has hosted dozens of athletes, from the most anticipated (wrestlers, judokas) to the most surprising (cyclists, windsurfers and speed skaters). The centre’s experts subject them to all types of measurements, from muscle mass to body fat, bone density and metabolism, not to mention strength and agility tests. For the two snowboarders, the idea is above all to make the most of this difficult period. “It remains complicated because we do not spend enough time on the snow. For a snowboarder this is obviously not good», déclare Liu Jiayu.
The frustration is all the greater for Chinese athletes as they hope to stock up on medals at the Beijing Games in order to popularize winter sports in China, where they are starting to emerge. “It’s a real honor“To represent his country, underlines Liu Jiayu, who says he is aiming for gold next year. Deprived of competing abroad, the two snowboarders had to fulfill their schedules differently. Liu Jiayu has embarked on the design of his own line of snowboard goggles and Cai Xuetong devours documentaries and TV series. The two women say the personalized programs put in place during their ten-week stay in Shanghai are a welcome change from the state system’s collective training sessions.
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