ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships to be staged in Beijing

BEIJING, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships will be held from January 22 to 25 at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, which marks the last ISU figure skating event scheduled ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

In a press conference on Thursday, Ren Hongguo, president of the Chinese Figure Skating Association, said: "It will be the second time for Beijing to host the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships after 2003. For skaters, this is a vital opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Winter Olympics."

According to the Chinese Figure Skating Association, Chen Yudong, Jin Boyang and Peng Zhiming with substitutes Dai Dawei and Zhao Qihan will compete in the men's singles event. An Xiangyi, Zhang Ruiyang and Zhu Yi with substitutes Chen Hongyi and Cheng Jiaying will participate in the women's singles event.

Beijing Winter Olympic champion Sui Wenjing/Han Cong of China will take part in the pairs event together with their teammates Zhang Jiaxuan/Huang Yihang, while China's Ren Junfei/Xing Jianing, Wang Shiyue/Liu Xinyu, and Xiao Zixi/He Linghao will show themselves in the ice dance event.

"I am really looking forward to this high-level competition. We all want to perform our best at home with wonderful memories in this dual Olympic venue," said the 28-year-old Jin.

In September 2025, Chinese teenage skater Zhang finished fifth in the women's singles to clinch a Winter Olympic berth for China. For her first appearance at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, the 18-year-old noted, "I will try my best to have a complete and even better performance."

More than 100 skaters will gather at the National Indoor Stadium next week, including elite skaters South Korea's Cha Jun-hwan, Mexican Donovan Carrillo and Australian pair Holly Harris/Jason Chan.

Four years after the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Olympic venues continue to host international events and are available for the public. "We strive to utilize the Olympic legacies effectively with high-level events, inspiring more people to experience winter sports at the same time," said Chen Xuesong, a senior official of Beijing Sports Bureau. ■