China wins 5,000m relay silver at Short Track worlds

China won silver in the men's 5,000-meter relay at the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Championships in Canada on Sunday.

The young Chinese team of Zhang Bohao, Li Kun, Zhu Yiding and Li Yuheng competed in men's relay Final A against Canada, Italy and South Korea. Canada and Italy traded the lead in the early stages.

Yang Jingru (2nd L) of China competes during the women's 1500m final B at the ISU Short Track World Championships in Montreal, Canada, March 15, 2026. (Photo by Li Haitao/Xinhua)

With about a dozen laps remaining, Italy made an error and skated off the track while contesting the lead with Canada. In the closing laps, Canada and South Korea battled fiercely and crossed the line almost simultaneously, with China close behind. South Korea was later disqualified, leaving Canada with gold and China with silver. Italy took bronze.

Earlier in the day, South Korean teenager Rim Jong-un claimed the men's 1,000m gold after Canada's William Dandjinou was penalized late in the race.

Olympic champions Xandra Velzeboer and Kim Gil-li again showed their class on Sunday. Velzeboer of the Netherlands dominated the women's 500m, winning in 41.761 seconds ahead of teammate Selma Poutsma, while Italy's Chiara Betti took bronze. China's Zhang Chutong finished third in Final B.

"I was really happy to stay as close as possible (to Velzeboer), and for me silver was the best possible today," Poutsma said, after sealing her best individual result at a World Championships.

Velzeboer left Montreal with gold in the 500m and 3,000m relay, along with silver in the 1,000m and 1,500m.

"It's been a really great season, especially with the Olympics, the most important moment. To be able to win there twice was incredible," said Velzeboer. "This whole season was preparing for that, but then to be able to also win two gold medals and two silvers is a great finish to the season."

In the women's 1,500m, South Korea's Kim Gil-li won gold in 2:31.003, edging Velzeboer into second, while American skater Corinne Stoddard finished third. China's best result in the event came from Yang Jingru, who placed second in Final B.

As the Montreal World Championships concluded, China finished with one silver and one bronze, ranking fifth in the medal table. South Korea topped the standings with four golds, followed by the Netherlands, Canada and Italy.