1. Overview
Han Tianyu (韓天宇Han TianyuChinese, born June 3, 1996) is a prominent Chinese short track speed skater. He is renowned for his significant achievements in international competitions, including multiple Olympic medals and World Championship titles. His career highlights include a silver medal in the men's 1500 metres at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and a silver medal in the men's 5000 metre relay at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. He also achieved the overall gold medal at the 2016 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul, South Korea, becoming only the second Chinese male skater to do so.
2. Early Life
Han Tianyu's early life was marked by his introduction to skating at a young age and a pivotal transition from roller skating to short track speed skating, which laid the foundation for his successful career.
2.1. Childhood and Roller Skating
Born on June 3, 1996, in Fushun, Liaoning, China, Han Tianyu began practicing roller skating in 2002 when he was six years old. He quickly demonstrated exceptional talent in the sport, achieving considerable success during his early years. Between 2002 and 2006, he won eight national championships and five provincial championships in roller skating, showcasing his natural aptitude for speed and agility on skates.
2.2. Transition to Short Track Speed Skating
In 2006, at the age of 10, Han Tianyu made the decision to transition from roller skating to short track speed skating. This shift was driven by his growing interest in the sport and the potential for a professional career. At that time, his home province of Liaoning did not have a professional short track team. To pursue specialized training, he moved to Changchun, Jilin province, where he commenced his dedicated short track speed skating training. This move marked the beginning of his journey toward becoming an elite international athlete.
3. Career Progression
Han Tianyu's career progression saw him rise through the junior ranks before establishing himself as a formidable competitor on the senior international circuit.
3.1. Junior Career
Han Tianyu made his international debut at the 2012 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships held in Melbourne, Australia. In this competition, he achieved significant success, securing a gold medal in the Super 1500 metres event and a silver medal in the 500 metres. His strong performance also earned him a bronze medal in the overall ranking. Following his impressive showing at the Junior World Championships, he was selected to join the Chinese national team.
He continued his junior career by competing in the 2013 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Warsaw, Poland. At this event, Han Tianyu further solidified his reputation as a rising star, winning two gold medals in individual distances (1500 metres and 1000 metres) and a silver medal in the 500 metres. He also earned a silver medal in the overall ranking, demonstrating his consistent performance across multiple events.
3.2. Senior Career
Han Tianyu transitioned to the senior competitive circuit during the 2012-2013 season, where he began participating in the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup series. Over the 2013-2014 season, he showed significant improvements in his performance, which led to his selection as a competitor for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, marking his debut at the highest level of international competition. His coach for the national team was Li Yan.
4. Major Achievements
Han Tianyu has accumulated an impressive collection of medals and titles across various major international short track speed skating competitions.
4.1. Winter Olympics
Han Tianyu has competed in multiple Winter Olympic Games, earning two silver medals and one bronze medal.
At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, he competed in the men's 1500 metres event on February 10. He was placed in the same heats and semifinals as notable skaters such as Victor An and the 2013 junior world champion Park Se-yeong. Han Tianyu finished second in his quarterfinal and first in his semifinal, securing a spot in the final race. In the final, he maintained a position within the top three throughout the race and, in the final laps, attempted to challenge the eventual gold medalist, Canadian skater Charles Hamelin. Han Tianyu ultimately finished second, securing the silver medal with a time of 2:15.055, while Victor An took the bronze. Later in the Games, on February 21, he also earned a bronze medal as part of the Chinese team in the men's 5000 metre relay, with a time of 6:48.341.
He continued his Olympic success at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where he was part of the Chinese men's 5000 metre relay team that won a silver medal.
4.2. World Championships
Han Tianyu has achieved considerable success at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, including multiple gold medals and an overall title.
At the 2014 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal, Canada, he secured a silver medal in the men's 1500 metres with a time of 2:15.138.
The following year, at the 2015 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Moscow, Russia, he won a bronze medal in the 500 metres event (41.202 seconds) and a gold medal as part of the 5000 metre relay team (6:55.980).
His most successful World Championships performance came at the 2016 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul, South Korea. On March 12, he won the gold medal in the men's 1500 metres, making him the first male Chinese skater to win this event at the World Championships. The next day, March 13, he finished first in the men's 3000 metres superfinal, which also secured him the gold medal in the men's overall classification. This achievement made Han Tianyu only the second Chinese skater in history, after Li Jiajun, to win the World Championships Men's overall gold medal. He also contributed to the Chinese team's gold medal in the 5000 metre relay at the same championships.
At the 2017 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, he earned a silver medal as part of the 5000 metre relay team.
4.3. World Cup Series
Han Tianyu has consistently performed well in the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup series, earning numerous podium finishes throughout his career.
In the 2012-2013 ISU World Cup season, he secured a silver medal in the 5000 metre relay in Montreal, Canada, on October 28, 2012, with a time of 6:45.864. He also won two bronze medals in the 5000 metre relay: in Nagoya, Japan, on December 2, 2012 (6:47.885), and in Sochi, Russia, on February 3, 2013 (6:49.925).
During the 2014-2015 ISU World Cup season, he continued to achieve success. On November 9, 2014, he won a silver medal in the 5000 metre relay in Salt Lake City, United States, with a time of 6:39.715. He added another bronze medal in the 5000 metre relay in Dresden, Germany, on February 8, 2015 (6:55.225). He then achieved two gold medals in Erzurum, Turkey, winning the 1500 metres on February 14, 2015 (2:13.354), and the 5000 metre relay on February 15, 2015 (6:50.822).
4.4. Asian Winter Games
Han Tianyu has also medaled at the Asian Winter Games. At the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan, he was a member of the Chinese men's 5000 metre relay team that won the gold medal.
5. Personal Bests
Han Tianyu's personal best times in official short track speed skating competitions are as follows:
- 500 metres: 40.419 seconds (achieved in 2016)
- 1000 metres: 1:24.490 seconds (achieved in 2014)
- 1500 metres: 2:10.395 seconds (achieved in 2016)
- 3000 metres: 4:49.450 seconds (achieved in 2016)
