1. Personal life
Wang Yihan was born on March 11, 2010, in Beijing, China. Beyond her dedication to figure skating, she engages in hobbies such as painting and dancing. She is also proficient in the English language. Wang is often affectionately referred to by her nickname, "Liuliu."
2. Career
Wang Yihan's figure skating journey began amid a surge of interest in the sport within China, leading to her rapid ascent through the ranks.
2.1. Early career
In 2015, following the successful bid for her home city of Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, there was a noticeable increase in the popularity of figure skating across China. This newfound enthusiasm encouraged a then five-year-old Wang to take up the sport. During her initial year of training, she frequently had to travel between different districts of Beijing, including Shijingshan, Haidian, and Chaoyang. This was due to the public rinks in Beijing often becoming too crowded, preventing her from getting sufficient practice time in a single location.
By 2016, Wang found a more stable training environment when she joined the Beijing Xinghong Ao Skating Club. It was there that she began training under her first coach, Gao Weijun. She made her debut as an advanced novice skater at the 2022 Chinese Novice Championships, where she earned a silver medal. The following year, she secured another silver medal at the 2023 Chinese Novice Championships.
2.2. 2023-24 season
Wang made her international debut during the 2023-24 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit. She competed at the 2023 JGP Hungary, finishing in twelfth place, and subsequently placed fourth at the 2023 JGP Poland.
Domestically, Wang continued to achieve success. She won a bronze medal at the 2023 Chinese Junior Championships. A month later, she competed in the senior women's event at the 2023 Chinese Championships, where she impressively claimed the gold medal. During the 2024 Four Continents Championships, held in Shanghai, China, Wang was invited to perform in the gala exhibition. She concluded her season by securing a gold medal at the junior level of the 2024 National Winter Games.
2.3. 2024-25 season
Wang commenced her season by competing on the 2024-25 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit. Her first assignment was the 2024 JGP Thailand. Despite three-time World Junior silver medalist Shin Ji-a being considered the favorite, Wang unexpectedly secured the gold medal. This victory marked a historic moment, as she became the first skater from China to win a Junior Grand Prix title in the women's singles event.
Following this significant achievement, Wang earned a bronze medal at the 2024 JGP China, which was held on home ice. This result qualified her for the prestigious 2024-25 Junior Grand Prix Final. At the Final, Wang delivered two clean programs and finished in fourth place overall. Reflecting on her performance after the event, she stated, "I feel really happy as I was able to land my jumps. This is my first time in the JGP final and that made me feel a bit nervous but I enjoyed skating here a lot."
3. Programs
| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2024-2025 |
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| 2023-2024 |
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| International: Junior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | 23-24 | 24-25 |
| World Juniors | 12th | |
| JGP Final | 4th | |
| JGP China | 3rd | |
| JGP Hungary | 12th | |
| JGP Poland | 4th | |
| JGP Thailand | 1st | |
| National | ||
| Chinese Champ. | 1st | |
| Chinese Junior Champ. | 3rd | |
| National Winter Games | 1st J | |
4.3. Detailed results
Personal bests are highlighted in bold.
| 2024-25 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 25-March 2, 2025 | 2025 World Junior Championships | Junior | 8 (63.44) | 16 (112.07) | 12 (175.51) |
| December 5-8, 2024 | 2024-25 JGP Final | Junior | 4 (64.52) | 3 (123.38) | 4 (187.90) |
| October 9-12, 2024 | 2024 JGP China | Junior | 4 (63.15) | 2 (128.96) | 3 (192.11) |
| September 11-14, 2024 | 2024 JGP Thailand | Junior | 1 (65.39) | 1 (129.32) | 1 (194.71) |
| 2023-24 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| January 17-19, 2024 | 14th Chinese Winter Games | Junior | 1 (64.16) | 1 (128.61) | 1 (192.77) |
| December 22-24, 2023 | 2023 Chinese Championships | Senior | 1 (63.61) | 2 (124.98) | 1 (188.59) |
| November 24-26, 2023 | 2023 Chinese Junior Championships | Junior | 3 (56.24) | 3 (117.16) | 3 (173.40) |
| September 27-30, 2023 | 2023 JGP Poland | Junior | 6 (59.06) | 3 (117.24) | 4 (176.30) |
| September 20-23, 2023 | 2023 JGP Hungary | Junior | 4 (60.43) | 13 (94.85) | 12 (155.28) |
5. Legacy and reception
Wang Yihan's victory at the 2024 JGP Thailand holds significant historical meaning for figure skating in China. By winning the gold medal, she became the first Chinese woman to claim a title on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. This achievement marks a pivotal moment, breaking new ground for Chinese women's singles skating on the international stage and inspiring future generations of skaters in the country. Her success is seen as a testament to the growing depth and potential within Chinese figure skating, particularly in a discipline where top-tier international medals have been less common for female athletes from the nation.