by sportswriters Dong Yixing and Wang Jingyu
BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- When Qi Mengyao stepped onto the ice at the 2025 ISU World Short Track Championships in Beijing, few would have guessed that the coach guiding Italy's rising stars once dreamed of representing China as an athlete.
Now, the 37-year-old from Changchun has carved an unlikely path from unheralded skater to architect of Italy's Olympic ambitions.
At this month's worlds, her squad - a blend of raw talent and experienced veterans - claimed silver in the mixed team relay and bronze in the men's 1,000m, signaling their growing threat ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
For Qi, it's a testament to resilience, cross-cultural grit, and a coaching philosophy forged across three continents.
Born in China's northeastern ice sports heartland in Jilin Province, Qi's journey began at Changchun's amateur rinks. A sickly child, she was spotted by coach Kong Xin for her speed during school races. By her teens, she trained alongside future legends like Yang Yang, China's first Winter Olympic champion, in national youth camps and competed at the 2004 World Junior Championships.
But injuries and the rise of younger talents like Zhou Yang left Qi sidelined and uncertain about her future. Forced to retire in 2009 after a knee injury, Qi aimed for graduate studies at Beijing Sport University but fell short on her English exam.
"My parents supported me to start fresh abroad," she recalled. Drawn to Calgary, Canada, where she had trained briefly as a teen, Qi initially pursued business studies. But a volunteer coaching stint at a local club changed everything.
"The club director saw my background and said, 'Why not study coaching?' That changed everything," she said.
After graduating from Calgary's coaching academy, Qi honed her craft at the University of Calgary's training center, ascending from youth teams to mentoring future national squad members.
Her breakthrough came when Canadian skating officials, impressed by her juniors' progress, invited her to support national team staff. "They sent me to junior tournaments and World Cups. Olympic champion Charles Hamelin's father, then head of the association, believed in nurturing coaches at all levels. That trust was pivotal."
By 2018, her reputation drew interest from Chinese speed skating icon Wang Xiuli, who invited her to return home. Plans stalled due to the pandemic, but in 2023, Italy came calling. "They had cycled through coaches but waited two years for me. They wanted stability, and someone who could develop youth," said Qi.
Now based in Italy's alpine training hub of Bormio, Qi balances veteran leadership and nurturing raw talent. For stars like Beijing 2022 silver medalist Pietro Sighel, she prioritizes collaboration over authority.
"I spent a season building trust. I didn't try to change him, but to enhance what's already there with my methods. We would review footage together, identify issues and find solutions as partners," Qi explained. "Now we have become more harmonious in aspects such as training methods, techniques, intensity, volume, as well as teamwork on the rink."
Her young skaters, meanwhile, are works in progress. "This season, their tactical awareness grew. Our relays could have medaled more, but details cost us," Qi said. "Seeing their improvement brings me great comfort."
"In Canada, everything is hyper-professional. In Europe, teams across borders train together, like Austria, France, and Hungary. They share plans, learn from each other," noted Qi, who envisions herself as a cultural bridge. "I've absorbed different systems. My value isn't just coaching a team, it's connecting philosophies."
Balancing career and family remains her toughest relay. Her husband shuttles between Canada and Italy, while her parents, once skeptical of her skating dreams, now help care for her children in Europe.
"In spring and summer, my family stays in Italy. When the season starts, they return to Calgary. It's not ideal, but we make it work," said Qi, who would hit Bormio's slopes, a five-minute drive from the rink, to recharge herself between training sessions.
As Milan-Cortina 2026 approaches, Qi keeps expectations grounded. "The federation hasn't set medal targets, but we'll aim high. I tell my skaters to control the process, rather than the outcome. Execute the plan, nail the tactics, and results will follow."
"Passion is energy" serves as Qi's motto that drives her through every decision. "As long as you have passion and strong liking for something, you'll have enough energy to accomplish what you want to achieve," she said.
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