Han Mei celebrates winning the gold at the Asian Winter Games. [Photo/huhhot.gov.cn]

Han Mei's parents cheer for their daughter as they watch the live broadcast at the Hohhot Sports Center. [Photo/Hohhot Daily]

Hohhot-born speed skater Han Mei clinched three gold medals and two silvers after competing in five events at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, cementing her legacy as a triple gold winner on ice.

Born in 1998, Han developed a strong passion for roller skating when she was seven or eight. Recognizing her interest, her parents enrolled her in training. Coach Wang Yupeng noticed her talent, outstanding endurance, and exceptional speed potential during her sessions and decided to transition her from roller skating to speed skating.

"Han Mei is incredibly hardworking. She would arrive at the rink before dawn and tirelessly repeat starts, accelerations, and turns. In the summer, when there was no ice, she trained on land – squatting, jumping, and simulating skating movements for hours," Wang recalled, praising his former student.

In 2012, Han joined the national youth team. In 2016, she won the women's 1500m speed skating final at the 13th National Winter Games, setting a new national record of 1min 59.04 sec and breaking a record that had stood for nearly 16 years.

In 2017, she claimed silver in the women's 5000m at the 8th Asian Winter Games in Sapporo. In 2022, she finished fifth in the women's team pursuit at the Beijing Winter Olympics. During the 2023–2024 season, she secured silver in both the women's 1000m and 1500m at the World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships. In 2024, she won gold in the women's 5000m at the 14th National Winter Games. Step by step, Han has become a leading figure in speed skating.

On the fourth day of the 9th Asian Winter Games, her parents, first coach, and fellow speed skaters gathered at the Hohhot Sports Center's media room, cheering as they watched her compete on the big screen.

Han stated that she would not let her achievements make her complacent. "To establish myself not just in Asia but on the world stage, I must continuously improve, close the gap, and ultimately surpass my limits," she said.