Teenager Chi claims first ever cross-country Olympic medal for China

LILLEHAMMER, Norway -- Teenage sensation Chi Chunxue grabbed the first ever cross-country Olympic medal for China at the second Youth Winter Games here on Thursday.

Chi clocked 13 minutes and 29.9 second to claim the silver medal of women's 5km free cross-country skiing, trailing Russian winner Maya Yakunina by 31.1 seconds. Finland's Rebecca Immonen came up to the third position at further six seconds.

The 17-year-old Chinese, the fourth starter in Thursday's race with relatively high FIS (International Ski Federation) distance points, had led the rankings all along until Yakunina, the penultimate starter, crossed the finish with a time of 12:58.5.

"I'm so happy that we Chinese finally earn an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing," said Chi, a native of Northeastern China's Heilongjiang province where nurses a lot of established winter sports athletes of the country.

"I've never expected to make a history but just to do my best and to walk off my last race here with no regrets," she added.

The best result of China's cross-country skiing at Olympic Games is the 18th position claimed by female skier Wang Chunli at Turin Winter Games 10 years ago. Chi's silver came out the first Olympic medal on junior level.

"My dream is to be an Olympian and to perform as well as today in 2022 when Beijing hosts the Winter Games," said Chi.

"En route to Beijing 2022, I wanna be better and stronger to make more podiums not only in China but on world stage," she added.