China: Olympic Tradition

China first entered Winter Olympic competition in 1980 and has been represented at every Winter Games since.

It has won 33 medals at the Winter Games - 4 gold, 16 silver and 13 bronze. China won its first three Olympic medals in 1992 in Albertville. There, speed skater Ye Qiaobo won two silvers, capping an impressive comeback; she had tested positive for steroids before the Calgary Games and was sent home in disgrace. Short track speed skater Li Yan won China's third medal in Albertville, a silver.

In Lillehammer, China won its first figure skating medal with Lu Chen taking home the bronze in ladies' singles; she repeated that performance in Nagano.

Also in Nagano, China won its first skiing medal ever, with Xu Nannan winning silver in women's aerials.

The main story, though, for China's Winter Olympic team in Nagano was its short track speed skating team, which won five silver medals and one bronze. The team was led by Yang Yang (S), who won three silvers, and Yang Yang (A) who won one silver.

In Salt Lake, China won eight medals, including its first two winter golds. Both gold medals were won by Yang Yang (A) in short track.

At the 2006 Torino Games, China sent 73 athletes and its medal count increased to 11 (two gold, four silvers, five bronzes). Wang Meng captured a medal of each value in short track speed skating, and Han Xiaopeng went from a 24th (out of 25) place in Salt Lake to 1st in Torino.

China did not compete at any Olympic Games between the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games and the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games.

Beijing hosted an extremely successful 2008 Summer Games, as Chinese athletes won an astounding 51 gold medals.