Fabric of success: Sportswear tech powers nation’s Olympians
Technology is playing an increasingly important role in maximizing athletes’ performances in winter sports. Former Olympic champion freeskier Han Xiaopeng is so impressed by the latest in textile tech that he says it’s almost enough to entice him out of retirement.
“After seeing the equipment and sportswear that our athletes will use at the Beijing Winter Olympics, for a second I thought, ‘I wonder if I can make a comeback!” Han said at Friday’s launch ceremony for Team China’s Beijing 2022 podium uniform and sportswear, which is produced by Anta.
“Honestly speaking, I really envy the current generation of athletes. In the old days, the quality of sportswear and gear for our winter Olympians wasn’t quite up to standard. Our athletes nowadays receive comprehensive support from Team China, especially in terms of sportsrelated technology.”
The 38-year-old Han won the men’s freestyle skiing aerials title at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin — China’s first Olympic gold in a snow event. Since retiring, he has kept a keen eye on the latest generation of athletes hoping to make further breakthroughs for China at next month’s Beijing Winter Olympics.
“I have always kept tabs on the development of Chinese freestyle skiing, especially my discipline. I also like to watch the speed skating, both short-track and the longer distances. I love the competitiveness and seeing how situations change within seconds during competition,” Han added.
“In terms of athletes, I hope Xu Mengtao, who can now be considered a veteran, can make more breakthroughs in freeski aerials at the Beijing Games. As for the young athletes, I have high expectations of freeskier Gu Ailing, who is very talented and capable of producing stunning tricks and moves.
“I can see how the sportswear has improved and the better quality of gear in general. A lot of equipment uses advanced technology. Compared to my time, athletes nowadays enjoy a better training environment and support, which can all help Team China to achieve better results at the Beijing Winter Olympics.”
In addition to the podium uniform, Anta also unveiled the sportswear and equipment it is providing for 12 of Team China’s squads, including short-track speed skating, skeleton, and curling.
Anta has provided Team China’s uniforms for seven consecutive Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and continues to upgrade the quality by using the latest technology.
Team China’s podium uniform keeps athletes warm in temperatures as low -20 C, while the outfit is extremely light to ensure maximum comfort.
State-of-the-art tech also features heavily in the sportswear for the various squads. Speed skaters are kitted out in uniforms that utilize air turbulence control technology and high-resilience materials to reduce wind drag on the track. The gear underwent extensive testing in a wind tunnel in order to select the best design.
Skeleton athletes, meanwhile, will benefit from wearing Anta’s specially designed wing-shaped shoes to reduce wind drag.
Another winter sports veteran impressed by how technology will power Chinese athletes at Beijing 2022 is Ye Qiaobo — the speed skater who won China’s first ever Winter Olympics medal, a silver, at the 1992 Games in Albertville, France.
“Since retiring, I’ve been working in the winter sports sector and sportswear development has always been a focus. So, I’ve expanded my knowledge learning about the sportswear that Team China athletes will use at the Beijing Winter Olympics,” Ye said at Friday’s launch.
“For example, the sportswear for the curling team uses high-resilience materials and can repel static electricity, which can affect the action on the ice. And in terms of the skeleton, the outfits are customized to each athlete’s body shape and racing style. All these technologies were almost unthinkable back in my day.
“I’m looking forward to the Beijing Winter Olympics. I will pay particular attention to speed skating. In terms of the current generation of athletes, I am expecting big things from young stars such as Gao Tingyu, Wu Dajing, Ren Ziwei and Gu Ailing. They all have great potential and talent.”
Star artistic gymnast Zou Jingyuan, who won gold at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, was also a guest at Friday’s launch, and wished all China’s winter sports aces the best of luck.
“After seeing the Winter Olympics podium uniform for the first time, it feels very similar to our uniform at the Tokyo Games. But upon closer inspection, it’s easy to identify the differences,” said Zou.
“As an artistic gymnast, I like winter sports that require great physical skill, such as figure skating and freestyle skiing.”
Anta also produced Team China’s podium uniform at the Tokyo Olympics, with both the Summer and Winter Games designs the brainchild of Oscar-winning art director Ye Jintian, aka Tim Yip.
“The design for the podium uniform is inspired by traditional Chinese culture. As the host nation, we will welcome friends from across the globe to the Beijing Winter Olympics. So this will be a great chance for us to showcase Chinese culture and the latest sports technology to the world,” said the designer.
“At the very beginning, we came up with an overall plan to design the two podium uniforms. We wanted to have the same philosophy for the uniforms at the Summer and Winter Games.
“Hosting the Winter Olympics is very significant for us. I believe the Beijing Winter Games will be really special, and I wish the best of luck to our athletes and hope they shine and make breakthroughs.”*
In the old days, the quality of sportswear and gear for our winter Olympians wasn’t quite up to standard. Our athletes nowadays receive comprehensive support from Team China, especially in terms of sports-related technology.”
Han Xiaopeng, Turin Olympics freestyle aerials gold medalist