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Liu Shaolin

China

SportShort Track
FederationIDSTCHN12011199502
NOCChina
Born20 Nov 1995 in Budapest 
GenderMen
LanguagesEnglish, Hungarian, Mandarin
OccupationAthlete
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 39.732 03 Nov 2019 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:23.163 10 Nov 2018 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 2:09.213 09 Feb 2022 Beijing  
    3000m 4:46.110 13 Jan 2019 Dordrecht  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    2000m Relay     1  
    5000m Relay 1      
World Championships
Event  
World Championships
    500m 1 1    
    1000m 1      
    5000m Relay 1 2 2  
    Overall   2 1  
World Junior Championships
Event  
World Junior Championships
    3000m Relay   1    
    Overall     2  
European Championships
Event  
European Championships
    500m 1 1    
    1000m 2 1    
    1500m 1      
    5000m Relay 1 2 2  
    Overall 1 3    
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He took up short track in 2005 in Budapest, Hungary.  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationREPRESENTING CHINA
He began representing the People's Republic of China in mid-2023. (ISU, 12 Oct 2023)

BROTHER
He credits the importance of his younger brother Shaoang Liu in his career. Shaolin finished first while his brother placed second in the 1000m at the 2021 World Championships in Dordrecht, Netherlands. "Our father always said that as I was older I would pay attention to my brother, help him, and get the best out of everything. I promised this, but it is mutual because I feel he is always trying to help, and trying to be the best brother. I never felt he would have been envious of any of my achievements, like I have never been of him. Dad always said it doesn't matter who gets the gold medal, but keep it in the family. So, everything we own we share it." (redbull.com, 06 Jul 2021, 13 Mar 2021; hungarytoday.hu, 08 Mar 2021; medium.com, 17 Feb 2018; origo.hu, 14 Feb 2017; blikk.hu, 08 Mar 2013)

CHINESE TRAINING
He and his younger brother Shaoang Liu were born to a Chinese father and a Hungarian mother, and had the opportunity to train in the People's Republic of China early in their careers. "We were really lucky. When we started there was a world championships in Hungary [in 2006] and the Chinese team came. My father, being Chinese, started speaking with them, helped with different things in Hungary and getting to know the country. They said since his two sons were Chinese they should come and train in China. It sounded good to him so he decided to take the chance to bring us to China and we trained there for one-and-a-half years. It was tough. Physically and mentally. In Hungary, we had one or two ice sessions per week, and in China we had two ice sessions a day. It was a whole different experience. The locals were just like machines - there are millions of skaters there and they want to build champions. It's like a factory. Before our results weren't really good. After that time we came back from China and we won every competition." (olympics.com, 21 Oct 2021; redbull.com, 06 Jul 2021, 13 Mar 2021; medium.com, 17 Feb 2018; isu.org, 14 Feb 2017)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHe took up the sport together with his younger brother. "Before we were swimming. We did that for one or two years but we always got sick from the water and used to always have a cold. It was more bad than good for us so we tried to swap to another sport. We were looking for different choices in Hungary and we just found short track. I don't know how it happened. I'd never heard about speed skating and loved it, although I don't think we were very talented."  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHis family, especially his brother, and coach Zhang Jing. (Athlete, 09 Nov 2018; english.news.cn, 13 Jul 2022; Instagram profile, 08 Aug 2022)  
Hero / IdolShort track skater [and his brother] Shaoang Liu, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. (Athlete, 09 Nov 2018)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Never let haters get you down." (Athlete, 13 Jan 2017)  
Famous relativesHis younger brother Shaoang Liu has competed in short track internationally. Representing Hungary, he was part of the 5000m relay team that won gold at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. He also won gold [500m] and two bronze medals [2000m mixed relay and 1000m] at the 2022 Games in Beijing, before switching to represent People's Republic of China in 2023. (hungarytoday.hu, 14 Feb 2022; SportsDeskOnline, 27 Oct 2022; index.hu, 10 Jul 2017; Athlete, 13 Jan 2017)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/Shaolin-Sandor-Liu-1174754759309932/  
twitter.com/ShaolinLiu  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementWinning gold in the 5000m relay at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (Skating ISU YouTube channel, 19 Mar 2021; Athlete, 09 Nov 2018)  
MilestonesPrior to representing People's Republic of China, he was part of the men's 5000m relay team that won Hungary's first gold medal in any sport at the Olympic Winter Games by claiming victory at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. (OIS, 22 Feb 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 23 Dec 2020)  
Awards and honoursHe was named the 2018 Sportsman of the Year by the Hungarian Sports Journalists' Association. (hungarytoday.hu, 15 Feb 2019)  
InjuriesHe tested positive for COVID-19 twice in 2020. He experienced symptoms of the virus on both occasions and missed significant training time. (Skating ISU YouTube channel, 19 Mar 2021; ulloi129.hu, 09 Nov 2020; hungarytoday.hu, 18 Sep 2020)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2016/2017 European Championships 1000m1  
    2018/2019 European Championships Overall1  
    2018/2019 European Championships 5000m Relay1  
    2020/2021 World Championships 1000m1  
    2018 Olympic Games 5000m Relay1  
    2015/2016 World Championships 500m1  
    2023/2024 World Championships 5000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 European Championships 1500m1  
    2019/2020 European Championships 1000m1  
    2019/2020 European Championships 500m1  
    2017/2018 World Championships Overall2  
    2019/2020 European Championships Overall2  
    2015/2016 European Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2020/2021 World Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2020/2021 World Championships Overall2  
    2018/2019 European Championships 1000m2  
    2014/2015 World Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2014/2015 European Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2016/2017 European Championships Overall2  
    2013/2014 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2014/2015 World Championships 500m2  
    2018/2019 European Championships 500m2  
    2015/2016 European Championships Overall2  
    2016/2017 World Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2014/2015 World Junior Championships Overall3  
    2017/2018 European Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2022 Olympic Games 2000m Relay3  
    2013/2014 World Junior Championships Overall3  
    2015/2016 World Championships Overall3  
    2018/2019 World Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2012/2013 European Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2016/2017 European Championships 500m4  
    2016/2017 European Championships 1500m4  
    2020/2021 World Championships 1500m4  
    2014/2015 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay4  
    2015/2016 World Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2018/2019 World Championships 500m4  
    2017/2018 World Championships 1500m4  
    2011/2012 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay4  
    2019/2020 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2020/2021 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2016/2017 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2013/2014 European Championships 5000m Relay5  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m5  
    2020/2021 European Championships 1500m5  
    2018 Olympic Games 1500m5  
    2015/2016 World Championships 1500m5  
    2014/2015 World Championships Overall6  
    2017/2018 World Championships 1000m6  
    2016/2017 World Championships 1000m6  
    2022 Olympic Games 1500m6  
    2022 Olympic Games 5000m Relay6  
    2016/2017 World Championships 1500m6  
    2012/2013 World Junior Championships Overall6  
    2014/2015 World Championships 1500m7  
    2019/2020 European Championships 1500m7  
    2016/2017 World Championships 500m8  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m8  
    2020/2021 World Championships 500m8  
    2014/2015 European Championships Overall8  
    2011/2012 European Championships 5000m Relay8  
    2017/2018 World Championships 5000m Relay8  
    2012/2013 World Championships 5000m Relay8  
    2012/2013 European Championships Overall9  
    2018/2019 World Championships Overall10  
    2018/2019 World Championships 1000m10  
    2020/2021 European Championships Overall10  
    2020/2021 European Championships 500m10  
    2016/2017 World Championships Overall10  
    2015/2016 World Championships 1000m10  
    2020/2021 European Championships 1000m11  
    2010/2011 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay11  
    2014/2015 World Championships 1000m12  
    2017/2018 World Championships 500m12  
    2022 Olympic Games 500m13  
    2012/2013 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay13  
    2014 Olympic Games 1000m16  
    2011/2012 European Championships Overall17  
    2014 Olympic Games 500m18  
    2013/2014 World Championships 500m18  
    2013/2014 European Championships Overall20  
    2014 Olympic Games 1500m20  
    2012/2013 World Championships 1000m20  
    2018/2019 World Championships 1500m20  
    2013/2014 World Championships Overall22  
    2013/2014 World Championships 1500m24  
    2013/2014 World Championships 1000m25  
    2012/2013 World Championships Overall26  
    2011/2012 World Junior Championships Overall28  
    2012/2013 World Championships 500m29  
    2012/2013 World Championships 1500m31  
    2010/2011 World Junior Championships Overall40  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m1  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 500m1  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Dresden 500m1  
    2015/2016 Shanghai 5000m Relay1  
    2023/2024 Montreal, QC 2000m Relay1  
    2023/2024 Montreal, QC 2000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 Montreal, QC 5000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 Montreal, QC 500m1  
    2021/2022 Beijing 500m1  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 500m1  
    2021/2022 Debrecen 500m1  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m1  
    2023/2024 Montreal, QC 5000m Relay1  
    2023/2024 Seoul 5000m Relay1  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 5000m Relay1  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 2000m Relay1  
    2017/2018 Budapest 500m1  
    2017/2018 Seoul 1000m1  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 500m1  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 500m1  
    2019/2020 Dresden 2000m Relay1  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m2  
    2014/2015 Shanghai 500m2  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 500m2  
    2017/2018 Seoul 500m2  
    2014/2015 Montreal, QC 5000m Relay2  
    2019/2020 Dresden 1000m2  
    2015/2016 Toronto, ON 500m2  
    2015/2016 Dordrecht 1000m2  
    2018/2019 Dresden 2000m Relay2  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 500m2  
    2014/2015 Dresden 5000m Relay2  
    2015/2016 Nagoya 1000m2  
    2021/2022 Beijing 5000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 Turin 500m2  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m2  
    2019/2020 Dresden 500m2  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1000m2  
    2017/2018 Dordrecht 1500m2  
    2023/2024 Montreal, QC 500m2  
    2023/2024 Beijing 2000m Relay2  
    2021/2022 Dordrecht 2000m Relay2  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 5000m Relay2  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m3  
    2014/2015 Montreal, QC 1000m3  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 500m3  
    2015/2016 Montreal, QC 5000m Relay3  
    2014/2015 Shanghai 1000m3  
    2018/2019 Dresden 5000m Relay3  
    2023/2024 Beijing 5000m Relay3  
    2021/2022 Nagoya 5000m Relay3  
    2021/2022 Dordrecht 5000m Relay3  
    2021/2022 Debrecen 5000m Relay3  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m4  
    2014/2015 Dresden 1000m4  
    2016/2017 Dresden 5000m Relay4  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 5000m Relay4  
    2018/2019 Dresden 1000m4  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m5  
    2016/2017 Dresden 1500m5  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 500m5  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 500m5  
    2015/2016 Dresden 500m5  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1500m5  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay5  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 500m5  
    2018/2019 Dresden 1000m5  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m6  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m6  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 500m6  
    2018/2019 Almaty 5000m Relay6  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 5000m Relay6  
    2018/2019 Almaty 500m6  
    2015/2016 Dresden 1500m6  
    2019/2020 Dresden 5000m Relay6  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1500m7  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m7  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m7  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m7  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 1500m7  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay7  
    2018/2019 Almaty 1500m7  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1000m8  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 2000m Relay8  
    2018/2019 Almaty 2000m Relay8  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 500m9  
    2015/2016 Dresden 5000m Relay9  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 500m9  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m10  
    2012/2013 Dresden 5000m Relay11  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1000m13  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1500m13  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 500m14  
    2014/2015 Dresden 500m17  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1500m22  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 1500m23  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1000m24  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m25  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification Overall26  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1500m28  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 500m30  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1500m30  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m31  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m38  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m40  
    2012/2013 Dresden 1500m43  
    2012/2013 Dresden 1000m49  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 500m68  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m79  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m110