Wang Yihan (figure skater)

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Nativename
王一涵 (Chinese)
Other namesLiuliu
Katie
Born (2010-03-11) 11 March 2010 (age 16)
Beijing, China
HometownBeijing, China
Wang Yihan
Wang during the free skate at the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final
Personal information
Native name
王一涵 (Chinese)
Other namesLiuliu
Katie
Born (2010-03-11) 11 March 2010 (age 16)
Beijing, China
Home townBeijing, China
Height1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)
Figure skating career
CountryChina China
DisciplineWomen's singles
CoachGao Weijun
Sofia Fedchenko
Skating clubBeijing Xinghong Ao Skating Club 
Began skating2016
Chinese Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Chengde Singles

Wang Yihan (Chinese: 王一涵; pinyin: Wáng Yīhán; born 11 March 2010) is a Chinese figure skater. She is the 2024 Chinese national champion, the 2024 JGP Thailand champion, and the 2024 JGP China bronze medalist. She is the first Chinese woman to win a gold medal on the Junior Grand Prix.[1]

Wang was born on 11 March 2010, in Beijing, China. As hobbies, she enjoys painting and dancing.[2] In addition, Wang is able to speak English proficiently.[3]

She is often nicknamed "Liuliu."[4]

Wang has cited Mao Shimada and Shin Ji-a as figure skating role models.[5]

Career

Early career

In 2015, following the successful bid for Wang's home city of Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, figure skating in China saw a sudden surge in popularity. This encouraged a then five-year-old Wang to try the sport for herself. During her first year of figure skating, she would constantly travel between the Shijingshan, Haidian, and Chaoyang districts since each public rink in Beijing often became too crowded for her to get sufficient practice time in one place. It was not until 2016 when Wang was able to join the Beijing Xinghong Ao Skating Club. There, Gao Weijun became her coach.[6][2][4]

She debuted as an advanced novice skater at the 2022 Chinese Novice Championships, where she won silver. The following year, she won another silver medal at the 2023 Chinese Novice Championships.[7]

2023–24 season

Wang made her international debut on the 2023–24 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit. She finished twelfth at 2023 JGP Hungary and fourth at 2023 JGP Poland. Wang would go on to win bronze at the 2024 Chinese Junior Championships. One month following those national championships, she would claim gold at the 2024 Chinese Championships in the senior women's event.[8][7]

During the 2024 Four Continents Championships, held in Shanghai, China, Wang was invited to perform in the gala.[9] She then finished off the season by taking gold on the junior level of the 2024 National Winter Games.[7]

2024–25 season

Wang during the short program at the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final

Wang began her season by competing on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. At her first assignment, the 2024 JGP Thailand, three-time World Junior silver medalist Shin Ji-a entered as the gold medal favourite, but struggled. Wang unexpectedly claimed the gold medal, making history as the first skater from China to win a Junior Grand Prix title in the women's singles event.[10][3][1] She followed this achievement with a bronze medal finish on home ice at the 2024 JGP China, qualifying for the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final.[11] At the Final, Wang skated two clean programs and finished in fourth place overall.[12][13] Following the event, she said, "I feel really happy as I was able to land my jumps. This is my first time in the JGP final and that made me feel a bit nervous but I enjoyed skating here a lot."[14]

Selected to compete at the 2025 World Junior Championships in late February, Wang placed eighth in the short program and sixteenth in the free skate, finishing twelfth overall.[7]

2025–26 season

Wang started the season by competing on the Junior Grand Prix series, winning bronze at 2025 JGP Italy and placing fourth at 2025 JGP Azerbaijan.[7] In December, she won the 2026 Chinese Junior Championships.[7]

In early March, Wang finished 5th at the 2026 Junior World Championships.[15][16]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2025–2026
[17][18][19]

2024–2025
[2]
2023–2024
[6]

Competitive highlights

Competition placements at senior level[7]
Season 2023–24
Chinese Championships 1st
Competition placements at junior level[7]
Season 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26
World Junior Championships 12th 5th
Junior Grand Prix Final 4th
Chinese Championships 3rd 1st
JGP Azerbaijan 4th
JGP China 3rd
JGP Hungary 12th
JGP Italy 3rd
JGP Poland 4th
JGP Thailand 1st
National Winter Games 1st

Detailed results

References

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