Rising star

Li's path to victory was far from smooth, though. In his first jump, a critical error resulted in a score of just 44.25 points, placing the youngster last in the field. "The wind speed and direction affected my first jump, leading to a landing mistake," Li recalled.

Despite the setback, Li received encouragement and advice from his coach and teammates. "My coach told me: 'What's done is done. Now focus on your next jump. Learn from your first round, avoid repeating the same mistakes, and enjoy the competition'," Li said.

He quickly rebounded, scoring 104.49 points on his second run, reaching the final. In the decisive round, he secured the top spot.

The Chinese team dominated the competition, with Li attributing the success to the strong legacy of China's aerials program.

"China's freestyle skiing aerials is world-class, so young athletes like me have world champions to look up to," Li said. "Thanks to years of training, and support from senior teammates, we've developed the strength we are seeing today. I feel lucky to be part of this golden era for Chinese aerials."

Ji Dong, head coach of China's aerials team, described the Asian Winter Games as a crucial step in its preparation for the Winter Olympics, offering a chance to assess the athletes' progress. The team's mix of veterans, mid-career athletes, and rising stars, like Qi, Wang Xindi, and Li, is the key to their success, he said.

During the medal ceremony, Li, Qi, and Yang proudly posed with the national flag. Qi, smiling at the rise of the younger generation, viewed the result as proof of the team's growth.

"When I was young, older athletes guided me. Now, as a veteran, I want to pass on that legacy," Qi said. "Young athletes must surpass me to ensure the future of the sport."

In Tuesday's men's synchro event, Qi and Li won bronze. Before each jump, Qi would tell Li: "Focus on your jump, I'll find your rhythm." Li credits Qi's guidance as crucial to his confidence, calling him an irreplaceable "pillar of stability" for the team.

In Monday's team event, Li, alongside Qi and Xu, delivered standout performances, helping China secure its first-ever gold medal in the aerials team competition at the Asian Winter Games.

"It's an honor to compete with two Olympic champions. I was a bit nervous at first, worried I wouldn't perform well alongside them," Li said.

"But, today, I felt much more at ease. My teammates provided constant encouragement and support, and when I struggled in previous competitions, they offered comfort, motivation and technical advice."

This was the second time Xu and Li teamed up for a mixed team event, and both times they have claimed gold.

"Our first win was in Lake Placid last month, and I was proud to witness Li's first World Cup victory. Today, we made history again. Li is a dedicated, humble and focused athlete, and I have high hopes for his future," Xu said.

So does Li. After three days of intense competition, Li expressed his commitment to continue refining his skills, so that he will arrive in Milan next year in peak form.