Print the Biography/Short

Liu Shaoang

China

SportShort Track
FederationIDSTCHN11303199801
NOCChina
Born13 Mar 1998 in Budapest 
GenderMen
Higher educationSport and Recreation Studies - Debrecen University: Hungary
OccupationAthlete
LanguagesEnglish, Hungarian, Mandarin
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 39.699 11 Nov 2018 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:23.021 18 Dec 2016 Gangneung  
    1500m 2:09.244 25 Nov 2021 Dordrecht  
    3000m 4:46.026 13 Jan 2019 Dordrecht  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    500m 1      
    1000m     1  
    2000m Relay     1  
    5000m Relay 1      
World Championships
Event  
World Championships
    500m 2   1  
    1000m 1 2    
    1500m 1 1    
    2000m Relay 1      
    5000m Relay 1 2 1  
    Overall 2      
World Junior Championships
Event  
World Junior Championships
    3000m Relay   1    
    Overall 1      
European Championships
Event  
European Championships
    500m 1 1    
    1000m   2    
    1500m 1 2    
    5000m Relay 1 2 1  
    Overall 1 1    
General Interest
General Interest
Famous relativesHis older brother Sandor Liu Shaolin previously represented Hungary in short track, and was part of the team that won gold in the 5000m relay at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. He also won bronze in the 2000m mixed relay 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; utanpotlassport.hu, 10 Mar 2014)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He began skating in 2005 in Budapest, Hungary.  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationREPRESENTING CHINA
He began representing the People's Republic of China in mid-2023, having previously represented Hungary. He was originally born in Budapest, Hungary, to a Chinese father and a Hungarian mother. "My physique, my physical power is Hungarian and my speed is Chinese. I have both parts." (OIS, 07 Feb 2018; blikk.hu, 08 Mar 2013; ISU, 12 Oct 2023)

BROTHER
He says training and competing with his older brother Sandor Liu Shaolin is a source of motivation. Shaoang finished second while his brother placed first in the 1000m at the 2021 World Championships in Dordrecht, Netherlands. "We live together, we do everything together. We wake up together, we eat together, we go out together, we go to training together, we come to races together. When we skate, the first and the most important thing is to cover each other. We get a lot of motivation from each other. I always will think he's the better skater, so I'm always looking up to him. Sometimes I get the better result, but it's not because he's a bad skater. Maybe he's just tired or something. We are different though. I don't talk too much. He is more social, he talks for me when I don't really want to." (olympics.com, 21 Oct 2021; hungarytoday.hu, 08 Mar 2021; OIS, 07 Feb 2018; isu.org, 05 Jan 2018)

EARLY DAYS
His father arranged for him and his brother Sandor Liu Shaolin to train in the People's Republic of China when the pair were still boys. "I was maybe eight years old, and it was super weird to go to another country where you don't know the culture and you don't know the people. It was a totally different place for me. For six months our parents stayed with us but then they left for Hungary to work. There was a woman looking after us but it was not the same. You realise that your parents have sacrificed everything for you. It was a life-changing moment and we knew we had to take it seriously." (olympics.com, 21 Oct 2021; redbull.com, 06 Jul 2021; dailynewshungary.com, 08 Dec 2019; Trans World Sport YouTube channel, 02 Nov 2019)
 
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/shaoangliu/  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementWinning gold in the 5000m relay at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"My parents always wanted me to be healthy and fit."  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerShort track skater [and his brother] Sandor Liu Shaolin, his family, and coach Zhang Jing. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019; Instagram profile, 08 Aug 2022)  
NicknamesAdo (hvg.hu, 12 Apr 2016)  
InjuriesHe sustained a minor back injury in January 2020 that affected him for two weeks. (ftasport.com, 27 Jan 2020)

He broke three bones in his left hand after falling at the 2019 World Cup event in Dresden, Germany. Six screws were inserted in his hand to fix the injury. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019; isu.org, 02 Feb 2019)

He broke his left collarbone in 2012. (Athlete, 09 Nov 2018)
 
Hero / IdolShort track skater [and his brother] Sandor Liu Shaolin. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)  
HobbiesPlaying computer games, going to the cinema, travelling. (Skating ISU YouTube channel, 31 May 2021; sportmenu.hu, 13 Mar 2020; isu.org, 05 Jan 2018)  
Social Media
Social Media
twitter.com/shaoangliu  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"Tomorrow will be better." (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)  
MilestonesBefore representing the 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. At the 2022 Games in Beijing, he became the first athlete representing Hungary to win gold in an individual event at the Olympic Winter Games after taking the 500m title. He claimed an additional two medals [bronze in 200m mixed relay and bronze in men's 1000m] in Beijing to take his tally to four total medals at the Olympic Winter Games, more than any other Hungarian athlete. (OIS, 22 Feb 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 27 Oct 2022; hungarytoday.hu, 14 Feb 2022)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2021/2022 World Championships Overall1  
    2018/2019 European Championships 5000m Relay1  
    2022 Olympic Games 500m1  
    2021/2022 World Championships 1500m1  
    2021/2022 World Championships 1000m1  
    2021/2022 World Championships 500m1  
    2018 Olympic Games 5000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 European Championships 500m1  
    2023/2024 World Championships 5000m Relay1  
    2023/2024 World Championships 2000m Relay1  
    2020/2021 World Championships 500m1  
    2019/2020 European Championships Overall1  
    2020/2021 World Championships Overall1  
    2019/2020 European Championships 1500m1  
    2016/2017 World Junior Championships Overall1  
    2016/2017 European Championships 1000m2  
    2016/2017 European Championships 1500m2  
    2018/2019 European Championships Overall2  
    2016/2017 World Championships 1000m2  
    2015/2016 European Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2020/2021 World Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2020/2021 World Championships 1000m2  
    2014/2015 World Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2014/2015 European Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2013/2014 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 European Championships 1500m2  
    2015/2016 World Championships 1500m2  
    2019/2020 European Championships 1000m2  
    2019/2020 European Championships 500m2  
    2022 Olympic Games 1000m3  
    2016/2017 World Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2017/2018 European Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2022 Olympic Games 2000m Relay3  
    2015/2016 World Championships 500m3  
    2014/2015 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay4  
    2022 Olympic Games 1500m4  
    2015/2016 World Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2016/2017 European Championships Overall4  
    2021/2022 World Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2020/2021 European Championships 1000m4  
    2015/2016 World Junior Championships Overall4  
    2016/2017 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2019/2020 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2020/2021 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2016/2017 World Championships Overall5  
    2015/2016 World Championships Overall5  
    2023/2024 World Championships 500m6  
    2016/2017 World Championships 500m6  
    2018/2019 European Championships 1000m6  
    2022 Olympic Games 5000m Relay6  
    2020/2021 European Championships 500m6  
    2020/2021 World Championships 1500m7  
    2020/2021 European Championships Overall7  
    2016/2017 European Championships 500m8  
    2014/2015 World Junior Championships Overall8  
    2017/2018 World Championships 5000m Relay8  
    2015/2016 World Championships 1000m9  
    2017/2018 World Championships 1000m9  
    2016/2017 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay10  
    2015/2016 European Championships Overall10  
    2017/2018 World Championships 1500m12  
    2013/2014 World Junior Championships Overall13  
    2012/2013 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay13  
    2017/2018 World Championships Overall14  
    2015/2016 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay16  
    2017/2018 World Championships 500m18  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m19  
    2018 Olympic Games 1500m20  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m1  
    2023/2024 Beijing 1000m1  
    2015/2016 Shanghai 5000m Relay1  
    2023/2024 Montreal, QC 2000m Relay1  
    2023/2024 Montreal, QC 2000m Relay1  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 Montreal, QC 5000m Relay1  
    2023/2024 Seoul 500m1  
    2021/2022 Dordrecht 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 1000m1  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 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  
    2018/2019 Almaty 1000m1  
    2023/2024 Montreal, QC 500m1  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay1  
    2019/2020 Nagoya 500m1  
    2021/2022 Debrecen 500m2  
    2014/2015 Montreal, QC 5000m Relay2  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 500m2  
    2018/2019 Almaty 500m2  
    2014/2015 Dresden 5000m Relay2  
    2021/2022 Beijing 5000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 500m2  
    2019/2020 Nagoya 1000m2  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 1000m2  
    2023/2024 Beijing 2000m Relay2  
    2021/2022 Dordrecht 2000m Relay2  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 5000m Relay2  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m3  
    2016/2017 Dresden 500m3  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 500m3  
    2021/2022 Nagoya 2000m Relay3  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 500m3  
    2015/2016 Montreal, QC 5000m Relay3  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 1000m3  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1000m3  
    2017/2018 Seoul 500m3  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 500m3  
    2023/2024 Beijing 5000m Relay3  
    2021/2022 Debrecen 5000m Relay3  
    2021/2022 Dordrecht 5000m Relay3  
    2021/2022 Nagoya 5000m Relay3  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 500m4  
    2016/2017 Dresden 1000m4  
    2016/2017 Dresden 5000m Relay4  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1000m4  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 5000m Relay4  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m5  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m5  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 500m5  
    2015/2016 Dresden 1000m5  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay5  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1000m6  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1000m6  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 5000m Relay6  
    2018/2019 Almaty 5000m Relay6  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m6  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1500m6  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m7  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay7  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 2000m Relay7  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 2000m Relay8  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1000m9  
    2015/2016 Dresden 5000m Relay9  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 500m9  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification Overall10  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1000m10  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 2000m Relay10  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m13  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1500m14  
    2014/2015 Dresden 1000m14  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m17  
    2015/2016 Dresden 500m19  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 500m19  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m20  
    2014/2015 Dresden 500m24  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m25  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m26  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m27