Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Huang Xing) news: On February 11, 2026, at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, Gulijienaiti Adikeyoumu from nor thwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and her teammate Zhao Jiaying from northwest China's Shaanxi finished eighth in the women's doubles luge event. This marks China's best-ever Olympic result in luge.

Gulijienaiti Adikeyoumu (right) with teammate Zhao Jiaying after the race. (Photo from Xinhua)

Born on April 16, 2001, in Akto County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Gulijienaiti was a student at Xinjiang Sports Vocational and Technical College, specializing in javelin and shot put. In 2016, she joined the Chinese national luge team through a cross-sport selection program.　

Luge, also known as "sledging," involves lying on your back on a small sled, feet first, steering through body movements as you speed down the track. "The selection process looked at height, weight, strength, power, and coordination. All of these matter for luge. As throwing athletes, they already had the right physical profile. But what sets Gulijienaiti apart is her mental toughness and her eagerness to learn and improve," said Shao Yongchang, her coach at Xinjiang Sports Vocational and Technical College.　　

After three years of training, Gulijienaiti reached the podium twice at the 14th National Winter Games in 2019, taking bronze in women's singles and silver in the team relay with teammate Alabati Aihemaiti.　

In December 2023, just two months after teaming up, Gulijienaiti and Zhao Jiaying won the women's doubles title at the 14th National Winter Games. Within three months of training together, they placed ninth at both the Luge World Cup in Winterberg, Germany, and the 2024 World Championships. These were breakthrough results that put them among the world's top competitors.　　

Following a difficult 2025 marked by injury, recovery, and rehabilitation, the pair returned to international competition and secured their spot at the Milano-Cortina Games.　

"We delivered our best run on this track today," Gulijienaiti said. "There were some minor mistakes on the second run, but overall this shows what we can do right now. It's a good start."　

Her Olympic journey continues. In the early hours of February 13, she will compete in the mixed team relay event.　

In the men's doubles, Jubayi Saikeyi from Xinyuan County, Xinjiang, (trained by the Shaanxi team), and teammate Hou Shuo also made history by finishing 15th, China's best Olympic result in that event as well.

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