Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Huang Xing) news: On February 21, 2026, at the ski mountaineering mixed relay event of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, a cold wind whipped snow across the course in Bormio, Italy. Twenty-year-old Buluer, hunched low on his snowboard, carved through the powder, driving himself forward in a final sprint. Starting his leg in 11th place, the young athlete from Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang, the recognized birthplace of human skiing, pushed hard all the way to the finish, securing 8th place. In doing so, he bettered his own performance from just two days earlier.

Photo shows Buluer completes the baton pass in the mixed relay race of ski mountaineering at the Winter Olympics. (Photo from Xinhua News Agency)

Just two days earlier, in the men's sprint event of ski mountaineering, Buluer had already secured an eighth-place finish for Team China. These two eighth-place results not only marked the best performance ever for the Chinese ski mountaineering team at a world-level competition, but also represented a historic breakthrough for an Asian athlete in this event on the world stage. What's more, the young man who made this history is the youngest of all male competitors at these Winter Games.

A young man's first promise with snow

It took Buluer only four years to go from playing on the snowy fields of his hometown, Altay, on traditional fur skis, to competing for his country on the Olympic stage.

In September 2021, the Chinese national ski mountaineering team was formed. For this young man who had grown up traversing mountain forests on those very fur skis, his life's path was quietly, but decisively, redirected.

Buluer comes from Hemu Village in Burqin County, Altay. The place that is widely known as the birthplace of human skiing. As far back as 12,000 years ago, the ancient people of Altay were already gliding over snowy terrain on skis for hunting. The traditional fur skis, still used today, are crafted from the hide of a horse's foreleg. The direction of the fur allows for smooth descent when sliding with the grain and provides crucial grip for climbing when moving against it, making them perfectly suited to mountain travel. Buluer's childhood was spent on these ancient skis, following his family into the mountains, chasing snow, and growing up. This inherent connection to the snowy landscape served as the most direct inspiration for his modern pursuit of ski mountaineering.

"When I was a child, I often used fur skis. They share some similarities with the competition equipment I use now, fostering a deep familiarity with snow and a natural feel for the terrain and snow conditions," Buluer recalled.

His youth, filled with horseback riding, mountain climbing, and skiing, forged not only a body resilient to the cold but also a tough, persistent spirit that refuses to quit. The person who guided him onto this athletic path was his older sister, Yanzhen Gaowa.

In 2020, coach Ma Jun of the Altay cross-country skiing team spotted 14-year-old Buluer's talent and invited him to join, but his parents firmly objected. His mother believed sports was a difficult path with little chance of success, and that education was the only reliable way forward. Buluer and his sister obeyed, setting aside their athletic dreams to focus on school.

A turn came in late 2021. Buluer, with no prior training, won a major cross-sport skiing competition in Altay. After this victory, the 16-year-old promised his mother he would aim for the national team and return to his studies if he failed. Seeing his resolve, she finally agreed to let him pursue his dream.

A transformation forged in wind and snow

In 2022, ski mountaineering was officially added to the 2026 Winter Olympics and also became an event in China's 14th National Winter Games. When the Xinjiang ski mountaineering team was first formed, 22 athletes were selected. After two months of training and assessment, 11 remained, including Buluer.

Ski mountaineering is an extremely challenging sport with immense physical demands. The hardest part is the steep climb. Athletes work so hard they sweat through their clothes. Then, during the downhill, the freezing wind turns their wet gear into a cold shell of ice. To prevent this, Coach Xierdan has the team carry spare quick-dry shirts. They change into dry ones at the summit.

The sport requires high oxygen intake, so athletes usually don't wear face coverings. Wind and snow whip their faces during the ascent. The high-altitude sun is strong. After a winter of training, every athlete develops a distinct tan line from their goggles. Their exposed skin becomes sun-darkened, chapped, and rough from the constant exposure to harsh weather.

Photo shows Buluer competes in the mixed relay race of ski mountaineering at the Winter Olympics. (Photo from Xinhua News Agency)

At its inception, the Xinjiang ski mountaineering team was trained under Zhang Yaohua, deputy leader of the national team. Zhang saw great potential in Buluer. This was not only due to the over a decade of snow experience Buluer gained from using traditional fur skis since boyhood, but also because of his studious and diligent nature.

Buluer soon joined the national team. In 2023, he placed ninth representing China in Italy and later won his first national championship in Altay.

In March 2024, at the Ski Mountaineering Youth World Cup in Molde, Norway, Buluer won gold in the men's U20 individual race. It was China's first international gold medal in the sport. He followed this by taking the senior title at the Asian Ski Mountaineering Championships. During the 2024/25 season, he secured the U20 men's sprint championship at the International Ski Mountaineering Federation Youth World Cup in Italy, demonstrating his steady growth and rising prowess.

Write a new chapter at the Winter Games

At the 9th Asian Winter Games hosted in Harbin, the 19-year-old Buluer won two gold medals, highlighting the rise of China's ski mountaineering. Together with his 18-year-old teammate Cidan Yuzhen, he claimed the World Youth Championships title, breaking Europe's century-long dominance in the sport and opening a new era for Asia.

Ski mountaineering returned to the Olympic program at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. As Asia's sole representatives, China's team carried the continent's hopes. Twenty-year-old Buluer and nineteen-year-old Cidan Yuzhen were the youngest male and female competitors, respectively, showcasing the vitality of Asia's new generation. In the men's sprint, Buluer fought his way to the semifinals, competing against the eventual gold and bronze medalists. Although he progressed no further, his eighth-place finish set a historic new record as the best-ever result for an Asian male athlete in the event at the Winter Olympics.

Photo shows Buluer competes in the men's sprint race of ski mountaineering at the Winter Olympics. (Photo from Xinhua News Agency)

In Buluer's journey in ski mountaineering, he constantly pushes his limits, driven by the satisfaction of self-improvement. Hardship on the mountain has fueled his progress and reinforced his ambition.

"Ski mountaineering has taken me to many countries. It's a great honor to represent my country," Buluer said.

Moving from Altay to the Olympics, Buluer combines traditional instinct with modern training. His steady rise tells a new story for the sport in Asia. At 20, his potential is vast, and his journey is just beginning.

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