Young talent prevails in China's Sochi journey

China's Han Tianyu celebrates his second-place finish in the men's 1,500 meters short track speed skating finals event at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Feb 10, 2014. Han wins China's first medal in Sochi. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese men failed to bag a single silverware in Vancouver and had only one bronze in Turino 2006.

In Sochi, however, they just narrowly missed the top of the podium, several times.

The 17-year-old Han Tianyu emerged as a surprise medal winner in 1,500m, taking a silver before Wu Dajing, 19, finished runner-up in 500m. The duo teamed up with teenagers Shi Jingnan and Chen Dequan to take a bronze in 5,000m relay.

On the mountains, Xu Mengtao took China's third consecutive silver in women's freestyle skiing aerials and Jia Zongyang pulled off a bronze in men's event.

Short track speed skater Zhou Yang, the sole medalist who had Olympic experience prior to Sochi, successfully defended her 1,500m title. But veterans were generally unlucky.

Vancouver runners-up Pang Qing/Tong Jian put an end to their career with a fourth-place finish in figure skating while two-time Olympic silver medalist Li Nina came back from retirement only to have a heartbreaking fourth-place due to a failed landing in the women's freestyle skiing aerials.

"They deserve respect no matter what results they got. They gave everything to realize their Olympic dreams," said Xiao.

Sochi closes Winter Olympics	China lands 2 silver, 1 bronze on short track	China achieves good results at Sochi