As the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics progress, China finds itself struggling without the home advantage it enjoyed during the previous Beijing Games, where it achieved a record number of medals. With only two silver and two bronze medals won thus far, the Chinese delegation, led by deputy head Tong Lixin, expresses frustration over the unpredictability of Olympic outcomes, suggesting that the absence of a clear competitive edge among athletes complicates predictions for gold medal success.

Media coverage in China is abuzz with expectations for the country’s first gold medal, often spurring heated discussions among fans and journalists. Many fans believe that this intense scrutiny increases pressure on athletes, recalling the nervous anticipation of past Olympics where success came late. They fear that just as in 2018, China’s first gold may not materialize until the very end of the competition, intensifying anxiety around performance.

Amidst the challenges, one beacon of hope emerges in figure Eileen Gu, who previously won gold at the Beijing Olympics and is still set to compete in freestyle skiing events, including big air and halfpipe. Many in China are watching closely as her potential to secure a gold could somewhat mitigate the disappointment of the team's overall performance so far, making her upcoming competitions crucial for national pride during the remainder of the games.