Cidan Yuzhen, a promising young athlete from Xizang, is setting her sights on the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. At just 18 years old, she is making waves in the world of ski mountaineering, a sport making its Olympic debut. Cidan’s journey from a farming family to becoming a rising star is an inspiring story of determination.
Born in 2006 in Luntse county, Lhokha city, Cidan grew up in a family of farmers and herders. Her grandfather, once a serf in Chanang county, gained his freedom after the 1959 democratic reform in Xizang. He rebuilt his life, setting a foundation for Cidan’s future.
As a child, Cidan was already accustomed to tough physical labor. By the age of 7, she was herding sheep and harvesting highland barley in the rugged, snow-covered grasslands at over 3,800 meters above sea level. She unknowingly began building endurance, often climbing mountains to tend to her livestock.
In 2016, she joined an amateur sports school in Lhokha. Although her parents had doubts about her decision, Cidan was determined. She simply wanted to explore something new. Initially, she focused on race walking, but her career took a turn as Xizang began focusing on winter sports in anticipation of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Cidan’s exceptional physical fitness and endurance led to her selection for the national ski mountaineering team in 2020. Ski mountaineering, a combination of alpine climbing and skiing, was a new sport for her. “When I first watched a race video, I was amazed, but I didn’t know how to ski,” she recalls.
Her early training was challenging, with frequent falls. However, her natural stamina allowed her to compete with male athletes on climbs. She soon began to embrace the sport, even overtaking rivals on ascents and speeding downhill. To sharpen her skills, she trained with men’s teams, enduring intense drills that boosted her performance.
In 2023, Cidan dominated the U18 individual cross-country and vertical races at the Ski Mountaineering Youth World Cup. She also clinched two gold medals at the World Championships that year. In 2025, she made history by becoming the first-ever Asian Winter Games ski mountaineering champion, winning the women’s sprint event.
“She’s only 18,” said Jordi Canals Fontan, secretary-general of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation. “Most athletes peak after 25, but she’s already dominating the youth division.”
While her home is decorated with medals from global competitions, Cidan Yuzhen has her eyes firmly set on the future. After recently competing in the Ski Mountaineering ISMF Youth World Cup in France, her ultimate goal is clear: to earn a place on the Olympic podium.
