Wang Haitao

Wang skipped China to history at PyeongChang 2018. Not only did the nation capture their first gold medal in wheelchair curling, but also their first at a Paralympic Winter Games. China now look positioned to repeat their success ahead of their home Games in 2022, with Wang expected to lead the team again.

Wang was also integral in guiding China to their first finals appearance at the World Championships in 2015 against Russia. Despite falling to their opponents for the gold medal, Wang helped his team contend again in 2017. A loss to eventual champions Norway in the playoffs dashed their hopes of their first world title.

But China got their revenge in PyeongChang, where they topped Norway in the gold medal match. Now, they have a chance to make more history with their first world title at the 2019 edition in Stirling, Great Britain.

Wang contracted polio when he was a kid. He found wheelchair curling through a local disabled people’s federation, which was starting a wheelchair curling team and found Wang from school.