For the first time in the history of the Youth Winter Games, China has finally earned an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, thanks to 17-year-old Chi Chunxue.

Chi, dubbed as teenage sensation in China, clocked 13 minutes and 29.9 seconds to bring home the silver medal of women's 5-kilometer free cross-country skiing in Lillehammer, Norway Thursday.

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According to the official Xinhua news agency, Chi was only 31.1 seconds behind Russian winner Maya Yakunina. Rebecca Immonen of Finland finished third.

The Chinese teenager was leading the rankings all along, with a relatively high International Ski Federation (FIS) distance points, until Yakunina crossed the finish line with a time of 12:58.5.

"I'm so happy that we Chinese finally earn an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing," Xinhua quoted Chi, a native of Northeastern China's Heilongjiang province where nurses a lot of established winter sports athletes of the country.

Chi added that she never expected to make a history although she said she did her best and walk off her last race in Norway with no regrets.

"My dream is to be an Olympian and to perform as well as today in 2022 when Beijing hosts the Winter Games," said Chi.

It was 10 years ago when China posted its best result in cross-country skiing at Olympic Games. It was then that female Chinese skier Wang Chunli finished 18th at Turn Winter Games.

Chi said she will further prepare to become better and stronger during the Beijing 2022 and make more podiums not just in China but on world stage.

TagsYouth Winter Games, Chi Chunxue