Olympic Skaters Liu Brothers Make Shanghai Fashion Debut

Two Olympic champions just proved their talents extend far beyond the ice rink.

Shaolin Sándor Liu, 30, and Liu Shaoang, 28, made their runway debut at Shanghai Fashion Week in March, walking for Chinese designer Feng Chen Wang's 10th anniversary show. The short-track speed skating brothers brought the same confidence they display on ice to the catwalk, delighting fans who've followed their remarkable athletic journey.

Born in Budapest to a Hungarian mother and Chinese father from Tianjin, the Liu brothers have always lived between two worlds. They started as swimmers in their preteen years before switching to skating when Shaolin was 11 and Shaoang was eight. That decision changed their lives forever.

"Our parents never imagined we'd become professional athletes," Shaoang told China Daily in 2025. "But growing up with my brother Shaolin, training together, competing together, winning together, he gave me so much motivation."

Their father sent them to train in Changchun, northeast China, where they became fluent in Mandarin. The investment paid off spectacularly.

At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, competing for Hungary, the brothers won gold in the men's 5,000m relay. It was Hungary's first-ever gold medal at a Winter Olympics. Four years later in Beijing, Shaoang won individual gold in the 500m, becoming Hungary's first individual Winter Olympic champion.

In 2023, the brothers made a significant decision. They became naturalized Chinese citizens, representing their father's homeland and continuing to work with their coach Zhang Jing, a former Chinese national team skater who had moved to coach Team China.

Why This Inspires

The Liu brothers' story shows how talent and dedication can open unexpected doors. Their journey from Budapest swimming pools to Olympic podiums to Shanghai runways reflects the increasingly global nature of success. They've embraced both their Hungarian and Chinese heritage, becoming beloved figures in China while maintaining their unique identity.

Their appearance at Shanghai Fashion Week wasn't just about modeling clothes. It represented a new chapter for athletes who've spent their lives pushing boundaries and trying new things.

Two brothers who started skating together as kids are now inspiring people on and off the ice.