Verona: Taiwanese athletes took part in the 2026 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Italy on Sunday, with cross-country skier Sophia Velicer serving as the team's flag bearer.According to Focus Taiwan, the 26-year-old led the parade of Taiwanese athletes at the Verona Arena, including figure skater Li Yu-hsiang and bobsledders Lin Sin-rong and Lin Song-en. The ceremony commenced at 8:30 p.m. in the historic Italian city.Earlier, Velicer competed in the women's 50 km classical cross-country skiing event, finishing 22nd in a time of 2 hours, 34 minutes and 1 second. This result was the best performance in the endurance event by a competitor from an Asian country.Velicer expressed her honor at being the flag bearer, emphasizing the dedication of her teammates. She extended gratitude to her fans for their supportive messages on social media. She encouraged young athletes to pursue their dreams, no matter how challenging they might appear.Competing under the name Chinese Taipei, the Taiwan team achieved other notable successes. Li set a personal best in the men's figure skating short program and executed a flawless run in his free program. Meanwhile, speed skater Chen Ying-chu finished 11th in the women's 500 meters, marking a new record for Taiwan in the event at the Olympics.