Han's win dominated local media and headlined Central China Television's (CCTV) midday news, while a senior sporting official hailed his performance as a "miracle."

"He who made no noise before, when he makes a sound, he impresses us all," a news reader with the state- run TV station said, describing Han's triumph with an ancient Chinese saying.

Images of a jubilant Han, 22, waving China's national flag against the backdrop of the snow-covered slopes beamed into homes around the nation.

"What was key was my psychological state, I felt particularly calm and I felt confident," Han told CCTV.

Liu Peng, director of China's General Administration of Sport and president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, called Han's performance "a miracle."

"This breakthrough is the result of many generations of people's hard work and represents many generations of people's dedication," Xinhua quoted Lin as saying.

In a telegram to the Chinese Olympic team in Turin, China's General Administration of Sport and the Chinese Olympic Committee lavished Han with praise.

"It is glorious and has brought honor to the motherland and its people," said the telegram carried by the China News Service.

"We hope you will continue with the struggle in order to obtain more good results."

Web surfers across China posted notes of congratulations on Internet bulletin boards and chatrooms.

"We deserve to be the winner, and this is our winner," one message posted on the popular sina.com Web site said.

Han, who had never won a World Cup event and was competing in his first final, shocked everyone by taking gold ahead of Dmitri Dashinski from Belarus and Russia's Vladimir Lebedev.

Han was second after the first jumps but his second leap - a back-lay- double-full-full - secured 250.77 points to edge out final jumper Dashinski.

The 22-year-old created another piece of history by becoming the youngest gold medalist in men's aerials, erasing the record set by Switzerland's Andreas Schoenbaechler, who was 27 years and 295 days when he won in 1994.

Han said he drew inspiration from his country's female skiers.

"The most important thing that I have learned from the girls is the fighting spirit," said Han.

"When the final result came that China didn't get the gold medal [in women's aerials] I told myself that I would try to realize the dream and win the gold. And I did."

China had three female skiers in the lead after the qualifying round, but only Li Nina won a silver.

The 22-year-old from Liaoyang has had three second-place finishes at World Cup events in the last two seasons and is third in the standings overall. He earned 130.53 points on a conservative final jump to put him in first with 250.77.

"I discussed with my coach whether I should go with a more difficult one, but we decided to go for the easy jump because I had an impression that the double-full-full-full won't impress the judges for higher scores," said Han. "I think we made the right decision."

Han said his country's success with aerial skiing is no surprise.

"I think China really suits this sport," he said. "China has always been very strong in gymnastics, acrobatics and diving. I think we can be very good in freestyle aerials."

AGENCIES

More Winter Olympics: A42-A43