Her breakthrough came when Canadian skating officials, impressed by her progress with the juniors, invited her to support national team staff. "They sent me to junior tournaments and World Cups. Olympic champion Charles Hamelin's father, then head of the association, believed in nurturing coaches at all levels. That trust was pivotal."

By 2018, her reputation drew interest from Chinese speed skating icon Wang Xiuli, who invited her to return home. Plans stalled due to the pandemic, but, in 2023, Italy came calling. "They had cycled through coaches, but waited one season for me. They wanted stability, and someone who could develop their new generation," said Qi.

Now based in Italy's alpine training hub of Bormio, Qi balances veteran leadership with nurturing raw talent. For stars like Beijing 2022 silver medalist Pietro Sighel, she prioritizes collaboration over authority.

"I spent a season building trust. I didn't try to change him, but tried to enhance what's already there with my methods. We would review footage together, identify issues and find solutions as partners," Qi explained. "Now we have become more harmonious in aspects such as training methods, techniques, intensity, volume, as well as teamwork on the rink."