Ice-cool skaters go for glory
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-08 07:01

Just before China's lunar new year, Zhao Hongbo, the country's figure skating pair star skater brought his fans good news - as he pulled off spectacular triple jumps in training, after a severe injury to his Achilles tendon last August.

With Zhao's quick recovery from his injury, the Chinese ice athletes gear up for glory at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Like at previous Games, China pins its greatest hopes for gold on its ice athletes at this year's event.

Successes of gold are expected in events from figure skating and short track speed skating to speed skating at the Turin Games, which will begin on February 10.

Impressively mastering the most difficult and dangerous movement in less than half a year after the injury, Zhao and his world champion partner Shen Xue are expecting another miracle at Turin.

Having won the world championship title twice and claiming the bronze medal at the last Winter Olympic Games at Salt Lake City in the US, standing on the highest platform of the podium is the veteran pair's final dream.

Yao Bin, head coach of the Chinese Figure Skating Team, was the strongest supporter of Zhao.

"If Zhao fully recovers in time, he and Shen have a high chance of winning gold for the pairs competition in Turin," said Yao, who has been coaching Zhao for 18 years.

"We will not give up on them because of Zhao's injury," Yao added, "Even if there is only the slimmest chance, we will try our best to make a miracle."

Chasing its first Olympic figure skating gold this time, China will send its strongest ever pairs' team to Turin. Besides Shen/Zhao, Pang Qing/Tong Jian, the former world championship bronze medallists, and Zhang Dan/Zhang Hao, who finished third at this season's ISU Grand Prix Finals in Japan, will also try to block the challenges from the talented Russian and German pairs.