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Shen and Zhao of China win Figure Skating Gold |
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Tuesday, 16 February 2010 |
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The Chinese pair finally won the Olympic gold medal that eluded them for so many years Monday night, a prize so compelling it lured them out of the cozy life of a happily retired married couple. It wasn’t the best skate of their career—she tumbled onto his back during a lift—but it was good enough for gold.
That’s all that mattered.
Their score of 216.57 points was more than three points ahead of teammates Pang Qing and Tong Jian. When Shen and Zhao finished their routine, Zhao knelt to the ice, burying his face in his hands while his wife patted his back. He pumped his fist several times while she beamed, her grin wide and bright.
Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany dropped to the bronze medal after a flawed free skate.
The gold is the first in figure skating for China. The more shocking stat is that it’s the first time since 1960 that a Russian or Soviet couple isn’t atop the Olympic podium, ending one of the longest winning streaks in sports. Equally stunning, the Russians are leaving empty-handed, with no medals of any color.
Shen and Zhao, bronze medalists at the last two Olympics, retired after winning their third world title in 2007. They got married, and lived the easy life of retirees, doing shows and appearances. But something was missing.
They returned this season and despite being 31 (her) and 36 (him), ancient in pairs skating, dominated everywhere they competed. This was no different.
Skating last, and knowing the couples who could steal their gold made errors, they performed with the passion that has become their new trademark. The interpretation to “Adagio in G Minor” was mesmerizing, with their choreography perfectly in tune to their music. She was so expressive, the audience could practically feel her every emotion.
Their throw jumps were huge and flawless, the kind of tricks that would dazzle even the X-Games generation. Their throw triple salchow was so massive, she ought to get frequent flier points.
Shen and Zhao did make one mistake, and it was a shocker. She slipped down his back during one of their lifts, a move that’s normally so automatic for them, it’s like a crossover. The crowd gasped, a look of exasperation crossed her face.
But they recovered immediately, and finished the program with a beautiful carry lift that circled half the ice. The audience was on its feet before their music even finished, knowing it had witnessed history. When the marks flashed, they shared a long embrace: husband and wife, now Olympic champions.
For the Americans, it was their worst showing in pairs. Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig were 10th and U.S. champions Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett were 13th.
Shen and Zhao have long been pushed by their Chinese teammates, and Monday was no different. While Savchenko and Szolkowy and Russia’s Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov stumbled, Pang and Tong soared.
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