BEIJING, 17 February (BelTA - China Daily) - In an emotional finale to
their storied careers, China's legendary figure skating pair Han Cong
and Sui Wenjing saved their best for last, completing their third
Olympic journey with a season-best free-skate program promoting Chinese
culture.
The reigning Olympic champions from Beijing 2022 capped off a fairytale comeback from an indefinite retirement after their home Games with an admirable effort by scoring 135.98 points in the free skate, their highest this season, on Monday, to eventually finish with 208.64 points in total, securing a higher-than-expected fifth place at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Following the end of their program skating to A Tapestry of a Legendary Land, a Chinese dance drama, Sui and Han acknowledged the crowd, their coaches and finally each other, with a fist-and-palm salute, a common gesture featured in Chinese kung fu movies, bidding an emotional farewell to the Olympic stage in a uniquely Chinese way.
Competing on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Sui and Han made the most of the symbolic occasion to honor not only their own careers but also the Chinese culture and spirit of Chinese athletes.
"By flying the Chinese flag again and almost burning ourselves out, we'd like to illuminate the way for younger athletes in the future.
"I hope our last dance will be remembered as an inspiration to youngsters and as a promotion of Chinese culture in the world of figure skating."
The reigning Olympic champions from Beijing 2022 capped off a fairytale comeback from an indefinite retirement after their home Games with an admirable effort by scoring 135.98 points in the free skate, their highest this season, on Monday, to eventually finish with 208.64 points in total, securing a higher-than-expected fifth place at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Following the end of their program skating to A Tapestry of a Legendary Land, a Chinese dance drama, Sui and Han acknowledged the crowd, their coaches and finally each other, with a fist-and-palm salute, a common gesture featured in Chinese kung fu movies, bidding an emotional farewell to the Olympic stage in a uniquely Chinese way.
Competing on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Sui and Han made the most of the symbolic occasion to honor not only their own careers but also the Chinese culture and spirit of Chinese athletes.
"By flying the Chinese flag again and almost burning ourselves out, we'd like to illuminate the way for younger athletes in the future.
"I hope our last dance will be remembered as an inspiration to youngsters and as a promotion of Chinese culture in the world of figure skating."
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