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.
Zhao's uncertain situation has left Russia's reigning world
champions Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin as top title
favourites in the discipline. Ranking fourth behind Shen/Zhao in
Salt Lake City four years ago, they have claimed consecutive titles
at the 2004 and 2005 World Championships and overtaken the Chinese
duo as world No 1 pair skaters this season.
Since Zhao's success rate in performing the triple jumps is
still low and the two other young pairs lack consistency in their
performance, the Chinese pairs will face a close fight in
Turin.
"I believe our skaters will try their best at the Olympics and
they will show fighting spirits there, which is the most important
thing," said Yao.
While, figure skating will not be the only gold opportunity for
China. Speed skaters Yang Yang, Wang Meng and Wang Manli will also
strive for gold on both short tracks and long tracks.
Yang won two gold medals at the last Salt Lake City Olympic
Games in 2002 in the short track speed skating event, breaking the
gold medal jinx for China in the Winter Games. And they hope to
continue the winning streak in this event this year.
"Most skaters in our team are young guns, but we are quite
confident that we can win a gold at the Games," said the team's
head coach Xin Qingshan.
The 20-year-old Wang Meng, who dominated the women's 500m races
in the World Cup series this season, will make her Olympic debut in
Turin and is considered China's most stable medal hopeful.
"Competing in the Olympics is a dream of every athlete, but if I
have the opportunity to win the gold, why should I just be
satisfied with my debut in Turin?" Wang said. "The Olympics is the
only experience that I have not had. With the results that I
achieved recently, I'm fully confident of winning gold."
Although the nation has lowered its goal to only one gold in
Turin, the team also has a chance in women's 3,000m relay race.
On the men's side, the 30-year-old Li Jiajun, a four-time
Olympic medallist, will still aim for gold in the 500 metres and
relay.
The long track speed skating event will also provide China with
an opportunity for success this time. Wang Manli, the reigning
women's 500m world champion, is aiming for gold to conclude her
skating career.
"All I'm waiting for is an Olympic gold medal, and I'm ready for
it now," said the 33-year-old Wang, who is also the oldest athlete
in the Chinese team. "I will try to be the best this time."
(China Daily February 8, 2006)