Sui Wenjing (L)/Han Cong of China celebrate after winning the gold medal in the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Cao Can)
BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's two-time world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong claimed the figure skating pairs title at the Beijing Winter Olympics here on Saturday.
Sui/Han led both short program and free skate, collecting 239.88 points in total for the victory, which was the ninth gold for Team China at Beijing 2022.
"It's a great pride for figure skating, and a brilliant performance of the Chinese pair," commented Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The PyeongChang silver medalists Sui/Han who missed the top honor by a mere 0.43 points in South Korea, finally fulfilled their dream at home to become the second Chinese pairs skaters winning the Olympic gold, after pairs couple Shen Yue and Zhao Hongbo, also coach of Sui/Han, awarded China its first Olympic gold of figure skating at Vancouver 2010.
"I accepted what has given to me from the world, because I think everything has its right choice," Sui said.
"We wish to deliver the strength through our performance to all people to come together and go through all difficulties together," explained Han, who expressed gratitude for the support from Sui and his team.
Skating to "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the pair landed a rare quadruple twist lift in their routine, an overhead throw which no other competitors attempted.
"The quadruple twist lift was the key to their victory," analyzed Zhao, adding that he is really proud of the pair.
Eugenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) took the silver on 239.25 and reigning European and world champions Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov of ROC bagged the bronze on 237.71.
"We've been working for years to get this medal, so just to get it means a lot to us," said Morozov, the silver medalist.
The other Chinese pair Peng Cheng and Jin Yang, runners-up of the 2020 Four Continents Championships, finished fifth in 214.84. ■
Gold medalists Sui Wenjing (C, L)/Han Cong (C, R) of China, silver medalists Evgenia Tarasova (1st L)/Vladimir Morozov (2nd L) of ROC and bronze medalists Anastasia Mishina (2nd R)/Aleksandr Galliamov of ROC attend the awarding ceremony of the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Ma Ning)
Gold medalists Sui Wenjing (L)/Han Cong of China celebrate after the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
Gold medalists Sui Wenjing (L)/Han Cong of China celebrate after the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
Gold medalists Sui Wenjing (R)/Han Cong of China celebrate after the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)
Sui Wenjing (top)/Han Cong of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Sui Wenjing (top)/Han Cong of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)
Sui Wenjing (R)/Han Cong of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Sui Wenjing (L)/Han Cong of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Sui Wenjing (R)/Han Cong of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Sui Wenjing (top)/Han Cong of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
Sui Wenjing (3rd R)/Han Cong (2nd R) of China celebrate after the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Sui Wenjing (2nd R)/Han Cong (2nd L) of China react during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Sui Wenjing (L)/Han Cong of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Sui Wenjing (L)/Han Cong of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Peng Cheng (top)/Jin Yang of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Peng Cheng (top)/Jin Yang of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Peng Cheng (R)/Jin Yang of China perform during the figure skating pair skating free skating of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)
