Article: Chinese figure skating icons hope to extend career life to 2010 Olympics

[pelladon]

Article about Shen & Zhao (People's Daily Online):
http://english.people.com.cn/200701/01/eng20070101_337550.html

"Though we will quit figure skating next year for a break, I plan to return to training in 2009."

<begin sarcasm>
oh no, if they take a break, they're finished for good...:rolleyes:
<end scarcasm>

[SashaTarafan]

Well I absolutely love this pair...they are by far the best pair in the World today. I am glad they are not retiring. I hope they have a chance at 2010 gold. They have been on the competetive scene for far too long to count, if anyone needs or deserves a break its them!

[jobelle]

A gold medal in 2010 for Shen and Zhao would make me almost as happy as a gold medal for Sasha :) I love this pair so much and I really do hope that they can come back to compete in 2009 and 2010 and finally win their Olympic Gold.

[sunjoy]

*Ponders* Is this a new development that so many skaters are taking years off after the OLympics? Sasha, Michelle (maybe), Plushenko (maybe), Shen & Zhao. Who else?

[Alexis]

I love this pair, too! They have a lot of courage, grit, and desire! Not to mention that they are awesome on the ice. You can't help but admire them for making a comeback after such a serious injury.

[ems_loves_sasha]

Looks like everybody is trying to make a comeback, haha, I just find it funny that it's Sasha, Plushenko, MAYBE Michelle, and Shen and Zhao. Wow. I'm glad they aren't retiring though. I watched the repeat of Cup of China today that they won and pairs wouldn't be the same without them.

[loveskating]

I like them a lot, and their elements like the throws and twists are amazing, but I miss the Russian style of pairs skating so much, the total quality of it. They don't have that, IMHO. They are truly great, in their own style, and I adore them, but that is not the style I love most.

I miss Bareshnaya and Sikharlidze, that kind of quality, so much.

[sasharussian]

I like them a lot, and their elements like the throws and twists are amazing, but I miss the Russian style of pairs skating so much, the total quality of it. They don't have that, IMHO. They are truly great, in their own style, and I adore them, but that is not the style I love most.

I miss Bareshnaya and Sikharlidze, that kind of quality, so much.

Maybe you'll be happy to hear TT/MM are going to return?

TT/MM have one or two programs I like to watch, but I just can't stand TT.

[pelladon]

Maybe you'll be happy to hear TT/MM are going to return?

TT/MM have one or two programs I like to watch, but I just can't stand TT.

Says who? Last I heard they were retired, and happy.

[girlzrock_17]

*Ponders* Is this a new development that so many skaters are taking years off after the OLympics? Sasha, Michelle (maybe), Plushenko (maybe), Shen & Zhao. Who else?

Yeah, it's almost all the best people :( I hope they all eventually come back!

[loveskating]

Maybe you'll be happy to hear TT/MM are going to return?

TT/MM have one or two programs I like to watch, but I just can't stand TT.

I like them, they are very good, excellent, but for some reason, they don't reach my heart. I'm very picky. What I love is the seamless, long edges and high quality elements that has always characterised Russian skating, and they have that, but then also I love the passion, which they lack.

[danibellerika]

A gold medal in 2010 for Shen and Zhao would make me almost as happy as a gold medal for Sasha :) I love this pair so much and I really do hope that they can come back to compete in 2009 and 2010 and finally win their Olympic Gold.


You and me are in the exact same boat with that one! Shen and Zhao have a quality all their own and no other skaters can move me like they can. However, I do know what Loveskating is talking about with the quality that the Russians can acheive. Personally though, B&S and G&G are about the only Russian pairs skaters I've truly cared about. I'd love for ALL of my 3 favorite pairs teams to be Olympic champs by the time their careers are over.

[SashaTarafan]

Looks like everybody is trying to make a comeback, haha, I just find it funny that it's Sasha, Plushenko, MAYBE Michelle, and Shen and Zhao.
Huh? Is Plushenko planning on coming back? Is there an article about this?

[ems_loves_sasha]

Huh? Is Plushenko planning on coming back? Is there an article about this?

No article.. He did a recent interview at Cup of Russia 2006 saying he missed competition and might come back to it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF7HVyHMsoc

[SashaTarafan]

Hmmm, interesting about Plushenko. I never really cared for his skating...and his attitude at the 2006 Olympics kinda turned me off. So I could care less if it comes back or not. Give me Johnny, Evan, Eman or Stephen Lambiel anyday or the week :).