Four years ago, China’s most celebrated ice skating pair Zhao Hongbo and Shen Xue captured the country’s first ever Olympic skating gold. Despite retiring shortly after, they remain ambassadors to the sport, creating the Mainland’s first ever professional ice skating extravaganza. Now on its fourth annual tour, ARTistry on Ice returns to Shanghai at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on July 27 – a cool alternative to the summer heat.
“When we were asked what we planned to do after retiring from the national team in 2009, we said we wanted to hold a figure skating themed event in China. It is our dream,” Zhao explains. “It came true a year later.”
The couple admits that figure skating hasn’t quite taken over the country’s imagination like it has done in places like South Korea. But that’s not for the lack of their effort.
Without question, the couple has helped bridge ice sports with a local audience. Since partnering in 1992, when Shen was 14 and Zhao 19, the pair continuously set Chinese records, winning recognition for the country for their elite technique and performance.
They finished fifth at their first winter Olympic Games at Nagano in 1998, and evolved into an elite team: three world championships, six Grand Prix Final championships and four Asian Winter Games gold medals.
Their bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City was the first time a Chinese skating pair won an Olympic medal. They added another bronze in 2006 at Turin before capturing the elusive gold medal in 2010, setting a world record for points in the process, ending Russia’s 46-year hold on the title and becoming the first Chinese figure skaters of any kind to win Olympic gold.
Two days later they announced their retirement, and later tied the knot – their wedding ceremony taking place at the first ARTistry on Ice. That initial show was also their curtain call as they performed in front of adoring home audiences one last time.
Since then, ARTistry on Ice has become an annual event, pairing world champion skaters with famous Asian singers in a splashy package. Sex and the City’s Sarah Jessica Parker served as a fashion consultant in 2011, while Tom Cruise’s baby momma Katie Holmes acted as brand ambassador in 2012.
“We had actually been touring around North America and Europe years ago and expected to introduce performances like those in our own country,” Zhao says. “We sincerely appreciate all the support we’ve received with gratitude.”
Although the couple is happily focused on their show, their exit from the professional stage has opened a path for a promising new pair. Sui Wenjing and Han Cong were individual single competitors when they paired up in 2007, inspired by Shen and Zhao’s Olympic exploits. Han believes it was destiny.
“I was looking for a partner when I watched Xiao Jingjing (Sun Wenjing’s nickname) in competition. She outshone others in terms of techniques and performing skills,” he says. I went straight to her and asked if she could be my partner.”
Sui’s instant acceptance surprised and delighted him, but Han admits he still asked if she would be afraid. Her response: “My other name is Liu Hulan.”
Liu Hulan was a revered 14-year-old martyr who was infamously beheaded in 1946 by Kuomintang officials after refusing to renounce her allegiance to the Communist Party. She is a domestic symbol of heroism.
It turns out that Han is right to believe in fate. The two have won three straight World Junior Championships, one national championship and two Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, where in 2012 they matched Shen and Zhao by becoming the eighth couple to land an elusive over 200 score with a personal best 201.83.
Known for technically ambitious moves like quadruple Salchow and quadruple twist throws, the two are a natural fit on the ARTistry on Ice lineup. Transitioning from a competition setting to the unique extravaganza doesn’t phase Han.
“They’re quite alike in general because they require us all to present our best performances,” he says. “If there are any differences, it’s the light effects.”
On that front, Zhao is proud to say that the show will feature an upgrade on their visual effects and stereo projection. Apart from the visual flair, ARTistry on Ice includes Russia’s leading pair skaters Volosozhar and Trankov, “Spinning Prince” Stephane Lambiel and Olympic gold medal winning ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.
“Sochi Olympics skating champion Evgeni Plushenko will be part of this,” Zhao adds. “It couldn’t be more fabulous.”
Meanwhile, Sui and Han are playing it cool. “It will be fun,” says Han. “We’ll leave the rest for the audience to find out.”
One thing the crowd can expect is a fresh interpretation of Farewell My Concubine by Zhao and three-time US national champion Johnny Weir, also known as the Lady Gaga of the Ice.
“The piece we chose calls for a perfect combination of manliness and softness which will be breathtaking,” Zhao says. “Johnny Weir is a unique figure skater and we are glad that he is fond of this music. Now that everything is set, we are ready to skate.”
// July 27, 7.30pm, RMB180-1,280. Mercedes-Benz Arena, 1200 Shibo Da Dao, by Shangnan Lu 世博大道1200号, 近耀华路 (400 610 3721, en.damai.cn)
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