Chinese Olympic champion Han Cong has made the difficult decision to retire from pair skating due to an ongoing injury. This unfortunate development means that the accomplished 31-year-old athlete, along with his partner Sui Wenjing, will not be participating in any competitions during the current Olympic cycle. Consequently, they will be unable to defend their Olympic title at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
In an announcement shared on social media, Han expressed his regret and revealed his decision: “I am sorry to announce that I have decided to withdraw from all competitions in the Milan cycle. One and a half years after the Beijing Winter Olympics, I am still not fit to be back on the rink.”
Han conveyed his intentions to continue contributing to figure skating in a different capacity, shifting away from the role of an athlete. He also extended his heartfelt wishes for Sui’s pursuit of her own dreams. Despite stepping back from the competitive arena, Han emphasized that their partnership remains strong and steadfast.
Sui, Han’s partner and a fellow Olympic champion, promptly shared his announcement and offered her support: “I hope Cong can recover soon. Although it’s regrettable, I totally understand and support Cong’s decision.”
Sui also expressed their unyielding bond: “Yes, we will always be each other’s cheerleaders and the heart-warming one. And we’ll always be on the road of figure skating together!”
Sui and Han, who have secured two-time world championships and were runners-up at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics, have not participated in any competitions since their monumental victory at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. This hiatus led to speculation about their future plans, including the possibility of retirement.
While Han has taken on a role as a skater member of the Single & Pair Skating Technical Committee within the ISU, Sui is channelling her passion into choreography after completing her studies at the Beijing Dance Academy. Their remarkable journey in figure skating continues, albeit in new and impactful ways.
-IANS
