| I just love watching the Olympics, witnessing the | | | | Xhang was in obviously discomfort. If she didn't |
| numerous feats of athleticism, skill, courage, | | | | continue the programme she and her partner would |
| endurance and passion. Athletes have to hone their | | | | walk away with nothing yet if she did skate she |
| bodies as well as their minds and, on the day, it is | | | | risked permanent injury. There was a brief |
| often the individual who has greatest control over | | | | consultation with their coach but no medical |
| their mind that wins. Major championships are always | | | | treatment. It felt as though time stood still as Xhang |
| dramatic and what occurred during the Pairs Figure | | | | continued to move gingerly around the ice watched |
| Skating Programme in the 2006 Winter Olympics at | | | | anxiously by her concerned partner. Then to |
| the Turino Palavela was certainly that. | | | | everyone's surprise the skaters moved into position |
| The last couple to skate was Xhang and Xhang from | | | | to resume their performance. The usually eloquent |
| China, one of three pairs of Chinese skaters in this | | | | Barry Davies was incredulous: |
| particular contest. Totomania and Marinin from Russia | | | | "Surely not! Surely not! They would have to pick up |
| had produced a sublime performance and were | | | | from where they left off. Have I got that right? I |
| tipped for gold. For Xhang and Xhang to succeed in | | | | don't see how they can. I don't see how they can." |
| their quest for the major prize their skating would | | | | His voice trailed off. |
| have to be impeccable as well as encapsulating the | | | | Fellow commentator Robin Cousins, obviously |
| difficult technical elements such as the quad jump | | | | flummoxed, was slow to respond. |
| where the skater makes four revolutions mid-air. This | | | | "I'm speechless actually because I can't believe that |
| is a situation where potential does not come into the | | | | does not hurt to the point where she can't perform. |
| equation - only what you do on the occasion can be | | | | This is a skater that has a career ahead of her that |
| marked and with the new scoring system this was | | | | could risk further damage by performing on it [knee]." |
| never more the case. | | | | But this was the Olympics and you don't walk away |
| It wasn't that long ago that the quad jump was | | | | from an Olympic dream. The pair did literally pick up |
| executed for the first time in competition and now, | | | | from where they left off and as their music |
| just like what followed when Roger Bannister broke | | | | restarted the audience erupted with applause for this |
| the 4min mile barrier in 1954, any skater of merit has | | | | plucky skater. |
| a quad jump in their bag of tricks. When we see | | | | The rest of the programme went without any major |
| skaters gliding seemingly effortlessly over the ice we | | | | hitches including the second of their compulsory |
| forget just how technical, acrobatic and even | | | | throw jumps. Xhang continued to hide the pain she |
| dangerous much of what they are doing is. | | | | must have been experiencing. When the pair finished |
| In pairs skating one of the required elements is a | | | | skating the audience were on their feet. While Xhang |
| throw jump. Imagine being tossed into the air, | | | | and Xhang awaited their scores she finally received |
| whipping yourself around a few times with feet and | | | | first-aid treatment. The knee was strapped and more |
| body perfectly aligned and then touching down for a | | | | of that ice that had been her downfall minutes ago |
| flawless landing. | | | | was applied. Fortunately, although she was limping |
| For a chance at the gold medal, Xhang and Xhang | | | | around the Olympic village the following day, Xhang is |
| had to go for broke. The opening moments of their | | | | expected to make a full recovery. |
| routine included a throw jump involving a quad | | | | Xhang and Xhang took silver behind the Russian pair, |
| Salchow. Xhang performed the quad but couldn't | | | | Totomanina and Marinin, knocking team-mates Shen |
| control the landing. She ended in an awkward box | | | | and Zhao into third place and knocking team-mates |
| split, twisting and banging her left knee in the | | | | Pang and Tong out of the medals altogether. |
| process. If that sounds painful, imagine how it must | | | | Nothing worthwhile is easy. You've got to aim high. |
| have felt! With her legs splayed and still out of | | | | You will make mistakes but when you fall (as |
| control she crashed into the barriers. Apart from | | | | opposed to "fail") get up, brush yourself off and try |
| feeling empathy for the pain Xhang must have felt | | | | again. The bounty is great for those with the |
| as she crash-landed one could not help but also feel | | | | courage and perseverance to see things through to |
| sympathy for this skater so graceful one second and | | | | the end. Also, don't let your emotions get in the way. |
| then sprawled on the ice, like a fledgling learning the | | | | Despite her pain Xhang remained composed and |
| rudiments of flight, the next. The audience gasped | | | | focused. She kept her eye firmly on the prize and |
| and the British commentator Barry Davies said | | | | she and her partner were duly awarded the silver |
| resignedly: | | | | medal. And, what's more remarkable about this tale is |
| "...Tough on them because they are going to end | | | | that a few weeks ago the pair hadn't even been |
| with nothing and she clearly is in considerable | | | | thinking of being at the Olympics. Persevere; you are |
| pain...What a shame!" | | | | but a moment away from greatness. |