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