http://english.cntv.cn/program/sportssc ... 1161.shtml09-05-2010Olympic champion duo holds wedding ceremony on the ice
Watch Video on englishhttp://english.cntv.cn/program/newshour ... 1273.shtmlRetired Olympic champion duo Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo fulfilled a long-time dream by holding a wedding ceremony on the ice on Saturday at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing. The exhibition also featured several top international skaters.
The couple had a romantic wedding in front of 20,000 spectators.
With the wedding march performed by their coach Yao Bin, wearing white wedding dress, Shen Xue skated to the man she fell in love with 18 years ago.
The couple devoted themselves on figure skating during that period. They gained China's first figure skating gold medal at the Winter Olympics and decided to devote themselves to each other.
The audience were impressed by their happiness, the moment of skating on their wedding day will last with them for their lifetime.
The gala, "Artistry on Ice", also featured American skater Johnny Weir, Swiss former World Champion Stephane Lambiel. China's current pairing Pang Qing and Tong Jian. World champion and Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada and Russia's Olympic singles champion Alexei Yagudin also brought down the house with
Russia's ice king Evgeni Plushenko's performance the final highlight of the show.
A spectator said, "It's unbelievable! I can watch the performance by the skaters that I love."
A spectator said, "Simply wonderful! Very Excellent!"
Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo appeared on the ice again at the end of the two-hour performance. They performed Turandot which won them the 2003 World Championship. The spectator's applause rang out for ages in support of what the pair have achieved in their lives.
Shen Xue said, "I am very happy that all the spectators stand to applaud us. I want to say thanks to the support of the spectators. This gala is for the audience, we want them to know more of the sport, and love it like we do."
