Wenjing Sui/Cong Han continue the tradition of successful Chinese Pair Skating, once founded by their coach Hongbo Zhao and his partner Xue Shen. At the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Seoul (KOR) in February, the Olympic silver medalists once again proved their class.
However, the two-time ISU World Figure Skating Champions had a bumpy start into the competition when Sui doubled the throw flip in the Short Program – an uncharacteristic mistake for the Chinese skaters that are well known for their excellent throws. Sui explained that she had felt distracted by her costume. “We had a problem with my costume, it is so stressful for me, so we just did a double throw. The problem is, when he throws me, it (the costume) flies too much,” she said. The Chinese team stood in third place following the Short Program.
Hongbo Zhao with Wenjing Sui and Cong Han at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
They fought back in the Free Skating, delivering a strong performance of their popular program to “Rain, In Your Black Eyes” by Ezio Bosso that was highlighted by beautiful throws, difficult lifts and a side-by-side triple Toeloop-double Toeloop-double Toeloop combination. Sui/Han collected a level four for all “level” elements and pulled up to first place at 217.51 points total to claim their sixth ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships title after 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019. Across all the disciplines, Sui/Han are the only skaters to have won six ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships itles.
Wenjing Sui and Cong Han at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
“Every time it is very special and very different. It gives us more confidence and trust,” Han said about winning the title for the sixth time. “It (the title) is dear to me, because we lost the short program, but then we caught up with the long program and that is very special to me,” he continued.
Wenjing Sui and Cong Han at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
It has been a good season for Sui/Han, who also won their first ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final as well as their two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events.
