By Xinhua writers Yan Lei and Yi Ling
PYEONGCHANG, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- When China's reigning world champion Sui Wenjing tumbled in a side-by-side triple Salchow jump in a free skating routine here Thursday, the some-5,000-people packed in the Gangneung Ice Arena gasped with anticipation and worry.
The tumble, following her partner Han Cong's under-rotation in a double toeloop, in effect killed the pair's "gold" dreams here, given a flawless routine earlier by five-time Olympian Aljona Savchenko and her partner Bruno Massot of Germany.
But the Chinese pair didn't cave in. To the music of the classic Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, they finished the rest of the program with passion, depicting vividly the love story of a proud Chinese princess.
When they finished, the spectators showered them with thunderous applause and cheers.
The pair got 235.47 points from their performance, only 0.43 points away from the top of the podium.
"It's a bit regretful," said Han after the competition, as the pair, having led in the short program, had been deemed the favorites to claim the Olympic gold in this event.
"But I think (that's because) we are still not good enough. We need to be more like our predecessors Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, who were so powerful on the ice. We are still too young," said Han.
Sui, smiling through tears, said she is happy with what they have achieved on their first Olympics. "It's an incomparable experience. I have come so far to be here after 15 years of skating, and it's worthwhile," she said.
The performance of the two first-time Olympians, winning China's second silver at the PyeongChang Games, is a salute to a legend created by their predecessors and mentors, former world champions Shen and Zhao.
Sixteen years ago, red-dressed Shen slid into the arms of her partner Zhao to the music of Turandot in Salt Lake City, winning a bronze medal, which was also China's first medal in pairs figure skating in an Olympics.
They would have won a gold if not for a tumble when attempting a very difficult throw quadruple.
But the pair, nevertheless, started their legend from there, as they, skating to the same music, won the World Championships that year and the next year with flawless performances, and later, with another routine, realized their dream of winning an Olympic gold in Vancouver in 2010.
Sui and Han, who teamed up in 2007, have both been following their dreams under the inspiration of Shen and Zhao.
Sui remembered that when she was a little girl, she watched Shen and Zhao's Turandot on television. "It was so beautiful. It made me think that I wanted to learn it myself," she said.
Han, who watched the same performance on a DVD when he was a junior skater, said it made him shudder with admiration.
When the pair finally decided to reinterpret the legendary Turandot in 2017, they were supported by their mentors.
"If you choose the program on way to winning a gold in the Olympics, I would be very proud of you," said Zhao to the pair, now the head coach of the Chinese figure skating team, adding that the program has a special significance for him and his now-wife Shen.
The new program for Turandot took months to polish and perfect, and the pair had their share of self-doubts and incidents, including Sui's old injuries and an accident during a training that led to five stitches on her leg. But they were unstoppable.
Turandot, the music that helped Shen and Zhao win an Olympic bronze medal 16 years ago, has now won a silver for their students, mirroring the years-long journey that Chinese figure skating has been making and will continue to make.
"Sui Wenjing and Han Cong gave a good performance today. It's a bit regretful that they were just 0.43 points behind the champions. But anyway, that page has been turned," said Zhao.
"Now we will prepare for the next steps: the World Championships in March and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics," he added.
"It's the first time for Sui and Han to compete at the Olympics, and they are already wonderful. They are still young and just need a little more experience," said Shen.
For Sui and Han, their legend is just beginning.
Sui exclaimed, with a big smile on her teary face: "Our dream for the Olympics will never cease. We will see you in 2022!"
