Chinese skating pair take silver at PyeongChang

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German pairs figure skaters Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot on Thursday had the routine of their lives, setting a world record in the process. Their performance in the free skate secured the duo's first Olympic gold medal, edging out China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong for the title.

The Chinese pair claimed silver on a score of 235.47 points, while Canada’s team of Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford settled for the bronze. For Russia’s Evegenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, one of the gold medal favorites, the competition was a disaster because they didn’t even make the podium after a poor free skate run.

Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot of Germany hug after their performance. /VCG Photo

Savchenko was already thirty four years old when finally won her first Olympic title at her fifth games and became the oldest woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating.

It is Savchenko’s first time competing in the Olympics with Massot as a team. They surprisingly finished with a total of 235.90 points after starting the day in fourth place.

Aljona Savchenko explained the secret of their success after the competition, saying that their trainers gave them a good advice the day before, telling them there’s nothing to lose so they should just attack. As a result, the pair’s nearly flawless skating and tricks led to a stunning program that got the crowd on their feet.

Chinese skaters Sui Wenjing and Han Cong compete in the free skating of the pairs figure skating on Feb 15 during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. /VCG Photo

“Yesterday we left our room like tigers and today we woke up like tigers. When I woke up at six I said 'today we will write history.' With that feeling in the stomach, I hoped that it would stay like that,” the pair addressed in front of the crowd gathered and explained how they got motivated for their big performance.

After winning, the team from Deutschland celebrated on the ice, and continued their festivities at Germany House with friends, family and teammates.

The Olympic champs were greeted with a rousing ovation at the unofficial headquarters of the German squad, where they received hugs from those in attendance as they showed off their medals. Then the pair relived their glorious routine, and even partook in a German beverage.

1091km