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August 18, 2006
Yang and Li latest skaters to retire
I don't think this is any big surprise, but Chinese media is reporting that legendary skaters Yang Yang A and Jiajun Li have decided to retire from competition:
China Daily | China's skating Olympic champion Yang retires
Yang Yang, the first Chinese gold medallist in Winter Olympic Games, announced her retirement at the age of 30 on Thursday.Yang won two gold medals in 500m and 1000m speed skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games to end China's gold drought at winter Olympics.
Yang won a total of 59 world titles in her career in World Championships and World Cup events.
Yang, who studied in Utah State University of United States in 2003, shifted to Business Administration College of China's prestigious Tsinghua University in 2004 and would continue her study in Tsinghua after hanging up her spikes.
Yang failed to shine in 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games in Italy, which probably catalyzed her determination of retirement.
Li Jiajun, a 31-year-old four-time Olympian, also ended his speed skating career on Thursday.
Li won 14 crowns in World Championships and seven titles in World Cup events. His only regret is that he has never won a gold medal in Olympic Games.
They'll both be missed. I think they both inspired a generation of younger skaters, and not just in China!
[update] People's Daily | Veteran skaters bid farewell to ice rink
Posted by noelle at 8:29 AM | Comments (16)
August 13, 2006
Virginia Commonwealth camp photos
OZ newcomer Tony Luu has shared his photos from the training camp he attended earlier this month in Richmond, VA. Jordan Malone also took part as did a number of former Korean national-level coaches and 1994 and 1998 Olympic gold medalist Yoon-mi Kim. (I think this came up a few months back, but at just 13 years old in 1994, she became the youngest-ever Olympic gold medalist.) You can see all of Tony's photos here!
Jordan Malone does his Yao Ming pose with Tony Luu
A young skater receives a photo of Apolo for being one of the most improved skaters
Posted by noelle at 8:21 PM | Comments (37)