Chinese Ice Dancers Under Investigation Following Displaying Prop Weapon at Event
ISU officials have launched an investigation after two Chinese figure skaters appeared holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Broadcast footage captured Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting alongside a sizable prop shaped like a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited their scores in the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
This model is a new China-produced land-based long-range weapon designed for transporting atomic warheads, that had been displayed at a military parade last month.
Officials have acknowledged that an inappropriate plush item appears to have been one of the objects thrown on to the rink by audience members following a performance at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU stated via a release.
“The soft toy was subsequently handled by the athletes after their performance. We regrets the incident and will look into it more deeply.”
The duo placed in eighth place out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the US.