Sui Wenjing and Han Cong eye golden finish to home Olympics in pairs free skate: Preview
Two-time world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong set a new world record in the short program. Can they capture gold in Beijing after earning silver in 2018? Here's a look at the pairs free skate.
Figure Skating
The final night of figure skating at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 is set to be one to watch.
Just 0.16 points separate the top two pairs after Friday (18 February)'s short program inside the Capital Indoor Stadium, with two-time world champions and PyeongChang 2018 silver medallists Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China setting a world record in the short to go into first.
It's deja vu from 2018, in fact, as the ROC's Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov sit second, scoring a 84.25 to the leader's 84.41.
Reigning world champions Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov will have to play catch-up as the ROC duo is in third place with a 82.76.
Sui/Han are looking to deliver a golden finish for home fans on the final day of full competition of these Winter Games. They plan a rare quadruple twist (overhead throw) in their free skate, something they say they've trained for years to be ready for this moment.
"Each competition is different, but this time the Olympics are held in Beijing and it's extremely difficult for us because it's held in our home country," Sui told reporters in her native Mandarin. "It empowers us to perform better. We are very proud of our level. ... [In the free skate] we will be showcasing a program of high difficulty."
Tarasova/Morozov would like redemption from a fourth-place finish in South Korea, as well. Meanwhile, Mishina/Galliamov have not lost a competition since becoming world champs - including setting a world record score at the European Championships last month.
China and the ROC make up the top five: Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii, the 2020 European champions, are fourth with a score of 78.59, while the No.2 Chinese team of Peng Cheng and Jin Yang are fifth with a 76.10.
See the full results from the short program here.
Pair skating is being staged as the final of the four disciplines at an Olympic Games for the first time in over 60 years - since the 1956 Winter Games. The move was made to highlight the two-time world champions Sui/Han, who will try and add to China's tally of eight golds this Games.
Free skate: Schedule, how to watch
The free skate is set for Saturday night inside the Capital Indoor Stadium. It marks the final individual competition of the figure skating these Olympics, with the exhibition gala set for Sunday (20 February).
Saturday 19 February 1900 - Pair skating free skating
The penultimate group takes to the ice at 2040 local, with the top four teams set to skate from 2120 local.
Wherever you are in the world, here's how you can tune in to watch.