Chinese Figure Skaters Under Investigation After Displaying Toy Missile during Competition
The International Skating Union have launched an investigation following a pair of Chinese figure skaters were seen with an object resembling a toy ballistic missile at a grand prix figure skating event.
Broadcast footage showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting alongside a large toy in the form of a missile marked “DF-61” while waiting for their scores at the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
This model is a new Chinese-made land-based intercontinental ballistic missile capable of transporting atomic warheads, that had been unveiled during a national ceremony recently.
“The ISU have acknowledged that an inappropriate soft toy seems to have been one of the objects thrown on to the ice by spectators after a routine at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the organization commented in an emailed statement.
“The soft toy was then handled by the athletes who had just performed. The ISU regrets the incident and will look into it more deeply.”
The duo finished eighth out of ten teams in the ice dance event, with the victory going to Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the US.
