Chinese Figure Skaters Face Probe Following Displaying Toy Missile at Competition
ISU officials are conducting a formal inquiry following a pair of Chinese ice dancers were seen holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Television video showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting with a sizable prop shaped like a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited the judges' results at the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
The DF-61 represents a recently introduced China-produced land-based intercontinental ballistic missile designed for carrying nuclear weapons, which was unveiled at a military parade last month.
“The ISU is aware that an inappropriate plush item seems to have been among those thrown on to the rink by audience members after a performance at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU commented in an emailed statement.
“The soft toy was subsequently handled by the athletes who had just performed. We apologizes for this occurrence and will look into it more deeply.”
The duo placed in eighth place of 10 pairs in the ice dance event, with the victory going to Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.