Zhangs haunted by injuries ahead of Chinese National Winter Games

[Violet Bliss]

Defending figure skating champions haunted by injuries ahead of Chinese National Winter Games

I commented in the GPF Pairs thread that Hao was very vulnerable to injuries because with his shattered finger not 100% healed, he had been compensating with his arm and shoulder (which he hurt in the GPF LP), especially with Dan having grown taller while he hadn't been practicing lifting her for a year. I was unfortunately right. hwell:

 

[Olympia]

Oh, rats. That's bad news.

How much has Dan Zhang grown; does anyone know?

 

[clairecloutier]

I read that Dan Zhang is now 5'7"! That is quite tall even for a female singles skater, and practically unheard of for a pairs skater. Most female pairs skaters in the modern era are in a very narrow height range, from 4'10" to 5'3". There is the occasional exception--Qing Pang is 5'4" and Tatiana Totmianina was 5'5". But most are shorter. So with Dan now standing 5'7", that is extremely tall for pairs skating. One has to wonder how much longer she and Hao will continue.

 

[Olympia]

That's a beautiful height for a person who isn't in skating, but I can see the difficulties for a modern pairs skater, especially for one of the Harbin skaters, whose daring lifts and throws are such a specialty. Though Hao Zhang seems unusually muscular, it must be incredibly wearing on his body.

 

[emma]

I'm so sorry to read this....I was so happy to see them back and looking great; I quite like their programs this year too. Here is hoping for the best and wishing them well!

 

[russell30]

Yes I agree Zhang's programs suit them, Lori Nichol did a good job here! but Lori does have a tendency to recycle old programs.

I wish them well, hope they can get through the year.

 

[Violet Bliss]

A little OT but I want to show what Harbin is famous for, besides Olympian Pairs skaters:

Harbin Ice Festical

It's a city of winter and home of virtually all the great Chinese skaters. The sport of figure skating would be practically unknown in China without Harbin.

I wish rhe Zhangs the best. They have already shown the world what grits and courage are about and they will again pull out whatever it takes to overcome the new difficulties.

 

[twizzgirl]

Dan cannot be already 5'7 :O
I walked past her at the GPF and she was more like 5'4".

 

[Mathman]

Welcome, twizzgirl. As we say around here, "post often, post long!"

 

[feraina]

Dan cannot be already 5'7 :O
I walked past her at the GPF and she was more like 5'4".

In this interview, Hao Zhang said Dan Zhang recently grew from 1.68 m (5'6) to 1.695 m (5'7).
http://sports.cn.yahoo.com/ypen/20110815/529998.html

They placed second to P/T in the SP at the Chinese National Winter Games going on right now (S/H placed third). Tomorrow is the FS.