Chinese Figure Skaters Under Investigation Following Displaying Prop Weapon at Competition
ISU officials have launched an investigation following two Chinese ice dancers appeared holding what looked like a replica weapon during a grand prix figure skating event.
Broadcast video showed the skaters waiting with a sizable prop in the form of a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited the judges' results in the “kiss and cry” zone on Saturday.
This model represents a recently introduced China-produced land-based long-range weapon designed for transporting atomic warheads, that had been displayed during a national ceremony recently.
“The ISU have acknowledged of an unsuitable soft toy appears to have been among those thrown on to the rink by audience members following a routine during the competition,” the ISU stated via a release.
The item was subsequently held by the skaters who had just performed. The ISU apologizes for 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 of the United States.
