China’s Shen-Zhao set record in Olympic ice skating short program

China's star figure skaters Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, who came back from retirement for the Winter Olympic Games, beat the odds to score a season best of 76.66 points at the pairs short program here on Sunday.

The new mark added 1.30 points to the previous season best of all, which was also set by the three-time world champions at the ISU figure skating Grand Prix Finale in December.

"We wanted the program to show all that we have, and we made it," said Zhao at the mixed zone after skating to one of the Queens' rock'n roll hits Who Wants to Live Forever along with his now wife Shen.

"It's the best gift for the Valentine's Day," added Shen.

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Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo threw down a challenge to the world's top couples Sunday night with a world record. Nobody could match it. For most of the night, nobody came close.

After winning bronze at the last two Olympics, the Chinese pair is making it nearly impossible to keep the all-elusive gold out of their hands this time.

"We participated in a total of four Olympics, including this one, and we have only two bronze" medals, Zhao said. "We really want the gold. I feel this is a good opportunity."

Shen and Zhao's score of 76.66 is just .70 points ahead of two-time world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, a margin that can be made up with a mere flick of the wrist in Monday night's free skate. But the Chinese have dominated everywhere they've skated since coming out of retirement, and they aren't about to back down now.

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