China's Ice Dancers Face Investigation After Holding Prop Weapon at Event

The International Skating Union have launched an investigation following a pair of Chinese ice dancers appeared holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile during a grand prix figure skating event.

Broadcast video showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting with a sizable prop shaped like a rocket labeled “DF-61” as they awaited their scores in the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.

This model is a recently introduced Chinese-made land-based long-range weapon designed for carrying nuclear weapons, that had been unveiled at a military parade last month.

Officials have acknowledged that an inappropriate soft toy appears to have been among those thrown on to the rink by spectators following a routine at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU stated via a release.

The item was subsequently held by the skaters who had just performed. We apologizes for this occurrence and will look into it more deeply.”

Ren and Xing finished in eighth place of 10 pairs during the ice dancing competition, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.

Gregory White
Gregory White

A seasoned communication coach with over a decade of experience in helping individuals master public speaking and interpersonal skills.