China's Ice Dancers Face Investigation After Displaying Prop Weapon at Competition
ISU officials are conducting an investigation after two Chinese figure skaters appeared holding what looked like a replica weapon at a grand prix figure skating event.
Broadcast footage showed the skaters waiting alongside a sizable prop shaped like a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited their scores in the “kiss and cry” zone on Saturday.
This model is a recently introduced Chinese-made land-based intercontinental ballistic missile designed for carrying nuclear weapons, which was displayed at a military parade recently.
“The ISU is aware of an unsuitable plush item seems to have been one of the objects thrown on to the rink by audience members following a routine at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU commented via a release.
“The soft toy was then handled by the skaters who had just performed. The ISU regrets 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 from the US.
