Shen and Zhao 'getting back to work'

Beijing hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics has inspired China's retired champion figure skating couple to redouble their effort to promote the sport nationwide.

Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, who struck gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, were ecstatic when IOC president Thomas Bach announced on July 31 last year that Beijing would host the 2022 Games.

"I still remember the first thing I said after the cheering was that it was time for us to be getting back to work," said Shen, who retired with pairs partner and husband Zhao after winning China's first gold medal in figure skating.