Shen XueDate of birth: 13.11.1978 Place of birth: Harbin Height: 160cm Home town: Beijing Hobbies: reading, music, toys Start sk. / Club: 1985/ Harbin Skating Club Zhao Hongbo Date of birth: 22.09.1973 Place of birth: Harbin Height: 177cm Home town: Beijing Hobbies: soccer, singing, computer Start sk. / Club: 1980/ Harbin Skating Club Former Partners: Xie Maomao Coach: Yao Bin Choreographer: Lea Ann Miller Music Short Program / Original Dance as of 2005/2006 season Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by S. Rachmaninov Music Free Skating / Free Dance as of 2005/2006 season Madam Butterfly by G. Puccini Personal Best Score Short Program 206.54 (18.12.2004 ISU Grand Prix Final 2005) Personal Best Total Score 70.52 (17.12.2004 ISU Grand Prix Final 2005) Personal Best Score Free Skating 136.02 (18.12.2004 ISU Grand Prix Final 2005) Shen/Zhao are the first pair from China to become World Champions. They have been skating together since 1992. Both started as single skaters and Shen was paired with Zhao when his former partner retired. They name 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champions Gordeeva/Grinkov as their idols in skating. Shen/Zhao have landed quadruple throw Salchows in practice. The couple withdrew from the 2005 Four Continents Championships as Zhao suffered from a foot injury. Coach Yao Bin was on the first team that represented China in a World Championship (Dortmund 1980). He skated pairs with Luan Bo. They finished in 15th place.

Zhao Hongbi/Shen Xue