Veteran pair misses medal in last dance

Pang Qing (left) and Tong Jian of China compete in the pairs free skate figure skating competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Winter Olympics, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. [Photo/Xinhua]

SOCHI - Chinese figure skating veterans Pang Qing and Tong Jian narrowly missed a medal at their fourth Winter Olympics on Wednesday, but they were satisfied to end their career on the Olympic ice, and looking forward to a new life as a happy couple.

The two-time world champions, having been training together since 1993, earned 136.58 points for their free skate and totaled 209.88 for the fourth place.

"We're happy to have skated our last performance at the Olympics," said Tong. "It's an honor. We could have been luckier if we had won a medal."

"The most important thing is that we are in love for four years," added Tong.

"We performed every element as best as we can. I didn't do the double axel very well," said Pang. "The audience were enthusiastic and they appreciated our performance."

After winning silver at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, the pair admitted they were going out. They were engaged in 2011, after Tong proposed to Pang live on TV.

"Pang Qing, do you remember the music in our free skate 'The Impossible Dream' at the (Vancouver) Olympics?  Before the Games, an Olympic medal was my dream, but now my dream is to be with you, forever. Pang Qing, will you marry me?" Tong proposed.

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