Tong Jian

Tong Jian (Chinese: 佟健; pinyin: Tóng Jiàn; born August 15, 1979, in Harbin, Heilongjiang) is a Chinese retired pair skater. With his wife Pang Qing, he is the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, 2006 and 2010 World Champion, a five-time Four Continents champion (2002, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011) and the 2008 Grand Prix Final Champion.

Tong Jian
Pang (left) and Tong (right) at the 2010 Worlds
Full name	Tong Jian
Born	(1979-08-15) August 15, 1979 (age 45) Harbin
Hometown	Harbin
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Figure skating career
Country	China
Partner	Pang Qing
Coach	Yao Bin Liu Wei
Skating club	Harbin Skating Club
Began skating	1986
Retired	March 28, 2015
Event Olympic Games 0 1 0 World Championships 2 1 3 Four Continents Championships 5 3 1 Grand Prix Final 1 2 4 Medal list Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver Pairs World Championships 2006 Calgary Pairs 2010 Turin Pairs 2007 Tokyo Pairs 2004 Dortmund Pairs 2011 Moscow Pairs 2015 Shanghai Pairs Four Continents Championships 2002 Jeonju Pairs 2004 Hamilton Pairs 2008 Goyang Pairs 2009 Vancouver Pairs 2011 Taipei Pairs 2003 Beijing Pairs 2005 Gangneung Pairs 2007 Colorado Springs Pairs 2015 Seoul Pairs Grand Prix Final 2008–09 Goyang Pairs 2009–10 Tokyo Pairs 2010–11 Beijing Pairs 2004–05 Beijing Pairs 2007–08 Turin Pairs 2012–13 Sochi Pairs 2013–14 Fukuoka Pairs

In this Chinese name, the family name is Tong.

Career

Tong was born into a Manchurian family in the city of Harbin, China, the home of Chinese pair skating. He began skating at age six. He originally competed as a single skater. He then competed as an ice dancer for two years because of his weak jumps. After his short ice dancing career, Tong switched to pairs. He previously competed with Zhang Xiwen. In 1993, coach Yao Bin teamed him up with Qing and they have been skating together ever since.

When Yao moved to Beijing, Pang and Tong trained without a coach until 1997, when they began training under Yao again.

Pang and Tong did not have a strong junior career, perhaps due to the fact that the Junior Grand Prix did not exist when they were skating at the junior level. They placed 14th, 9th, and 8th at the World Junior Championships between 1997 and 1999. After that, they went senior.

Pang and Tong won the silver medal at the 1997 Chinese national championships, but did not represent China at the World Championships until 1999. They are the 2000 Chinese national champions. At their first major senior international, the 1999 Four Continents Championships (the first Four Continents ever held), they placed 5th. They then went to their first Worlds, where they placed 14th.

In the 1999–2000 season, Pang and Tong made their Grand Prix debut. They placed 4th at Skate Canada and 5th at Cup of Russia. They slowly moved up the ranks over the years. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, coming in as the Four Continents Champions, they placed 9th.

Following the 2001–2002 season, Pang and Tong began to be contenders. They consistently placed on the podium at their Grand Prix events. They won their first World medal (a bronze) at the 2004 World Championships.

After their first world medal, they had a rough 2004–2005 season and a shaky start at the beginning of the 2005–2006 season. They recovered with consistency by the 2006 Olympics, where they placed a controversial 4th behind teammates Shen Xue & Hongbo Zhao and Zhang Dan & Zhang Hao. They went to the 2006 Worlds and won it.

In the 2006–2007 season, Pang and Tong were unable to defend their World title. They were forced to withdraw from Skate America due to injury. They won the silver medal at the Cup of China, the Asian Winter Games, and the Four Continents Championships. At Worlds, they placed second.

During the 2007–2008 season, Pang and Tong had a rough start, losing two out of their three Grand Prix events. They came back strong midseason by winning the bronze at the Grand Prix Final and their third Four Continents title. They ended their season with a disappointing 5th at the World Championships.

During the 2008–2009 season, Pang and Tong had another rough outing at their first event, the Cup of China. Despite this, they went on the two win their next Grand Prix events and the final. During that season, they made history, when they went on to win a record setting fourth Four Continents title and have now won more Four Continent titles than any other person. Despite the momentum they had built, they had another disappointing World Championships, where they were once again finished the podium.

During the 2009–2010 season, Pang and Tong won both of their Grand Prix events and a silver at the Grand Prix Final, defeating all the world medalists at the previous world championship.

In the 2010 Winter Olympics, Pang and Tong set a new World Record for the free skate with a score of 141.81 points.^[1] They placed second place behind Shen Xue and Hongbo Zhao thanks to their teammates world record-setting short program. The People's Republic of China broke Russia's 46-year twelve Olympic gold medal streak in pairs skating, sweeping gold and silver places.^[2] Pang and Tong became the 2010 World Champions in Turin, Italy.^[3]

For the 2010–2011 ISU Grand Prix season, Pang and Tong were assigned to the 2010 NHK Trophy and to the 2010 Cup of China. They won both of their Grand Prix assignments to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they won silver. They won the bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships.

Pang and Tong withdrew from their assigned 2011–12 Grand Prix events,^[4] however, returned to competition in January 2012, where they won gold at the Chinese National Winter Games. They earned first-place marks in the short program (70.24) and free skate (126.31). They competed at and finished fourth at the 2012 World Championships in what was their only ISU international event of the season.

For the 2012–13 season, Pang and Tong medaled at both their Grand Prix events, taking second at 2012 Skate America and first at 2012 Cup of China. They went on to win the bronze at the 2012–13 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. They were fifth at the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships.

During the 2013–14 season, Pang and Tong finished second at 2013 Cup of China and first at 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard before winning bronze again at the 2013–14 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. They went on to finish fourth at the 2014 Winter Olympics, their fourth consecutive Olympic Games.

For the 2014–15 season, Pang and Tong competed at the 2015 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships^[5] and 2015 World Figure Skating Championships, placing third at both events.

Personal life

Although they had not spoken about their personal lives, Pang and Tong revealed publicly in an issue of Vanity Fair during the 2010 Winter Olympics that they were romantically involved.

In June 2011, the pair became engaged after Tong proposed on-ice to Pang at a show in Shanghai.^[6] They got married on June 18, 2016.^[7]

Programs

Pang and Tong perform a triple twist at the 2010 Olympics.

Tong Jian in 2013.

Season	Short program	Free skating	Exhibition
2014–2015	Moon Flower by Secret Garden and Sumi Jo choreo. by Nikolai Morozov Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	Io Ci Sarò by David Foster and Walter Afanasieff choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Misérables) by Claude-Michel Schönberg performed by Susan Boyle Angel by Sarah McLachlan performed by Westlife
2013–2014	Nocturne (from Lady Caliph) by Ennio Morricone choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Misérables) by Claude-Michel Schönberg choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne and David Wilson	I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Misérables) by Claude-Michel Schönberg
2012–2013	Scott and Fran's Paso Doble (from Strictly Ballroom) by David Hirschfelder choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar choreo. by Renée Roca	A Time For Us (from Romeo and Juliet) by Nino Rota performed by Josh Groban Moon on the Sea performed by Li Yuchun
2011–2012	Nocturne in C-sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Lori Nichol	Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov choreo. by Lori Nichol	Liebesträume by Franz Liszt choreo. by David Wilson
2010–2011	Nocturne in C-sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Lori Nichol Je crois entendre encore (from The Pearl Fishers) by Georges Bizet choreo. by Sarah Kawahara and Nikolai Morozov	Liebesträume by Franz Liszt choreo. by David Wilson	The Impossible Dream (from Man of La Mancha) by Mitch Leigh choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne and David Wilson
2009–2010	Je crois entendre encore (from The Pearl Fishers) by Georges Bizet choreo. by Sarah Kawahara and Nikolai Morozov	The Impossible Dream (from Man of La Mancha) by Mitch Leigh choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne and David Wilson	Crane's Crying by Vitas Adagio in G minor by Tomaso Albinoni
2008–2009	The Messiah Will Come Again by Roy Buchanan choreo. by Sarah Kawahara and Nikolai Morozov	Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo Santa Maria by Gotan Project choreographed by Sarah Kawahara and Nikolai Morozov	Summertime by George Gershwin
2007–2008	O doux printemps d'autrefois by Jules Massenet choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	Romeo and Juliet by Nino Rota performed by André Rieu choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	Adagio in G minor by Tomaso Albinoni
2006–2007	O doux printemps d'autrefois by Jules Massenet choreo. by Nikolai Morozov	The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber choreo. by Sarah Kawahara	Adagio in G minor by Tomaso Albinoni
2005–2006	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Sarah Kawahara	The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber choreo. by Sarah Kawahara	Gira con me questa notte by Lucio Quarantotto, David Foster, and Walter Afanasieff performed by Josh Groban Oye by Gloria Estefan
2004–2005	All I Ask of You (from The Phantom of the Opera) by Andrew Lloyd Webber choreo. by Alexander Zhulin	Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang performed by Vanessa-Mae choreo. by Alexander Zhulin	The Prayer by Celine Dion
2003–2004	Illumination by Secret Garden choreo. by Yao Bin and Jiang Hailan	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Yao Bin and Jiang Hailan	The Prayer by Celine Dion
2002–2003	Illumination by Secret Garden choreo. by Yao Bin and Jiang Hailan Seven Years in Tibet by John Williams choreo. by Yao Bin and Jiang Hailan	Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Yao Bin and Jiang Hailan	The Prayer by Celine Dion
2001–2002	Illumination by Secret Garden choreo. by Yao Bin and Jiang Hailan	Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Yao Bin and Jiang Hailan
1999–2001	Tres minutos con la realidad by Astor Piazzolla performed by Yo-Yo Ma choreo. by Lea Ann Miller	The Red Poppy by Reinhold Glière choreo. by Lea Ann Miller	Tres minutos con la realidad by Astor Piazzolla performed by Yo-Yo Ma choreo. by Lea Ann Miller
1998–1999	Spanish Dance (from Swan Lake) by Pyotr Tchaikovsky	The Planets by Gustav Holst	Spanish Dance (from Swan Lake) by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
1996–1997	Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland Auf der Jagd by Johann Strauss II	Unknown music

Competitive highlights

(with Pang)

Results[8]
International
Event	96–97	97–98	98–99	99–00	00–01	01–02	02–03	03–04	04–05	05–06	06–07	07–08	08–09	09–10	10–11	11–12	12–13	13–14	14–15
Olympics						9th				4th				2nd				4th
Worlds			14th	15th	10th	5th	4th	3rd	4th	1st	2nd	5th	4th	1st	3rd	4th	5th		3rd
Four Continents			5th	5th	4th	1st	2nd	1st	2nd		2nd	1st	1st		1st				3rd
Grand Prix Final								5th	3rd	6th		3rd	1st	2nd	2nd		3rd	3rd
GP Bompard					6th		3rd		3rd	2nd		2nd						1st
GP Cup of China										2nd	2nd	1st	3rd		1st		1st	2nd
GP Cup of Russia				5th				2nd						1st
GP NHK Trophy					4th	5th			2nd				1st	1st	1st
GP Skate America							3rd	1st				2nd					2nd
GP Skate Canada				4th	5th	4th	2nd		2nd
Universiade			2nd
Asian Games							2nd				2nd				1st
International: Junior
Junior Worlds	14th	9th	8th
JGP China			5th
National
Chinese Champ.	2nd	2nd	2nd	1st	2nd	2nd		1st			1st	2nd
GP = Grand Prix

Detailed results

2014–15 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
23–29 March 2015	2015 World Championships	2 72.59	3 140.18	3 212.77
9–15 February 2015	2015 Four Continents Championships	4 66.87	2 133.12	3 199.99
2013–14 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
6–22 February 2014	2014 Winter Olympics	4 73.30	3 136.58	4 209.88
5–8 December 2013	2013–14 Grand Prix Final	3 75.40	3 138.58	3 213.98
15–17 November 2013	2013 Trophée Éric Bompard	1 67.69	1 126.17	1 193.86
1–3 November 2013	2013 Cup of China	1 70.38	2 124.00	2 194.38
2012–2013 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
13–15 March 2013	2013 World Championships	6 63.95	4 130.69	5 194.64
6–9 December 2012	2012–13 Grand Prix Final	3 64.74	3 128.07	3 192.81
2–4 November 2012	2012 Cup of China	1 68.57	1 120.25	1 188.82
19–20 October 2012	2012 Skate America	2 61.96	2 125.20	2 185.16
2011–2012 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
26 March – 1 April 2012	2012 World Championships	2 67.10	6 118.95	4 186.05
2010–2011 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
25 April – 1 May 2011	2011 World Championships	1 74.00	3 130.12	3 204.12
15–20 February 2011	2011 Four Continents Championships	1 71.41	1 128.04	1 199.45
3–5 February 2010	2011 Asian Winter Games	1 68.36	1 127.54	1 195.90
8–12 December 2010	2010–11 Grand Prix Final	2 68.63	2 121.30	2 189.93
4–7 November 2010	2010 Cup of China	1 60.62	1 116.88	1 177.50
22–24 October 2010	2010 NHK Trophy	1 67.10	1 122.27	1 189.37
2009–2010 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
22–28 March 2010	2010 World Championships	1 75.28	1 136.11	1 211.39
14–15 February 2010	2010 Winter Olympics	4 71.50	1 141.81	2 213.31
2–6 December 2009	2009–10 Grand Prix Final	4 68.04	2 133.82	2 201.86
5–8 November 2009	2009 NHK Trophy	2 67.30	1 132.35	1 199.65
22–25 October 2009	2009 Cup of Russia	1 65.40	1 125.93	1 191.33
2008–2009 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
23–29 March 2009	2009 World Championships	5 65.18	4 115.90	4 181.08
2–8 February 2009	2009 Four Continents Championships	1 65.60	1 129.34	1 194.94
10–14 December 2008	2008–09 Grand Prix Final	3 66.24	1 125.25	1 191.49
27–30 November 2008	2008 NHK Trophy	1 63.10	1 122.96	1 186.06
5–9 November 2008	2008 Cup of China	3 59.36	3 112.50	3 171.86
2007–2008 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
16–23 March 2008	2008 World Championships	5 67.87	5 119.91	5 191.33
11–17 February 2008	2008 Four Continents Championships	2 67.70	1 119.63	1 187.33
13–16 December 2007	2007–08 Grand Prix Final	3 66.68	3 118.45	3 185.13
15–18 November 2007	2007 Trophée Éric Bompard	2 64.32	2 122.61	2 186.93
7–11 November 2007	2007 Cup of China	1 65.48	1 111.27	1 176.75
25–28 October 2007	2007 Skate America	2 60.32	2 104.87	2 165.19
2006–2007 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
20–25 March 2007	2007 World Championships	3 66.75	2 121.71	2 188.46
7–10 February 2007	2007 Four Continents Championships	2 65.80	2 119.53	2 185.33
2–3 February 2007	2007 Asian Winter Games	2 65.65	2 115.82	2 181.47
9–12 November 2006	2006 Cup of China	2 62.00	2 110.56	2 172.56
2005–2006 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
19–26 March 2006	2006 World Championships	2 64.98	1 124.22	1 189.20
11–24 February 2006	2006 Winter Olympics	4 63.19	4 123.48	4 186.67
16–18 December 2005	2005–06 Grand Prix Final	6 57.94	5 110.40	6 168.34
17–20 November 2005	2005 Trophée Éric Bompard	2 62.26	2 120.38	2 182.64
2–6 November 2005	2005 Cup of China	2 58.64	2 117.82	2 176.46

References

1. Agence France Presse, "Shen, Zhao claim China's first figure skating gold", Emmeline Moore, 16 February 2010 (accessed 16 February 2010)
2. "Shen, Zhao end Russian Olympic pairs dominance". Icenetwork.com. 2010-02-16. Archived from the original on 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
3. "AFP: Pang, Tong open Asian figure skating gold rush". Archived from the original on 2010-03-27.
4. "庞清佟健为充电放弃大奖赛只战全运世锦赛慎做老大". sports.sina.com.cn. August 10, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
5. Xiong, Wei (16 March 2015). "Pang and Tong: 'For the love of the sport'". Golden Skate.
6. Ainsworth, Alexa (June 20, 2011). "On-ice proposal for figure skaters Pang and Tong". Universal Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
7. "双人滑名将庞清佟健结婚 合作22年终领证". Sina Entertainment. June 18, 2016.
8. "Competition Results: Qing PANG / Jian TONG". International Skating Union.
9. "ISU World Standings for Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance : Pairs". International Skating Union. March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
10. "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2010/2011 : Pairs". International Skating Union. May 6, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
11. "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2009/2010 : Pairs". International Skating Union. March 24, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
12. "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2008/2009 : Pairs". International Skating Union. April 18, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2011.

External links

• Pang / Tong at the International Skating Union
• Official website

Olympic Games
Preceded by Han Xiaopeng	Flagbearer for  China Sochi 2014	Succeeded by Zhou Yang