China's leading figure skating pairs skater Zhao Hongbo will be able to get back to his original form soon having returned to the ice after severely injuring his Achilles tendon last August.

"Zhao has recovered quicker than we expected and he may practice the double or even triple jumps on ice several days earlier than the original plan," said Ren Hongguo, vice director of China's Winter Sports Administrative Centre, on Tuesday after Zhao's return from the latest examination of his injury in Hongkong.

Together with his partner Shen Xue, the two-time world champion pair were the biggest gold medal hopefuls at next month's Turin Winter Olympic Games for China until Zhao snapped his Achilles on August 5 last year.

Zhao's injury not only forced the pair to withdraw from the Grand Prix for the whole season, but also put their Olympic gold dream in doubt.

After successful surgery several days after the injury, Zhao has been undergoing rehabilitation for months. He returned to training on ice on November 24 and began practicing single jump on January 4 this year.

According to the original plan, Zhao will start practicing double and triple jumps on January 20, but his fast recovery may bring this forwards.

"Up to now, Zhao has improved his lifting practice, twists and even the triple throw," said Ren. "Regarding the examination conclusion by experts, he may try to practice some difficult jumps days ahead of the schedule, which means that he may do them in the next one or two days."

Zhao's coach has liaised with the medical experts to develop a specific training plan for the pair.

"He may start to do two-and-half jumps next Monday," said coach Yao Bin. "If he feels good then, we may raise the difficulty level and if not, we may adjust the plan to let him get used to the tougher training gradually."

Yao also commented that the risk of the injury recurring is still fairly high.

"We are running the risk from the very beginning and we will face the bigger risk from now on," said Yao. "No risk means no hope."

Teaming up in 1992, Shen and Zhao impressed the world with their remarkable lifts and throws and collected almost all the world titles except for the Olympic gold medal.

Four years ago in Salt Lake City, they only won bronze when a judging scandal over shadowed the event.

At present, the world champion duo are working around the clock to get back to their previous form and challenge other world leading pairs at the Turin Games, but this time they will be happy with any result.

"At present, standing on the ice at the Olympic Games is our biggest hope and we hope to display our best form there," said the 32-year-old Zhao. "As to the result, it is not that important."

Since the Olympic gold medal is the only glory they lack, the shocking injury was a great blow to the veteran pair, but they have kept in good spirits.

"We were very downbeat when our Olympic dream was broken when I got injured," Zhao admitted. "But now everything is improving and the condition is getting better and better.

"Being fit in time for the Olympics is my honour and claiming the gold is not our only goal."

Their coach is waiting for the miracle to happen.

"I'm still confident in their winning chances, although they may be very narrow," Yao said. "They are weak in solo jumps due to the injury but their perfect artistic performance has been approved by all.

"Their two newly-choreographed routines have a high artistic level, which will make up the shortage in their jumps. In my opinion, they are still the ones that will get closest to the gold."

However, the legendary coach is still preparing himself for the worst.

"Standing on the ice in Turin is the first goal, getting a medal is next and getting the gold would be spectacular," Yao said.

"We have been preparing ourselves to accept any final ranking, may be only bronze or even the sixth place."

To get back on form, the two have been on a tough training schedule and hit the ice every day.

According to the plan, they will skate to Rhapsody on A Theme of Paganini for their short programme and Madame Butterfly (symphony version) for their free skating entry at the end of this month in an event to try out the team before the Olympics.

The Turin Winter Olympic Games will open on February 10 and the figure skating pairs competitions will take place the following day.

(China Daily January 12, 2006)