World association speaks out
Appearance with toy rocket: Fuss over Chinese ice skaters
Updated 10/28/2025 – 9:33 a.mReading time: 1 min.
Figure skaters Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing fought for victory at a Grand Prix. But it wasn’t her freestyle that was particularly striking, but rather a scene afterwards.
An unusual incident at a figure skating Grand Prix in China sparks debate. As two Chinese ice dancers waited for their results after their performance, they presented a large fabric toy in the shape of an ICBM.
Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing were seen in a waiting area at the Cup of China on Saturday as a large stuffed toy marked “DF-61” rested on their knees. The “DF-61” model is a new Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile that was presented to the public at a military parade last month. The rocket can be equipped with nuclear weapons and is land-based.
In a statement to the AP news agency, the ISU said it was aware of the incident. It was apparently a stuffed toy that was thrown onto the ice by spectators after the performance. We regret the incident and will carry out further investigations.
In terms of sport, the Chinese duo took eighth place out of ten couples in ice dancing. Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates won.