CHINA AT THE OLYMPICS: Go Figure: Pairs’ Competition Could be Tight

Husband and wife team Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo set the world record score for pairs' free skate at December's Grand Prix Final in Tokyo.

Posted: Feb 13, 2:19p ET | Updated: Feb 13, 2:21p ET

Top German, Chinese duos go for gold on Day 4

Matchup: Germany's Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy vs. China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo

Event: Figure skating - Pairs' free skate

Tale of the tape: Germany topped the medal count in Torino in 2006, and a gold medal in the pairs' free skate event would go a long way toward duplicating that feat. Recent history would seem to indicate that Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy have the edge over their Chinese rivals heading into Vancouver. The German duo won world titles in 2008 and 2009, three European titles from 2007-2009 and took home the gold medal at the 2007-08 Grand Prix Final. To top it off, they are currently ranked No. 1 in the world.

China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo have three world titles to their names, but the last one was in 2007, after which the couple retired. But since returning to the ice at the start of the 2009-10 season, the pair has been splendid, winning all three Grand Prix meets they've entered, including a convincing victory at the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, where they relegated Savchenko and Szolkowy to bronze.

Shen and Zhao came out of retirement specifically to win the Olympic gold medal that has escaped them in three trips to the Games. Look for the veteran couple to give Savchenko and Szolkowy all they can handle in Vancouver.