Pang Qing, top, and Tong Jian of China perform during the pairs free skating program of the 2015 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Shanghai, March 26, 2015. [Photo/IC]

The loving couple agreed that their relationship may be a reason for their persistence on figure skating. "I have never thought about it but I think it could be a reason," Tong laughed. "We can leave competition but we can't leave each other. The happiest thing for me is having her."

The couple are looking forward to their new life. "We want to be back to school after we retire, and improve our English," said Pang. "And we also want to open our figure skating club."

"A lot of people want to cooperate with us to open a skating club, but they only considered us as skaters, not business partners," Tong said. "We really want to set up a club."

They made comment on the performance of young pair Sui and Han. "We watched their free skating and they did very well," said Pang. "We are old enough to be their coaches but we almost beat them today. I think they still have space to improve."