Flowers in her arms, Wenjing Sui smiles to the ears while surrounded by her students for a day, aiming to become champions just like her – that tiny girl on the right, with a pink dress, has already caught our eye. All photos taken by Xingang Mi in Beijing this March.
On June 6th, when the International Skating Union announced the highly anticipated Grand Prix assignments, many of us might have felt the need to double-check what they were seeing: Olympic champions Wenjing Sui and Cong Han were listed among the participants of 2025 Cup of China and 2025 NHK Trophy this autumn.
Surely an error on the male’s name, we first thought. Cong Han had been away from competitive skating since 2022, officially retiring in the summer of 2023, while, this March, in Beijing, Wenjing Sui officially introduced to the world her new partner, Ze’en Li, also offering glimpses of their first competitive program, a short program choreographed by Wenjing herself.
[A couple of Beijing-based journalists attended the event organized with this purpose exactly by Wenjing Sui and her team, an Inside Skating representative also taking part. A group interview followed the skating demonstration on March 28th, with many different questions directed to Wenjing, and she patiently answered each and every one, sharing details about the progress of the partnership, but also very elaborate thoughts on her comeback.]
Fast-forward to the start of June, with Sui / Li partnership apparently already in the past, some of those thoughts feel equally relevant, feel equally true to Wenjing Sui’s decision to continue skating, to her determination to plant the much needed seeds for the future.
Hence, we decided to share her words in full.
Just keep in mind the conversation and the context offered have this particular time stamp attached to them, March 2025, when things were different in terms of partnership.
What hasn’t changed though is Wenjing’s resolution to return to competitions during the Olympic season. You will understand her better reading this interview, which is not (contrary to what you may think) at all outdated.
Wenjing Sui posing for Inside Skating at the end of March this year, in Beijing
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While in Boston, United States, 2025 World Championships were under way, with everyone getting ready for the rhythm dance and women’s free skate on March 28th, in Beijing, China, 2022 Olympic pairs champion Wenjing Sui was officially announcing her comeback to competitions with her new partner, Ze’en Li.
She had said it already, in her skating circle and on Weibo a few months prior, in December 2024, but in March this year she invited journalists to a public skating class and a training demonstration at Beijing World Ice Arena in the city, to make it official and let everyone know how their training and progress as a new team went. Our colleague Xingang Mi attended this special event in Beijing and the group interview afterwards, and we are telling you in details how everything unfolded.
Over 40 skating enthusiasts, from very young ages to adolescence, took part in the public skating class held by the Olympic champion and her team: a class that was meant to inspire, to pass on Wenjing’s love for the sport in general, and notably pairs skating.
And, on that particular afternoon at the end of March, Wenjing Sui did just that: spread joy, enthusiasm among the young participants, not to mention the casual people in the shopping mall hosting the rink, who stopped by, took photos, captured their historical encounter with the 2022 pairs Olympic champion.
Close-up with Wenjing Sui, Ze’en Li and the young participants at the event, at Beijing World Ice Arena, on March 28th
But the very core of the event consisted in a training demonstration: five months after she had teamed up with Ze’en Li, committing to a brand new partnership after the long and very successful one with Cong Han (2007-2023, when Cong announced his retirement), Wenjing Sui was eager to show everyone how everything went, the steps already climbed and also the steps ahead.
“A glimpse into their training routine”, aiming “to bring the audience closer to the charm of competitive sports”, their demonstration was scheduled to include twists, death spirals, throws, solo jumps and combinations, lifts, footwork and even consistent parts of Wenjing Sui and Ze’en Li’s first short program, to Marian Hill’s song “One Time”, choreographed by Wenjing herself.
Her dream exactly – we remember Wenjing’s interviews after 2022 Olympics, expressing her genuine desire to become a highly regarded choreographer one day and even have Olympics as a home to the programs she would envision.
Wenjing Sui and Ze’en Li showing parts of their short program in Beijing World Ice Arena, on March 28th
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Journalists: How would you evaluate today’s training? [where “today” was March 28th, 2025]
Wenjing Sui: Today’s training went quite well overall – we performed at a fairly solid level. But, actually, we didn’t show everything. Some of our “secret weapons” weren’t displayed due to time constraints.
It’s been a while since we started skating together and this event was also a chance for my team and me to showcase our progress.
Journalists: What does this program performance reflect?
Wenjing Sui: Choreographing a program is always about telling good stories – standing on the ice and letting more people feel the beauty that figure skating brings. I hope to achieve good results, that’s the greatest wish of a choreographer, an athlete, and a coach.
Journalists: What was your biggest challenge when you decided to come back?
Wenjing Sui: The biggest challenge was that I should do this all on my own.
I needed to find and build a team, maybe from among my students, looking for someone who shares the same dream and wants to grow together. This phase has required a huge effort from me: training, organizing a team – it hasn’t been easy. But I’m especially grateful for everyone who has supported me at the most crucial moments. Because of them, we’ve reached such a great state today.
Special thanks to Beijing World Ice Arena for supporting me throughout my comeback. Every day when I train, there are so many young fans watching us, it brings me so much motivation. It reminds me of my own dreams when I first started skating, and keeps me moving forward.
Journalists: What has your new role [in 2025 Asian Winter Games, Harbin, this February] brought you?
Wenjing Sui: Serving as the program director for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Asian Winter Games really strengthened my ability to manage and coordinate.
It’s about learning how to work collaboratively with the people supporting me and how to move forward efficiently. Just last night we were reflecting on this, how our team doesn’t waste energy or time on internal friction.
We began training pairs elements just five months ago, and even took one month off for the Asian Winter Games performance, yet the progress has been so fast.
Journalists: Can you briefly introduce your partner? [Ze’en Li, at the time of the interview]
Wenjing Sui and Ze’en Li during the group interview on March 28th
Ze’en Li: Over the past six months, with Sui’s help, I’ve made great progress in many technical areas. She’s also given me so many opportunities, including being part of the Asian Winter Games. I hope to fulfill our shared dream together.
Wenjing Sui: It’s true, standing on the ice with me comes with a lot of pressure. I think he’s shown great courage. I hope to nurture him into a future talent for our country.
Journalists: You mentioned wanting to fulfill a dream. What is that dream?
Wenjing Sui: Of course, it’s to win glory for our country, to see the national flag raised and hear the national anthem play.
Journalists: With the many roles you have, do you have enough time?
Wenjing Sui: Everyone thinks I have 36 hours in a day! But this is just my normal rhythm of life. I try to live authentically and use each identity to tell meaningful stories, whether I’m an athlete returning to the rink to push forward with the next generation, or telling stories rooted in traditional culture.
I hope these voices can reach people’s hearts, planting a small seed in each one, and, who knows, maybe one day it’ll take root and grow into a better version of themselves.
Journalists: How do you plan everything?
Wenjing Sui: We have schedules – weekly planning meetings, annual planning, and also smaller plans, even down to artistic expression. There’s actually a lot of work to do.
Journalists: When can we see you compete again?
Wenjing Sui [with a playful smile]: You’ll just have to keep following me, won’t you?
Journalists: What’s your training rhythm like?
Wenjing Sui: We do three physical training sessions per week, and two half-day dance classes. Ze’en does even more. On the ice, we train twice a day, averaging 9 to 12 sessions per week, each about 90 minutes.
Journalists: Which is more difficult right now, physical recovery or pairs coordination?
Wenjing Sui: Honestly, neither feels hard. I really enjoy this phase of life. Our coordination as a team brings me happiness, it’s all about moving forward together.
Journalists: You’ve studied at Beijing Dance Academy and worked as a ceremony director. How do you switch between these different roles so quickly?
Wenjing Sui: As a woman, I think it’s natural to wear many hats. I’m my mother’s daughter, I may one day be a mother myself, I’m Ze’en’s coach and skating partner, and I’m also a choreographer and director. But I don’t think I need to “switch” between these roles, because they’re all me.
Everything I do is about creating joyful moments for myself and those around me.
Wenjing Sui during a group interview on March 28th, following the public class and training demonstration in Beijing World Ice Arena
Journalists: How do you maintain such a great attitude?
Wenjing Sui [laughing]: Eat a lot and sleep a lot! I sleep really well. The other day, my professor called me close to noon and I still hadn’t woken up. The professor said I sleep like a baby. I don’t dwell on things, I just move forward.
Since the Beijing Winter Olympics, I’ve worked incredibly hard, from having nothing to getting to where we are today. Every person standing beside me now is someone I’ve invested a lot of time and effort into. It’s been tough, but all the support I’ve received makes it worthwhile.
If I can get results, be a role model, or accomplish anything meaningful, then it’s all been worth it.
Journalists: How do you view China’s performance in qualifying for the Milan Winter Olympics?
Wenjing Sui: The Chinese figure skating team is facing serious challenges in securing spots for Milan.
As a veteran athlete, I feel responsible – I want to be a source of strength, to help push the younger generation forward.
So many kids have fallen in love with figure skating after seeing me perform. Sometimes they ask to shake my hand – and I truly cherish that shared inspiration.
No matter how tough things get, those small seeds of hope keep arriving at the rink one by one. That’s a huge reason why I continue to stand on the ice.
Journalists: You’ve changed partners, what kind of adjustment was needed?
Wenjing Sui: The key is that we don’t waste energy on conflict. Ze’en is extremely hardworking and respectful, he treats me like a senior he really looks up to.
In the beginning, strength training was hard. I’ve gained some weight since the Beijing Olympics – back then I weighed a bit over 70 jin (about 35kg), and now it’s around 90 jin (45kg). He also used to skate with a smaller partner, so it took a lot of adjustment. But because we don’t have friction between us, we’ve made very fast progress.
* The above answers are the result of a group interview done on March 28th, 2025 at Beijing World Ice Arena in Beijing – Inside Skating was present through our colleague, Xingang Mi.
Gladly receiving Wenjing Sui’s autograph for Inside Skating