Zhang Dan

Zhang Dan (left) and Zhang Hao

Chinese figure skater Zhang Dan (张丹) announced her retirement from the sport in May 2012.

Born on Oct. 4, 1985 in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, Zhang Dan started training at 4 years old. In 1998, she began dual skating partnership with Zhang Hao.

Head coach of the Chinese national skating team Yao Bin said Zhang Dan would pursue her academic career after retirement from figure skating and that her partner Zhang Hao is now paired with 16-year-old Peng Cheng.

According to Yao, Zhang Dan's increasing height (170cm) and weight became the main reason hindering the pair's progress. In fact, Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao started to consider dissolving their partnership before the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Yao said athletic directors decided to grant their request after repeated deliberations.

The following are Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao's main achievements in the past 14 years.

In 1998, the pair won the championship at the World Junior Grand Prix (Beijing).

In 1999, they won second place at the World Junior Grand Prix (Canada).

In 2000, they won the championship at the World Junior Grand Prix (Japan), fifth at the World Junior Grand Prix (Poland), fourth at the World Junior Championships, championship at the World Junior Grand Prix (Harbin), championship at the World Junior Grand Prix (Norway), and championship at the World Junior Grand Prix Finals (U.K.).

In 2001, they won first place at the World Youth Championships.

In 2002, they were placed 11th at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, ninth at the World Championships, and third at the Four Continents Championships.

In 2003 they were placed sixth at the World Championships, third at the Four Continents Championships, and first at the World Youth Championship.

In 2004, they were placed fifth at the World Championships, and second at the Four Continents Championships.

In 2005, they won the championships at the World Grand Prix (Japan and at the World Grand Prix (Canada), and were placed second at the World Grand Prix Finals and third at the World Championships.

In 2006, they won the silver medal at the Turin Olympic Games and second place at the World Championships.

In 2007, they won the championships at the World Grand Prix (Canada) and at the Universiade Winter Games, and were placed third at the World Grand Prix Finals and fifth at the World Championships.

In 2008, they were second place at the World Championships, second place at the Four Continents Championships, champions at the World Grand Prix (China), champions at the World Grand Prix (Russia), and second place at the World Grand Prix Finals.

In 2009, they won second place at the World Championships, second place at the Four Continents Championships, championship at the Universiade Winter Games, championship at the 11th National Games, second place at the China Cup, third place at the World Grand Prix (U.S.), and sixth place at the World Grand Prix Finals.

In 2010, they won the championship at the Four Continents Championships and were placed fifth at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and at the Turin World Championships.

In 2011, the pair won second place at the World Grand Prix (U.S.)

In 2012, they won second places in short performance and free performance at the 12th National Winter Games.