Photo: Courtesy of organizers

Retiring from competing just two months before Beijing hosts the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, China's Olympic figure skating silver medalist Zhang Hao has decided to teach at Beijing Sport University in the hopes of sharing the glamour of winter sports.

"I hope I can enrich my own knowledge while imparting it to students," Zhang told reporters on Friday on the sidelines of a ceremony during which instant noodle producer Master Kang handed over tailored food for Olympic athletes to China's winter sports governing body. 

Partnering with Zhang Dan, Zhang Hao won the pair skating silver medal at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. After Zhang Dan's retirement in 2012, Zhang Hao continued to skate with different partners but never surpassed the peak he reached in 2006. However, he is hailed as a skater who helped the national team improve from generation to generation. 

Now China's pair skaters Sui Wenjing and Han Cong are ready to compete for the Olympic gold medal at home. 

"I never took my eyes off the national figure skating team. As the home Olympics are coming, I think they are preparing in their final stage. It's a pity Sui and Han missed the gold [at the 2018 Winter Olympics], I hope they can do better in front of a home audience," Zhang said.

Speaking of his years traveling on the road as an athlete, Zhang also underlined the importance of eating for an athlete.

"For many Chinese athletes, they are not accustomed to cold dishes when competing overseas," Hao said. 

"Due to the concerns over consuming banned performance-enhancing substances, they prefer to eat Chinese food rather than local food."