"We have not talk about the retirement now and maybe we will make a decision when we go back to China after the Games," Zhao said at a press conference here on Thursday.

    The 32-year-old Zhao Hongbo, who clinched the bronze medal in Salt Lake City four years ago, overcame his Achilles tendon injuryto take the bronze medal in Turin with his partner Shen Xue in the pairs free skating on Monday.

    "It all up to Hongbo's physical condition. His tendon had swelled up before the free skating competition and it was quit dangerous to skate, but he insisted to finish the whole program," Shen told Xinhua .

    "He must have a check-up after we go home and then we will think about our future."

    Zhao and his partner Shen Xue used to be the biggest gold medalhopefuls for China before Zhao's injury. After breaking his tendon while doing a triple toe-loop last August in training, their Olympic appearance was clouded by the injury and fears.

    "We have never thought that we could come to Turin, because Zhao's tendon has the possibility to break any time in the training."

    "We are quite happy with the bronze medal but it was a pity that we were not in our best form to compete here," Shen said.

    "We still love figure skating, and we hope we can compete in the Worlds," added Shen. Enditem