As Beijing celebrates the two-year anniversary of its successful bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, China's most-decorated winter Olympian couple is embracing a new role in promoting winter sports.

Shen Xue, a former Olympic champion figure skater, was recently named deputy secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China to lead the mass youth organization's work in supporting preparations for Beijing 2022, according to multiple Chinese media reports.

Shen's husband, Zhao Hongbo, her gold-winning partner in pairs skating at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, confirmed the appointment on Monday, expressing confidence in his wife to deliver in the high-profile post.