Olympic Figure Skating for Dummies, Volume II

[bigboobedcanuck]

The Olympics are less than a week away! Anyone else excited?

Four years ago (my, how time flies!) I made an Olympic Figure Skating for Dummies post and quite a few people said they appreciated the rundown on the podium contenders. So I thought I'd do it again for the casual skating watchers out there. I tried my best to get pictures of the skaters

Comments

[schnappycat]

Very cool! Marking for later because I have fallen so behind in all of this, especially the pairs. BTW, are you watching Weir's reality show? He's certainly a character!

[bigboobedcanuck]

Pairs is going to be a battle royale! Can't wait!

I don't get Johnny's show here, but I'll have to download. I do love that boy and all his character. :D

[alexandral]

But lest you think I just automatically hate Russians, I've loved many, many Russian skaters in the past (Alexi Yagudin, Gordeeva/Grinkov, Irina Slutskaya, etc.)! I'm just meh on the current batch.

hee! I must say, this has crossed my mind. I don't know all the rest but Plushenko - I like him ** hides **. I particular enjoy good jumps in Male figure skating and as you say, they have always been his strong suit.

I feel I am so behind with ice-skating, even though I love watching it and do a bit of ice-skating myself. We don't get much coverage of European or World championships here in the UK. I have to be content with Dancing on ice. I might catch up on who-is-who during the Olympics, though!

Also - Gordeeva/Grinkov! These were good times

[bigboobedcanuck]

I swear, I don't hate Russians! Well, except Plushenko. ;) I can understand liking him, don't worry. He really is an amazing jumper, I will certainly give him that. I just find the rest so lacking his ego is enormous.

TV coverage is so poor for skating in a lot of countries these days. SIGH. But yes, I hope you tune in for the Olympics.

1988 is the first Olympics I really remember, and G/G were my favourites. Oh, how I loved them. Still so sad to think about his death. So young!

[alexandral]

The first Olympics/World championships I remember were during 70s - Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev will always be my perfect couple (and they had such a character - I remember the time the music stopped but they finished their routine and won). In Russia Ice Skating championships are HUGE (on similar level with Football Championships are here in the UK) so we used to watch them from the baby age.. :D

1988 is the first Olympics I really remember, and G/G were my favourites. Oh, how I loved them. Still so sad to think about his death. So young!

They were absolutely lovely - all our family loves them, my mother was absolutely inconsolable when he died. But she likes Plushenko too (but disapproves of the haircut ;D).

One of great non-Russia related highlights I remember was Jayne Torvill
and Christopher Dean's ice dancing. So awesome!

[bigboobedcanuck]

I cried and cried when Sergei died. So heart breaking!

Yes, I imagine skating is so much bigger in Russia than here. I'm glad your mom disapproves of Plushy's hair. I was always a big Yagudin fan. I miss him!

Torvill and Dean's "Bolero" is still so breathtaking today. Amazing!

[xokadieox]

thanks for this!! Now I'll know who to look for!

[bigboobedcanuck]

You're so welcome! Glad my skating obsession can be of service. :D

[nicole_anell]

Thank you so, so much for this post!!

[bigboobedcanuck]

You're very welcome! :D

[ermynee224]

This is AMAZING! Thank you so much!!

[bigboobedcanuck]

You're very welcome!