It was a most controversial and bitter decision (for fans of German skating).....Back then, the media was making decisions about how to market the sport, and what would appeal to audiences. and there were always the International Politics to consider. They packaged the Protopoppovs well in America.....but my coach at the time was a German emmigree Lydia Herron....and she introduced a great love of Maria Kilias in her students..... best wishes
Wow! Thank you for posting this! You can really see when comparing them to earlier pairs skaters how the Protopopovs took Pairs to a whole new level of athleticism AND artistry. Just stunning.
@faeryquene It warms my heart that a young person would notice such insightful things.....It was a change of direction and step forward.......although the Germans were not happy about it. Their skating has its roots in the 1940's Austrian Pair Eva Pawlik and Rudi Seeliger. They made a famous skating movie in the 1950's in Vienna, and the Protopoppov's mentioned in an interview that it inspired them to put of skates and take to the ice!!
Such unity and exquisite edges, and such matching of positions we do not see today in pairs or dance. Ice dancing came late to Olympic competition, but unless you are anywhere as old as I am now, you could not remember that. Pairs in the 1960s did not compete the lifts and throws that they do now, so this program might seem "blah," but it is anything but that. This Russian pair will be remembered always. Rules and styles were different, but the Protopopovs remain so special.
Thanks so much, K9. I grew up watching the Protopopovs and was forever jaded by their excellence on ice. What pairs figures were and should be about. The flow of skating, more than any other activity (ballet, dance etc), lends itself to a man and woman interacting with each other and the music in great sweeping motions expressing respect and romance. While I'm awed by Shen & Zhao's precision today, to me, it's still more like gymnastics on ice.
Yes, that is what it says!! I do recall that they saw a skating movie (Springtime on Ice) starring Austria's Eva Pawlik, and that inspired them to take up the sport. That would have been in the early 1950's.....I saw them as professionals in their 60's....and i suspect they are still skating (somehwere)...best wishes
They showed figure skating can be an art form. Too bad too few (singles or pairs) have followed them in that direction. Gordeeva and Grinkov and sometimes Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze, in pairs. Can't think of anyone else. The Protopopovs were truly unique.
It was a wonderful era. Skaters could concentrate as much on the Artistry integrating the elements, connecting steps to fit the music as much as the technical side. Now-thanks to 2002 SLC Olympics,the unnecessary brouhaha brought about over THAT-it's jumps,stamina and-can't wrap my head around THIS one(!)-" Attempted a more difficult element." Never mind if the program's a Zamboni cleaning up the ice ,if you "attempted it" well we have a winner!
Yes, they have lost their way, but we will bring them back to their senses. I couldn't agree more about how 'bad' this form of competitive skating is.......we are just driving viewership away!!! Even I don't watch a lot of it. If we complain enough, one day they will listen!!!!! one day soon, i hope......best wishes
I think it's a little more recent than that. I recognize it because Maria Butyrskaya skated to it as her last amateur long program in 2002. I think it's the soundtrack to a foreign film called "Tale of a Journey.
It was a most controversial and bitter decision (for fans of German skating).....Back then, the media was making decisions about how to market the sport, and what would appeal to audiences. and there were always the International Politics to consider. They packaged the Protopoppovs well in America.....but my coach at the time was a German emmigree Lydia Herron....and she introduced a great love of Maria Kilias in her students..... best wishes
k9henrydog 10 months ago
excellent + beautiful performance ! But did they really deserve to win with that program ?
Technically the world champions Kilius/Baeumler were clearly ahead !
chulo2602 10 months ago
Wow! Thank you for posting this! You can really see when comparing them to earlier pairs skaters how the Protopopovs took Pairs to a whole new level of athleticism AND artistry. Just stunning.
faeryquene 1 year ago
@faeryquene It warms my heart that a young person would notice such insightful things.....It was a change of direction and step forward.......although the Germans were not happy about it. Their skating has its roots in the 1940's Austrian Pair Eva Pawlik and Rudi Seeliger. They made a famous skating movie in the 1950's in Vienna, and the Protopoppov's mentioned in an interview that it inspired them to put of skates and take to the ice!!
k9henrydog 1 year ago
Such unity and exquisite edges, and such matching of positions we do not see today in pairs or dance. Ice dancing came late to Olympic competition, but unless you are anywhere as old as I am now, you could not remember that. Pairs in the 1960s did not compete the lifts and throws that they do now, so this program might seem "blah," but it is anything but that. This Russian pair will be remembered always. Rules and styles were different, but the Protopopovs remain so special.
ja3399 1 year ago 2
Now that was beautiful to see - too bad todays couples are so painful to watch.
lju5001 2 years ago
It does get scary out there these days! best wishes
k9henrydog 2 years ago
Daskvidana.? for commenting! best wishes
k9henrydog 2 years ago
Thanks so much, K9. I grew up watching the Protopopovs and was forever jaded by their excellence on ice. What pairs figures were and should be about. The flow of skating, more than any other activity (ballet, dance etc), lends itself to a man and woman interacting with each other and the music in great sweeping motions expressing respect and romance. While I'm awed by Shen & Zhao's precision today, to me, it's still more like gymnastics on ice.
sigsson 2 years ago
did that video say they started skating when they where 15 & 16 or started pairs when they where 15 & 16??
ItsEmmalicious 2 years ago
Yes, that is what it says!! I do recall that they saw a skating movie (Springtime on Ice) starring Austria's Eva Pawlik, and that inspired them to take up the sport. That would have been in the early 1950's.....I saw them as professionals in their 60's....and i suspect they are still skating (somehwere)...best wishes
k9henrydog 2 years ago
ummm so they started skating in thier late teens??
ItsEmmalicious 2 years ago
@k9henrydog they started at 15/16? like started to learn how to skate at that age?
jagsmokey 1 year ago
They started skating with coaches in their teen age years! Unheard of considering kids get pushed into being prima donnas at age 2 and 3 now!
They are of the same generation and wonderful style of Fred Astaire and Lesley Caron!
Magnificent!
ripcalwill 2 years ago
OMG! thats amazing!
ItsEmmalicious 2 years ago
They showed figure skating can be an art form. Too bad too few (singles or pairs) have followed them in that direction. Gordeeva and Grinkov and sometimes Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze, in pairs. Can't think of anyone else. The Protopopovs were truly unique.
endrrahene 2 years ago
Lovely,inquisite...what more can one say.
It was a wonderful era. Skaters could concentrate as much on the Artistry integrating the elements, connecting steps to fit the music as much as the technical side. Now-thanks to 2002 SLC Olympics,the unnecessary brouhaha brought about over THAT-it's jumps,stamina and-can't wrap my head around THIS one(!)-" Attempted a more difficult element." Never mind if the program's a Zamboni cleaning up the ice ,if you "attempted it" well we have a winner!
Not!
libralady1010 2 years ago
Yes, they have lost their way, but we will bring them back to their senses. I couldn't agree more about how 'bad' this form of competitive skating is.......we are just driving viewership away!!! Even I don't watch a lot of it. If we complain enough, one day they will listen!!!!! one day soon, i hope......best wishes
k9henrydog 2 years ago
Забытые всеми артисты
iramoscow 2 years ago
they didn't skate with that music!
barkingtree88 3 years ago
it is a montage feature I am sure, but it certainly seems to fit.....it may be the actual music???? who knows......nice though.....best wishes
k9henrydog 3 years ago
I think it's a little more recent than that. I recognize it because Maria Butyrskaya skated to it as her last amateur long program in 2002. I think it's the soundtrack to a foreign film called "Tale of a Journey.
barkingtree88 3 years ago
The original was Listz and Rakhmaninov
thesunny2007 3 years ago
yep. i hate that music when maria used it
sekretaznman81 3 years ago
Thank you so much for allowing me to relive the magic that was the Protopovs. Much more grace and artistry than we see today.
IanScott750 4 years ago 3
Yes, a different era! and a sport that inspired others to get out their on the ice and give it a try!!!!
k9henrydog 4 years ago
captivating
sixfootpianist7 4 years ago
They had wonderful synchronicity on their jumps, even just the split jumps, much better than you often see today.
Stephthemagicdragon 4 years ago 2
wonderful piece of Ice skating history
xkatiekate 4 years ago 3