Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze (RUS) - 2002 Salt Lake City, Figure Skating, Pairs' Free Skate

[hongligl]

I just love this program!!! After so many years they still can stand tall as one of the best, this program can stand for the test of COP  with artistry in spade. They are the deserving olympic gold medalists of that olympics for sure.

[partylikeits1066]

I feel like at the end, I watched a totally different program to the commentators.

[Natura70]

prosto super !! texnika- super! gracia- super!! katanie -super!!!! oni zaslujivali- 6.0!!!!!!!!!!

[mlc2005]

But we are missing the point here: It wasn't about who was better. It was the fact that it was PROVEN that the Russian and French Federations made vote swapping deals with each other (in pairs and dance). B/c this was proven, the French judge's mark MUST be thrown out obviously, leading to a 4-4 split.

Those feds are solely to blame for not only ruining the Olympics for two amazing pairs teams, but also for causing the code of points to be shoved upon us. Thanks Russia and France!

[CamilleNadia]

This was a GORGEOUS performance. But it wasn't perfect. There was his bobble on the jump landing and she clearly had trouble hanging onto the landing from the throws. When all is said and done, it's an "apples vs. oranges" situation.

[tonymas004]

@CamilleNadia so do like them ,then I evaluate you.

[snofagun1814]

THIS PREFORMANCE WAS SO SLOPPY AND THEN JUST BORING ZZZZZZZZ IT MAKES YOU GO SLEEPY NITE NITE ZZZZZZZZ

[NashfanVash]

The only clean skates by a pair that won the Olympic gold in recent years were: G&G 1988, T&M 2006. All others have at least one mistake in the LP. One mistake does not ruin a program if the whole program is skated well, and Elena -Anton skated well enough to win. This was a beautiful performance, marred by American media and politics.

[mlc2005]

@NashfanVash: "Marred by American media and politics?????"

If Russia found out that the US and Canada had made a deal to swap votes (regardless of the performances) at the freaking Olympics, you don't think Russia would complain???? Remember how well they handled Plushenko's gold in 2010?

Give me a break! Russia engaged in blatant corruption in a sport, but you are blaming the American media and politics??? LOL

[3Axel1996]

@NashfanVash Nah, there's politics everywhere. When Sarah Hughes won the Gold, the Russians cried foul and threatened to file a complaint citing that Slutskaya was robbed of the Gold. There's no pleasing everyone...sadly...

[LovelySouthStar]

Elena is so beautiful in this. Anton really does a great job in the way he presents her. Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic sound stupid and one sided. No doubt look stupid too. This was an exquisite brand new program, beautifully choreagraphed whereas chunky lJamies' and Davids' was old, old, old. Simply just an old antique.

[love1992sm]

i said it then and ill say it now he totally messed up at 1:34 they did not deserve gold

[libralady1010]

@love1992sm I've said it before & I'll say it again: It's the total package.i.e.- is it a new program: quality of stroking, particularly back stroking; the speed they're going; the glide; no skid.S&P sure didn't deserve the gold.They simply introduced a new way to " win" a gold medal: trot out an old program & cry for a week in front of every camera you can find.Plus have biased commentators proclaim you as the winners before the Chinese pair EVEN skated their program.

[skylark914]

They are like 'swans floating on a lake' when they skate! You can never tire of watching them, ever!

[ralphyization]

Did anyone who watched Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, actually, WATCH their programs??? Really, like a CBC commentator has THAT much power. yeah, ok...cough, choke... How about the AMERICAN audience, ???

[TheSienna29]

I'm sure Elena and Anton would have won under the current COP because of the way their choreography is connected to the elements. There is no " dead air" in this program. Jamie and David did not combine their movements like these two did and hence did not deserve the gold medal.

[MissGreenDay7]

Why did they say that they weren't going to say much during the performance? Isn't it their job to commentate? There are a lot of people who only watch figure skating during the olympics so it would be helpful to them for commentators to comment on what the skaters are doing.

[filipbong]

That was Sandra Bezic she had the Canadian flag tattooed on her forehead that night. She and Scott Hamilton helped ignite the whole uproar in SLC. Talk about partisan voting, those 2 paid commentators broadcast their rabid partisanship and solidarity with the North Americans on worldwide TV.

[libralady1010]

@filipbong I can't believe the IOC&the ISU fell for the crocodile tears of Sale'&Pelletier.Now- thanks to these two-we have a system that rewards skater(s) for attempting a move.The irony is Sandra Bezic & Scottie made such a brouhaha @ the "double axel,"B&S would've won anyway because of the " attempt."I was embarrased by their remarks&an entire WEEK focusing on these 2 sore losers.Anyone who skates knows B&S had the superior program.Bezic w/a spinster,strident voice&Scottie the screecher.Ugh!!

[ralphyization]

@libralady1010 They (meaning Sale and Pelletier, NEVER trash talked the Russians! Not once! They just knew, that they skated the program to "do the job".

[libralady1010]

@ralphyization B&S never trashed talked them! They didn't have the speed of the Russians' BUT they had precious Scottie and the oh so biased Mz. Bezic doing their PR work FOR them.

We're done here.

Send Jamie a "Congratulations" Hallmark Card for being a huge part of instigating this awful system we're now stuck with.

They didn't do a job: they did a number on the whole sport. I've never seen a sorer loser than Jamie. Even Lloyd Eisler said it "blemished our sport."

[ralphyization]

@filipbong Since when do Canadians have ANY influence in any type of international affairs?? Other than the UN, or G20?

[mlc2005]

@filipbong: Scott and Sandra Bezic worked for NBC, so only people in the US watched their broadcast. Canadians have their own coverage, etc... The commentators on NBC did NOT create this mess. It was the corrupt Russian federation and the stupid French judge. It's cool to like one program more than the other, but at least stick to the freaking facts.

[Lariov]

I hate the lady that comments this competences!!!! she is so subjective and she's always watching for the russian mistakes!!

They fairly deserved this gold medal, because the presentation and the difficulty of the program.

[dc19921000]

This was a toss-up to me. S&P weren't THAT far behind with the content of their program that a slipup by Elena & Anton would have kept them first. It could have gone either way.

[macassar88]

They had such a beautiful presence and amazing transitions which make up for the fact that they had mistakes. What NBC needs to remember is that there are two marks. Technical and Presentation.

[keikomoon17]

i like Jamie Salé and David Pelletier but I rooted for the Russian team simply because of what Elena had been through with her previous partner in order to continue with this sports... Anton kept her going...

[shawntooth]

they just take my breath away; they were the clear winner of the night IMO, despite S&P executed all the tricks.........i mean even S/Z finished the the throw quad that night, i'd still vote for B&S to be the winner

[manderson610]

Wow she has a gorgeous back, I loved those spread eagles connected to his spirals. The landings were so-so, but I still really like their innovative moves!

[wewewell]

Watching this performance, I dont understand what the fuss was about with them winning the gold, it is so beautiful, smooth, artistic and the most technically difficult. In all honesty I felt that the commentators (especially the lady, whoever she is I hate listening to her in the olympics she is very biased) were being biased, and the judges caved into media pressure by the Americans/Canadians. This was the better performance of the night for sure, it was old school classical figure skating

[itsonlykat]

beautiful~ thanks!

[italianjen29]

Ok I'm really confused. I really thought I remember Elena falling on a throw jump in one of the programs. I could swear that's what the big deal was about over Russia taking 1st and Canada taking 2nd??

[hatula87]

@italianjen29

Elena didn't fall. Jamie and David fell at the end of the short program. There was no big deal actually, but US and Canadian mass-media took advantage of the public misunderstanding of the sport and made that scandl out of nothing.

[italianjen29]

@hatula87 omg... i have no idea where I got it in my head that Elena fell on a throw jump! I could have sworn that I remembered her falling and that that was why I freaked out and thought that the canadian's should have won. Now looking back on this and seeing that there was no fall, I'm thinking that only the Russian should have won the gold... and I'm Canadian!!

[italianjen29]

@hatula87 Did she fall on a throw jump in the exhibition show??? It's really amazing how time can distort memory!

[3Axel1996]

@italianjen29 You were probably thinking about this season's Grand Prix Final where after the first 2 rounds, B&S were leading the competition until she fell on the throw triple Salchow in Round 3, where they skated to this very same routine. That major error cost them the Gold and they ended up finishing 2nd to Sale & Pelletier.

[italianjen29]

@3Axel1996 No I don't watch kating anymore... haven't in like 5 years b/c I don't have cable tv.

[3Axel1996]

@italianjen29 When I said this season, I meant 2001-2002. Sorry to confuse you.

[hatula87]

@italianjen29

She did, after the main exhibition number, where she landed it perfectly, they did some encore - and there she did fell on the throw.

[italianjen29]

@hatula87 AH YES!! Ok so I'm not crazy! lol! That must be what I'm remembering.

[Haniwa91]

@italianjen29 yes, i think she fell maybe twice

[italianjen29]

What the hell jump was that at 2;24??? Was that supposed to be a throw loop?? Bother her feet were down but they didn't look crossed at all.

[weeesssa]

They're beautiful... but they didn't skate clean. I'm glad the Canadians got gold too.

[lekhalo]

We really miss this pair, very elegant and very difficult programs, just the best

[maanyagnacious]

i believed that figure skating of this two are technically (with some huh!) and choreographically beautiful unlike with their predecessors i guess hahahahaha!!!!!! peace!

[aji0106]

They are the true 2002 olympics champions…

[SMSProductions1]

You know, the Olympics has been less about who does a difficult program and more about who can make 0 mistakes, which is why the controversy was more controversial that it probably should have been. It was a simple choice:

Complex, difficult Russian style of beauty and serenity with a slight mistake and maybe not skating to full potential.

vs.

A simpler, North American style of skating skated with a fire and flawlessly.

Personally, I would have given B&S gold. And I'm North American.

[hatula87]

@SMSProductions1

Actually the latest history of olympic champions in pairs shows the opposite - in 1984, 1992, 1994, 1998 - all the champions made mistakes, and not slight ones, but got the gold due to the difficult programs and the overall quality of their skating

[3Axel1996]

@hatula87 And the one that draws a lot of debate still is 1994... Probably the best we've seen from the final group of pairs.

[hatula87]

@3Axel1996

That's because M&D had other remarkable strenghts over G&G, in addition to skating cleaner

[WickedProductions100]

@hatula87 That makes no sense though, because you would think that the Russians with their mistake vs. a perfect program by someone else would clearly be outclassed. It's like how Irina Slutskaya was outclassed by Sarah Hughes at the same Olympics. Irina didn't have major mistakes, but she had one or two and the gold medal was taken from her in a program that was pretty simple.

[AwakeToTheMystery]

Irrespective of the controversy around the Gold and Silver places herein, it is so blatantly clear to see that Elena and Anton (in both the short and long programs) won hands down. Sorry no competition. They were simply in a class all of their own.

[ralphyization]

@AwakeToTheMystery How is it though, that Canada was awarded the Gold? Why on earth, would the IOC DO that, unless, the judge conroversey was discovered??? My nest question is, HOW did they discover the "corrupt" judge? The French judge ADMITTED to collusion with the ....you guessed it...RUSSIAN judge. It's all a matter of public record!

[libralady1010]

@ralphyization She recanted her remarks. That's a matter of public record too.

[tatianamokienko]

@ralphyization да это PR и хитрая и наглая пресса -- американские и канадские ничуть не лучше русских - посмотри на чана - он жопой по 5 раз лёд отполирует, а ему всё равно 1 место

такчт заткнись -- такие же монстры и ещё хуже , чем русские, хотя б потому что русские действительно гениальных фигуристов ставили, а кто щас вспоминает про твоих " летье- пелетье"

[bibi24]

WOW I miss their skating SOOOOO much !! <3

[libralady1010]

This was THE program of the evening.

They are the Olympic Champions regardless of what's said in the booth during the event. This program takes you to another place,another time of ...yes meditation. Elena looks ethereal, Anton so strong. One had the feeling the remarks Bezic and Scott were making, they didn't WANT this team to win.Similar to 1994-his gushing over Gordeeva & Sergei singled a double salchow in the LP while M&D were perfect.He didn't want M&D to win either.G&G weren't perfect.

[ralphyization]

@libralady1010 Sale and pelletier KICKED their ass! Get over it!

[libralady1010]

@ralphyization LOL!Yeah they beat 'em alright: in the whining&crying dept.w/much needed help of Scott Hamilton&Sandra Bezic!An old recycled program by S&P trotted out as gray&dusty as their costumes! Anybody ever stop to think Jamie crashing into Anton caused problems w/Anton?She wasn't following the rules during Pairs warm-up which clearly state the pair doing a PAIR element takes precedence over a single move.If the little linebacker had been 2 seconds later,B&S would've been seriously hurt.

[ralphyization]

@libralady1010 What ev's the Canadian team was better. Not by that much, BUT , Sale and Pelletier WERE better! No doubt about it! How else do you think,that whole SCAM was revealed??!! Anton did a little"bobble", at the beginning. Not much, usually, But, when the opponent is PERFECT, hard to beat! Especially, when the Canadians had a better program, and were more in "sync"!

[libralady1010]

@ralphyization Yeah:Jamie slams into Anton during the warm-up which,if you know the rules,the pair team practicing a pair element has right of way.Jamie was doing a singles' element &looked like she was gunning for him.Watch the warmup.S&P trot out a gray,dusty old program they've done before&they're better!?Give me a break! Plus they spent a week making 'friends' w/every camera.I thought their behaviour-especially hers'-was horrible.Such a cry baby.You wouldn't want to cross her!

[libralady1010]

@ralphyization They also fell down@the end of their OP.And they're the better pair?A lot of people are GLAD they retired.They were asking $30K per show-AND DIDN'T RECEIVE NEAR THAT AMOUNT.They're the Silver Medalists for 2002.Always WILL BE-SO YOU GET OVER IT.They had THEIR BUTTS KICKED ON THE ICE ... AND AT THE BANK! Stop,stare,pose.Except of course,when the little pony-tailed linebacker gathered up speed,crashing into Anton&Elena during the warm-up.I repeat: don't p*ss her off!

[jekiffetanja]

@libralady1010 totally agree, they were the only olympic champions in that competition, so far...

[snofagun1814]

@libralady1010 WELL I GUESS THE ENTIRE CROWD AND 99.9% OF EVERYONE WHO WATCHED THIS COMPETITION AGREE WITH SCOTT/BEZIC

[signorinakitty]

movimenti molto ampi, classicheggianti