Blumberg & Seibert (USA) - 1984 Sarajevo, Ice Dancing, Free Dance

[twilliger123]

Robbed during the days of Eastern European bias...should have medaled, no doubt about it.

[gk891]

I thought Klimova & Ponomarenko's bronze medal was fine. However, I would've given this couple the silver (I also would've given them the silver at the 1983 Worlds as well). Judy and Michael were superlative skaters.

[ptownmike1]

Judy & Michael were screwed. They were penalized for using the same tempo music as Torvill & Dean. As much as I love Jayne and Chris, the judges couldn't mark Torvill & Dean down because of their popularity. Judy & Michael weren't subjected to the same rules and were treated unfairly. Very sad day in Olympic figure skating.

[excalibur1812]

Yes, Blumberg and Seibert were penalized for using CLASSICAL music...GASP!!!! That DIDN'T change tempo. Excuse me, the violin cadenza at the beginning, then the piece starts! That's a change of tempo. Plus, the piece got faster at the end. But, when Torvil and Dean skated to Bolero-which I personally thought was BORING, they TRANSCENDED the sport!!!??? Talk about a two-timing double standard. Judges are INFAMOUS for raping American skaters.

[muscleboi4use]

@excalibur1812 I agree this couple should have got the silver and the music changes tempo for sure, but you are seriously in a minority of not very many if you think Torvill and Dean's Bolero is boring!

[libralady1010]

@muscleboi4use Unfortunately the standings for 1984 were already cast in 1981 when Michael had a fall 14 seconds into their program, which allowed the over the top mediocre team of Bestimianova&Bukin to move ahead of them The has been team of Moiseeva and Minenkov edged them off the podium in 1981 along w/B&B and Torvill and Dean winning.

[talon1812]

Not to mentions the CANADIAN judge, who gave them a 5.3 for Artistic Impression for their Carmen Paso Doble!

The judging was pre-ordained to KEEP B&S OFF the podium. The exact same thing happened this year in Vancouver to Belbin and Agosto. I knew going into the competition that they would NOT put 2 Americans teams on the podium and would screw one out of a medal. The same way B&A were screwed out of the gold in Torino. They were MUCH better than the Russians with a more difficult program!

[MTVMANN]

I agree...and the Russian's Original Dance only made it that much worse. The only "Silver Lining" is that they DO already have Silver Medals from the Olympics.

[metsdudenj]

this is of the saddest and most unfair moments in Olympic history

[MTVMANN]

I thought it was because they didn't show a change in tempo...which Torville and Dean didn't do either.

At any rate, why would this music be criticized? Skaters have used it before and after 1984

[3Axel1996]

@MTVMANN Never before for Ice Dancing.

[Kevindl1985]

@MTVMANN The rule was they were supposed to have a change in tempo. They didn't and were penalized, Torvill and Dean however weren't. A judge was interviewd and asked why T&D weren't penalized for Bolero having the same tempo throughout and the answer was "because they're T&D" After that, the ISU banned judges from being interviewed.

[TruWatcher]

I remember being SO furious with that Italian judge whose excuse for giving them a 5.5 for artistic expression was that the music was "inapppropriate" for ice dance! Insane!! Thanks for posting this.