2010 Olympic Figure Skating - Pairs Long Program Review and Thoughts

[IceBloose]

Great video! Great commentary! :D

[Nadia1erai]

the judging was pretty well done because no American or Canadian pairs were aiming at medals. LOL

Figure skating is all about politics now. Unfortunately.

[ImagineThat1980]

WadewiseR. America did not walk away with the most Gold. Canada and Germany were first and second. America had the most overall medals.

What is the ice skating background the blogger?

[desariofan]

okay comments - good analysis - but a bit biased

[wadewiseR]

Just to watch these great athletes in action and that is, All of them - the ones who made it and the ones who didn't- pick a country any country and just enjoy the amazing show. These young people who have worked so hard, each one deserve a standing ovation. I salute them all. A fan of the Olympics

[wadewiseR]

And oh yeah we will take platinum over gold anytime.If fourth place received platinum everyone would fight for fourth place.

[TonyWheeler]

Plushenko and his agent say they had nothing to do with that. So he wouldn't necessarily take a platinum medal.

[wadewiseR]

Americans heard their anthem played more than any other country, so they walked away with the most gold.

[nosuchpersonvideo]

Canada had 14 gold. Germany had 10. The USA had 9. That is not the most.

[stealthpakfa]

since americans love counting silver and bronzes as equals to gold, then lets give platinum to 4th and copper to 5th.

gold is what always has and always will count for.

silvers and bronzes are consolation prizes for nations with low expectations that are fearful they cannot win the event and have their national anthem played.

the nation that has their anthem played the most on the podium wins the olympics. gold is how u achieve that.

[Anthebay]

boring blabla

[TonyWheeler]

Then please, make your own video where you express your own thoughts :-)

[jbone72]

didn't the canadians fall!!!!! how do you explain that. Skating politics as usual

[TonyWheeler]

I don't agree with their short program placement at all, I had them 9th. But I think they were scored very well in the free skate.

[redkerr15]

Spot on comments! I love Bryce and Davison, but like you wondered what was going on with the short program. I really think they are capable of greatness, but something struck me as being up with Jessica. Can't help but wonder if her confidence is still low after the accidents they have had. Or just pressure skating at home. With the Russians, again Tamara what are you thinking! Goes totally cheesefest when the Blue Danube starts.

[shihshuai]

I'm Chinese. Some ppl say that P/T should be the first, and S/Z were helped out by the judges, in the mercy of realizing a new legend(and their age...). Do you think so? I guess I easily go emotional about S/Z b/c I love them too much and their story too much. Want to listen to what you would say.

[TonyWheeler]

My final scorecard had 1.90 points difference between the teams, and if you think about the time deduction that P/T received in the short program, without it, the teams would be separated by less than a point! I think it was close, but I still think S/Z did just enough to fairly win. :)

[shihshuai]

@TonyWheeler Glad to know that you think they deserve the gold. Wish P/T can win after S/Z retire. :D They've had too many difficulties. Finally they are free to have babies.

[TonyWheeler]

As far as I know, P/T were planning on this being their last season, as well. They are both around the same age as Shen, so I don't see them going past the World Championships, if they even choose to skate there. This would be a nice way to end their career :)

[Burpingbelcher]

Loving tuning into your commentaries every day - much better than what's on TV! Feel a bit sorry for Robin Szolkowy right now - German TV is all about how he "lost" them the gold medal with the double axel fall, but they probably wouldn't have won even if he'd landed it...

[TonyWheeler]

Thank you! I doubt a clean double Axel would have given them the win, but I always feel it's a little silly for the press or whoever else to do would have/should have situations. who is to say that had they done the Axels successfully that Zhao's double Axel wouldn't have been completely clean along with the lift they had trouble with last night? I know S/S are disappointed being just 3rd after coming in as two-time World Champions, but I'm really happy with their effort after the rocky season!

[purrmonsta]

I agree with you 100% dude...great commentary! The one thing I think you did not mention, and the reason I think that Shen and Zhao got high marks on the long skate, is their artistic expression in their skating...which I believe is superior to all the other pairs except for the German pair. I don't know what the judges call that, but the feeling and relation to the music of their motions and transitions, they were moving as one, it was beautiful to watch.

[TonyWheeler]

Well, it could be reflected in the interpretation component, which I commented on as that setting them apart. I'm not knocking their performance in any way.. they were great!

[DEMCAD]

I'm so excited about ice dance.