I do, too, Barrie. My favorite performance ever was Torvill and Dean’s Bolero. Perfect 6es across the board. I actually never get tired of watching it over and over on YouTube.
My other favorite was Katerina Witt. She and Michelle Kwan had an “it” that I haven’t noticed as much since. And don’t get me started on hunky Kurt Browning and those shiny pewter pants
Torvill and Dean were iconic!! Another favourite of mine are Yagudin's routines at Salt Lake City in 2002. His "Winter" has some of the most awesome foot work I ever saw in figure skating. And the crowd was insane, so energetic! When they started clapping, I did it too - all by myself here in the middle of the nigh
Interesting how Alyona/Bruno's costumes were reminiscent of that iconic Torville/Dean performance!
That is IMO still the golden standard in 'interpretation' (or components, whatever) on the ice.
The Dutch commenters were happy that the top 3 in the men's were 'interpreters', of the effortless skating ad telling a story kind rather than just jumping machines. Also interesting how the Spanish guy commented earlier on the threat of the men's turning into solely a jumping contest. The ISU should consider putting some restrictions on the maximum amount of particular elements or the kind of elements or something. They did it before, although obviously the reason they changed the rules from 6.0 judging to the system there is now.
That system was IMO too much of a riggable popularity contest, where strategic scoring was all too easy. As if the judges had predetermined who was best, and scored accordingly regardless of actual performance. In such a system, Patrick Chan would have won a medal even after effing up his short program. Now, although his long was brilliant, he didn't.
Though scoring a perfect 10 (6.0) must feel super special. (Specialler than beating a world's best or season's best in points on an open scale)
What I like about the current system is that each element has an assigned score (like in diving, gymnastics, etc), with pluses and minuses, that a fall automatically doesn't mean exit, but what I don't like is the vagueness of the components. Maybe I should look into it a wee bit more.
Savchenko/Massot - If anyone deserved this gold it was them, especially her, after so many years of hard work at the highest level. She was of course very successful with Robin Solkowy, but never on top of Olympus, the one thing that must have kept her going. And Bruno's emotions were priceless. Great entertainment overall, the skating this time.
Wonder what the women's wil bring...
