Shooting From the Lip-Russian Female Gold Pairs Skater Leaves Salt Lake, Whines Over Sharing Medal

The Canada National Post ^ | February 25, 2002 | National Post Staff

[discostu]

Where were all you guys when this was a hot topic? I was standing alone in thread after thread. I think the Russian program was better. And more importantly I think all the folks that think the Canadians should have won have deliberately blotted from their mind the short program, you don't win on long alone.

[ladyjane]

As far as I'm concerned, they can take their damn Olympics, together with The UN,...

Glad it's finally over!

[stanz]

Because of the nature of figure skating- - - the fact that they all must study ballet as part of their training - - -it is a subjective sport. Perhaps it shouldn't be included as an Olympic event. You're right in saying that since the Canadians performed their program perfectly and the Russians didn't should have been enough to award them the gold. Looking at it aesthetically, I would have chosen the Russians because of the beauty of their performance and the fact that it was definitely a more difficult one. They were elegant. I just didn't feel anything when watching Sale and Pelletier (sp?) I believe the judges are affected in the same way. That doesn't alter the fact that perfect is perfect.

[1rudeboy]

Also, I neglected to consider that English might be the third or fourth language for some of these folks.

[McGavin999]

There is no doubt that the Russian skaters are supurb skaters and, if they hadn't made any errors, they would have deserved the gold. If they skated the following night I'm sure they wouldn't have had any errors just like Michelle Kwan who had an error and got the silver instead.

It's not how good you skate, it's also how flawless. The Canadian couple was flawless.

If I were the Russian couple I would be furious with the French judge. SHE has made the Russians look bad. It's a real shame because they really are great skaters.

My heart just broke for Michelle Kwan too. She is without a doubt the best and had been pinning her hopes on that gold for years. A simple stumble cost her the gold. It's the same with the Russian couple, a simple stumble should have cost them the gold.

[michigander]

The male half basically said, "Hey, we're just skaters, we did not pressure the judge, this mess is not our fault, and this controversy has ruined our Olympic experience because we cannot go anywhere without being assaulted by reporters seeking a comment."

That is well stated by the Russian gentleman.

The female half of the Russian pair could barely speak English at all. How can you be sure that you understand what she meant?

The one finger salute translates into (nearly) all languages.

What did NBC report later? That the Russians were disgruntled and unhappy.

See, they (NBC) deserved it.

[BushWonGore'sDone]

Ok now wait a minute! No one is talking about killing someone over this.

[bvw]

Your award will be delayed; unfortunately current stocks of martyr points have been depleted. Anyway thanks for being willing to buck the tide.

[Brian Allen]

..... unless they stripped the Russians of their ill- gotten gain ..... Giving a "second Gold" to [The Canadians] just shows the IOC's complicity in this whole farce.

As far as I'm concerned, they can take their damn Olympics, together with The UN, and dont let the door hit them in the Arse!

Spot on!

[cactmh]

Thanks...

[Amore]

For anyone who hasn't already missed it, tonight's Entertainment Tonight opens with a brief bit about Sarah Hughes, shows her meeting Peggy Fleming and unveiling her Wheaties Box. Her hair also looks a bit trimmer (nicer, I think). Codebreaker, for the men, at the 12 minute mark they show a stuntman for Third Watch getting really clobbered!, although luckily he actually turned out to not be hurt too badly

[Utah Girl]

Good, I'm glad they trimmed Sarah's hair. I really don't like the hairstyle on her. It just isn't flattering.

[Amore]

She left SLC after giving her version of the story, and didn't mention pressure by the Canadians, just by the Russians. That was the official story. She got home to France and all of a sudden, it was the mean Canadians pressuring her.

Yes, her belated claim that "the Canadians were mean to me" is such a joke, I can't believe anyone would buy it. I tend to believe at least some of the pressure put on her before the competition came from her own French skating federation.

[Amore]

Well, if you can, check out her hair on ET, I thought it looked quite, quite attractive. I also believe even the hair style we saw in the Olympics was vastly superior to the pictures I saw of her old, shoulder-length style.

[Great Dane]

The Russian pair was better -- more fluid, natural.

But made countless mistakes.

[Great Dane]

Her partner, in contrast has been a gentleman.

As I remember, he was the one who said, "If you can't handle loosing the gold, you can't handle winning the silver."

[Great Dane]

. So now we know what to expect from the Olympics from now on.

Where have you been, this goes on in every olympic, only this time the Russians got away with half a fraud, not the whole thing.

[Great Dane]

My husband thought so too. The Canadians were exquisite and perfectly timed, but the Russian program was more difficult.

But having a more difficult program isn't much good, if you can't do it without so many mistakes.

[Jaded]

Hey, look forward to more of the same. According to our local ABC affiliate, there is Pairs Roller Skating. There is a movement afoot to have this and other roller skating categories made a legitimate Summer Olympic Event. Hold on tight gang, it can only get worse!!

[rbmillerjr]

I noticed that she got quiet but her facial expressions said something else...it's no coincidence she speaks sparse English (most elites and world class athletes speak fairly fluent English) The fact that she doesnt may say something about her and her family's old style communist beliefs (anti-West etc)

Well, she is right in her cynical remark there should be only 1 gold and she should have a silver, which they truely earned. We Americans and Canadians were gracious in Utah. But when she turns pro, she should be roundly taught a lesson and booed. Remember that face.