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

[codebreaker]

'You know...

Jamie Sale and David Pelletier are good skaters and good guys.

But then, why don't we have three gold medals? (at the Olympics)

Russian skater Elena Berezhnaya, after she and partner Anton Sikhardulidze were forced to share pairs figure skating gold.

[Stavka2]

Gee, just like the "block" vote that voted for Canada? Oh, damn those little details.

[Great Dane]

I guess the French judge's ADMISSION that she cheated doesn't make you second-guess your call (that the Russians were better)?! Strange.

She had so many excuses, one doesn't know which one to believe, first it was her own federation putting pressure on her, then it was the British......... and here is the kicker, the Canadians pressured her into voting for the Russians...... makes a lot of sense, doesn't it, her final excuse, she voted with her expertise and heart.

[rbmillerjr]

Actually you do win on long program alone if you are in the top 3 (and you win the long progrm, which the Canucks did) you win the Gold.

[FixitGuy]

Russia had a bigger block vote than the Canadians.

Nyah, nyah, Ni, Nyah Nyah!

Seriously, A friend who is a skating judge tells me that the European countries expect to see a certain style of skating and have preconceived notions.

He feels they are not open-minded as to artistry.

Torvall and Dean were not received well with their "Bolero" theme at first.

Could argue this forever. Good thing I'm not a judge. Th' Missus & I have been watching skating together for about 23 years and agree that the Canadians were technically and artistically better.

That settles it! ;^)

[FixitGuy]

PS: Doesn't matter what country they're from. We enjoy the SPORT, and I betcha so do the athletes.

[FixitGuy]

Hey Dane...I'm sure I heard that the French Skating Federation (or Union) was the first to put pressure on her to in essense trade the Russians in Pairs for the French in Dance.

The French won in Dance and would have done so anyhow!

[afraidfortherepublic]

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

But that is just the point. I had heard about all of the mistakes, and I expected to see them. There were none -- except one bobble after a triple -- not a fall, just a bobble. The only other criticisms would be a little tightness on some of the jumps, and the female skater did not smile. (I understand that her face is partially paralyzed.) I expected a poor program after hearing all of the commentary, but that is not what I saw.

As I said before, I preferred the Canadians because of their magnetic personalities, but I can't downgrade the Russians. Their gymnastic routines on skates were superior to the Canadians.

[Lancey Howard]

Isn't she brain damaged or something?

[afraidfortherepublic]

...the Canadians were technically and artistically better. That settles it! ;^)

But did you ever serve a hot dog or clean ice? Hubby says Russians. ;^)

[See Reply #27.]

[Teacher317]

Seriously, A friend who is a skating judge tells me that the European countries expect to see a certain style of skating and have preconceived notions.

And apparently that style includes stumbles, landing slips, and less difficult lifts. (see post #57's link)

[afraidfortherepublic]

Your slides are great! Except that they don't show the athletic summersaults that the Russian female performed as she slithered over and down her partner. Those were remarkable. Then he did a comparable move over and around her. That is why I think that they deserved to share the Gold with Sale and Pellatier. (My husband thought that those moves were so erotic that the Russians deserved the gold alone. I disagree.)

[FixitGuy]

By golly, YES..I Have served hot dogs, at a Boating Regatta.

Does that count for skating judgeing?

Oh yeah, I cleaned ice too, off my car a while back.

[FixitGuy]

Nite All. Gotta go watch O'reilly skate through his program.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Does that count for skating judgeing?

ROTFLOL! That depends. Were you older than 14? ;^)

[FixitGuy]

Yep...I was a Jaycee at the time.

[Utah Girl]

The gold was a very close call for those judges in pairs skating. It makes one wonder what would have happened had not the French judge initially admitted that she was pressured. The IOC had a way out disqualifying her marks, and tying the Russian and Canadian skaters. I would have given the edge to the Canadians, they skated a clean program.

[FixitGuy]

I agree...

Be interesting to see the next battle. They'll both be back.

[CRAW]

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

I can’t imagine what you were watching

[Utah Girl]

The World competition for ice skating is in March. It will be very interesting to see the competition and see how the skaters do there.

[FixitGuy]

BTW, it's a shame that these things have to be judged at all, considering the years of brutal work and practice.

Did ya notice how entertaining the demonstration skating was, without all the pressure??