Flags in the rafters (near where I was sitting)...
After the Short programs in each discipline, which are performed by all 10 teams entered in the event, only the top 5 teams qualify for the Free program.
Japan's Pairs team...
The team from the USA had some huge throws and lifts.
Huge throws and lifts from the USA team!
Beautiful looking lift!
In the lift below, I'm not even sure how he is supporting her? Palm up on her thigh? Is that even possible?
How is this even possible?
The Italian team in pairs was unremarkable, but still finished higher than the Japanese team.
Italian team throw twist...
In fact the entire Italian team actually finished ahead of Japan, which was surprising, and you can attribute it to the Ladies Free event today, in which the Italian finished ahead of Japan's Akiko Suzuki, giving the Italians a one point edge over the Japanese for 4th place.
Italian death spiral...
Dylan and Kirsten were fabulous, with just the one problem on the side-by-side jumps (I think they were triple salchows?).
Big air on the throw twist!
Both of the Canadian pairs teams will be vying for medals in the individual competition!
A very nice death spiral...
and a huge throw too...
Dylan and Kirsten perform some very difficult lifts, including one where the lift starts from him down on one knee, plus the one below where he skates on one foot (actually, that might be the same lift, I can't remember!).
A difficult lift on one leg...
Waiting for the scores with the team...
The Russian team beat them by over 5 points, which I don't understand. To me, it seemed most of the Russian scores were inflated (except maybe for Julia's).
Russian team death spiral...
The Russian team skated to The Addams Family, which I just didn't dig, although it was better watching it on TV later when I could get a closer look.
And a lift...
The Team Event was completed today, and I'll recap that later on.
Hey Sean,
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed your pictures and your commentary on the Team Figure Skating. NBC's probably going to drag you out of the Comms Room (Is there still a Comms Rooms?) pretty soon and make you a color commentator for Figure Skating. Somebody's got to be the next Dick Button.
In any case keep up the blogging -- it's been fun and interesting to read.
Andy
Thanks, Andy! Still a Comms room, but a lot smaller than you might remember. Just big enough to fit the RIB and the console and desks. I'll post pictures later.
DeleteAgreed about being confused as to why Ksenia and Fedor beat Kirst and Dyl... I think they got a little gipped on Program Components compared to the Russians, as the Russians had slightly hard technical content (Throw lutz over throw loop)
ReplyDelete