Russian Figure Skaters

[Karl-G]

The Russian team won the Pairs gold medal last night, as Russians have every Olympics since 1964. And they certainly are good. Watching a rerun of the tape showing their accident two years ago when he dropped her on her face on the ice from a lift was horrifying. And then a Chinese team, which eventually came in second, had the man throwing the girl for a quad and she fell on her knees and almost face, and it looked like she was done. Then she gets up and skates the rest of the program. Exciting last night.

 

It used to be said that the Russians won because they were so heavily subsidized by the state, got special treatment, had special facilities, etc. But those conditions have not been true for 16 years now, have they? If we believe the blurbs between competition, the Russian skaters now nearly freeze to death in small apartments, their training facilities are falling apart, and they no longer get special treatment. How do they continue to dominate the sport?

[+ deej]

It's in the Vodka!

 

That Chinese pair's throw/fall was incredibly difficult to watch. That she got up and continued, and finished damn well, is a testament to professionalism.

 

If not for the fall, the Chinese team would have taken the gold. Easily.

[JT Brooklyn]

The Chinese Girl's Fall was very hard to watch! But she picked herself up and definitely Scored Big Time for the rest of their Routine. Her Partner, who isn't hard to look at, was definitely the support she needed to continue! A True "Pro" she is!

 

Meanwhile.. alot of the "Butch Americans" ain't doin so well are they overall...:7

[J-Man]

>It's in the Vodka!

>

>That Chinese pair's throw/fall was incredibly difficult to

>watch. That she got up and continued, and finished damn well,

>is a testament to professionalism.

>

>If not for the fall, the Chinese team would have taken the

>gold. Easily.

 

"Professionalism"? In the Olympics? I'm shocked--shocked, I tell ya!

[+ deej]

I debated whether to use that word, actually. But "spirit of an Olympian" seemed so hokey. ;-)

 

Professionalism (the way I meant it) has nothing to do with getting paid to do something. It has to do with taking your craft seriously and delivering the goods when it matters as well as when it's routine.