Official 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games thread!

[PrincessInOz]

Kids - Whenever your mother tells you wear a helmet, wear the helmet.


That was one heart stopping fall for Pancochova.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Enjoy the ladies Slopestyle snowboard finals. Congratulations to the winner. That was an amazing winning run. I really enjoyed it.

 

[Jennasis]

In 1984 twin brothers Phil and Steve Mahre of the US won gold and silver in one of the alpine ski events.

Too bad the third Canadian sister didn't advance to the finals of the moguls. Now THAT would have been something; the possibility of all three medals being won by siblings.



In 1972 Janet Lynn fell on her butt and was still awarded a 6.0 in artistic merit by one of the judges and won bronze. It wasn't like she was in first and the fall knocked her into third. I think she was in third going into the long program and the fall didn't hurt her. That was back in the days when "figure" skating meant they had to trace figures on the ice, and they were a significant part of the final score. The gold medalist built up such a huge lead in the figures that she coasted the rest of the way, finished 7th in the long program and still won gold.

Sigh...the person you quoted about siblings winning medals in the same event in the Olympics is still correct. It hasn't happened very often.

As for your second bit...I don't give a fart about it. I still miss the old scoring system.

 

[kerstfan1]

and another gold in speedskating for the netherlands

 

[declansdad]

Is there are rumor? Hadn't heard. We're only a day in so I'm not sure, personally, what to make of it...yet. I'm scratching my head about the figure skating so far (all of it, not just the women's).

http://globalnews.ca/news/1137046/r...-votes-to-keep-virtue-moir-off-top-of-podium/

 

[LBIJim]

Sigh...the person you quoted about siblings winning medals in the same event in the Olympics is still correct. It hasn't happened very often.

Never said that poster was incorrect. Just gave an example of another rare time it has happened.

As for your second bit...I don't give a fart about it. I still miss the old scoring system.

That's fine....whatever scoring system you prefer. I was challenging your statement that "falling on your butt meant it was over." Not necessarily so under the 6.0 system.

Jim

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Aww how cool for the Canadian sisters in women's moguls!!

While I was happy for the American who won bronze, it would have been awesome to see three sisters on the podium!

 

[Jennasis]

That's fine....whatever scoring system you prefer. I was challenging your statement that "falling on your butt meant it was over." Not necessarily so under the 6.0 system.

Jim

It DID, for the most part, mean it was over. There are always exceptions.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Just watched the Russian girl skate. She was phenomenal. I saw one slight bobble or wobble. But that girl is talented. I'm really not understanding all the negativity.

 

[BKMETV]

She was must better in the long program than the short. Yesterday I thought she just jumped and spun with no artistic flare.

Glad to see the top ice dancers are still competing despite the fact that the medals are already decided.

 

[moon]

Just watched the Russian girl skate. She was phenomenal. I saw one slight bobble or wobble. But that girl is talented. I'm really not understanding all the negativity.

I don't get the negativity either. I thought she was fantastic

 

[NFLDERS]

Just watched Meryl & Charlie skate then #1 awesome!

Goosebumps! Loved the teal color and style (her) and Knight costume (him).

 

[castleview]

I really question the figure skating judging. While that young Russian girl was adorable, she seemed very immature on the ice, not holding some elements as long (or barely), no power in her jumps. She looked like a little kid playing among adults...and gets the highest score? Then the Japanese girl falls and still manages to get a higher score than whatserface from team USA? Then Carolina Kostner lays down a program that blew that little kid out of the water and gets 2 points LESS??

I miss the good old days of the perfect 6 and when falling on your butt meant it was over.

The Russian girl had a much more difficult routine than everyone else...that's what it came down to. There is no favoritism as the judges are not all Russians. The Japanese girl, even with the fall, had a harder routine than Wagner. If anything, I'm kind of surprised at how weak Wagner is in her spinning and edges. Top that off with two footing her second jump, the scores clearly make sense.

And what good old days are you talking about? Kristi Yamaguchi won the gold from her butt, Oksana Bailu beat a more superior Kerrigan, Annett Poach beat a flawless Linda Fratianne and Katarina Witt had some problems in Calgary and still beat a perfect Liz Manley. This is nothing new. The only difference I see is that you can understand why someone made mistakes and still is ahead of a different competitor.

 

[Shutterbug]

I was hoping to see a team do the Iron Lotus manuever but no on has of yet, bummer

Blades of Glory reference

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I miss the good old days of the perfect 6 and when falling on your butt meant it was over.

Actually under the 6 point system, falling on your butt was about the same as two footing a jump or putting your hand down. It's a failed jump. If someone didn't have that much difficulty, it was over. But if they did, they could make up for it. And really, Katarina Witt was probably the last era where artistic really counted for much. Even towards the end of the 6 point system, they'd give scores for artistic, but pretty much the skater that did the best tricks got the best artistic scores even if they weren't that artistic.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

The Russian girl had a much more difficult routine than everyone else...that's what it came down to. There is no favoritism as the judges are not all Russians. The Japanese girl, even with the fall, had a harder routine than Wagner. If anything, I'm kind of surprised at how weak Wagner is in her spinning and edges. Top that off with two footing her second jump, the scores clearly make sense. And what good old days are you talking about? Kristi Yamaguchi won the gold from her butt, Oksana Bailu beat a more superior Kerrigan, Annett Poach beat a flawless Linda Fratianne and Katarina Witt had some problems in Calgary and still beat a perfect Liz Manley. This is nothing new. The only difference I see is that you can understand why someone made mistakes and still is ahead of a different competitor.

I agree 100% with this. As an American, of course I want to see Wagner on top, but honestly her program, even if skated flawlessly wouldn't/shouldn't put her there. After reading here last night, I watched all the programs closely and the Russian girl absolutely deserves to be on top. She is a beautiful skater and those spins were fabulous. And as you've stated, her program that much more difficult.

It's hard to see somebody who's made obvious mistakes get put on top (the Japanese girl), but much like gymnastics, all routines have different starting scores, so it's entirely possible...and fair. I'm glad to see USA move on to the finals and I hope they do well.

 

[jrmasm]

I know nothing about skating judging. I just found the Russian girl much less pleasing to watch that then Italian. I felt the artistic parts of her program were way too fast and awkward. Like she only did them because she had to.

 

[Ceila]

I know nothing about skating judging. I just found the Russian girl much less pleasing to watch that then Italian. I felt the artistic parts of her program were way too fast and awkward. Like she only did them because she had to.

I agree. Technically, she was absolutely, 100% amazing. But, IMO, she lacked fluidity. To me, the best skaters make even the hardest elements look natural. As I was watching her, it seemed like her program was "this spin goes here, and now I have to throw my arm out this way, and now it's time for that jump, etc." There was no emotion to it, and a major part of this sport is the artistic aspect. I know one of the commentators even mentioned that she has said herself that she sees no reason for feeling until the technical aspects are down.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I know nothing about skating judging. I just found the Russian girl much less pleasing to watch that then Italian. I felt the artistic parts of her program were way too fast and awkward. Like she only did them because she had to.

I agree that the Italian was more pleasing to watch. Both were better skaters than the Wagner last night.

 

[jrmasm]

I also thought the Russian's combination wasn't very good. She was tilted in an awkward way.

I'd have put them in this order:

Italy
Japan
Russia
USA