Obviously a PR piece to combat the negative reaction to their programs. No surprise that Gorshkov okayed use of ropes in their programs, he's Russian after all. It really is a shame about Shabalin's knee but I don't think Olympic gold should be given for sympathy. Too bad Canadian Ann Shaw was ousted out of the Ice Dance Committee when Gorshkov took over.Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin are the reigning World Champions in Ice Dance, however, they have fallen off the radar this Olympic season after missing the Grand Prix series due to Shabalin's reoccurring knee injury.
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GS doesn't do "PR" pieces unless I get paid....LOL! This was just simply a follow-up article for the winners of Dance at Russian Nats. Stay tuned next week for the ladies winner - Makarova
I think it will be interesting to see how these belt lifts are treated by the callers at Euros. I can believe that the belts are not forbidden, but I do not see how using one (as in the rotational lift in the FD) constitutes a difficult entry. Basically, it's just picking up a package by the handle. It's possible they may only get a level lower on some of the lifts due to the belts. Or not--I wonder whether there will be an emergency meeting of the ISU tech committee between now and Euros.
But I can well believe Oksana's dog chose the music for the OD
Didn't mean to imply that you wrote this article - thought it was clear since Tatiana has the byline.
Just watch: for next season, the use of "assist devices" (such as the belts in DomShabs' FS) will be outlawed. Of course they will get away with it this year.
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Either that or they will win at the olympics and/or worlds and then evey team will use a "belt" next season. Remember the love affair with the Belleiman?