Ted Flatt does it again! Charming interview. With Dalilah, it's her spirit and personality that shine through. She loves the teamwork and cooperation of pairs; she guides her pairs but when they're adults, she respects where their own dreams lead them.
When asked what pairs she looks to, she mentioned Tatiana & Maxim three times! :luv17:; for me V/T are the current standard for pairs, in terms of the discipline and fulfilling all aspects of it, somewhat like G&G were.
The whole conversation about Caitlyn Yankowskas & John Coughlin. I still haven't gotten over that heartbreak; that Caitlin, the best pairs lady the US had, went without a partner for years and never did find another who matched where she was competitively. I also felt (like Moxiejam) that Dalilah would have preferred they stay together, but it was a very difficult year for John, and she had to respect his right to choose his direction.
Chris Knierim is the student who's been with Dalilah the longest! for 13 years, with his first partner, Brynn Carman.
Talking about the culture of pairs discipline and the way pairs are viewed in the US, she said it's something we're improving, but it used to be that pairs was thought of as where you could skate if you weren't good enough for singles. Which is pathetic! I think the attitude has its roots in the technical. Even Katia Gordeeva was switched to pairs because she wasn't a strong jumper, apparently; then she and Sergei rose above, to prove that connection, synchronicity, matched technique, and joy elevate good technique. Nowadays, pairs have a much better chance of rising if both team members are individually strong jumpers. Deanna Stellato also said last year that was why she'd never considered pairs in the past; it was only if you weren't good enough.
