First, I want to say CONGRATULATIONS to Maia and Alex on their two OBMs!!!!!

They really went after that individual OBM with all they had!!! I'm THRILLED that they finally skated that FD how they wanted to and that we got to see it in its full glory!!!

To all the people who thought the FD was not right for them or too boring or too whatever, I say, TAKE THAT!!!

They did skate with attack and abandon in both FDs, and the Individual one was even better than the Team one. After watching all four programs from Pyeongchang, I realized that both of their programs this season were about celebration. Celebrating life, celebrating having fun, celebrating their sibling bond, celebrating their joy of skating together. The FD did not feel as celebratory and free earlier in the season, but at the Olympics they got it just right. :yes: The SD was immediately amazing and stayed that way every time they skated it.
The skating aside, I loved seeing how emotional they were afterward. The Sports Illustrated article where Alex couldn't get a full sentence out and Maia was siting next to him with tears streaming down her cheeks said it all. Notably, though, the tears were not about winning the medal but about the whole journey of their lives. The tears came because they both were being reflective and watching videos of themselves as kids. I am so happy that they had such a fulfilling experience in Pyeongchang, in more ways than one. They have a great perspective on their lives and what's important. What great skaters and great people they are. I am so proud to be a fan of them and share in their journey from afar. The dance event as a whole was very emotional for me.
Second, some news. The Shibs will not be going to Worlds, and will be replaced by Hawayek&Baker. I am a bit sad to not get to see them again, but really, they've done the programs to their utmost already. They deserve all the time they need to do whatever is best for them. I am also very happy that H&B will finally have an opportunity to go to Worlds. The press release from USFS:
http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=91354&type=media