2026 Olympics Team Event: Men's Free Skate

[Janice4th]

Actually, that's right. You just need a strong partner you trust to be able to judge how far to lean back, to keep your head off the ice, and you yourself need the core strength to keep from folding in your middle. I still do headbangers even at my advanced age, but I admit I've always done a version that's a bit more cautious -- if I'm looking up at the ceiling, I put my hands behind my head so if I'm a bit low, I'll brush the backs of my hands on the ice. (But that's never happened.) If I'm face down, I do a swimming movement with my arms stretched out and my neck arched to look straight ahead, so that again my hands and forearms will sweep the ice rather than my face. Somewhere on a practice session videotape that has disappeared in my storage locker but is constantly hunted for to transfer to a DVD, we do a headbanger for fun and the friend wielding the camera yelps "What is she DOING? I can't watch!." We kept it going so long he had to let me down on the ice and I just lie there laughing until the ceiling stops spinning.

The flying version is fun too, where he holds one foot and one hand and you zoom round and round like a little plane on a fairground ride. Core strength again, keeping your free arm and leg up and your back arched.

Core strength for both of you, and trust. I'm sure there have been accidents, but I've never had any or seen anyone else have one.

Thanks for confirming this. You were a pairs skater? I think that the woman on a pairs team is on of the fiercest athletes out there.

 

[Blades of Passion]

Japan was correct in choosing Shun. He has been beating Kagiyama in the free in every head to head since Worlds.

That's ultimately meaningless though, because Shun was never going to score 200 points and Kagiyama has scored at least 182 all season. Both of them were safe for 2nd place in the segment, but Kagiyama had the better peak scoring potential.

The counter argument is that the chance of Kagiyama skating a perfect LP is so low that it's better to get an additional person a medal, but actually in 2024 he twice scored 200+ without a perfect LP anyway.

 

[4everchan]

Amber and Alysa both skated well if nervously. They are also both strong individual medal contenders. If they don't deserve a medal, who does?

I read it as compared to Kaori. 3 times world champions should absolutely have an Olympic gold medal Patrick got his after all he went through... I think some fans are hoping for Kaori to get hers as well. Of course, there is still the individual event.

 

[Jontor]

I read it as compared to Kaori. 3 times world champions should absolutely have an Olympic gold medal Patrick got his after all he went through... I think some fans are hoping for Kaori to get hers as well. Of course, there is still the individual event.

Hmmm...
I wouldn't like it if Kaori gets a gold because she is a legend and she deserves one.
I would like Kaori to get a gold because she was the best.

 

[4everchan]

Hmmm...
I wouldn't like it if Kaori gets a gold because she is a legend and she deserves one.
I would like Kaori to get a gold because she was the best.

we totally agree on this. I want Kaori to skate two flawless programs and win the individual event. If Japan had won the team event, just like when Canada won in 2018, Kaori would have been a deserving Olympic champion, the way she contributed to the team. I don' t think anyone is asking for a free gold medal for anybody

 

[Arigato]

maybe i'm just inexperienced with scoring, but can someone please explain why Ilia's 4Lz wasn't marked as a fall when he clearly used his hands to support his weight on the ice, which prevented him from falling?

I am watching Ilia skate the program right now on my computer as I type. (Still photos are misleading and worthless.) Ilia slipped off his edge while attempting his combo - it was meant to be a 4Lz+ Eu+ 3F. He left a large number of points on the table missing that combo and getting -5.75 GOE.. As he slipped off his edge after the Lz, he put his hands down for a split second but at no time was the majority of his body weight dependent on the hands since the body is actually in motion (and you can hear his blades skipping across the ice as you watch ) the entire time. He then moves on through to the next element. Really, this is no big deal other than a loss of a large number of points.

I am no expert, but I think that the rules say something about where the weight of the body is. Hands on the ice are not automatically falls,

Correct.

 

[jenaj]

Exactly this. Occasionally, a caller is extremely strict but 9 times out of 10 this doesn't get called because there wasn't enough weight transfer to the hands.

And still photos are misleading. The video shows it was close.

 

[Jontor]

I am watching Ilia skate the program right now on my computer as I type. (Still photos are misleading and worthless.) Ilia slipped off his edge while attempting his combo - it was meant to be a 4Lz+ Eu+ 3Lo. He left a large number of points on the table missing that combo and getting -5.75 GOE.. As he slipped off his edge after the Lz, he put his hands down for a split second but at no time was the majority of his body weight dependent on the hands since the body is actually in motion (and you can hear his blades skipping across the ice as you watch ) the entire time. He then moves on through to the next element. Really, this is no big deal other than a loss of a large number of points.

--------------------------------------------

Yeah, the GOE on that was like a fall -50%. So it was judged like a fall anyway, there was just not the extra -1 point. And it was also +REP, so he only scored 3.11 with that 4Lz. In addition he lost a triple worth about 5-7 points as he couldn't do the combo. All in all, he lost about 15 points on that jump.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Really? In Canada you sing your anthem everyday at the beginning of school. I know the anthem in both languages and I think that’s the norm.

I am a child of the 1950s and we did the pledge of the alliegence every day in the US, be we did the Star Spangled banner on special occasions and of course know it. I would have switched to America the beautiful but what do I know. I got a shinny new nickel that says all Japanese school kids know their anthem. Not gonna get on my soap box but there is alot to admire about the Japanese school system.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Thanks for confirming this. You were a pairs skater? I think that the woman on a pairs team is on of the fiercest athletes out there.

Pairs girls and goalies in hockey share a rapport. Even other skaters and players think we're crazy to want to do what we do

 

[ilovebudgies]

Whatever people think of Ilia, he's definitely not coasting off his rep. Even without a 4A, he should be expected to win the technical because he does the hardest quads with textbook technique, huge height, transitions (like the spread eagle into the 4F, and the turns into the 4S), and crazy combos like the 4L-Eu-3F.

He is the only skater who can do a 4L and 4F with proper edges on both and no blade assistance, and he and Nathan are the only ones who have ever been able to.

If we're nitpicking, Shun's 4L edge goes to flat right before takeoff, it's definitely not an outside edge at that point.

In terms of components, I think Ilia's program was interesting and expressed a theme/feeling. And that's really difficult to do when your program has 7 quads planned, but he manages to do it.

People are used to Ilia now, so the novelty might have worn off, but it's objectively crazy that a person can do all 6 quads either correct technique. Once Ilia retires, I doubt we'll see someone else like that for 50 years.

Edit: corrected spelling

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Ehh, I don't think those were tears of joy. Definitely emotional after skating his best, but his reaction reminded me of Medvedeva after seeing she lost to Alina (and I was rooting for Alina). Hoping he is able to regroup for the singles competition and skate his best again!

Different scenario - Medvedeva was a contender for gold and had a legit shot against Zagitova. I don’t think anyone could have expected Shun to get so close to Malinin. Maybe he was anguished at getting so close but he is fortunate that Malinin tripled his loop (I don’t think that was intentional) and chose to throw the quad lutz in the second half with a combo but the risk didn’t pay off. I hope Malinin does the safer route with the quad lutz combo earlier to avoid the massive loss of points for the +REP.

 

[Magill]

Yeah, the GOE on that was like a fall -50%. So it was judged like a fall anyway, there was just not the extra -1 point. And it was also +REP, so he only scored 3.11 with that 4Lz. In addition he lost a triple worth about 5-7 points as he couldn't do the combo. All in all, he lost about 15 points on that jump.

He should have had also a 1 point deduction, and it should have been reflected in his PCS as a disruptive error, particularly in presentation. Which it wasn't. His PCS are usually crazily inflated but giving him the highest presentation score of all the event with this was a joke.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I l;ike some comments online, Like this one, lol.

I went to the 1988 Canadians in Victoria (as a spectator, after I'd retired). The old Memorial arena had a smaller than regulation ice surface. One of the pairs were really close to the boards as a lift was travelling, and judges were cringing as the girl's blades rotated over their line of heads.

 

[meem]

we don't watch the same events... there is a reason it's called the kiss and cry

I'm very aware of what goes on the kiss & cry. But this guy could not stop sobbing.

 

[readernick]

I'm very aware of what goes on the kiss & cry. But this guy could not stop sobbing.

He's hard on himself. He thinks he cost his team the gold. He's human and I like young men who are able to express emotions other than anger. The world needs more not less of that.

 

[Arigato]

we don't watch the same events... there is a reason it's called the kiss and cry

 

[RatedPG]

Amber and Alysa both skated well if nervously. They are also both strong individual medal contenders. If they don't deserve a medal, who does?

Amber has never been top 4 in a top international championship. Alysa is great with a Worlds gold and bronze.

A team gold is enough for Alysa considering she should have won Team Gold at the last Olympics.

Alysa is consistent. But, besides the 3Lz 3Lo, she has no ultra-c and her skating skills is lower than Kaori/Mone/Ami, Isabeau/Niina/Adeliya, in my opinion. Plus, she is recycling the same two programs, which shows lack of artistic variety. I want the winner to take risks and just go for it, with a 3A or 4T and a 225+ score. If Alysa brings a 3A attempt, I will root for her.

For this Olympic cycle, I hope Kaori or Adeliya or Ami win the Olympic gold medal.

Kaori - 3 World Titles (skating skills and speed)
Adeliya - Would have won three Worlds, if they had allowed Russia to compete, and is super determined with 3A and 4T. She kind of deserves something for winning Russian Nationals for four straight seasons
Ami - newcomer with 3A; plus, better skating skills than both Alysa or Amber (she is going for it too)



Amber is amazing with her 3A. But, the rest of the triple jumps are not as good and she is slow around the rink as she doesn’t focus on the program performance but only on testing to deliver on the triple jumps.


My dream podium would be: Adeliya, Kaori and Ami (in no particular order) Mone/Niina/Isabeau as substitute

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

He should have had also a 1 point deduction, and it should have been reflected in his PCS as a disruptive error, particularly in presentation. Which it wasn't. His PCS are usually crazily inflated but giving him the highest presentation score of all the event with this was a joke.

He was marked down - 2.5 points less PCS than his personal best with one major error, and it was at least within the rules. The 9.5s were bad judging though, even with just one major error he still didn’t perform that to the level he did at the GPF (and looked not super stable at some points) but the majority of judges did give him lower than usual PCS.

If you recall the last Olympics a skater fell twice and got PCS higher than the maximum allowed. I’m sure if we did a venn diagram of those salty over the men’s team FS Iscoring (as if M/K and Sakamoto weren’t generously scored) and those who kept tight lipped about that scoring there would be tangible overlap.

I agree that the fall should have been a one point deduction. Malinin still wins.

 

[msteach3]

I don't think I've ever seen a figure skater sobbing his (or her) eyes out at a competition after not winning (& I've been watching competitions since the '70s). That was strange.

The Japanese skaters seem to cry and be super emotional quite often. I'm guessing it's more of a cultural norm than elsewhere, especially for men.