^^^^^
Now that's a winning strategy! And help Steuer start a school in the USA, too.
Now that's a winning strategy! And help Steuer start a school in the USA, too.
When did Canada WIN Olympic Gold Medal in Pairs?
In terms of Olympic Golds Russia alone (only in existence since he 94 games) has 14, just 1 less than the U.S with 15. Combining Russia and the old USSR it is 27 to 15 in favor of USSR/Russia, and I believe only 1 of those was from a non Russian- Petrenko in 1992, so is probably 26 to 15 in Russian based golds. It is very much unlike gymnastics where post of the pre breakup greats were actually from Ukraine, but which the lazy U.S media potrays as Russian all along.
We have won two. Sale & Pelletier, and Wagner & Paul completing their run of total dominance from 57-60 with the Olympic Gold to go with their 4 straight world titles. Dafoe & Bowden also should have won the 1956 Olympic gold and the 56 world title to go with their 54 and 55 world titles, but were robbed of the gold by a political deal for the Austrians who needed an Olympic Champion to promote their ice show.
S/P did NOT win Gold Medal.
I also found it interesting that Grishuk and Platov were both from the Ukraine but competed for Russia. I've never heard if they ever considered representing Ukraine but combine them with Baiul and Petrenko and it would seem the Ukraine is only half a pair away from an unofficial sweep.
Technically Petrenko won gold as a member of the "unified team" under the flag of the IOC (since the USSR had dissolved by the beginning of the games)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Team_at_the_1992_Winter_Olympics
It's not clear at all if Ukraine will ever have a winter olympic team again, given Russia's territorial ambitions there.
It will likely be Canada. I would expect a Canadian man to win the OGM before the US Pairs. There's something about US Pairs that isn't exactly packaged ideally. Perhaps the next best US/World pair is right around the corner, but I think Nguyen in 2022 could stand a shot at gold.
Originally Posted by Risa
I also found it interesting that Grishuk and Platov were both from the Ukraine but competed for Russia. I've never heard if they ever considered representing Ukraine but combine them with Baiul and Petrenko and it would seem the Ukraine is only half a pair away from an unofficial sweep.
No ice dancing for China either; the Chinese ice dance team - what happened to them? They didn't qualify?
I think they were not there at all.
I just checked. They were 23rd in Sochi.... I guess they were my bathroom break so I missed them :no:
The U.S has not had a potential gold medal pair in a long time. Babilionia & Gardner were probably their best ever chance. They had to unfortunately WD from the 1980 Olympics with his injury. Even had they skated though the politics of skating would have made it hard to beat the legend Rodnina in her swan song event, and I am not sure if it was possible.
Good catch! And by "half a pair away from an unofficial sweep" I presume you mentioned Volosozhar, right?
Given this list, I can only imagine Canada making this club. They've come SO CLOSE so many times. It's bound to happen in the next twenty years. American pairs? They change partners more often than their underwear, so I don't imagine US ever getting Oly gold in pairs.