I've been looking forward to making this thread for awhile, and I think the time has come. While there's still a month and a half left until the year ends, as well as two major competitions, I'd like to take a moment to look back over the past 10 years. From Vancouver, to Sochi, to Pyeongchang, and everywhere in between, we have been treated to some moving, historic, and unforgettable performances.
I chose my favorite TEN and ranked them below (ONLY TEN--adding honorable mentions is cheating!). It was painful to exclude some of my favorites (Nathan Chen, Davis/White, Daisuke Takahashi, Alena Kostornaia). And full disclosure, I didn't follow much between 2011-2014. But the following 10 performances are the ones that had something extra special, iconic, and I will never forget them.
10. Papadakis/Cizeron, 2016 Worlds Free Dance To me, this was when they became anointed and entered a whole new level. To Build a Home was the perfect vehicle, and it will always be my favorite program of theirs. The costumes, the performance, the music, was all spectacular.
9. Evgenia Medvedeva, 2016 Worlds Free Skate To date, this is still my favorite Evgenia program. She made a lot of perfect performances that season, but this was the one that mattered the most.
8. Patrick Chan, 2013 TEB Free Skate No words needed to describe the perfection that was this performance.
7. Gracie Gold, 2016 U.S. Nationals Free Skate This is probably the most controversial on my list--but the grit that she showed that night was stunning. No doubt the best and cleanest performance of her career, the technical firepower was in full force. Knowing what happened shortly after gives this performance a bit of a melancholy feel.
6. Yuna Kim, 2010 Olympics Free Skate The crowning of the Queen. Not a step out of place. Simply stunning in every way.
5. Virtue/Moir, 2018 Olympics Free Dance While many probably would opt for their 2010 Free Dance, this is still my favorite. Against the odds and a world record free dance, they found the right mix and they brought down the house.
4. Yulia Lipnitskaya, 2014 Olympics Free Skate (Team Event) The girl in the red coat, how can we ever forget? What a moment on home ice.
3. Joannie Rochette, 2010 Olympics Short Program Equal parts heart-wrenching and inspiring. It takes a true Olympian to achieve what she did that night, and in the manner that she did it. I'm still moved to this day watching this performance. Sheer grit, determination, and passion.
2. Yuzuru Hanyu, 2015 GPF Free Skate It will be hard for anyone to top this performance in the Mens' division. Possibly the best choreographed program I've ever seen, and one of the most flawless. Truly awe-inspiring.
1. Savchenko/Massot FS, 2018 Olympics What can more can be said about this performance...Her 5th Olympics, her 3rd chance for gold, coming from a huge deficit from the short...Between the gravity of the moment, the intricate and meaningful choreography, and the technical perfection, this is my absolute favorite performance of the last decade.
Looking forward to seeing your all's lists! CHOOSE TEN ONLY! No honorable mentions It's harder but more fun that way.
I chose my favorite TEN and ranked them below (ONLY TEN--adding honorable mentions is cheating!). It was painful to exclude some of my favorites (Nathan Chen, Davis/White, Daisuke Takahashi, Alena Kostornaia). And full disclosure, I didn't follow much between 2011-2014. But the following 10 performances are the ones that had something extra special, iconic, and I will never forget them.
10. Papadakis/Cizeron, 2016 Worlds Free Dance To me, this was when they became anointed and entered a whole new level. To Build a Home was the perfect vehicle, and it will always be my favorite program of theirs. The costumes, the performance, the music, was all spectacular.
9. Evgenia Medvedeva, 2016 Worlds Free Skate To date, this is still my favorite Evgenia program. She made a lot of perfect performances that season, but this was the one that mattered the most.
8. Patrick Chan, 2013 TEB Free Skate No words needed to describe the perfection that was this performance.
7. Gracie Gold, 2016 U.S. Nationals Free Skate This is probably the most controversial on my list--but the grit that she showed that night was stunning. No doubt the best and cleanest performance of her career, the technical firepower was in full force. Knowing what happened shortly after gives this performance a bit of a melancholy feel.
6. Yuna Kim, 2010 Olympics Free Skate The crowning of the Queen. Not a step out of place. Simply stunning in every way.
5. Virtue/Moir, 2018 Olympics Free Dance While many probably would opt for their 2010 Free Dance, this is still my favorite. Against the odds and a world record free dance, they found the right mix and they brought down the house.
4. Yulia Lipnitskaya, 2014 Olympics Free Skate (Team Event) The girl in the red coat, how can we ever forget? What a moment on home ice.
3. Joannie Rochette, 2010 Olympics Short Program Equal parts heart-wrenching and inspiring. It takes a true Olympian to achieve what she did that night, and in the manner that she did it. I'm still moved to this day watching this performance. Sheer grit, determination, and passion.
2. Yuzuru Hanyu, 2015 GPF Free Skate It will be hard for anyone to top this performance in the Mens' division. Possibly the best choreographed program I've ever seen, and one of the most flawless. Truly awe-inspiring.
1. Savchenko/Massot FS, 2018 Olympics What can more can be said about this performance...Her 5th Olympics, her 3rd chance for gold, coming from a huge deficit from the short...Between the gravity of the moment, the intricate and meaningful choreography, and the technical perfection, this is my absolute favorite performance of the last decade.
Looking forward to seeing your all's lists! CHOOSE TEN ONLY! No honorable mentions It's harder but more fun that way.