2026 Olympics: Pairs' Short Program

[pesto]

Bit of a mixed competition - the majority of the lower-ranked pairs skated pretty well for their expected level, I thought, it was enjoyable from the off. But the expected medal contenders mostly had the jitters.

I didn't have one outright fave before the event, but I like a winning pair to have two really good programmes, so go Minerva and Nikita!

 

[reneerose]

Tara gushing about Danny being a "golden retriever" emotional support animal type. While I don't disagree...too much talky talky. Glad Ellie held on to her landing though with the hand down, but not a fall. Good. I love the lifts.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I saw what happened to O'Shea's previous partner.

@4everchan is referencing how Berulava and coaches treated Karina Safina, who was Berulava's former partner. Safina was gorgeous, sweet, and very balletic. She had injuries, likely from Berulava dropping her in training, the poor way he partners! In any case, Safina was injured and she always seemed to be in tears, with their coach and Berulava showing aggression, disdain, and negativity toward her.

If you are referencing Chelsea Liu as Danny's former partner prior to Ellie, the concussion Chelsea suffered was due to an absolutely freak accident during a lift dismount in competition. It might have been a divot in the ice catching a toepick. And unfortunately, the backward upside-down angle of the dismount led to Chelsea hitting her head. Danny was also slightly injured. They both had to follow concussion protocols. Chelsea had endured prior concussions, and she had the brunt of it. They ended up splitting and Chelsea took time off prior to coming back with Balasz Nagy, then another split, and now she's in a renewed and joyful partnership with Ryan Bedard.

Falls, concussions, and crashes during warm-ups can and have happened in pairs skating. Ashley & Timothy at Golden Spin comes to mind. But Ash got up and finished the program, despite being unconscious for seconds.

FYI-- Danny O'Shea is not only a great pairs skater, he's a former U.S. Nationals junior men's champion! Danny is the sweetest, kindest, and most loyal of pairs guys. He truly cares about his partners. Ellie & Danny are a match that was heaven-sent! Praises be to the Skate Gods!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

But the expected medal contenders mostly had the jitters.

No wonder. Looking at the scoreboard, they had to be nervous, eh!

 

[NanaPat]

Gem showed a closeup, and the commentator (wish I'd tuned in sooner and got who was doing it today) elaborated on how dancers wouldn't have collided thanks to their short-tailed blades, while pairs skaters in the same situation using longer blades will run into each other.

I was Sandra Bezic. A choreographer and former pairs skater (probably before your time).
________________________________

added: for the record, I am not now, nor have I ever been, Sandra Bezic.

I should have typed "It was Sandra Bezic" or even better "the commentator was Sandra Bezic".

 

[skatedreamer]

To be honest, it's very hard to appreciate any good choreography in their SP because every single second of it looked terribly labored and heavy. No grace or easiness of movements, no lightness in their skating, no energy, no purpose. Just one huge struggle and effort to get the program done, and that's all. Today they were indeed judged on reputation and significantly overscored, especially in PCS, and they didn't deserve to overcome many other couples that now lie behind them in the rakings.

I didn't quite follow them when they won the OGM but I assume those performances must have been day and night compared to the ones they are showing in these Olympics (they had to, because even accounting for home advantage, they did win over great couples). So I think it must be quite sad to see the before and the now of their skating

Their OGM performance was lovely -- beautiful unison, light and airy. At times they almost seemed to be floating. Sadly, that didn't happen today.

But do look up the OGM skate on YouTube. Definitely worth a watch!

 

[Janice4th]

@4everchan is referencing how Berulava and coaches treated Karina Safina, who was Berulava's former partner. Safina was gorgeous, sweet, and very balletic. She had injuries, likely from Berulava dropping her in training, the poor way he partners! In any case, Safina was injured and she always seemed to be in tears, with their coach and Berulava showing aggression, disdain, and negativity toward her.

If you are referencing Chelsea Liu as Danny's former partner prior to Ellie, the concussion Chelsea suffered was due to an absolutely freak accident during a lift dismount in competition. It might have been a divot in the ice catching a toepick. And unfortunately, the backward upside-down angle of the dismount led to Chelsea hitting her head. Danny was also slightly injured. They both had to follow concussion protocols. Chelsea had endured prior concussions, and she had the brunt of it. They ended up splitting and Chelsea took time off prior to coming back with Balasz Nagy, then another split, and now she's in a renewed and joyful partnership with Ryan Bedard.

Falls, concussions, and crashes during warm-ups can and have happened in pairs skating. Ashley & Timothy at Golden Spin comes to mind. But Ash got up and finished the program, despite being unconscious for seconds.

FYI-- Danny O'Shea is not only a great pairs skater, he's a former U.S. Nationals junior men's champion! Danny is the sweetest, kindest, and most loyal of pairs guys. He truly cares about his partners. Ellie & Danny are a match that was heaven-sent! Praises be to the Skate Gods!

I’ve never heard a bad word about Danny. He is beloved in the skating world.

 

[skatedreamer]

Tara gushing about Danny being a "golden retriever" emotional support animal type. While I don't disagree...too much talky talky. Glad Ellie held on to her landing though with the hand down, but not a fall. Good. I love the lifts.

Danny seems like a great guy to have for a partner!

Agree re: Tara. And that vocal fry of hers...sometimes my ears turn inside out.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Spam can be tasty if done right, ie fried coated in eggs and eaten with rice and kimchi, while Peacock will never be of any use to me, so to me spam wins over Peacock

I will take Korean Spam and eggs, thank you.

 

[rain]

Just saw Pereira/Michaud, the only skate I've seen so far. Awesome for them! Unexpected position!

I realistically don't expect them to medal, but what an excellent result in the short. Hope they can go all out in the long and just enjoy it.

Deanna and Max have just been snakebitten this season. Glad they could at least be here, but obviously not the Olympic experience they've been hoping for.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Tara gushing about Danny being a "golden retriever" emotional support animal type. While I don't disagree...too much talky talky. Glad Ellie held on to her landing though with the hand down, but not a fall. Good. I love the lifts.

LOL! For a minute, I thought you meant Danny's former partner, Tarah Kayne. But you probably mean Tara Lipinski. They always talk too much on NBC coverage. That's why I watch the venue feed first.

Actually, Tarah Kayne co-hosted a U.S. Nationals 2026 practice session, during which she praised Danny, too. She also revealed that he was formerly nicknamed 'Mr. Clean' after he shaved his head. He enjoys the moniker and he laughs about it. He doesn't take himself too seriously. But he does take the training and his job as an athlete seriously. He has the knowledge and experience, coupled with kindness, good humor, and genuine humanity to keep everything in perspective.

 

[4everchan]

I was Sandra Bezic. A choreographer and former pairs skater (probably before your time).

And all that time, I thought you were me. LOL

 

[reneerose]

LOL! For a minute, I thought you meant Danny's former partner, Tarah Kayne. But you probably mean Tara Lipinski. They always talk too much on NBC coverage. That's why I watch the venue feed first.

Actually, Tarah Kayne co-hosted a U.S. Nationals 2026 practice session, during which she praised Danny, too. She also revealed that he was formerly nicknamed 'Mr. Clean' after he shaved his head. He enjoys the moniker and he laughs about it. He doesn't take himself too seriously. But he does take the training and his job as an athlete seriously. He has the knowledge and experience, coupled with kindness, good humor, and genuine humanity to keep everything in perspective.

Oh man I loved Tarah too back in the day when Danny and her won Nationals together. Such a sweet moment for both of them! I loved watching their You Tube videos, he seems to carry that on a bit with Ellie on Instagram too.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Sui/Han were underscored, not overscored. Their PCS should have been 2nd only to the Germans, as their quality of movement and movement as an actual pair is still the overall best in the field. Their speed is lower now and the mistake on the jump detracts from the overall performance, but it was still a better performance than everyone else.

They should have won this SP if she simply did her 3Toe cleanly.

In your dreams Sui/ Han should have won. In their dreams, too. They should not even be here trying to relive old glory. Everybody, but you and their diehard fans knows they were overscored here. I would not have given them more than 69 to 70. China should have sent Zhang/ Huang, the young team who won the Olympics spot in the first place.

How you can think Sui/Han had the 'overall better performance' is a mystery relegated to the twilight zone.

 

[Joan1940]

They've been saying a head injury but not a concussion. That doesn't seem right to me. Whenever a head hits, a concussion is suspected and person has to be watched for what symptoms develop. Symptoms can be delayed or mild and go away. It's a wait and watch and see situation.

Not necessarily,I had a nasty freak fall trying to bring my carryon up my outside steps. Caught the wheels in the outdoor mat & tumbled 4 concrete steps hitting my head on the iron railing. Bled profusely & my son called EMT. A cold compress stopped bleeding but went through the whole concussion protocol including a CAT scan. Just needed 5 stitches in my scalp but everything was ok,body was achy the next day,took Tylenol & hot shower. I am sure Deanna recovered sufficiently as at 42 she is a lot younger than my 85 & I recovered.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I was Sandra Bezic. A choreographer and former pairs skater (probably before your time).

That's what I suspected. The Bezics were the generation before us in competition, but I met Sandra many times when I was skating in Toronto and Ottawa and she was choreographing other pairs. I just didn't recognize her voice and had tuned in just as the first pair was starting. It was easier to tell the voices apart when Carol Lane was being the third commentator because of her accent

 

[4everchan]

That's what I suspected. The Bezics were the generation before us in competition, but I met Sandra many times when I was skating in Toronto and Ottawa and she was choreographing other pairs. I just didn't recognize her voice and had tuned in just as the first pair was starting. It was easier to tell the voices apart when Carol Lane was being the third commentator because of her accent

I love Sandra. Best Pairs Commentators ever. Seriously. I am so delighted by her insight. She points out the technical without burdening the skates. She mentions choreography.... difficulty. and I like her calm and poised voice.

I like Kirsten Moore-Towers but Sandra is top notch.

 

[FlossieH]

I saw what happened to O'Shea's previous partner.

I am not aware of O'Shea forcing his previous partner to train and compete whilst injured and then publicly blaming the associated poor performances on her being lazy and overweight? He also did not push her to the point where the injuries and loss of confidence and self-esteem were career ending - she is still skating at a very high level.

 

[Blades of Passion]

They should not even be here trying to relive old glory.

What a ridiculous comment. Anyone should compete if they want to, and qualify to do so. They happen to still be the best pair in China, so they're here. She's only 30 years old still!

How you can think Sui/Han had the 'overall better performance' is a mystery relegated to the twilight zone.

Sorry that you can't see their superior lines, choreographic detail, unison, musical timing, and expression. Look at what she does in that lift. Or the arm usage during the death spiral, or half a dozen other places throughout the program that display more refinement and fluidity than what anyone else is doing. Or pretty much any of her expressions (he has some good ones too).

Then there's the way they are never needing to reach for each other. They're always together, each movement flows naturally. Whereas every other pair team here, there are always moments where one of the partners is holding their arm out and waiting for the other person to regain unison. And a team like the Germans, look at the unfinished bent elbow and leg positions that creep in at times. That does not happen in Sui/Han's program (except for after the 3Toe, since she fumbled it).

Multiple of the judges agreed with me. They are the best PAIR skaters of the competition and deserved to be placed in the top 4 and 2nd on PCS. With a solid 3Toe they should have won this, particularly after the little stumble during the footwork the Germans had (and again, the unison, look at how the Germans go out of sync with each other on the twizzle).

 

[skatedreamer]

A question that just crossed my mind...

Do any of the judges have competitive skating experience?

(BTW, if this belongs on a different thread, please let me know. I'm happy to move it.)