2026 Olympics: Rhythm Dance

[Demandred]

What happened to the Japanese Ice Dancers, they were there for the team competition, but not for the individual?

They didn't qualify for the individual, teams are allowed to use one non-qualified pair/individual for the team event and they were that for Japan.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

They didn't qualify for the individual, teams are allowed to use one non-qualified pair/individual for the team event and they were that for Japan.

That’s wild - that they get a medal from the games but didn’t even qualify for the individual event. Hopefully they can build to qualify for the next Games (which would also give Japan the ID mettle needed to not be edged out for the gold again).

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Thrilled to see Piper/Paul in 3rd.

And they really need to lose Yuri Balkov—ahem Nicholas Russell from the FD.

 

[meem]

Thrilled to see Piper/Paul in 3rd.

And they really need to lose Yuri Balkov—ahem Nicholas Russell from the FD.

How many years ago was Yuri Balkov caught cheating? Wasn't he one of the "toe-tappers"?

 

[jenaj]

Here are my thoughts.

While I will give you that a six point differential should be discussed with evenly matched teams. I did some subtraction, and the difference is less than 0.5 points (0.48, to be exact). That’s a statistical tie. There are two ways to interpret that. The first is that they want to give it to the French team and don’t want to make it look like they are doing just that. That’s cowardly. If you’re gonna do that, do it outright. The second, and more charitable, interpretation is that the judges (and experts) have a foregone conclusion that C/B will prevail and want to give the F/C a consolation prize by giving them the short program win. The commentary during the FD in the Team Competition was about how thy make the staccato beat of the paso doble music work and how hard that was to do. I get the impression that, if they skate that program the way they did in the TE, the gold is theirs.

I do wonder about the subjective part of th sport plays into scoring. You can quantify some of that. For example, how do you quantify things like liking the song, familiarity with the artist, etc. My point is that Lennie Kravitz is more of an American music star, whereas Madonna has been an international superstar for decades. How about a program just not being a particular judge’s cup of tea? I’m not knocking the subjective element. I personally like it because I think it makes the sport the sport.

Did anyone else notice that Vadym Koranic (spelling?) was mouthing the words to the song as he was skating? That’s hard to do and do the aerobic skating.

The best part of Piper and Paul’s program is when he grabs his own butt. Takes a sense of humor.

I think the judges were essentially scoring Chock and Bates the same as the French. I doubt if they all had total recall of their scores from 2 hours ago. The scores are too close to suggest any collaboration, in my opinion.

 

[Demandred]

I think the judges were essentially scoring Chock and Bates the same as the French. I doubt if they all had total recall of their scores from 2 hours ago. The scores are too close to suggest any collaboration, in my opinion.

That's correct. And actually Chock/Bates would have had a tiny lead overall if they had gotten a level 4 in the pattern step like the French did, that was the main difference between the two teams.

 

[ManyCairns]

I finally got to see some of the RDs tonight, when the Australian broadcaster (Channel 9) showed them. Unfortunately, I didn't see the top two teams. Here are my thoughts on the others whom I saw:
... .

-Christina and Anthony: I'm sorry, but this team just doesn't do anything for me. I respect their skating skills, but they lack charisma and connection. I also didn't like their costumes, which looked out of place - very heavy and dark.
-Charlene and Marco: Again, they have excellent skating skills - some of the best in the competition - but I find it hard to connect to them. I have always felt that they were mismatched and that she often shrinks herself to match his height. That said, she was performing and having a great time in their RD! I don't like their costumes, and the cuts in the music were awkward.
-Lilah and Lewis: They're basically the reverse of the Italians for me - fantastic performers, both of them, but they are weaker skaters than the other top teams (especially Lilah). They seem slow and lack depth of edge and ice coverage. I am honestly quite tired of their 'fun, fun fun' gimmick, and I feel like they would really struggle to do, say, a waltz or another 'traditional' dance in hold.
-Piper and Paul: They're both excellent skaters - great basics, ice coverage, speed, etc. I like their choice of music and costumes, but I would like Paul to come out of his shell a bit more and give more face (whereas Piper is performing like a pro). I really hope that they will be able to maintain their third-place spot - Fingers crossed!

Final thought: WTF is up with the British judge? Both here and in the team event, his scoring for Piper and Paul, as well as a few others, was completely egregious. He should be investigated for his obvious bias.

Totally agree with everything you said here!

This performance was easily the most I have enjoyed Christina and Anthony this season, but even with saying that, this program is not in their wheelhouse at all, imo. She looks more comfortable than he does with the choreo, but it just doesn't suit them, I don't think. And the costumes -- the color isn't flattering, it's heavy and dark like you said, what does it have to do with the dance?, and omg either make his jacket sleeves full length or actual 3/4 length, because right now all I can see is too much wrist like he outgrew his coat or got the darn thing at a thrift store. Her hairstyle looks very matronly and like someone much much older would wear. In short, they deserved a better vehicle and packaging for their RD.

Agree on Charlene and Marco, and so very much agree on Lilah and Lewis. Lilah esp just doesn't have crisp lines and often looks to be pulled around by Lewis. They are fun, but for me it's a bit of a gimmick and I'm just simply tired of it. I think they have a lot of general appeal for what they do, though.

I thought Paul did bring it more than ever this performance, but he could do even more to match Piper, I guess. I love both their dances this year and can't wait to see Vincent again tomorrow.

 

[throw_triple_flip]

There's a difference between a positive bias for your own team and low balling the direct competitor of your team

In the past Canadian judges have scored skaters in such a way that you could jump to that conclusion. Whether it actually was or not is another thing.

 

[slider11]

But maybe that's part of the problem? I don't think this partnership works anywhere as well as P/C did, and it cannot even be expected given it's their first season together.

Guillaume was the star of the Gaby/Guillaume pair as he is with the Laurence/Guillaume pair. But the problem with the Laurence/Guillaume pair is that Laurence is a stunner and pulls some of the attention from Gui. I think that makes for an uncomfortable battle for the spotlight that has not gelled as one sparkle. Over time, perhaps, they could find that right connection but for now they will need to rely on superb technical skills and individual wonderful performances.

 

[Skater Boy]

That’s wild - that they get a medal from the games but didn’t even qualify for the individual event. Hopefully they can build to qualify for the next Games (which would also give Japan the ID mettle needed to not be edged out for the gold again).

That's the funny or odd thing about the team event. some very good teams get to skate who didn't qualilfy for the individual event. Even odder is there will be some skaters or teams who win a team medal while many top skaters some for a while will go home medalless ie Piper and Paull most likely. Life truly is not fair. Such is life. Well if they want to bring in viewers the judges played into it. The scores are so close for bronze - probably closer than they should and thetop two teams a real battle. I thought the current top 3 teams deserve to be in the top 3 though I would have Piper and Paul 2 to 2.5 pts higher. i do think ZK will be future world champs and oly medallists once CB retire which might be after these games. Sad for the Koreans about the twizzel that cost them the FD. Well somoene else gets lucky I guess. I said that a team like Davis and Smokin and Careirra and Ponomarenk could be as high as top 5 but unlikely and could be out of top 10. The good teams are too close, are too close. I don't think I would have them so close to Fear and Gibson or the Italians

 

[Cindy1983]

I think the judges were essentially scoring Chock and Bates the same as the French. I doubt if they all had total recall of their scores from 2 hours ago. The scores are too close to suggest any collaboration, in my opinion.

My point was that they’re essentially tied. The Olympics has rules to try to deter ties. I remember a three or four way tie (exact same score) in an Olympic Men’s Gymnastics Event Dinal. Ordinarily. That tie would stand and they would all medal, but Olympic rules meant they needed to break the tie. By giving a statistical tie, they’re saying the teams are essentially evenly matched. The numeric point difference is not significant. Again, they’re essentially tied. I’d prefer an outright tie, though. I wanted to put my two sense in because the result is somewhat controversial. My comment wasn’t meant to be as negative as it came off.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

-Piper and Paul: They're both excellent skaters - great basics, ice coverage, speed, etc. I like their choice of music and costumes, but I would like Paul to come out of his shell a bit more and give more face (whereas Piper is performing like a pro). I really hope that they will be able to maintain their third-place spot - Fingers crossed!

I absolutely love Piper & Paul. I have ever since they first partnered. They had me at 'Hello' with their Sweet Dreams/ Pure Imagination RD, choreo by Sir Chris Dean. I just wanna hug them. They are the team I'm gonna miss when they retire, much like I miss Hubbell/ Donahue.

To me, Paul gives good face. But I guess you picked up on how in Netflix's Glitter & Gold, Paul explained that it's difficult for him to give face while performing some of the elements. I never would have guessed. Watch their exquisite Hitchcock FD, and notice Paul's emoting; they are both so good in this unique and memorable career groundbreaking program. I wish they had reworked and brought back that program, or else their Wuthering Hts FD.

 

[bramweld]

The one thing that P2 need to focus on to secure their medal is their twizzles, especially Piper, they are not smooth at all. Hoping they get into their bubble, rough twizzles in a Vincent FD will affect the skating skills and overall impression. Go into your bubble time.

 

[Skater Boy]

Hmmmmm. Well it's going to come down to whether the judges are bull people or whale people. Thrilled to see Piper and Paul in third. I hope the judges are starry-eyed w their FD.

I just think the Brits in the RD were overmarked. They were entertaining but messy. And GP should have a bigger lead. I would hate for Piper and Paul to lose bronze because they should have had a bigger lead. In fact I think they were closer to CB only because Cb was kind of slow and twizzels weren't as good as usual.

 

[gsk8]

Hi all!

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