2026 Olympics Team Event: Free Dance

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Yeah losing SD/D was a blow but I think nobody thought Canada would be in the mix - and indeed they almost didn’t make the FS. Props to Gogo and P/M and also Maddie after the false start, and of course G/P for getting us there.

 

[4everchan]

I think they almost certainly would have beaten the Italians.

Not you, my friend... but I'm seeing a lot of second-guessing and what-iffing about the decision not to skate Piper and Paul in this segment.

I find this very odd, because of course the Team Event medals are meaningless. I know this because I've been told this repeatedly by many non-Olympians.

I think Skate Canada decided to rest Piper and Paul because either Canada wasn't making the finals or barely making it with no chance for bronze. I mean, I could have told them that Nika and Daniel and Kévin may not do very well... .

It is what it is... I would have left Piper and Paul in there for sure. If Canada loses this by a point or so, it will finally be a good reason to have some heads rolling

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Chock and Bates look slower on screen than they are in person. I see what everyone else does when I watch at home, they look slow, but I've been luck enough to see them in person and they aren't noticeably slower than other top teams in real life.

I’ll be at the ice dance events in Milan so I will confirm or negate when I finally see this programme live. My commentator thought they were very slow compared to others. I really like their FD but they do also always look slow to me with not as much ice coverage so I am looking forward to seeing what the reality is in person.

 

[RatedPG]

O Canada you are not liked by the judges, you are injured in pairs and then you do this. Send in a good but rather perfunctory dance team when Piper and Paul at worst would have been third probably second. Piper and Paul would have had a day or two rest til their RD. Not good. Unless they think they are just clinging on to finish the olypics and get it over with and retire. I know the writing is on the wall Piper and paul will not win bronze. But Piper and Paul may have lost two bronze medals - they would have probably been second in the dance here which means they would be tied for third with Italy in the team. I really hope for piper and paul who I think have been cheated recently with giving points to the Brits. But their decision not to do the FD may have jus tcost Canada a b ronze medal. It doesn't help Canada's top pairs team is out but they would have had a reasonable chance for bronze if Piper and Paul skated. Now they are two points down and it is hard to m ake up It means really Madi has to beat Laura and count on Gog to be two s pots higher than theItalian man but there isnt much room for the pairs. Lia and Trent need to beat Italy and that is not likely.

Yup. I think they avoided skating here, as they didn’t want to possibly lose to the Italians. However, if Canada comes back after the pairs, and loses by one point, they might regret this decision. Especially, if they place 4th in the individual event

 

[Janice4th]

I’ll be at the ice dance events in Milan so I will confirm or negate when I finally see this programme live. My commentator thought they were very slow compared to others. I really like their FD but they do also always look slow to me with not as much ice coverage so I am looking forward to seeing what the reality is in person.

Is the commentator at the venue?

 

[museksk8r]

Once again, Madi and Evan’s 2nd set of twizzles don’t match in their foot position; her’s is always lower than his, but why fix it since they’re not being penalized for it, I guess? Also, her entry into their first lift still looks laboured; Tessa and Scott did a similar lift in Vancouver and made their entry look fast and effortless. They are actually skating with more speed in this FD. A deserved 1st place here for them! 133.23 is a big score and they look on track to win gold if this level of skating and scoring continues.

 

[Skater Boy]

I get getting over things but let’s not try to sweep under the rug the gifts to the Americans and French in the RD and the Canadians being set up for 4th in the individual (although I do have heart for the Brits).

Oh really? Well that’s a bit silly of team Canada then. They could be pushing Italy for a potential team bronze medal had G/P bested G/F.

I really want Piper and Paul to win a medal. I know it is on the performances at the olympics but this team has gone through so much, worked hard, moved up and quite honestly look like they are being dumped. Do they deserve to be CB maybe not this year but in the past they have deserved and weren't always givien the mark. But this team deserves to beat the Brits with the performances they had at GP finals and here. I hopePiper and Paul have not really given up and now they aren't going to get a medal. A team medal would have been very possible even WITHOUT getting third in the RD. Had they skated in the FD today they would probably have been second and there Canada and USA would be tie even without another point in the RD which I htink is deserved. And The French and US were overmarked in the RD. I actually found CB a bit clunky it might be dress. White boots and heavy dark leggins for Chock It just doesn't flow super easily forget the issue of sppeed. Iam pretty sure Canada didn't expect Gogo to do so well or they would have used P squared in the FD. But the strategycost them team bronze here. I wonder if Ilia is skating tomorrow. USA has gold with a five point lead after their weakest event. If the men and women lose to the Japanese they have a big enough lead and it will be hard for Kam Oshea to beat Japan in pairs. Piper and Paul must be crushed. I stil lwant them to go home with a medal as unlikely as it is

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Is the commentator at the venue?

I am not sure - they haven’t said whether they are there or not. I suspect they may not be which could explain why she thought they were slow.

 

[TontoK]

British commentator Louise on TNT not a fan of C/B today.

I don't know her, but Louise is obviously a non-authoritative voice and irrelevant to the world of skating, as Chock and Bates have just set a world record (I think) and brought the house down.

You should probably shop around for a channel with a better commentator.

 

[cocteautwin]

Georgian judge giving georgian team higher PCS and GOEs than Charco (and lala)
(Elena Khmyzenko, former russian judge who switched fed to geo, just like skaters)

 

[tulosai]

I’ll be at the ice dance events in Milan so I will confirm or negate when I finally see this programme live. My commentator thought they were very slow compared to others. I really like their FD but they do also always look slow to me with not as much ice coverage so I am looking forward to seeing what the reality is in person.

Definitely report back!

For me personally, they are a team that is much better live.

 

[readernick]

I’ll be at the ice dance events in Milan so I will confirm or negate when I finally see this programme live. My commentator thought they were very slow compared to others. I really like their FD but they do also always look slow to me with not as much ice coverage so I am looking forward to seeing what the reality is in person.

Slow or fast can vary from day to day. If they are on, they will be faster than most. If they skate nervous, they might be average. From what I've seen of them live, they are neither the fastest or slowest team similar to Piper/Paul. But, they are magnetic. Both of the above teams skate in hold more than more modern ( faster) teams like the French or La/ La. It's harder to skate fast with interesting changing holds, close skating and complex choreo. Easier with open skating. The Italians are noticeably faster than C/ B and P/ P and they do it with complicated choreo and hold. ( Which is why they are my favorites, but clearly not the judges favorites)

 

[IceDancingQueen]

I don't know her, but Louise is obviously a non-authoritative voice and irrelevant to the world of skating, as Chock and Bates have just set a world record (I think) and brought the house down.

You should probably shop around for a channel with a better commentator.

She’s a former ice dancer so not completely irrelevant. She is quite judgey about a lot of the skaters so she’s not my favourite commentator though. Either way, I’ll see C/B in person next week so I shall make a decision for myself.

 

[Karoltyna]

Georgian judge giving georgian team higher PCS and GOEs than Charco (and lala)
(Elena Khmyzenko, former russian judge who switched fed to geo, just like skaters)

haha, not funny...

 

[CoyoteChris]

Chock and Bates look slower on screen than they are in person. I see what everyone else does when I watch at home, they look slow, but I've been luck enough to see them in person and they aren't noticeably slower than other top teams in real life.

I agree. I have been watching them both...even with different partners, at different levels, at Spokane 2007 Nats and then beyond. Are they my fav US ice dance team throughout time? No. I love Davis and White and Tan and Ben...They certainly are not as fast as Davis and White doing POTO. But at this point in time with these players, they may not be the fastest but they are the best. Like I keep harping on, if you would listen to how ice dance is REALLY judged by the technical pannel, you would throw up your hands and say, "Say what???????????????" So I just enjoy the performances. I like watching the Japanese.....

 

[tulosai]

I really want Piper and Paul to win a medal. I know it is on the performances at the olympics but this team has gone through so much, worked hard, moved up and quite honestly look like they are being dumped. Do they deserve to be CB maybe not this year but in the past they have deserved and weren't always givien the mark. But this team deserves to beat the Brits with the performances they had at GP finals and here. I hopePiper and Paul have not really given up and now they aren't going to get a medal. A team medal would have been very possible even WITHOUT getting third in the RD. Had they skated in the FD today they would probably have been second...

I think it's safe to say we all want Piper and Paul to win a medal

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Definitely report back!

For me personally, they are a team that is much better live.

I will! It definitely is different seeing teams live. I never warmed to the Italians until I saw them live at Worlds in 2018 as they had so much more presence for me than on TV.

 

[CoyoteChris]

haha, not funny...

Yes, thank you. It is so not funny....

 

[Paulipau]

I don’t know why? It was the most interesting program.

lol- posey exactly describes the French team.

Well idk, I didnt see them yet

 

[TontoK]

It is what it is... I would have left Piper and Paul in there for sure. If Canada loses this by a point or so, it will finally be a good reason to have some heads rolling

The entries for the Free Dance weren't due until after the Mens SP finished. There wasn't much time to make a decision, but there was time.

If I'd been the man in charge, I'd have had both teams ready for a last-minute call.

I am dreadfully fearful that P/P are going to be (outrageously) slotted behind the Brits, and I very much want them to leave with a medal. This team medal may be their best shot.

But, as you say, the die has been cast, and we can only hope for the best.

Edit: There surely had to entertain the possibility that Steven would have skated a blinder. He's not the most consistent, but when he's on.... and he's been skating very well recently. It had to be in the back of their minds that he could overperform expectations.