2026 Olympics Team Event: Free Dance

[CoyoteChris]

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)

Tear falls.......

 

[FlossieH]

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.

Louise Walden is a former ice dancer. She may not be the best commentator, but she knows more about skating - and ice dance in particular - than many.

 

[Kinga]

124 for Italians sends a clear message: they can forget the bronze in the individual event. That medal is already "booked" for someone else. The scores at Europeans showed that too. They barely won the FD with the Brits despite a huge mistake from Lilah and Lewis

Seriously, I do not buy it that Chock and Bates are almost 10 points better than Italians.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

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)

Yeah I understand all that but what I don’t get is why Piper and Paul are then not scoring similar to C/B? They def have complicated choreo and seem to get dinged when they are not fast but if C/B have a slow day they still get really high scores. Their RD twizzles yesterday were slooow but they still got crazy GOE. I felt like I understood the judging better the last 3 years but this Olympic year I don’t understand what the judges are doing because the rules don’t seem to be applied consistently across events or teams apart from C/B. If C/B was a Russian team and being treated this way, people on this forum would be going nuts about it.

And I say this as someone who likes C/B and likes their FD. They have a lot strengths but speed doesn’t seem to be one of them so far this year and that should be reflected in their scores if they have a slow day.

 

[museksk8r]

If C/B was a Russian team and being treated this way, people on this forum would be going nuts about it.

So true!

 

[labgoat]

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.

Thank you for sharing your observations

 

[4everchan]

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.

I think that Skate Canada expected a skate like that from Stephen. I actually did as well... but didn't expect the "top guns" to falter as much so that the judges, had to place them below Stephen.

 

[Heather T]

I appreciate that Zach tucked in his shirt today to better accentuate his body line. It makes them look more mature and senior; the details do matter.

Oh, that’s what was different today. I think that this did make a difference in a going way.

 

[TontoK]

I think that Skate Canada expected a skate like that from Stephen. I actually did as well... but didn't expect the "top guns" to falter as much so that the judges, had to place them below Stephen.

They didn't expect the top guns to falter? Have they been to a men's competition?

 

[4everchan]

They didn't expect the top guns to falter? Have they been to a men's competition?

well all three of them... you know.. Canadians are very humble people.

 

[Karoltyna]

They didn't expect the top guns to falter? Have they been to a men's competition?

They missed that part of the internet that is all about menning and cactusing.

 

[museksk8r]

I hope Team Canada skates their hearts out the rest of the way here and go for that Olympic medal that was denied them in 2022. I would be pleased if the outcome is: 1) USA, 2) JAPAN, 3) CANADA OR ITALY.

I really want medals for Amber, Alysa, Kaori, Yuma, G/P and L/L and a medal for C/M and Lara.

 

[moonvine]

Why is he even commenting figure skating? If you still consider hbo max, there is 'no commentary' option as well as other countries commentary

I wish my HBO Max had that. That would be awesome.

 

[labgoat]

Sorry folks I have not been commenting as I am watching a bit delayed. I am also a bit too nervous for the skaters.

 

[cocteautwin]

I wish my HBO Max had that. That would be awesome.

It was available for men, not for ice dance though. Still, great.

 

[moonvine]

It was available for men, not for ice dance though. Still, great.

Not in the US I don’t think

 

[Wafflecakes]

Didn't love C/B's program overall. I found the half skirt on Madi distracting throughout as she tried (and often failed) to position it for drama in key moments.

That said, more interesting than most of the programs I have seen this year, and Madi's intensity is magnetic. They deserve to win and should win out barring a significant mistake I think.

That said, I don't think there is a WOW team at all this year. The last 4 cycles the winner blew me away.... and I am skeptical they can do it this time.

 

[muptgirl]

So true!

I don't know. Feels like people are going plenty nuts with them being from the USA (or for just not being P&P)

 

[auser]

Sorry folks I have not been commenting as I am watching a bit delayed. I am also a bit too nervous for the skaters.

Hope you are feeling better.

 

[Lamente Ariane]

Sorry folks I have not been commenting as I am watching a bit delayed. I am also a bit too nervous for the skaters.

I'm the same way also ironically still kind of jetlagged (ironic, because I was in Italy last week... yes I left before the Olympics started too expensive to stay!)

Anyway, this is the best Guignard/Fabbri have skated that FD all season, really happy for them! I also enjoyed Chock/Bates's FD, UtaMasa and LaLa. Davis/Smolkin were just kind of meh.