Best Olympic Rivalries in Skating History

[labgoat]

How could I have forgotten Virtue/Moir v Davis/White. That rivalry was the worst for me... because I absolutely loved both of the teams.

But man, with V/M and D/W.. it was easy to take things personally, because adherents to one seemed to trash the other too often, and I couldn't stand that.

I too loved both teams, but my ties were with Davis/White as we are from the same area and both took lessons together from Igor, Gorsha Sur and Elena Krykanova (anyone one remember her?) - it drove me nuts that these young ones were gonna pass the Willow Waltz before me! They were behind Virtue & Moir at the time. I remember being so thrilled that both the US & Canada finally had teams who were truly going to be the best in the world - no doubt. I hated the fan wars because I loved them both and just wanted them to podium together.

 

[labgoat]

What I remember most about Plushenko, the times that I saw him skate in person at competitions and shows, is that he was unfailingly gallant in his conduct toward the ladies. When the men's portion was over he would sometimes pulll up a chair to rinkside for the ladies part and cheer heartily for every performance. (I have wondered if this is part of the Russian national character -- I have known several Russian colleagues -- scholars, not athletes -- who are like that. )

I never realized this, that is very nice.

 

[Mathman]

You know, as I read over this thread I am struck by how little impression most of these heroic rivalries have remained in my mind.

I have never rewatched either Brian Boitano's or Brian Orser's 1988 Olympic perfprmances. Nor the "battle of the Carmen's" with Debi Thomas and Katarina Witt. But I have rewatched Liz Manley's delightful Calgary Stampede routine with affection and pleasure.

Yagudin and Plushenko? Well, I liked the Winter step sequence.

Yuzuru Hanyu gave performances to die for, one after another -- but his Oltmpic appearances were not his best or most memorable work. Michelle Kwan? Give me the Romanza SP at 1996 Worlds, the Rachmaninov SP at 1998 U.S. Nationals, the Red Violin at 2000 Worlds,,Scheherazade at 2003 Worlds, East of Eden at the 1998 World Pro, or -- if we must mention the Olympics, Fields of Gold Ex, 2002.

Yuna Kim? OK, the James Bond SP was great but otherwise my fave was Liz MIs, 2013 Worlds.

Davis and White? The Bollywood short dance received acclaim, but for me it's Giselle, 2013 Worlds.

 

[yfan1]

You know, as I read over this thread I am struck by how little impression most of these heroic rivalries have remained in my mind.

I have never rewatched either Brian Boitano's or Brian Orser's 1988 Olympic perfprmances. Nor the "battle of the Carmen's" with Debi Thomas and Katarina Witt. But I have rewatched Liz Manley's delightful Calgary Stampede routine with affection and pleasure.

Yagudin and Plushenko? Well, I liked the Winter step sequence.

Yuzuru Hanyu gave performances to die for, one after another -- but his Oltmpic appearances were not his best or most memorable work. Michelle Kwan? Give me the Romanza SP at 1996 Worlds, the Rachmaninov SP at 1998 U.S. Nationals, the Red Violin at 2000 Worlds,,Scheherazade at 2003 Worlds, East of Eden at the 1998 World Pro, or -- if we must mention the Olympics, Fields of Gold Ex, 2002.

Yuna Kim? OK, the James Bond SP was great but otherwise my fave was Liz MIs, 2013 Worlds.

Davis and White? The Bollywood short dance received acclaim, but for me it's Giselle, 2013 Worlds.

ya got taste, is all

 

[Mathman]

ya got taste, is all

I forgot to mention my #1 unforgettable figure skating experience. Yuka Sato (in retirement) once volunteered to headline a local club benefit show, and she delivered the all-time most beautiful double Axel in the history of double Axels right in front of me.

I expected the spirit of Axel Paulsen to rise up and present her with a bouquet of flowers.

 

[nguyhm]

Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze and Sale & Pelletier - I'm team Elena & Anton beautiful lines, great speed and no tricks no gimmicks just pure wonderful skating

 

[meem]

GG vs MD: definitely MD (I still miss the drama on ice in pairs that they added to their powerful athletic skills; pairs has become all athletic now).

MK vs her competitors: I still miss her change edge spiral and exquisite artistry, the use of her hands (& in her Lori Nichol programs, no arms flying up & down!!)

 

[text_skate]

Not in my time, but I grew up with stories about it
Kilius/Bäumler vs Belousova/Protopopov back in the day, the Soviet team won

a non Olympic, but epic rivalry (ID wasn't Olympic then)
Buck siblings vs Pakhomova/Gorshkov (the Bucks managed to win once against the gold standard of ice dance)

While flipping through this thread I realise, how quickly I've forgotten about most rivalries.

Yags/Plush is one that still stands out (always team Yagudin) and to a certain extent Yuna vs Mao (mostly team Yuna, but some programs from Mao were epic, her FS at the Sotchi OG (which was the best FS in this competition imo)
in the battle of the Brians I was team Orser and in the battle of the Carmens I was team Debbie (I remember being sad, when she lost)

 

[meem]

The Battle of the Brians. IMO, this was the most memorable because of the same first names (still catchy!), the skaters being from neighboring friendly () countries, & both were/are really nice guys. Their skating styles were very different. I liked both of them & felt guilty *kinda* pulling for Orser .

Liz Manley's exciting FS seemed to overshadow the two "Carmens" after all the hullabaloo leading up to Debi's and Katarina's Italiano showdown.

 

[Skater Boy]

So many wonderful rivalries of skaters pushing each other. Plushenko versus Yagudin. Kwan versus Lipinski. The battle of the Carmens - Debi Thomas versus Katrina Witt (a rivalry ruined by a Canadian named Liz Manley. Torvill and Dean versus GIrtischuk and Platov versus Usova and Zhulin (3 team battle) Mao versus Yuna. Evegenia versus Alina (?) Scherkebova veruss Trusova. Sale and Pelletier versus B/S. GG veruss M/D n 1994 pairs. Virtue and Moir versus Davis and White. Virtue and Moir versus PC. This year we have CB versus FB/C And who could forget the battle of the Brians in 1988.

 

[iluvtodd]

The Battle of the Brians. IMO, this was the most memorable because of the same first names (still catchy!), the skaters being from neighboring friendly () countries, & both were/are really nice guys. Their skating styles were very different. I liked both of them & felt guilty *kinda* pulling for Orser .

I really like both Brians, too, but I was pulling for Brian Orser, too! I was so thrilled he was back to compete @ the Olympics in 1988. Back then I thought "One Olympics, one & done in figure skating." My biggest regret is that I did not follow figure skating between 1984-1988, so I had NO idea of the rivalry that was developing between the two Brians, not to mention the other disciplines. That all changed with the 1988 Winter Olympics. Then we started watching everything (Worlds, Nationals, Europeans, the GP series, etc.).