This is my dream podium. I know it won't happen, but I can still fantasize.
LADIES
Gold: Michelle Kwan.
After all these years, I still would rather watch Michelle than almost anyone else. I loved what Brian Joubert said about her in his recent interview--it's exactly what I feel too--so I'll quote him: "Michelle is very different. When she skates, she – oh, it's so hard to describe in English – she has a magical quality. You want to watch her, you don't take your eyes away from the beginning to the end. With other skaters, not so much. You look away."
Silver: Shizuka Arakawa.
I am a huge fan of Shizuka. She has power, artistry, and intensity in her skating. She is not a warm skater, like Michelle. She doesn't draw you in, or reach out to you. But I still love her. To me, she's like a diamond. A little cold, yes, but brilliant, technically exquisite, and elegant.
Bronze: Sasha Cohen.
Sasha isn't my favorite skater, but I'd still put her on the podium because of her artistry--the sheer perfection of her body line and her musical interpretation.
MEN
Gold: Evgeny Plushenko.
He is The Man. No one else can match his charisma, his flair, his drive--or his courage. He's been through so much the last few years, but he's kept on skating, kept on jumping, kept on winning. I'm in awe of him. And I love to watch him.
Silver: Johnny Weir.
I think Johnny Weir was born to skate. With his deep flowing edges, his gorgeous spin positions, his soft and easy jumps, his innate musicality, he seems at one with the ice, as if he were made for it. I love to watch him, too.
Bronze: Stephane Lambiel.
Stephane, to me, is an exciting skater. When he's on, he is just so dramatic and expressive. And his artistry is perfectly complemented by his blinding-fast spins and big, explosive jumps. Let's just say I don't get bored watching Stephane.
PAIRS
Gold: Shen/Zhao.
This pair has something so special. Like Michelle, they reach out to you--they make you want to root for them. You feel their passion, share their joy, when they skate. More than once, they've brought tears to my eyes.
Silver: Totmianina/Marinin.
This pair has improved so much in recent years. I love their technique, speed, polish, and perfection. However, they don't move me in the way that Shen/Zhao do. Their programs are absolutely lovely to watch--but they are not memorable.
Bronze: Savchenko/Szolkowy.
All the other pairs are far behind the top two teams. But this team, although new, already has a very nice pairs quality and chemistry to their skating. And her posture is lovely, which makes their lifts and connecting elements a treat to watch.
DANCE
Gold: Navka/Kostomarov.
Their new Carmen program pretty much has it all: the difficulty, the technique, and most of all, the drama you expect from an Olympic champion dance team. I have to admit they're skating very, very well this year.
Silver: Belbin/Agosto.
I love their flamenco free dance. It is dance at its purest: beautiful, fast, intricate, rhythmic movement. It's very hard to choose between them and the Russians.
Bronze: Dubreuil/Lauzon.
I've always loved this team for their gorgeous lifts and wonderful chemistry. And now have the perfect program to show it all off. Technically they are not in quite the same league as the top two teams, which is why I give them the bronze. But they are still wonderful.
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