RubyNV said:
but I believe that the fall in Barbara and Maurizio's OD might have actually been her fault more than his. It happened pretty fast, but it looked to me like Barbara leaped up too fast, and was out a little too far ahead of her partner for him to be able to get a firm hold on her. If she had waited about a nanosecond, the timing would have been right.
She didn't jump high enough. The second leg was too low. Maurizio only grabbed the first properly. As they weren't tightly joined, the centripetal force (I hope this is the proper word) made him lost balance. Maurizio's technique isn't great but it wasn't his fault.
During the OD, with all the needed technical elements, Maurizio was doomed to be busted (it's quite "strange" he wasn't at the CD). In the FD, they tried to make a pleasing program but the difference with the other dance couples was too obvious and Maurizio had to fight with the difficulties during the whole program. The general impression couldn't be great but he has been couragious on that one.
I am not outraged by Barbara's declaration. She did the same with Marina and Gwendal. Other dancers did that before (like Gritschuk). Marina could have, hadn't she been held back by Gwendal and the French Federation). I think it's part of the diplomatic game and lobbying. The skaters have to convince that they are the best and that others are nice but not as good, they have to promote themselves. Even more when their rank is disputed. FP's hot temper just make the declaration more steamy (russians are more elliptic).
As a lot of italians (not all of them) tend to theatrilize their social life, I was not surprised, rather amused by the italian piece of comedia dell'arte they played for us on sunday's evening. Like a pressure cooker, they released the steam on the ice. Being french (so partly latin and neighbor of Italy), I am not shocked nor angry at all. It's a cultural question. Italians can do that, the italian press loved that. You can be shocked but it's because you didn't see the acting, the theatre part in Barbara's attitude (maybe she even knew she was the one who was wrong), it wasn't as serious as it seemed. And she is not the only one to give killer's look. Marina gave some too to Gwendal. And believe me, without the comedy part, it's much more frightening.