You know... some people have rightfully said that Osmond is the Olympic champion in 2018Whether Kaori wins gold or bronze medal, whether she's officially declared Olympic Champion or not, I think most people can see and understand "the situation" -- Kaori Sakamoto is the best skater of her generation. I don't expect anything to change except maybe Valieva DQ, but really feel bad for Waka and Young You because they should have Olympic silver and bronze medals.
), I've been wondering if it ever happened in figure skating to have the top two skaters tied, and thus two gold medals winners ? I know it has happened a few times in rhythmic gymnastics for example. 
For some reason Figure Skating hates ties, they have like four kinds of tie breakers in the rare situation that a tie happens.
Yes, meanwhile their well-behaved gold medalist sat there alone and ignored with a stuffed animal, looking lost.
Do you think they'll let her go to Worlds?
An arresting image.
Since scores are given to an accuracy of hudredths of a point, a tie would be pretty rare statistically. The only time I remember it happening in a major event is 2008 U.S. Nationals, when Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir both ended with 277.77 points. Lysacek was declared the winner on the first tie-breaker (the long program). But later it came to light that the computer program that averaged the scores used a procedure that was different from what the ISU rules actually specify, and Weir should have won by a hundredth of a point without need for a tie-breaker. But there is a third rounding convention which is mathematically superior to either, and Lysacek would have won on points if that had been used.
Kaori was the class of the field in the free skate. Her speed and flow across the ice and in and out of her jumps are absolutely incredible. Her spins and skating skills are divine. This is indeed the hill I am willing to die on.
LolTrusova was indeed screwed over at 2020/2021 Russian Nationals, should have won the SP there and placed 2nd overall. Shcherbakova was still slightly more overscored at these Olympics as well, her GOE's in particular are criminal, but the end result is fine. Or as fine as things can be considering the state of the judging, and "the situation", and how dead figure skating is as a competitive art. Trusova basically gave it away on the Quad Toe step-out, she could have scored at least 5 more points there.
It's a shame that Kamila is the one who happened to get "grandpa jinxed", she had the overall best quality of the Russians. Maybe none of that will matter though if an investigation can bring certain details to light (terrible odds of this happening, but can wish), and we will instead have Kaori Sakamoto retroactively named the Olympic Champion. Congrats also to Silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi and Bronze medalist Young You if that happens! The podium sweep ends up being Jorea (Kapan?), historic!
If olys were in 2007, why not?
And cat-like landings!
Kaori's skate truly was the high point of the event for me.
Reflecting on the women's competition afterwards (wasn't in much of a mood when it ended
I think it would have been much more fair here. Anna deserved to win for skating smart, emotional and clean (but should have had her edges, footwork and spins issues called accordingly), and Sasha also deserved to win for skating strong, fearless and with raw athletic power (but had to sacrifice overall cleanliness and artistic expression, at least in the FS - her SP is still one of my favourite women's programs this season and it's the best she ever had). They both did so well, both had the skates of their lives, and for different reasons - these skates were the culmination of their senior career (so far), and I wish the individuality of their skating styles was more acknowledged and rewarded, for the both of them.
That's what brought me to figure skating in the first place : I liked to see some girls skate like ice princesses, some like snow warriors, and some be the "full package". It's the diversity of approaches, the different styles of artistry, the athleticism that makes this sport so entertaining to watch. It pains me that the sport is unable to admit that two people can't win the day because they both excelled each at one different side of figure skating, but that they are discussing whether or not to have artistic and technical programs instead. That's pretty sad...
Is there any doubt?
Pretty sure you're right about that. I wasn't a big Oksana fan (too frou-frou for my taste) and was REALLY rooting for Nancy....but Oksana skated with some real pizzazz at that event. IIRC, she also threw in an unplanned triple near the end because she knew she had a mistake earlier and needed to make up for it. Gutsy, huh? All in all, the decision makes sense to me in retrospect.
