Well, I'll make it short and sweet.

Gold equals seconds, Silver equals first, Bronze equals fourth!

I don't know what the heck happened there but I think the IOC should test their refs for dope more than they test their athletes.

Damn, I don't feel any better. What do you think?

Should the Canadians have beaten the Russian and get the gold? Should the fourth team (second Russian team) should have beaten the Chinese?

I could be wrong but IMO (not so humble today), the final standing should have been:

Sale and Pelletier: 5.9 and 6.0 gold
BEREZHNAYA and SIKHARULIDZE: 5.8 and 5.8 silver
TOTMIANINA and MARININ: 5.8 and 5.7 bronze
SHEN and ZHAO: 5.7 and 5.7 fourth.

What do you think?

[ 02-12-2002: Message edited by: Ryanamur ]

[ 02-12-2002: Message edited by: Ryanamur ]</p>

I am in total agreement with you Ryanamur. We were robbed of the gold medal. Our Canadian Pair were flawless.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Victor von Steiner:
I am in total agreement with you Ryanamur. We were robbed of the gold medal. Our Canadian Pair were flawless.<hr></blockquote>

OK, but we might be biaised. [img]smile.gif[/img] I wonder what the US and Europe think of it?

Unfortunately, the split between gold and silver came in Artistry and Presentation and the Canadians were looking like drab school-kids next to the Russian pair in their silk and glitter. :(
Ice skating is a glamourous sport and I think had the Canadians dressed the part, they would have the gold in their hands right now.

I missed the second Russian teams performance so I can't really state any opinion about their placing other than that seeing the quad throw get shot to pieces after the Chinese had pulled it off so many times in practice was sad. They looked great otherwise.

The thing is Moni. The Russian Pair had some visable mistakes in their program. Where there was no visable mistakes by the Canadian Pair.

Oh Moni check your PMs

Thanks for you input Moni. [img]smile.gif[/img] I personnally found the Russian skating not nearly as artistic or packed of emotion as the Canadian skate. But, like I said, I'm biaised [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Moni:

Ice skating is a glamourous sport and I think had the Canadians dressed the part, they would have the gold in their hands right now.
<hr></blockquote>

Then how can you explain Yagudin (sp) winning the Worlds dressed as a clown a few years ago? (for the record, he did deserve the Worlds 'cause he's a damn amazing skater!)

[img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Victor von Steiner:
The thing is Moni. The Russian Pair had some visable mistakes in their program. Where there was no visable mistakes by the Canadian Pair.

Oh Moni check your PMs<hr></blockquote>

Yes, but that's in the technical part (they were lower in that set of marks than Sale and Pelletier). It's the artistic mark that is out of wack!

well, I'm not crazy, here's an unoffical poll done by nbc (www.nbcolympics.com click on "Score it yourself")

Audience Marks for Sale & Pelletier:
Technical Merit: 6.0 Presentation: 6.0
* 6986 votes

Audience Marks for Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze:
Technical Merit: 5.8 Presentation: 5.8
* 3739 votes

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ryanamur:
Thanks for you input Moni. [img]smile.gif[/img] I personnally found the Russian skating not nearly as artistic or packed of emotion as the Canadian skate. But, like I said, I'm biaised [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]



Then how can you explain Yagudin (sp) winning the Worlds dressed as a clown a few years ago? (for the record, he did deserve the Worlds 'cause he's a damn amazing skater!)

[img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

I agree with you that the Canadians skated a beautiful routine, but it was mixed with the drab grey clothes and way too much drama from the Canadian girl not to mention being two years old.
The judges might not have liked her little "accident" with the Russian guy during warm-ups either.
I can't speak for them, but from what I saw, she needs to be a little less dramatic and a lot more professional in her sport. She is a great skater and has a lot pf potential. I'm sorry for Canada that they did not win.

As far as the clown suit goes, individual competition is much different from pairs. Individual skaters can show themselves whereas the pairs have to show "the sport" which includes the glamourous approach to costumes as well as new routines that challenge their abilities. (I'd vote the Chinese pair that won the bronze medal "Best-Dressed" ;) )

[ 02-12-2002: Message edited by: Moni ]</p>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Moni:
Unfortunately, the split between gold and silver came in Artistry and Presentation and the Canadians were looking like drab school-kids next to the Russian pair in their silk and glitter. :(
Ice skating is a glamourous sport and I think had the Canadians dressed the part, they would have the gold in their hands right now.

<hr></blockquote>

It might come as a surprise to most people, but costume has almost no influence on marks for artistic presentation in most competitions, including the Winter Olympics.

No points are ever added to artistic scores because of costumes,
but there may be a small points deduction for a breach of costume rules. ( Examples: Ladies costumes must include a skirt, and cannot show a bare midriff. Men cannot wear tights ) A deduction for costume is *very* rare, as all skaters know what these rules are !!

I know this info as accurate, as ( recently ) retired international figure skating judge for Australia was a guest-of-honour at a seminar held by our ice skating club. He gave us a presentation, and showed us all a video on how skating marks are awarded.

Pang [img]graemlins/cat3.gif[/img]

[ 02-12-2002: Message edited by: Pangur Ban ]</p>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Victor von Steiner:
I am in total agreement with you Ryanamur. We were robbed of the gold medal. Our Canadian Pair were flawless.<hr></blockquote>

I agree! I was so annoyed!
did ya hear the crowd when the results came in? never heard so many 'booing' in my life....

the judges better be hiding