# Olympic Figure Skating
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 12, 2006, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105 "2006-02-12T13:00:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 6
### Author:  [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/101 "2006-02-23T16:47:48Z")
> [@Ms Macphisto](#):
>
> Yes, that’s the case. However, what I think **Mahaloth** was getting at is that it’s amazing that China is so dominant in pairs, but the best they can do in women’s singles is one skater who can’t even crack the top 10. After all, if you just looked at the pairs results and thought that that should apply to how a country does in all of the figure skating disciplines, China should be occupying all of those spots currently held by the US in the ladies competition.
>
> As for why China’s weak in women’s figure skating, I don’t have an answer. They do appear to have concentrated their efforts on pairs, since they have some decent men but no one who’s a real medal threat and I’m not sure I’ve even heard of any Chinese ice dancers.
I don’t think that’s any different than the rest of the world. The United States has had numerous medal winners in mens and ladies but we’ve only scored a handful of medals in the pairs and dance.
---
### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/102 "2006-02-23T17:42:40Z")
As **LavenderBlue** points out, most countries emphasize either pairs and dance or singles skating; China does pairs, we do singles. What’s interesting is that Russia, which for many, many years did mostly pairs/dance, has, esp. since the breakup of the Soviet Union, had so many major singles skaters – like, for instance, the last three? four? Olympic gold medalists in men’s.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/103 "2006-02-23T21:17:41Z")
Spoiler for tonight’s women’s performance…it’s on live on Canadian TV.
Shit!!! Sasha Cohen has fallen twice!!!
---
### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/104 "2006-02-24T01:21:45Z")
It hasn’t come on yet in the States? I’ll keep my mouth shut, then.
It was certainly dominating the news here, though!
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/105 "2006-02-24T02:14:42Z")
Thanks very much for spoilering – we’ve got a couple of hours of skating to go here on the East Coast of the U.S. . I just switched back from “Dancing with the Stars,” and some blond in a backless unitard is skating very badly
(ah, Elena Sokolova) – damn, I’ve never seen anyone skate so long past the end of the music before.
Thank god they fixed the spoiler boxes in time!
---
### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/106 "2006-02-24T03:24:05Z")
Emily Hughes skated so well–I am so glad for her. I hope to see her at the next go round.
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/107 "2006-02-24T04:57:27Z")
No spoilers here.
I just wanted to say I’m still disappointed that Mao Asada wasn’t allowed to compete. She finished first at the Grand Prix in January, beating Slutskaya and all the Japanese skaters who got to got to Torino, but was 3 months too young to be allowed in the Olympics. Damn shame.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/108 "2006-02-24T05:06:39Z")
Okay, I’ll say it.
Fuck!
Silver is ok…if she just landed it, gold. I’m happy for Japan…somewhat.
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### Author:  [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/109 "2006-02-24T05:10:54Z")
I feel bad for Irina. I don’t particularly like her skating style because I think she lacks artistry but she comes across as a truly nice person. She’s clearly overcome a lot in her life. Arakawa is going to be Japan’s hero for a long time. I think she’s the only medal winner they’ve had for a long time. Her long program was very beautiful. She had techique and artistry.
At least the winners this time weren’t anemic looking sixteen year olds.
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### Author:  [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/110 "2006-02-24T05:17:41Z")
> [@twickster](#):
>
> As **LavenderBlue** points out, most countries emphasize either pairs and dance or singles skating; China does pairs, we do singles. What’s interesting is that Russia, which for many, many years did mostly pairs/dance, has, esp. since the breakup of the Soviet Union, had so many major singles skaters – like, for instance, the last three? four? Olympic gold medalists in men’s.
China actually had the great skater Lu Chen who pulled off two successive bronze medals in the 1990’s and a very well deserved world championship. Her skating was beautiful and elegant.
But they’ve focused on pairs since then.
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### Author:  [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/111 "2006-02-24T05:19:29Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#):
>
> I feel bad for Irina. I don’t particularly like her skating style because I think she lacks artistry but she comes across as a truly nice person. She’s clearly overcome a lot in her life. Arakawa is going to be Japan’s hero for a long time. I think she’s the only medal winner they’ve had for a long time. Her long program was very beautiful. She had techique and artistry.
>
> At least the winners this time weren’t anemic looking sixteen year olds.
That should have read Arakawa is Japan’s only figure skating gold medalist and the only medalist they’ve had in these games. She’s going to be Japan’s Peggy Flemming.
:smack:
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### Author:  [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/112 "2006-02-24T09:29:41Z")
Is is just me, or does [Emily Hughes](http://www.pixieworld.net/indexsk8.php?sk8=emilhugh) look like [Willow Rosenberg](http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/w/willow.htm)? Talks like her, too.
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### Author:  [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/113 "2006-02-24T12:43:52Z")
I was hoping the Canadian Joannie Something would medal.
The skater from finland was also very nice too.
Sasha Cohen scares me.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/114 "2006-02-24T12:50:38Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#):
>
> China actually had the great skater Lu Chen who pulled off two successive bronze medals in the 1990’s and a very well deserved world championship. Her skating was beautiful and elegant.
>
> But they’ve focused on pairs since then.
:smack:
Yes, of course, Chen Lu, who continues to be a beautiful skater.
And I’m not bummed at all that Sasha came in second – I’m not a fan, as I’ve mentioned a bunch of times. She really does have a profoundly scary vibe to her.
Arakawa had the best skate last night, by far, and it was a completely legitimate win.
I just wish they hadn’t felt compelled to run it till midnight – I was having a truly painful time keeping my eyes open the last half hour or so.
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### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/115 "2006-02-24T15:10:52Z")
I think Sasha should have been third. But she did skate a beautiful short, so…
And she still has the eyes of an assasin, but–she was actually gracious and a wee humble in the post interview. Something about she didn’t even expect to be on the podium–this is huge for Ms Sasha. Just MO.
I am looking forward to next Winter games–Hughes, Meissner(?), and ?
Hughes seems so solid to me–very firm landings and alot of confidence.
Is Sasha coming back (please no, please no)
I hope that Michelle (whom I adore) also calls it quits. Time to move on…
I liked the blonde Canadian. The Italian looked really unprepared! I was shocked at the caliber of her performance. Too bad.
I wish Irina had won, but Arakawa had herself a great night.
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### Author:  [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/116 "2006-02-24T15:20:56Z")
I don’t follow non-olympic figure skating - why do so many people dislike Cohen? She seems OK, if a little hard-edged, to me.
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### Author:  [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/117 "2006-02-24T15:52:34Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#):
>
> I am looking forward to next Winter games–Hughes, Meissner(?), and ?
I hope to see Meissner back in four years, but please, God, let her start going by Kimberly or even just Kim. The name Kimmie just grates on my nerves something fierce!
I was pretty surprised at the results last night. I figured it would be Slutskaya, then Cohen. But I think it ended up the right way. Slutskaya made almost as many mistakes as Cohen, without the artistry. She deserved to come in third for that. I also don’t understand the Cohen hate. So, she looks like a bitch, and she’s confident. So what? So does Michelle Kwan, IMO.
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### Author:  [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/118 "2006-02-24T15:55:14Z")
> [@yellowval](#):
>
> I also don’t understand the Cohen hate. So, she looks like a bitch, and she’s confident. So what? So does Michelle Kwan, IMO.
Word. Is it just a double-standard in action? If a guy is tough, he’s a competitor - but if a girl is tough, she’s a bitch?
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/119 "2006-02-24T16:08:00Z")
I don’t think it’s just that she’s tough and ambitious – as **yellowval** points out, so is Michelle Kwan, whom I adore – but there’s a vibe to her that if you touch her the wrong way, she’d shatter into a million sharp pieces.
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### Author:  [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-figure-skating/344105/120 "2006-02-24T16:21:25Z")
> [@twickster](#):
>
> I don’t think it’s just that she’s tough and ambitious – as **yellowval** points out, so is Michelle Kwan, whom I adore – but there’s a vibe to her that if you touch her the wrong way, she’d shatter into a million sharp pieces.
Yup, I agree. There’s something “just not right” about her. You almost like to see her fall just to break the shell. She’s probably going to go down in skating history as the girl who just never could get it right. . . but at least she’ll go down in history as something. Loved her dress last night though!
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