O.K. , since nobody seems to think Figure Skating is a sport, much less want to cover it, I’ll do the readers a favor by writing the story.
Over the last couple of days, after a tough back-and-forth battle for first place between Sasha Cohen (U.S.) and Irina Slutskaya (Russia), many were stunned when Shizuka Arakawa (Japan) quietly took the Gold away from the two.

Cohen, Arakawa, and Slutskaya performing their programs(Source: NBC)

I thought long and hard about responding to my colleague’s (Aaron) post, Figure Skating is not a sport! On the one hard, it’s hard enough to follow the games and blog in a timely manner (not to mention that I have the ‘Technocrat Soapbox‘ to worry about as well), on the other, I feel quite strongly about what Aaron said.
I love Figure Skating, especially Women’s Figure Skating. I like Gymanstics too, exclusively Women’s Gymnastics. I also like Women’s Tennis, and only Women’s Tennis (but I never watch the Williams sisters play).

Michelle Kwan on ice (Source: MSN)

The difference among …read more

I’ve had this argument with my wife lately. She is an artistic type who happens to enjoy figure skating.
But it is not a sport! Any activity that winning or losing is based on the opinion of someone else does not qualify to me as a sport.
In freestyle skiing, style points are awarded but the tangible element is also speed. In bobsled or the luge, whoever gets to the bottom in the fastest amount of time is the winner. Speed skating is a sport too.
Figure skating is not a sport. It requires athletic ability, no …read more

I’m not a huge fan of figure skating, still.
Canadian Jeff Buttle has won the bronze medal in men’s figure skating.
Russian Evgeny Plushenko won the gold medal while Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland won the silver.
Congratulations Jeff on winning a medal. This brings the total to 8 for Canada. 4 bronze, 3 silver and 1 gold (Jennifer Heil).

Okay .. I’m not sure if “unofficial” is the right word, but I thought it sticks out in case you are browsing this front page and looking for WORLDLY PARTICIPATION!
Yes! Vent your anger and frustration about (somewhat) STUPID comments by commentators! Before you do this .. keep in mind that I am not putting down any commentator out there .. they are doing a HECK of a job! (Especially CBC commentators!) :D but sometimes you just gotta ask yourself ..
Uh … What did they say? Did they just say that? Can they say that on TV?
SO! Feel …read more

I’m not a fan of figure skating, but I must admit getting choked up watching Zhang Dan from China get hurt, have the music stop, the fans watch in concern, and fellow skaters watch in horror. With no hope of gaining a medal, but for the pure spirit of the Olympics, and the fulfillment of dreams she finished her pairs figure skating routine in an amazing demonstration of heart. And they won Silver!
Most amazing.

Four years ago, Russian Figure Skaters, Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sukharulidze, were in the eye of an Olympic Scandal storm. Tonight, the pair of Tatyana Totmiyanina and Maxim Marinin are Figure Skating Champions.
The scandal from 4 years ago resulted in two pairs of Gold Medalists (no Silver, 1 Bronze) at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics (2002) and a totally revamped Scoring System at this winter games. Everybody was watching the Pair Figure Skating events closely tonight, lest there be another judging impropriety.
Totmiyanina and Marinin triumphant (Source: NBC)

Barely two years ago, Totmiyanina was the victim of

brem writes / asks Is 25 Medals Goal For Canada Realistic? and has a dPoll going. Well, at first I immediately went there and clicked YES (naturally – Go Canada Go!) .. but then I got to thinking ..
25 Medals for Canada? Where are we going to get 25 medals?
I should say that in my general community of friends and online contacts, sure – we are proud of ALL our Canadian Athletes (maybe a little more with the 5 Winnipeggers in Torino) and we are quite happy if they just perform to the best of their abilities to …read more

Michelle Kwan, U. S. figure skater, was forced to step down today when a groin injury flared up again. How incredibly disappointing that must be for her, her family, and her fans. Skating in for her will be Emily Hughes, younger sister of the 2002 gold medal winner, Sarah Hughes. All of our wishes are with both of you, Michelle and Emily.
 

From the article:
Michelle Kwan dropped out of the Olympics on Sunday morning, one day after she cut short a practice because of a recurring groin injury.
The U.S. figure skater said Saturday she didn’t want to drop out, but would have to “listen to my body.” She missed last month’s U.S. nationals with a groin injury, and needed a medical bye onto the Turin team…
…The U.S. Olympic Committee submitted a request to replace Kwan with Emily Hughes, the third-place finisher at last month’s nationals. An answer is expected later this week, and Hughes was expected to travel to Turin on Sunday. …read more