ChicksDigScars

I almost forgot!! The broadcast didn't show it, but did we get a Coach Babs Look of Death when G/F scores came up and they were behind F/G, and thus likely off the podium (unless G/P and C/B were to implode, which was unlikely to happen). Wow. I share a birthday with Babs?! Huh.

Starvation and forced drug abuse will do that to young teenage girls. When I saw Ramen Head smugly and calmly coaching other athletes this weekend when she's the main one who should have faced a ban, makes me furious. And I hate to say that I kinda have a negative attitude towards her daughter, too. I guess I should feel sorry for her having a mom willing to go to such abusive lengths to win. I assume Diana Davis was also starved and even drugged for success. Kaori seems to be an extremely empathetic person. Probably one of the best representatives the sport could ask for.

Well, my guess is that those two pairs, along with Guignard and Fabri, will all retire after the Olympics next year. MAYBE G/F and G/P will stay for 2026 Worlds if C/B win the OGM and retire, which I can see them doing just so they can win a World Championship with C/B not there. But perhaps not. Worlds a month after an Olympics is always a crap shoot at the top. I'm interested to see who shakes out at the top when those three pairs retire. Do Fear and Gibson move to the top? Does CPom get on the podium? Smart and Dieck? Will FB and Cizeron be instantly anointed?

Yuma didn't think he had enough either. His reaction when his scores came up and he realizes he was still on the podium. He held up two fingers, like, "I'm in second?" which at the time, Ilia hadn't skated yet, so he knew he'd end up on the podium with a bronze. He then buried his head in his hands in relief. It was shocking to see someone's free skate finish 10th and still medal. But his short had been so damned good.

And you know, I didn't hate CPom skating to Carmen. I think that after it being so overused for so many years, having a bit of a break from it made seeing it again more welcome. Plus, they killed it. And Carmen is never going to completely go away. It's a classic and it's dramatic. It's perfect for figure skating. Now let's not go ham on it again, people, mmm'kay? Less is more. Now if we can only have the same break from Hallelujah. All versions of it. I didn't hear it this weekend, thankfully, so maybe....

So basically, Alysa was seven months old the last time a U.S. woman won Worlds.

Also adding, it’s nice to hear the loud, enthusiastic applause for ALL performances, not just the home country skaters…yeah Sochi, I remember you refusing to cheer for anyone but your own. And HOLY CRAP!!! Alysa! They showed Arthur Liu several times. I hope this doesn’t turn him back into stage dad mode. Kaori is 💯 class.

Same. I love Riku and Ryuichi as well, but i really think they got lucky last night and that the Germans got hosed. They even seems surprised that they won, and the crowd, instead of cheering, seemed to be murmuring at the result, as if they were also questioning. As far as three possible spots for the U.S.....whodathunkit? Just a question. Has Elli Kam ever made it through a program cleanly? That said, it is SO NICE to see a loud, enthusiastic, FULL ARENA at a U.S. skating competition. It's been so bleak lately with really bad optics to see so many empty seats. Nicely done, Boston. In fact, give Boston ALL the competitions. Wichita was embarrassing with the empty seats on TV. Just watched the Rhythm Dance. Nice that the 4 Continents silver seemed to wake Madi and Evan up. 90.18 for a score. Season's best.

This will be her third country of representation. She's almost up to Diana Davis levels of finding a country and sticking with it.

They were outright bawling after they aired Terry Gannon's tribute to Uncle Dick, just before the last group of skaters at Euro ladies. Then again, so was I. It was so good. I hope they repeat it during World's (and 4 CC), because the European Championships on E! probably don't have a huge following in the U.S. unless you're a serious fan. The tribute deserves network airing, maybe during the World's Men's final, which will be on the main channel.

And Dick Button passed per the NYT today. :(

Maxim was assigned to 4CC, and was second alternate to World's. He finished fourth, and with Jason Brown a question mark, could be elevated. His head will certainly not be in it, but then again, coming from a family of skaters, may decide to honor his parents by forging ahead.

Leave it to the Russian press to jump the gun and throw names out there last night before anything official was ever released. There is a Canadian article with names and photos of those known to be on the plane. I don't see the U.S. press doing this quite yet. Grain of salt, then. Ilia posted on his Instagram stories with condolences, so he is okay. His name popped into my head, being that he trains in Virginia. Sarah, too.

Horrible. And it’s something that the U.S. figure skating community has unfortunately experienced before. :(