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Yes! It was based on their amazing OD from the 1994-95 season (where they won Euros and finished second at Worlds).

I’m pretty sure the big controversy on Skating Twitter is scoring at Worlds. Specifically, how did Chen get higher PCS than Hanyu, why was Zhou (whom Skating Twitter despises) on the podium, why no Japanese ladies medaled ... Fanyus are pissed. There’s a lot of anger at USFSA and their power (especially given Chen’s scores at US nats, and the belief that this influenced how he was scored at Worlds), and this is in addition to the Coughlin situation. I’m not a judge, but Chen deserved to win, though probably not by that margin. I agree that GOEs shouldn’t be all over the place. And the ISU remains problematic. But blaming Chen for the downfall of the sport ... that’s not cool.

Kévin Aymoz was my revelation this season. His SP was the spiritual successor to Fernández’s “Black Betty” - sexy, playful, dorky, and energetic. And his FS was mesmerizing. I love his signature moves - that cartwheel-type thing, and the slidey thing that he calls the JZ Slide, because his coach John Zimmerman taught it to him. Aymoz is only 5’3”, but he skates big. Also, he was the 2016 French baton-twirling champion - and it’s so cool that he adapted many of those moves to the ice. And I loved the Disco Brits, and Manta and Johnson! (And I miss the ShibSibs.) Think back to the 2002 Olympic dance medalists (heck, the top five) - I could imagine any of those free dances being skated by sibling teams without any ick factor. But alas, times have changed... 😕 And thanks to everyone who explained quads versus 3As, and the body compositions that lend themselves best to each. I’ve been thinking ... men who consistently do quads tend to be under 5’8” - if I’m not mistaken, Hanyu and Fernández were the tallest of the last Olympic quad’s “Big Six,” at 5’7”. Was Lysacek ever capable of doing a quad? (Honestly, I’m a mean bish and happy there’s a sport where tall dudes are now irrelevant.)

I have a question - why is it that the lady quadsters are so tiny, while most women who land triple axels are visibly muscular? I was under the impression that for the longest time, ladyskaters were reluctant to do 3A because it supposedly requires tremendous upper-body strength and thus a figure that wasn’t in the mold of an ice princess (remember that Ito and Harding were not dainty). Asada seemed tiny, but Kihira looks strong, and Tuktik is not a stick. So as a non-skater, I would think that quads by women require even more visible muscle than a 3A. Is there something with the physics of a salchow or a toeloop that favor a stick-straight body? (This only seems to only apply to women, since Hanyu can land 3As and quads, and his waist-to-hip ratio is probably the envy of many women.)

Does the article go into costs of the sports? Hockey equipment is expensive (and takes up a lot of space in the home), and it’s probably expensive to be on a team - especially if traveling is involved. Still, I imagine figure skating is much more expensive. Also, hockey doesn’t seem to be as potentially mentally damaging (and I can’t imagine eating disorders are rampant in hockey) - that probably appeals to parents. I can see the appeal of going into sports that can be played on the collegiate level. Alas, very few colleges have Division 1 hockey (or gymnastics) programs, so there really aren’t that many scholarships to be had in those sports - but on the other hand, figure skating is not an NCAA sport.

Synchronized skating is, at its best, a real treat to watch. Twizzles times 15? Yes, please! ISU had been pushing for its inclusion in the Olympics for a while, but I believe the issue IOC has is with housing and accommodating so many athletes. ISU holds a world synchro championship every year - this year, it will be in Helsinki in April. Finland is dominant in this discipline - in fact, its top team did an exhibition at last year’s GP in Helsinki.

Surya not only had to deal with her mother, but also Didier. No wonder why she had a hissyfit on the podium at 1994 Worlds. (She probably thought her mom was going to kill her.) Despite this, she lived with her mom until she was in her 40s, when she moved to Minnesota to be with her boyfriend. She’s coaching kids and she appears to be thoughtful and well-adjusted now. Here’s a long but enjoyable read from 2016.

I didn’t recall those bits, so thanks for bringing them up. There’s no excuse for racism, so I hope Gracie has learned from that. And it says a lot about Ashley (also a controversial personality) that she was the one who told USFSA that Gracie needed help.

So heartbreaking. I hope she continues her journey toward wellness. I recall on Ye Olde Site during Sochi that posters were not very kind to Gracie - I think it was more about the NBC/USFSA hype machine, and her looks and last name* feeding into it. This quote really stood out to me: “I almost created this other person ... I wanted to be the most flawless, angelic, plastic, Barbie-doll-face human who just says all the right things and does all the right things and is sterling. And people just don’t like her because she’s so perfect.” This persona she created - with the blessing of TPTB - was ultimately destructive. I’m happy to learn that USFSA paid for her rehab. And poor Alina ... 💔 I hope she knows she is loved by so many people, and that she gets back to her sweet dog soon for some snuggles. * I wonder if Boyang has had similar pressure in China, because Jin means “gold.”

Mikhail deserved to be first, for sure, and I’m sure Javi would agree. The argument seems to be that Samarin was overscored.

And it’s hard to enjoy Javi (or rather, Javi’s farewell) since it appears the judges are holding him down because this is his last competition. And he’s pretty much been saying that after the SP. (I’m certainly enjoying this never-seen salty side of him.) But while questionable judging is not as despicable as sexual abuse and death threats, it’s yet another reason why I can’t follow this sport consistently - none of this is good for my mental health.

From what I heard, late last year Javi posted a photo of himself on Instagram with his new girlfriend (she’s from Spain, and not a skater - I think they've been together since last summer or so, and she was in PC to watch him compete). Apparently, there were indeed some people asking, “What about Yuzu?” - and others were accusing him of cheating on Miki (since he never stated that they broke up). None of this is my business - I just hope everyone is happy and no one was hurt. Miki’s daughter seemed fond of Javi. I didn’t follow skating over the last quad - or sports in general, really - as I’ve been trying to get a handle on my anxiety. But I can’t resist the Olympics, so it really only was this February that I realized a Spaniard had won Worlds back-to-back (YASSSSS!), and that 9/11 was an acceptable theme for a program (WTF?). Never change your bonkers ways, figure skating. Never change. Another thing I missed while I was "gone": the rise of the Cult of Hanyu. I find it frightening, but fascinating. Yuzu is a phenomenal skater, for sure, and he’s pretty, but for "fanyus," it seems to go way beyond that. Were Yuri!!! On Ice fans inspired to follow the real thing (and thus treat the real athletes like anime characters)? Did Takahashi inspire similar fervor? (I would have assumed he’d have had the bigger following because his programs and looks screamed “sexy.”) Do Yuzu's looks and style reflect the current ideal of Japanese idol culture? It also sounds like Yuzu can’t have a significant other, even if he wanted to (apparently, this is the case with most idols). Honestly, I wonder if he'll ever be able to move back to Japan. And it seems in recent years Javi stopped mentioning Yuzu on his social media and started downplaying his relationship with him in interviews, clearly because of the STANyus. Misha Ge also had to tweet a reminder that he isn’t “Mr. Pooh’s” secretary. And now Janny has been deleting her posts with Yuzu … I'd like to think most fanyus - and skating fans in general - are aware of boundaries, but the reality is that there are some who are not. So I definitely understand why Yuzu doesn’t have social media (at least publicly) - but his friends, unfortunately, have to put up with the bullshit. If Janny’s going to Toronto, she’s going to need a full-time social media manager.

I haven’t posted until now (you’re all so intimidating!), but I’ve followed along. The men’s competition was my favorite, but I loved reading your emotions and insights into the battle of Alina and Zhenya/Janny … how both of them, despite skating while Russian(*), captured our hearts (and our brains), and how both had legit claims to gold. And that perhaps, beyond the unbalanced programs and crazy coaching, in the end Alina and Janny are likely sweet young women whose otherworldly talents and work ethic placed them in a bonkers situation. Love to Kaetlyn too! Costuming - Amid the malfunctions (poor Gaby!), I am smitten by all the pretty shades of blue across all disciplines. (Color of the Olympiad? Yes.) Finally, I will sing the praises of Señor Fernández.? “Showman” is a word you hear a lot about Javi. I believe he’s what Christopher Bowman could have been if he got his shit together. As an admittedly every-four-years watcher (I can’t deal with the stress!) who was happy Javi was still in the mix this time, I was curious if Javi had other exhibitions beyond his “Aerobics Class,” which he did in Sochi (and which I remember fondly!). I think maybe that’s why NBC chacked him - but Aerobics with Javier never gets old! (The slow-mo on OBS this time of him being doused with water from Luca “Little Tramp” Lanotte is priceless … NBC sure fucked up.) So, in case you were curious about what else Javi can do in exhibitions: It’s Carmen (#diecarmendie), but trust me, you won’t roll your eyes at this. “Black Betty” (bam a lam) - this video is from his exhibition at Euros this year, but “Black Betty” was his SP when he won his first World Championship in 2015. “Touch of Evil,” at last year’s Worlds. Tank top and suspenders/braces. Unf. Still, “Aerobics Class/Super Javi” is worth an Olympics repeat. It’s got something for everyone - bitchin’ ‘80s tunes, goofiness, opportunities to ogle Javi’s biceps, more goofiness, and of course, that Javi Charm®. He’ll be missed on the competitive circuit.

Besh did indeed film an episode for the Colorado season, and Bravo is "evaluating" what to do. (Also, both his PBS shows have been yanked, though I don't believe he'd been filming new episodes since the one season of Family Table.) It's safe to say that any THs of cheftestants making heart-eyes emoji faces when talking about Besh would be removed. My hope, if they can't edit Besh out, is for the episode to include a discussion about the culture of sexism and sexual harassment in the culinary industry. Like most of you, I'm disgusted and crushed (I had wonderful meals at August and Domenica when I was in New Orleans four years ago). Of all the men, from Weinstein onward, who've been exposed as sexist pigs, I never got a creep vibe from Besh. But those emoji hearts that covered my eyes might have blinded me. In hindsight, the fact that his wife and kids were such a big part of his personal brand might just be a case of "the Southern gentleman doth protest too much."

So no one noticed Charo in the church as, indeed, a bridesmaid? (Would that make her Rogelio's second-best friend?)