The Shibutanis Thread Cinco...Mambo!

[Dobre]

Maia & Alex were wonderful. I'm so happy tonight.

Thank you, thank you, Mirai, for taking a ton of the pressure of the team medal off of them before they skated so that I could watch and enjoy that beautiful performance!

Also, tonight Maia & Alex won an Olympic medal. They led their team in earning points for that victory. And they broke down another barrier in the world of ice dance. Well done to all the members of Team USA. I would have been happy for Team Italy on the podium as well. But, oh, I am so proud of Maia & Alex tonight!

 

[Allskate]

Derek Hough, J Lo and the other guy in dancing with the star wishing good luck to Maia and Alex

You know Dancing With the Stars would love to have Alex and Maia compete against each other on their show. They'd probably love to have Adam Rippon on there, too. He's good television.

 

[kittysk8ts]

Congrats on the bronze guys! Not too shabby

 

[VGThuy]

Shibs are Olympic Bronze medalists. Looking at SkatingProtocol's image, the Eastern Bloc was in full force today (Turkey, Israel, Ukraine, Slovakia) and they're the only reasons why the Shibs didn't score higher. They are trying to make B/S happen.

 

[Spun Silver]

Shibs are Olympic Bronze medalists. Looking at SkatingProtocol's image, the Eastern Bloc was in full force today (Turkey, Israel, Ukraine, Slovakia) and they're the only reasons why the Shibs didn't score higher. They are trying to make B/S happen.

You really think Israel, or Ukraine for that matter, is in the same block as Turkey??

 

[gk_891]

Shibs are Olympic Bronze medalists. Looking at SkatingProtocol's image, the Eastern Bloc was in full force today (Turkey, Israel, Ukraine, Slovakia) and they're the only reasons why the Shibs didn't score higher. They are trying to make B/S happen.

You're probably right. To my eyes, B&S did not impress. I'm not all that familiar with the points system but I was dismayed at how close B/S were to the Shibs. But thankfully Maia and Alex were ahead. I hope they can skate even better in the ice dance event.

 

[VGThuy]

You really think Israel, or Ukraine for that matter, is in the same block as Turkey??

Actually, when it comes to figure skating judging, they are. Sliver spoke about it in the past and looking at judging trends, it's true. There are bureaucratic connections and shared officials there.

 

[love skating]

The crowd really loved them... I'm so proud of them! Congrats to them for the team bronze!

 

[VGThuy]

The crowd ROARED when they were introduced and were even louder when they finished. They got so into it and didn't let up.

 

[gk_891]

The crowd ROARED when they were introduced and were even louder when they finished. They got so into it and didn't let up.

You could also hear the crowd groan when the marks came up. They were clearly pulling for something higher and rightly so IMO.

 

[VGThuy]

This is a repeat of the 2015-2016 GPF. The crowd in the arena and outside knows they deserved way better.

Here is their FD for our viewing pleasure:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/ma...hrcontext=WMAQ&_osource=SocialFlowTwt_CHBrand

CBS News and NYTimes cartoonist Liza Donnelly drew this after the FD:

https://twitter.com/lizadonnelly/status/962898963476156417

 

[chapis]

They totally wanted B/S in second place, and B/S skated well IMO, but the performance of the Shibs was better and it did not allow them to leave them in second place, it would have been too obvious. I hope that Maia and Alex repeat this performance or even improve it, they are capable of that.

But what a different reaction they had to the scores now that they knew that the technical panel is trying to be the Olympic protagonists. Same with V/M.

 

[Mrs. P]

Dang, I don't know how I'm going to go to sleep now. That was lit, regardless what the score was.

 

[chapis]

And now Tanith was not imprudent with her comments?

 

[Mrs. P]

And now Tanith was not imprudent with her comments?

She was impressed! She let out a big "WOW" after the twizzles.

 

[Rukia]

And now Tanith was not imprudent with her comments?

You could tell Tanith really liked the changes to it as well. I fell like earlier in the season she wasn't sold on the program, but she seemed to love it here. As well she should.

 

[chapis]

I was just hoping a performance similar to Skate America, but they surpassed it totally. And they looked so relaxed and happy during their performance. Smiling during twizzles, haha. I hope their parents were in the Arena.

 

[caitie]

They were great! I’ve been critical of the free all season and this was the most I’ve liked it. I was bummed at the low score and I hope it will be better in the individual event. I really want that Olympic bronze for them! And they still have the absolute best short dance of any team for me.

 

[chapis]

And Maia got 20,000 new followers on Instagram in a few hours

 

[MRani]

They were amazing! I loved it from start to finish and they were so free and joyful throughout the whole thing I was tearing up by the end. Team USA really brought it today. Adam made me cry, Mirai had me screaming and cheering, and the Shibs just stole my figure skating soul all over again. So proud of this team and so proud of Maia and Alex!!!

I was so worried about everyone today because I thought they might crack under the pressure and lose the bronze, but they FOUGHT for it. So happy.

Olympic Medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani has a beautiful ring to it

 

[kittyjake5]

Just catching up and watched the video. I was not able to watch live. OMG that performance was simply the best. They put so much emotion and freedom into that dance it choked me up. Love them! Congrats to them for their Olympic Bronze Medal.

 

[aftershocks]

It was clear how much the crowd loved it.

Yes, and the knowledgeable crowd was not happy with those lowball marks either.

CBS News and NYTimes cartoonist Liza Donnelly drew this after the FD:

https://twitter.com/lizadonnelly/status/962898963476156417

Cute, but the noses are all wrong.

 

[VGThuy]

Yes, and the knowledgeable crowd was not happy with those lowball marks either.



Cute, but the noses are all wrong.

Yep, but the Shibs are used to it and will come out stronger with better scores, like they always do.

 

[Bellanca]

Congratulations to Maia and Alex, Team Event Bronze Medalists! Great job!! So happy for them!!

 

[aftershocks]

Yep, but the Shibs are used to it and will come out stronger with better scores, like they always do.

^^ Yes, I'm hoping so. I do remember the 'sinking' feeling in my stomach caused by tech panel over-scruti-shenanigans in Helsinki. And yep the Shibs strongly prevailed, facing difficult obstacles.

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, 'I'm possible.'" -- Audrey Hepburn

 

[MRani]

And we know levels aren’t why they scored lower than they have earlier this season for their best performance of that FD so far. They had the exact same BV as V/M and B/S. And again, they got 3 extra points in TES after the review, which didn’t happen for anyone else. So they did not let this harsh technical panel intimidate them. I think they can go into the IE with a lot of confidence and if they keep skating like this, they can’t be denied.

 

[teacakes]

They were great, their best performance of this FD so far!

Though, I'm a bit ???? at B/S surpassing them in PCS. Like, they're really working hard to get a Russian individual bronze in ID, unfortunately the only worthy Russian ID isn't here so...

 

[Daena]

I am afraid now, when Maia and Alex have their medals, USFSA will try to push HD for individual medal, giving all support to them.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ The main issue with your fear scenario is that USFS just don't know how to effectively politick! Russians is probably hoping to politick-push B/S up over three American teams, since the politicking has already managed to push B/S over the Italians who are also better in many areas than B/S. So are Gilles/Poirier and Weav/Po better than B/S too!

 

[chapis]

yes, if USFS wanted medals for everyone, they would have allowed H/D to compete in the FD. For USFS, the priority is always singles, they will be focus on Mirai and Nathan, in fact I am a little worried about Mirai, I hope media don´t pressure her too much as they did with Yulia before de individual event.

At this point, I am more worried about B/S.