I saw Madi's instagram stories about being sick. What horrible timing to have to miss out on something they were clearly excited about and her having to miss the closing ceremony.
Four years ago, when they missed out on Sochi, when the hip surgery was coming up, if you'd told them that they would make it the Olympics and they'd finish fourth, I think they would have been over the moon. Expectations have changed in the last four years though, and yes they made it, but it seems like a bittersweet trip. I'm sure it was disappointing to be the only national champions (from any of the three countries who won medals) left out of the team event. Then, not as costly as Helsinki, but to again be so close to a major podium and have errors. Now, to have to miss the gala because of the flu.
Hopefully, they'll eventually be able to shake off all the demons and black clouds holding them back. It's obvious that they want it so much, and they have been so close for two seasons now. At least as a fan, trying to watch them bridge that last gap has been the most frustrating. I keep having these fears that they're going to end up the Sasha Cohen of ice dance.
-- Misha Ge shared these 3 videos of (I presume) an exhibition practice and Zach tries Misha's "bottle challenge" in the 2nd video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BffZaaIBHVT/?taken-by=mishage8
