The best ever Female Pairs skater- tell us why

[once_upon]

I find it difficult to compare each of these skaters and determine a GOAT - the era and skating requirements that each woman competed in are so different. I dont think it's an apples to apples comparison.

 

[Jamalele]

Yes she was not of Quads in Need to win. She wanted To do but Bruno refused. They were angry about This and other stuff to each other.

 

[Poodle]

It took a lot of mental toughness to overcome the horrific fall at Skate America. She had to convince Marinin that they could do it, when he had doubts (because of that accident). I always admired their consistency. Her edge on the landings of the throws was excellent. I loved their Snowstorm SP.

I like all of their programs except The Cotton Club which didn’t suit them at all although they still displayed beautiful basic skating skills. My favorite was their Art on Ice free skate when they won Worlds 2004. Everything clicked. The music, choreography, and costumes all showcased their body lines and posture. It doesn’t get much attention, but it’s one of the finest pairs skates I’ve seen. They are an understated team with a lot of elegance. I think the other T/M, Tarasova and Morozov, have similar qualities except they are far less consistent. Maxim Trankov called them the last classic pair and, sadly, I would have to agree.

 

[Vash01]

I like all of their programs except The Cotton Club which didn’t suit them at all although they still displayed beautiful basic skating skills. My favorite was their Art on Ice free skate when they won Worlds 2004. Everything clicked. The music, choreography, and costumes all showcased their body lines and posture. It doesn’t get much attention, but it’s one of the finest pairs skates I’ve seen. They are an understated team with a lot of elegance. I think the other T/M, Tarasova and Morozov, have similar qualities except they are far less consistent. Maxim Trankov called them the last classic pair and, sadly, I would have to agree.

I liked their 2004 and 2005 LPs. Didn't like the Cotton club and West side story. It seems they tried different styles of music but finally found themselves in 2004. I had liked their SPs long before 2004. Peer Gynt was one of my favorites (non Olympic year).Their confidence in their sbs jumps was amazing. They could put those anywhere in their programs. Most pairs do those in the beginning. Same with the twist. TM1 did sbs triple jumps even in their exhibitions, where they didn't have to. After they turned pro, they really Grew as artists. I liked their Color of the night and many other pro programs.

What TM2 have over TM1 is Big elements- big twist, big throws, smooth complicated lifts, but less consistency.

 

[VGThuy]

I think the other T/M, Tarasova and Morozov, have similar qualities except they are far less consistent. Maxim Trankov called them the last classic pair and, sadly, I would have to agree.

Sadly, I have to agree too. Out of all the Russian pairs coming into Beijing, I rooted for T/M2 the most because I had this feeling that they were a dying breed. The last of the classic Russian pair.

 

[bardtoob]

Other: Ludmila Belousova

At 49 years old she was still doing overhead lifts and was a better dying swan on ice than Oksana Baiul.

Protopopov & Protopopov - 1984 World Pros, Pairs' Artistic Program

Landover, Maryland, USA - 1984 World Professional Figure Skating Championships, Pairs' Artistic Program - Ludmila and Oleg Protopopov finished in 2nd Place o...

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Ludmila had the most beautiful skating posture when at the height of her powers.

1965 European Championship Exhibition - Meditation from Thais

Legends of Soviet figure skating: Lyudmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov

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You decide which Moonlight Sonata was better, the one when she was about 35 or the one when she was about 50, both of which include a one arm overhead lift!

Ludmilla Belousova & Oleg Protopopov 1969 Europeans Exhibition

I'm posting in memory of Ludmilla Belousova, who passed away today - 29/09/17 aged 81. After their triumphant 1968 season winning the triple crown of figure ...

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Belousova Protopopov 1985"Moonlight Sonata" Worlds Pro AP

The legendary pair who has changed the world of figure skating -- turning it into the art rather the just sport. Not only did they develop their own exclusiv...

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[Fadeevfanboy]

Although she definitely isn't my favorite style wise I would probably go with Irina Rodnina. She isn't as beautiful on the ice as ladies like Wengjing Sui, Aliona Savchenko, Katia Gordeeva, Elena Berezhnaya, Ludmila Protoppopov, or even Tatiana Volosozhar, Xue Shen (post 2002), and Natalie Miskutienok, but she is a total bad ass, a machine in competition, an athletic dynamo ahead of her time, and in competition she was a killer in everyway. She had insane speed with whatever partner she was, was so precise in every move she made, and delivered the goods to win each time out without fail. I picture myself if I were competing, especialy as another women, and I would be terrified of competing against her. For that I pick her.

 

[Fadeevfanboy]

I remember commentators saying years ago that the Maoscow school is about technique, power, speed, and the St Petersburg school is about artistry, creativity.

Around 1997/1998 I remember Peter Carruther's comment on Berezhnaya-Sikharulidze. He said he thought he would never see the speed of RodNina Zaitsev but these two have it.

B&S were very fast in their early years together. They may have traded in a bit of the speed to create more complex programs. They were still very fast. I believe Elena had trained in the Moscow school early in her career. Also G&G had the speed and lightness.

If Elena B had the self confidence of Irina Rodnina, combined with more luck, they would have been unbeatable for a good decade or so.

Yes B/S were as fast as R/Z but doing it far more beautiful and easily. Although there was something oddly exciting about the way Irina (and her man) drove herself around the rink with such ferociousness, even though it wasn't elegant or pretty. It matched her personality and her intense drive to win.

 

[Japanfan]

I find it difficult to compare each of these skaters and determine a GOAT - the era and skating requirements that each woman competed in are so different. I dont think it's an apples to apples comparison.

ITA with this.

Also, it's important to keep in mind that being an excellent female pair partners partly depends on a lady being well matched with her male partner. I'm sure there are plenty of female pair skaters who would have better or worse with a different partner. From that POV, partner swapper (as has been done with the Chinese skaters) makes some sense.

 

[Vash01]

Evgenia Tarasova. I dont remember if I had listed her. Probably not because she didn't have the big titles (Still doesn't). She has beautiful positions in the lifts, posture, and her hand movements are very graceful In every move. She doesn't miss a detail. After her partner improved his hand movements, they started looking much better as a pair. Their SP and LP at the 2022 Olympics were gorgeous. She doesn't have the championships (world/Olympic) like some other ladies mentioned here, but she is one of the most beautiful pair skaters.

 

[Fadeevfanboy]

Evgenia Tarasova. I dont remember if I had listed her. Probably not because she didn't have the big titles (Still doesn't). She has beautiful positions in the lifts, posture, and her hand movements are very graceful In every move. She doesn't miss a detail. After her partner improved his hand movements, they started looking much better as a pair. Their SP and LP at the 2022 Olympics were gorgeous. She doesn't have the championships (world/Olympic) like some other ladies mentioned here, but she is one of the most beautiful pair skaters.

I agree. She is up there in pure skills. She is a bit fragile mentally in competition, which isn't true of most of these women who are mostly killers, but still wise she is right up there. Although come to think of it she is a lot tougher than given credit for too, and has really worked hard to improve on that.

 

[Vash01]

I agree. She is up there in pure skills. She is a bit fragile mentally in competition, which isn't true of most of these women who are mostly killers, but still wise she is right up there. Although come to think of it she is a lot tougher than given credit for too, and has really worked hard to improve on that.

She and her partner went through very tough times between 2018 and 2022. They had no stability in terms of coaches (except Max), had to leave Marina due to C19, could not find even a rink to practice on. They went to Eteri as the last resort.

Prior to the 2018 Olympics they were quite consistent. It must have taken tremendous strength of mind to overcome the difficulties and deliver her (their) best when it really mattered. They seemed to be getting there, judging from their European performances. I still didn't know what to expect in Beijing. It was a long and difficult journey that ended well, but they had to work really hard to overcome the obstacles.

 

[Fadeevfanboy]

Max is like a big brother to them. Such a great coach and great guy. I wish he didn't have so many family and personal commitments and could be even more commited to them, but he does the best he probably can. I think he has really helped with their confidence. He knows what it is like to have everyone doubting you so long and triumph in the end. He can relate to them.

 

[Fadeevfanboy]

She and her partner went through very tough times between 2018 and 2022. They had no stability in terms of coaches (except Max), had to leave Marina due to C19, could not find even a rink to practice on. They went to Eteri as the last resort.

Prior to the 2018 Olympics they were quite consistent. It must have taken tremendous strength of mind to overcome the difficulties and deliver her (their) best when it really mattered. They seemed to be getting there, judging from their European performances. I still didn't know what to expect in Beijing. It was a long and difficult journey that ended well, but they had to work really hard to overcome the obstacles.

It was also frustrating the Russian fed took so long to realize they were the best (really only) Russian hope for 2022. Volosozhar & Trankov were kind of difficult to read. Their comeback for the 2015-2016 season was alright, even if it didn't live up to many peoples hopes, but I could have seen them peaking again for 2018 had they stayed. Once she got pregnant though, it was clear they were now done for good.

Stolbova & Klimov already looked like the heir apparents for 2018, after their Olympic silver in 2014, but were clearly done already by the time of 2016 worlds. With his shoulder issues they couldn't even do a decent twist anymore. They had a great performance at the 2016 Grand Prix final which rose expectations for them again, but that was their last hurrah really. I think the worst thing that could happened was S&K having that great performance in beating World Champions Duhamel & Radford at the 2016 Grand Prix final, as it led to false hope they were still these big hopefuls for 2018, and too much support wasted on them until it was too late. Without that one off competition basically I think Russian fed would already have started embracing Tarasova & Morozov as Russian #1 at that point, which they needed, and Mozer making them her #1 and putting her most energy into them too. It must have been frustrating to be stuck behind a team who was basically already washed up.