2026 Olys Pairs SP PBP - Veni, Vidi, Wedgie

[Karen-W]

I just checked and only 16 qualify... There are not even 20! Everyone should... then again the first group of pairs free is scary, so maybe is not that unfair

Nah, the only team in this field that is scary in the lifts are the Georgians and they're in the last group.

 

[skategal]

Starting off good with group 1 featuring some excellent teams.

 

[peibeck]

Jackie Wong previewed the Pairs on Peacock's Gold Zone Day 9 at 12:30 pm ET; Ashley Wagner is previewing now on USA Network.

I'm so happy that Jackie's love and dedication to the sport is taking him so far!

 

[ilovepaydays]

Shouldn’t they at least be warming up right now? I understand the need for a preview but I want to see what they are doing on the ice. Sorry Ashley!

 

[Amy L]

I just checked and only 16 qualify... There are not even 20! Everyone should... then again the first group of pairs free is scary, so maybe is not that unfair

Not in this competition. There's Sui/Han and the Armenians are a decent Russian team who switched so they have a lower world standing.

 

[Hedwig]

Shouldn’t they at least be warming up right now? I understand the need for a preview but I want to see what they are doing on the ice. Sorry Ashley!

they are! Watching them right now.

 

[Citlali]

Shouldn’t they at least be warming up right now? I understand the need for a preview but I want to see what they are doing on the ice. Sorry Ashley!

In the Latin-American feed, they are warming up

 

[Lizziebeth]

Shouldn’t they at least be warming up right now? I understand the need for a preview but I want to see what they are doing on the ice. Sorry Ashley!

venue feed is showing the warmup, but for a few commercials

 

[Aceon6]

Planning my strategy for the resurface after 3 teams.

 

[MacMadame]

DH just called up the broadcast on the hospital TV. I had to politely tell him that I had a perfectly fine Venue Feed on my tablet. He’s silently relieved.

That's sweet of him though.

 

[skatingguy]

Karina Akopova/Nikita Rakhmanin
Coach: F. Klimov, S. Dmitri
Music: Music by Ara Gevorkian

First Olympic appearance.

Short Program
PB: 65.20
SB: 65.20

 

[peibeck]

I hope everyone goes clean, no scary lifts or botched jump landings. And only tears of JOY.

Was there an exorcism in the arena?

 

[Finnice]

Hello everyone! I am so exited of my favourite dispicline!

 

[ilovepaydays]

It feels so weird for Sui & Han to be in the first group.

 

[MacMadame]

Not in this competition. There's Sui/Han and the Armenians are a decent Russian team who switched so they have a lower world standing.

Those people are all getting to the FS though. It's the 4 that won't qualify that people are worried about being scary in the FS.

 

[floridaice]

So glad Karina and Nikita are here

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

So are we all emotionally ready for this?

 

[floridaice]

Beautiful throw 3 Lutz

 

[Braulio]

Very good start technically speaking of the competition, the rusmenians are well matched and have flair, speed and ice coverage

I remember this music with Elene Gedevanishvili

 

[MacMadame]

So are we all emotionally ready for this?

No.

 

[ilovepaydays]

So are we all emotionally ready for this?

Never.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Cool death spiral!

 

[Nadin]

Wow, great start from the Armenians. Well done!

 

[skatingguy]

Karina Akopova/Nikita Rakhmanin
Coach: F. Klimov, S. Dmitri
Music: Music by Ara Gevorkian

Triple Twist 3
Throw 3Lz
3S
Reverse Lasso Lift 4 (3 after review)
Step Sequence 3
Back Inside Death Spiral 4 (3 after review)
Change Foot Combo Spin 3

Strong start to the competition.

Q SP: 66.27 = 1st Place

 

[peibeck]

So I'm guessing these two are actually Russians representing Armenia?

 

[allezfred]

If this is a reflection of the standard of skating we’re going to get this evening, we’re in for a good night!

 

[JoannaLouise]

I love the split jump entry into the death spiral

 

[Karen-W]

Alrighty then! Let's get this going!

Akopova/Rakhmanin - 3tw high & beautiful; throw 3z - gorgeous; SBS 3s - nice; this music is just so generically Russian; lift - very smooth; step seq - decent; BIDS - really neat leap from her into it & well done; SBS spins - sooooo-close together; bit of unison issue on the 2nd position, but really good otherwise.

That's a high bar that they've set for the rest of the field.

 

[Lara]

Not too surprising from them but very nice start!

 

[Hedwig]

that was really good.

not sure if S/H can top that

or anyone else for quite a while indeed