2026 Olys Pairs SP PBP - Veni, Vidi, Wedgie

[Allen]

At the Olympics you get a lot of non-skating fans who are just there for the experience. Even fans from countries that have no athletes competing at that session will bring along their flags and wave them.

Like the hot dad dancing in the aisle

 

[MacMadame]

I went to the Sambodromo to watch Samba teams compete during Carnaval last night. Butt cheeks are the norm now.

It's been the norm for a while now.

 

[overedge]

Olympic hockey used to be famous for NOT having fights, and for being much more about the skill of playing the game well than professional hockey was. Sigh.

 

[Allen]

Why is that kid not having Dad embarrassment? He's still young.

They are clearly not American, but I thought it was fun

 

[marbri]

OK, I'm starting to root against the brothers. I get that a lot of hockey fans are in it for the violence, but this is making me ACTIVELY root for anyone to beat them. Do they just randomly start fights with Canada? NINE SECONDS AND THEY'RE STARTING FIGHTS?!! Even in hockey, surely that's excessive.

If the fluff you are seeing is about Four Nations then yes, they pre-planned those in a group text message before the game. Happened 2-3 times in that game.

 

[rfisher]

They are clearly not American, but I thought it was fun

So did they.

My white puppy is outside sitting in the mud. It'll just have to dry and be dealt with later.

 

[overedge]

More unflattering photos on the entrance screens. Poor skaters.

 

[Allen]

Glad for Emily and Spencer to get this opportunity.

 

[skategal]

OK, I'm starting to root against the brothers. I get that a lot of hockey fans are in it for the violence, but this is making me ACTIVELY root for anyone to beat them. Do they just randomly start fights with Canada? NINE SECONDS AND THEY'RE STARTING FIGHTS?!! Even in hockey, surely that's excessive.

USA needs to beat Germany by 10 goals to finish first in their division ensuring easier matches in the crossover leading to the medal round.

Otherwise Canada finishes first in the division.

You could see anything happen.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Oh no, someone save Elmo from Tara and Johnny! PLEASE!

 

[LilJen]

Well, the Dutch were all “eh, let them wait for us. We ain’t running.”

My useful to nobody predictions for the American pairs: Chan/Howe, 13th, Danny/ellie will be 8th.

 

[OrioleBeagle]

I wonder how much NBC had to pay Disney for the Muppets appearance.

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

Is anyone surprised that Les Kovs warm up separately?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I think I need to go back over to the feed with no commentary and no fluff.

 

[Hindernisse]

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.

What you call generically Russian is music by an Armenian composer from his album “Ani” (named after the capital of the ancient Armenian kingdom). The track is dedicated to Artsakh, one of the regions of that kingdom (every track on the album is dedicated to one). The harmony of this music is as Armenian as it can get.

 

[Matryeshka]

Johnny looks like he's about to run down and do a Donovan-inspired Elvis program. Which, honestly, I'd be here for.

 

[Finnice]

I do.miss Alisa and Misha, but I hope they will slay in Prague. Howe chan do well.

 

[Sally1214]

It won't be after every group. They do it now so that there isn't an ice cut in between the final and penultimate groups.

Okay then .... so we're throwing the big "penultimate" word around this early in the competition, are we? Okey-dokey, I'll find a way to work it into the conversation before the day ends.

 

[Bill Trenary]

The resurfacing and warm-ups take AGES

 

[MacMadame]

Okay then .... so we're throwing the big "penultimate" word around this early in the competition, are we? Okey-dokey, I'll find a way to work it into the conversation before the day ends.

Some of us did use that word before Chris.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Is anyone surprised that Les Kovs warm up separately?

Is that a sign of true love?

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

Combinatorially speaking, with the possible exception of Nagaoka/Morigichi, costume wize we could make 7 pairs out of this group.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Is there really no former Pairs skater out there who could provide expert commentary for Pairs events? Not one?

 

[Amy L]

Probiotic Pepsi?? People are just putting all sorts of words together now.

 

[skatingguy]

Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev
Coach: B. Massot
Music: Une vie d'amour by Mireille Mathieu, Charles Aznavour

First Olympic appearance with a best finish of 6th in Team Event in 2026 in Milano Cortina. Three World Championships participation(S) with a best result of 8th in Pair Sakting in 2022. Finished 6th in Pair Skating in the 2023 European Championships.

Short Program
PB: 64.28
SB: 64.28

 

[overedge]

Oh nooooo CBC please don't do a "curse of Ilia" by hyping Deanna and Max.....

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

The resurfacing and warm-ups take AGES

In the last 45 minutes we have seen seven minutes of figure skating and the rest fluff.

 

[Sally1214]

Johnny looks like he's about to run down and do a Donovan-inspired Elvis program. Which, honestly, I'd be here for.

This makes me SO glad that I am recording the NBC coverage. I just have to see what Johnny is wearing every day.

 

[Amy L]

Is there really no former Pairs skater out there who could provide expert commentary for Pairs events? Not one?

KMT is quite good but she just had a baby.

 

[peibeck]

Oh no, someone save Elmo from Tara and Johnny! PLEASE!

I see I'm not missing much on the venue feed.