Well, there will be lot more room at top after 2018 Olympics. Problem is couple's are retiring even now far earlier than they should, lots giving up faster than speeding bullet's, so who knows who will be left dancing at 2018/19 worlds?
Folks are also underestimating just how good W/P, G/P and even non Canadian dancer's like C/L are, likely because these teams did not make the finals. But I wonder if that has made them all just hungrier to win, since they are being forced to become even better, and much faster than they may have expected, simply to compete with the incomparable Scott and Tessa at home, and the less experienced but hugely talented French team internationally. Oh yeah let's not forget the mad politicking for all the American and Russian teams too, to stay in the mix!
However, IMO, instead of everyone giving up/whining at what they think is bad luck, insurmountable odds, all these other teams should quit wringing their hands and see this as huge motivation to grow their own scores mostly under the radar of expectation, and not view it as an obstacle to own success. Hey, even P/C should be thanking V/M because it's better to find out now that they still have some issues to work on when under pressure, and certainly pressure will be far more intense in Korea, something Scott and Tessa already know.
Success IS achieving PB scores, being the very best dancer you can be in the moment, great if that PB brings a medal, but honestly, isn't a great performance that is remembered/discussed by fans for years and by being the very best you can be when it counts, all noteworthy enough, till it's your own time to be in the spotlight and reap the rewards of all your hard work?
Teams currently in the shadows should try to remain patient and use this time to observe, to learn, improve, perfect and most importantly to grow their own fan bases, and reputation for excellence with the judges. Every team currently competing should all aspire to become as consistent under pressure as Scott and Tessa are. Talent, great programs, packaging or even great politicking is not always the primary factor of who wins gold medals and fan heart's, usually it is not always the very best skater's or dancer's who win gold, it's who delivers consistently day in and day out esp., when it counts under pressure and weight of expectation who usually takes home the gold.
Did we love Scott and Tessa any less when they came 2nd in Sochi, many folks thought it was a golden performance too, and honestly for me it was perhaps far more note worthy than even 2010 because they DID NOT GIVE UP even when momentum shifted to D/W and the Russians. Did they give in to subtle sabotage behind the scenes, health issues, program issues, etc.. NO, they just worked harder to be the best dancer's they could be under the crappy circumstances they found themselves in. They took the sow's ear of a program and they simply made it into a silk purse. They could have just done enough for a medal and skated off into the sunset, but no, they simply recognized what had to be done, what the expectations were, and then they just went and exceeded them. Just like they are doing all over again, no one would have faulted them for taking more time to get back on their game and into full out competitive form, but instead of accepting that the French were on top and likely to stay there, they simply got down to work again to become their best selves at this given point in time. But, you can bet money they have also taken note of where they can still improve and where/how to build toward Finland and Korea. I also expect them to up difficulty dramatically, so I also expect a bumpy ride while they perfect and cook things.
Others should take a page from their "never give up, never say die, always together" attitude, and just quit whining about how full the podium is looking and go to work, to be on it too, I say "dwell in possibility" for a change.
Some have been critical of Moir's competitive nature, I for one applaud it, and I also love his perfectionist nature and the fact he has been stepping into the spotlight more and more as a strong macho and more emotional partner for the lovely Tessa. I think he is quite motivated about now and dearly wants to compete for the implied "best male ice dancer" folks have currently awarded to Mr Cizeron, LOL!!! Hey, instead of giving up and skating for silver, the way the rest of the field has done, Tessa and Scott have come out guns blazing, using P/C as motivation to improve, to be their own best selves, in own evolving way, not as pale P/C imitations and not as an obstacle to their own goals.
As dance fans, we should be thanking V/M for giving everyone else the same opportunity, to get better, to evolve and grow, in order to stay relevant and hopefully to give us all the best possible ice dance event in the history of dance, come 2018 Olympics.
Perhaps Canada will have another Golden World/Olympic moment to cheer about and if W/P manage their own comeback as efficiently or G/P be able to ascend the ranks sooner rather than later, or if their successors also get the V/M memo, then Canada will be cheering for many cycles to come...
I said thanks to Scott in person at SCI, but after one of the best dance GPF event's I can remember, I just want to write it again here, THANKS for convincing Tessa to come back, and for both of you being courageous enough to deal with all the craziness, and the flame wars, the sacrifice's needed to be at your best, but most of all for giving ice dance a good kick in the pants and showing the young skater's what it takes to become and then to remain as ICONS and CHAMPIONS, even when things don't go to plan...I am in awe.
