Memorable Pairs Short Programs in the Olympics

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Vash01

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I thought about many pairs performances in the Olympics that were memorable to me, so I made a list of short programs only. Here are 15 of those (not necessarily in order, but the first 6 are definitely in the order I liked them). I am sure there are many that I am forgetting, and I didn't look at anything before 1988. The 1988 Olympics made me a fan of pairs skating.

1.Berezhnaya Sikharulidze Lady Caliph 2002- This was poetry, and I saw it live, in SLC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAJUcgMZMO4

2. Volosozhar Trankov Masquerade waltz 2014- Awesome skate! The best Masquerade waltz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8t1F9TtOsc

3.Gordeeva Grinkov 94 Flamenko: Despite a small mistake, they were clearly the best

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKmA08l__Y

4.Totmianina Marinin- Snow storm 2006- I loved their crisp, clean movements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgyDlHDMWXk

5.Mishkutenok Dmitriev 92 - Don Quixote: After watching both 92 and 94, I decided that the 92 skate was better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUTg6MlqvHY

6. G&G 1988 (Carmen)- Even at such a young age, they were perfect!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXthZ7UECc

7.Shishkova-Naumov 92 - Take Five- First time I saw them skate and I loved this program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tUeEcE7_Bk

8.Savchenko Szolkowy 2010 (Send in the clowns)- Always original

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcuddZ9E9Ls

9.Brasseur –Eisler 94- Hungarian dance (?)- Isabel was injured but they delivered

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2BQ8y8x1cs

10. Kovarikova Novotny 92 – I loved their style and her posture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDp91b1PGYU

11. Stolbova- Klimov 2014 (Surrender)- They established themselves at these Olympics as one of the top pairs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg-p_vemC4k

12.Kawaguchi Smirnov- 2010 The swan-( After so many sacrifices Yuko was able to skate in the Olympics, and they were Russia's top pair)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRCmRT3FoMA

13. Shen & Zhao 2002 (Kismet) (This was better than their 2010 SP, IMO, and I saw it live, in SLC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Qt0-uxWWo

14.Savchenko-Szolkowy 2014 (Pink Panther)- I loved her pink costume and they did have big elements (despite Aliona’s complaints later)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z39oW1DdZms

15.Inoue-Baldwin: 2006 (Landed the throw 3A in the SP! That took guts. They were underscored perhaps, but they did only sbs 2A; may be that’s why?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QCbAYc2GSg

Carry on.
 
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clairecloutier

clairecloutier

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Yes, great list. I'd move some of the rankings around a bit, but they're all great programs.

I agree that Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze's Lady Caliph SP is probably the most beautiful Olympic pairs SP ever.

But Gordeeva/Grinkov's 1994 flamenco SP is the one I personally love the most, and have re-watched the most often. I found that program so exciting. G/G's speed, precision, line, and unison were just incredible, especially after several years off. I think hardly any other pair could've skated that program as well as G/G did, which is what made it special. That, plus the tension of the moment.
 
clairecloutier

clairecloutier

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Messages
14,559
clairecloutier said:
But Gordeeva/Grinkov's 1994 flamenco SP is the one I personally love the most, and have re-watched the most often. I found that program so exciting. G/G's speed, precision, line, and unison were just incredible, especially after several years off. I think hardly any other pair could've skated that program as well as G/G did, which is what made it special. That, plus the tension of the moment.
Click to expand...


Here's another video of G/G's 1994 Olympic SP (without the NBC fluff piece): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG3ZEzVqAh8

I just watched it again. :) Another thing that amazes me in this program is Sergei's posture--so straight, so elegant. Note how he maintains that straight back in the death spiral, even. I must say that, offhand, I can't think of a male pairs skater today who could match Grinkov's elegance and carriage. Most, even at the top level, do not come close.

Another thing I really like about this flamenco program is that it's not particularly "audience-friendly" music--no big climactic flourishes, no recognizable melody--yet it was perfect for G/G, and their skating was so superb that the audience couldn't help but applaud even the spin elements. The music choice was distinctive, interesting, even a bit daring--particularly for a team that was coming off a 2-year break. (And it's exactly what we're not seeing in most of the music choices this Oly season.)
 
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briancoogaert

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Jeschke said:
While the program itself is kinda good,the thread is about OLYMPIC short programs and to be honest, their outing in torino was kinda cautious and far away from flawless. So though I loved them so much, I think this one does not belong in that list.
but thanks god we all have different opinions!
Click to expand...
That's why I posted the European version, so much better than the Olympics one.
But it really was a top program choreographically at the Olympics, too bad they didn't perform it as well as they could :(
 
W

whiteskates

Well-Known Member
Messages
453
clairecloutier said:
Here's another video of G/G's 1994 Olympic SP (without the NBC fluff piece): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG3ZEzVqAh8

I just watched it again. :) Another thing that amazes me in this program is Sergei's posture--so straight, so elegant. Note how he maintains that straight back in the death spiral, even. I must say that, offhand, I can't think of a male pairs skater today who could match Grinkov's elegance and carriage. Most, even at the top level, do not come close.
Click to expand...

I would say that for posture and elegance, Sikharulidze was just as good or at least came very close to Grinkov.
 
bardtoob

bardtoob

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Vash01 said:
I couldn't find an LP for Belousova-Protopopovs; just LP. Did they not have SP in the Olympics those days?
Click to expand...

The Pairs SP has been part of ISU competition since 1964, but started in Olympic competition in 1968 ... So in theory, there are Belusova and Protopopov SPs out there.
 
L

liv

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2,041
Of G/G's programs it would have to be 1988. It was so fast, so perfect... every element was perfect. I watched the whole competition and when they came on it was so beyond everyone else...

1994 was good too, but they did it better at Euros and SC.

Mishkuteniuk and Dmitriev
Berezhnaia Sikharulidze in 2002
Kovarikova Novotny

Those top my list.
 
V

Vash01

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nguyhm said:
For me Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze's Lady Caliph is the greatest Olympic pairs SP of all time. Perfection - speed, beautiful lines, wonderful choreography - iconic.
Click to expand...

I remember being very nervous before they skated. I couldn't help thinking about their mistake in 1998. When they finished, I was ecstatic.

It was an amazing skate. The speed and power was there, but it was also delicate, creative and emotional. That's a rare combination. Every element was done extremely well. I alwayes loved their throw triple loop after the spiral. Their BIDS was criticized earlier in the season but at the Olympics even Sandra said it was well done. Anton had the best posture and lines, very reminiscent of Sergei Grinkov (I think it was Peggy or Dick who had said that earlier), but with more raw emotion. They deserved higher marks for that skate.
 
Skate Talker

Skate Talker

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1992 Albertville - Christine "Tuffy" Hough & Doug Ladret (CAN)

Canadian version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tcXnHHG7Ec
US version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc6GEZnpQ9s

Just re-watched this one last night with my aunt. Not top of the line difficulty but what a performance. Just listen to the audience reactions during the skate, and in response to the marks. Imo, this is the skate that won them their pro contract with Scott Hamilton and Stars on Ice.
 
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B

blue_idealist

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Skate Talker said:
1992 Albertville - Christine "Tuffy" Hough & Doug Ladret (CAN)

Canadian version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tcXnHHG7Ec
US version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc6GEZnpQ9s

Just re-watched this one last night with my aunt. Not top of the line difficulty but what a performance. Just listen to the audience reactions during the skate, and in response to the marks. Imo, this is the skate that won them their pro contract with Scott Hamilton and Stars on Ice.
Click to expand...

I had never seen this. Thanks for sharing!
 
3

3T3T

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265
That's a great selection of short programmes. The Lady Caliph from B/S is a real benchmark of pairs skating, I know they skated very early in SLC but to think that programme only got one 5.9 for presentation is crazy, I had would've given a 6.0. An amazing skate from two amazing skaters.

One other programme I would like to add is Petrova/Tikhonov from Torino, I have often watched this programme over the years. I know they might not be everyone's favourite pair but I always enjoyed them, I would've love to seem them get an Olympic medal but they didn't do well in the Free but the door was open for them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iI1x5H6m5E

I had never heard of Hough/Ladret but that was a great performance, she didn't seem like the strongest jumper but really caught your attention with their presentation
 
V

Vash01

Fan of Yuzuru, T&M, P&C
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Skate Talker said:
1992 Albertville - Christine "Tuffy" Hough & Doug Ladret (CAN)

Canadian version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tcXnHHG7Ec
US version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc6GEZnpQ9s

Just re-watched this one last night with my aunt. Not top of the line difficulty but what a performance. Just listen to the audience reactions during the skate, and in response to the marks. Imo, this is the skate that won them their pro contract with Scott Hamilton and Stars on Ice.
Click to expand...

An interesting tidbit. Hough and Ladret skated as the 'Russian pair' in the movie 'The cutting edge'. She wore a wig.
 
Limonite

Limonite

Active Member
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Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze's 2002 Lady Caliph is my favorite short program; I love the entire performance but my favorite part is the end: the pairs spin leading into the final pose, so sublime and emotional.

Another short program that I love is Mishkutenok & Dmitriev's Don Quixote short from the 1992 Olympics. Great music, choreography (LOVE the footwork), and costumes. They used the same ones for the 1994 Olympics, but Natalia's skirt was modified; I think she wanted to make sure her butt was covered in case she got another wedgie :D.
 
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Bellanca

Bellanca

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Vash01 said:
I thought about many pairs performances in the Olympics that were memorable to me, so I made a list of short programs only. Here are 15 of those (not necessarily in order, but the first 6 are definitely in the order I liked them). I am sure there are many that I am forgetting, and I didn't look at anything before 1988. The 1988 Olympics made me a fan of pairs skating.

1.Berezhnaya Sikharulidze Lady Caliph 2002- This was poetry, and I saw it live, in SLC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAJUcgMZMO4

2. Volosozhar Trankov Masquerade waltz 2014- Awesome skate! The best Masquerade waltz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8t1F9TtOsc

3.Gordeeva Grinkov 94 Flamenko: Despite a small mistake, they were clearly the best

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKmA08l__Y

4.Totmianina Marinin- Snow storm 2006- I loved their crisp, clean movements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgyDlHDMWXk

5.Mishkutenok Dmitriev 92 - Don Quixote: After watching both 92 and 94, I decided that the 92 skate was better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUTg6MlqvHY

6. G&G 1988 (Carmen)- Even at such a young age, they were perfect!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXthZ7UECc

7.Shishkova-Naumov 92 - Take Five- First time I saw them skate and I loved this program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tUeEcE7_Bk

8.Savchenko Szolkowy 2010 (Send in the clowns)- Always original

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcuddZ9E9Ls

9.Brasseur –Eisler 94- Hungarian dance (?)- Isabel was injured but they delivered

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2BQ8y8x1cs

10. Kovarikova Novotny 92 – I loved their style and her posture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDp91b1PGYU

11. Stolbova- Klimov 2014 (Surrender)- They established themselves at these Olympics as one of the top pairs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg-p_vemC4k

12.Kawaguchi Smirnov- 2010 The swan-( After so many sacrifices Yuko was able to skate in the Olympics, and they were Russia's top pair)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRCmRT3FoMA

13. Shen & Zhao 2002 (Kismet) (This was better than their 2010 SP, IMO, and I saw it live, in SLC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Qt0-uxWWo

14.Savchenko-Szolkowy 2014 (Pink Panther)- I loved her pink costume and they did have big elements (despite Aliona’s complaints later)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z39oW1DdZms

15.Inoue-Baldwin: 2006 (Landed the throw 3A in the SP! That took guts. They were underscored perhaps, but they did only sbs 2A; may be that’s why?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QCbAYc2GSg

Carry on.
Click to expand...
Thoughtful and well done, @Vash01. This is a great list! You've mentioned a few teams that might not be on everyone's radar screen right now, but are definitely worthy of recognition.
 
V

Vash01

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Totmianina and Marinin in 2002- Salt Lake City:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M48vVdYUjrQ

As usual, very clean technique.

Zhang & Zhang, at age 17 (2002 Olympics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGM-bEWlXUk

They were unpolished but they seemed to have promise for the future. I don't think they really lived up to it, though they did win an Olympic silver medal in 2006 (it was controversial, and IMO a gift by the judges). Now he Zhang is still competing, with a much younger partner and will be in the 2018 Olympics. That's 16 years!
 
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W

whiteskates

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Messages
453
Vash01 said:
Totmianina and Marinin in 2002- Salt Lake City:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M48vVdYUjrQ

As usual, very clean technique.

Zhang & Zhang, at age 17 (2002 Olympics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGM-bEWlXUk

They were unpolished but they seemed to have promise for the future. Now he Zhang is still competing, with a much younger partner and will be in the 2018 Olympics. That's 16 years!
Click to expand...

Just like Aljona Savchenko. 2002 was her first Olympics (with Stanislav Morozov). i admire such strength and persistency.
 
V

Vash01

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Why did this thread get moved to OTBT? This should be in Trash can. That's where it was started and I don't understand how it got moved here. This us figure skating discussion. Admins can you please help?

ETA - I see this is back here. In the mean time I had sent a PM to an admin. A similar thing happened to the Essential Ice dance thread. What's going on? A glitch?
 
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