Olympics.com Series on Benoit Choreography

[TanithandBenFan]

Olympics.com is doing a five part series on Benoit Richaud choreographing various skaters’ programs for this season. The first part was just posted:

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/videos/ink-on-blades-making-olympic-figure-skating-program-episode-1

 

[Wyliefan]

They missed the opportunity to call it I N K O N B L A D E S

(No, I am never going to stop making that joke.)

 

[Rackon]

Part 1 has a fair amount of Adam, Zingnik, Miniki, Donovan and Brady. Happy me!

 

[ice coverage]

Olympics.com is doing a five part series on Benoit Richaud choreographing various skaters’ programs for this season. The first part was just posted:

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/videos/ink-on-blades-making-olympic-figure-skating-program-episode-1

The companion print piece for the first video had some additional details that I enjoyed reading:

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-...ure-skating-program-benoit-richaud-interviews (Oct 18)​

And as of today, the first video also can be viewed on official YouTube channels for Olympic Figure Skating and Olympics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwYbScdiIXQ​

I look forward to future installments of the series.

 

[ice coverage]

Second video in the series:

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/videos/ink-on-blades-music-movement-figure-skating-episode-2

Ink on Blades: Music and movement
It all starts with the music. In the second episode of "Ink on Blades" we explore the importance of music for figure skaters, how they select tracks for their programs and what the very first sessions of putting together Olympic choreography on ice look like.

The video is approx. seven minutes long.

 

[Tinycities]

I will say this series is really humanizing Benoit.

 

[ice coverage]

Third video in the series:

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/videos/ink-on-blades-storytelling-on-ice​

Ink on Blades: Storytelling on ice
Skate to heal, to connect, to entertain. Once on the ice, figure skaters cannot speak to tell their stories. Instead, they rely on their programs to speak for them. The third episode of "Ink on Blades" looks at the deeply personal stories behind the programs that skaters are bringing to the ice during the 2025-26 Olympic season and explores how choreography can often have a therapeutic effect.
(8:12)

Second video in the series:

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/videos/ink-on-blades-music-movement-figure-skating-episode-2

Ink on Blades: Music and movement
It all starts with the music. In the second episode of "Ink on Blades" we explore the importance of music for figure skaters, how they select tracks for their programs and what the very first sessions of putting together Olympic choreography on ice look like.

The video is approx. seven minutes long.

Another companion print piece with extra content. (I think it is intended to be an extension of the second video.)

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-...des-music-selection-figure-skating-interviews (Nov 5)​

 

[Kateri]

Third video in the series:

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/videos/ink-on-blades-storytelling-on-ice​

Ink on Blades: Storytelling on ice
Skate to heal, to connect, to entertain. Once on the ice, figure skaters cannot speak to tell their stories. Instead, they rely on their programs to speak for them. The third episode of "Ink on Blades" looks at the deeply personal stories behind the programs that skaters are bringing to the ice during the 2025-26 Olympic season and explores how choreography can often have a therapeutic effect.
(8:12)



Another companion print piece with extra content. (I think it is intended to be an extension of the second video.)

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-...des-music-selection-figure-skating-interviews (Nov 5)​

Thanks so much for posting when these go up, I'm really enjoying them!

 

[Sylvia]

Episode 4 of 5: https://www.olympics.com/en/video/ink-on-blades-skate-technical-artistic-elements-episode-4

Ink on Blades: Technical and artistic elements
Whether it's Axels or fingertips – every detail counts when it comes to figure skating programs. In the fourth episode of the “Ink on Blades” series, figure skaters take us through the strategies of adding technical and artistic elements into their Olympic season programs, and explain why looking effortless takes a lot of effort.

Also on YT - ep. 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV8uxblIHuo
Ep. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRDAaA6F6bU
Ep. 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVrTOHNM3M

And as of today, the first video also can be viewed on official YouTube channels for Olympic Figure Skating and Olympics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwYbScdiIXQ​

 

[LilJen]

Those were awesome.

 

[ice coverage]

Fifth and final video in the series:

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-...-blades-episode-5-costumes--finishing-touches​

Ink on Blades: Costumes and finishing touches - Episode 5
Before figure skaters make a single move on the ice, their costumes are already telling a story. To make sure it's the right one, costume designers spend hours doing sketches, picking out fabrics, and discussing their ideas with athletes. The fifth and final episode of "Ink on Blades" dives behind the scenes of such costume sessions with designer Sophie Thomas, choreographer Benoît Richaud, and the skaters themselves, exploring the emotions involved when programs finally come together.
(10:49)