Which Ice Dance Teams Will Be In The 2018 Olympic Podium? (PREDICTIONS)

[skatingguy]

This whole Team competition before the main one is bollocks, IMO. How hard it is to schedule after the individual competitions?

I don't know. If I'm a skater involved in the Olympic Team event, I think having the team before the individual event should be seen as a way to skate on Olympic ice in an event that isn't as crucial as my individual event. Kostner is the example, I think, for how the team event before the individual could work in your favour. I wonder if skating her short program when it didn't matter how she skated, cause Italy wasn't in the medal hunt, allowed her to relax and have a good skate on Olympic ice. With that team event short program skate she was able to put to rest the demons of her previous Olympic performances and she was able to skater free through the rest of the competition. Of course, you could also point to Lipnitskaya as having the opposite issue where her performance in the team event suddenly put her in the spot light going into the Ladies event in a way that wouldn't have happened otherwise. I could also argue that Sotnikova benefited from not doing the team event because the focus and pressure was off her and squarely on Lipnitskaya going into the Ladies event.

 

[Willin]

With the team competition before the main competition you also see the argument that skaters get too tired in the team competition to do well in the main competition.

Obviously it didn't affect the pairs/dance that much, but certainly singles skaters were messed up by it. Plushenko withdrew altogether after the team event. Lipnitskaya was dealing with a lot of pressure and attention from the team event, which has been blamed for her poor performance in the ladies event. Others blamed the team event for the messy men's event.

TBH, I don't know what's to blame, but I know I'd rather have this after the individual events. While it won't affect the dance standings, it could affect the other standings. I also see the team event as something of little to no consequence in the grand scheme of things - yes, technically the athletes on the podium are "Olympic medalists," but how many of them do we really see that way? I see this event like the World Team Trophy - a fun, lower stress competition where athletes can wind down after a long and stressful season - so I don't see why it's before the other competitions.

 

[ninalovesskating]

With the team competition before the main competition you also see the argument that skaters get too tired in the team competition to do well in the main competition.

Obviously it didn't affect the pairs/dance that much, but certainly singles skaters were messed up by it. Plushenko withdrew altogether after the team event. Lipnitskaya was dealing with a lot of pressure and attention from the team event, which has been blamed for her poor performance in the ladies event. Others blamed the team event for the messy men's event.

TBH, I don't know what's to blame, but I know I'd rather have this after the individual events. While it won't affect the dance standings, it could affect the other standings. I also see the team event as something of little to no consequence in the grand scheme of things - yes, technically the athletes on the podium are "Olympic medalists," but how many of them do we really see that way? I see this event like the World Team Trophy - a fun, lower stress competition where athletes can wind down after a long and stressful season - so I don't see why it's before the other competitions.

I like it better that the team event is before the individual...mainly because I wouldn't want retiring skaters to be remembered for their performance in the team event because that was their last one...It's not a good way to end one's career...

 

[starrynight]

This whole Team competition before the main one is bollocks, IMO. How hard it is to schedule after the individual competitions?

Although I wonder if the Team Event might lose momentum if it was after the individual skates. Would some skaters take the event seriously or even want to risk competing if they had their individual medals safely tucked away? Although I suppose it could be an opportunity for a redemption skate for some. But for others it would be a tiring and demoralising ordeal to turn up for a second helping after the exhaustion of the individual events.

 

[Amantide]

Although I wonder if the Team Event might lose momentum if it was after the individual skates. Would some skaters take the event seriously or even want to risk competing if they had their individual medals safely tucked away? Although I suppose it could be an opportunity for a redemption skate for some. But for others it would be a tiring and demoralising ordeal to turn up for a second helping after the exhaustion of the individual events.

I think they will. For those who have already won it's a good opportunity to win another medal. Yes, it is not the same as an individual medal, but that doesn't change if they skate before the individual event. Besides, another Oly medal is nothing to sneeze at. Plus, as you said, it is a god opportunity for a "redemption" for other skaters.

 

[Spun Silver]

I wouldn't want retiring skaters to be remembered for their performance in the team event because that was their last one...It's not a good way to end one's career...

Why?

 

[Amantide]

Yulia is still remembered for her performance in the team event. Despite failing in her individual competition.
The Olympic channel has that routine post on their channel and it has millions of views. People remember a great performance. No matter in which event happens or whether it was their last or 5th.

 

[DreamSkates]

I voted P/C, V/M simply because their scores are consistently above all others, and hopefully Shib Sibs will work their tails off and earn that bronze placement.

 

[ninalovesskating]

Why?

I feel like retiring skaters should end it with their own note. It wouldn't be as personal if their last competitive skate is at the team event.

 

[Spun Silver]

I feel like retiring skaters should end it with their own note. It wouldn't be as personal if their last competitive skate is at the team event.

Interesting. But if they can win a team medal even if they can't get an individual one, they could retire as an Olympic medalist, like Jeremy Abbott. I would think he is happy to have it -- he put it in his Instagram bio.

I think we are all still getting used to the whole team medal thing but I think it the long run it will be more of a big deal. It's enormous in gymnastics. Who doesn't remember Kerri Strug? They are still making Olympic commercials about her.

 

[nuge]

Love the optimistic people voting S/B I would love that result!
You never know.If S/B first win silver at Euros

 

[ninalovesskating]

Love the optimistic people voting S/B I would love that result!
You never know.If S/B first win silver at Euros

Hey, it could happen

 

[berthesghost]

Wasn’t plushy’s last skate winning the LP and helping secure the gold for Russia in Russia at the team event? This is what people are calling a bad last impression to leave? I don’t think so.

 

[skatingguy]

Wasn’t plushy’s last skate winning the LP and helping secure the gold for Russia in Russia at the team event? This is what people are calling a bad last impression to leave? I don’t think so.

I think technically his last skate was the warm-up for the men's short program where he appeared to aggravate his longstanding back injury, and was forced to withdraw. I don't know that that left a bad impression with anyone but it was an unfortunate for a champion like Plushenko to end his career.