It was a long wait last night but well worth it to have the chance to see both the ultimate Gold and Silver medallists skate their pair free programs.

The Pair event overall was on the weak side and filled with mistakes with the exception of one team who was flawless and another who was pretty darn close.

China's 2006 World champions, Qing Pang and Jian Tong were in fourth place heading into last night's competition and had the crowd on its' feet even before their music ended.  They won the free program and their first Olympic medal, a silver. 

Three-time world champions, two-time Olympic bronze and now Olympic champions from China, Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao seemed maybe a little cautious but were still strong enough to take the title.  They were sentimental favourites heading into the Olympics to be sure but I don't think anyone could have anticipated their command of the ice and their overall strength.  Putting Xue down in a lift early and having a slight bobble out of a jump were both Hongbo's errors but were not enough to compromise their almost 6 point advantage over Pang and Tong.  Their brilliant choreography supplied by Lori Nichol just sweetened their advantage.

The two-time World champions from Germany, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy earned the bronze and were what I would call OK.  Some mistakes; some highlights; not enough to have me really remember their Olympic program in the way I was hoping to. 

Canadian champions, Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison seemed a little off.  Not what you would call a bad skate but starting from 6th place after the short program meant they were going to have to hit one out of the park in order to have a chance at a medal and that didn't happen.

After a season's best score and a brilliant start to their Olympics in the short program, Canada's national silver medallists Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay also faltered in the free.

Pj's Podium Picks?

Shen/Zhao GOLD

Pang/Tong SILVER

Savchenko/Szolkowy BRONZE

Nailed it! :)

The Pairs took the ice last night  at the Pacific Colisuem and some of the results were totally expected and others were a complete surprise.

As I thought, China's Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao are in the lead with a season's best score for their performance.  It was classic Shen and Zhao in that the program was lyrical and joyful and although not perfect (she was a little wild on her landing from the throw - but still clean) they were pretty close.

Now for the surprises:

Canada's Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay looked in competition the same way that I had seen them in practice; namely confident, strong and fluid.  They delivered a season's best performance that earned them a score that was almost 10 points more than their previous one leaving them in 7th place.

China's Qing Pang and Jian Tong poured it on and delivered a truly memorable short program and for me was probably the 3rd best program of the night.  They sit in 4th place.

Germany's two-time and defending world champions were also spot on in a way that we haven't really seen them all season which put them in second place.

The Russian team of Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov are in third place and were very strong in a classical russian style.  Yuko has beautiful movement with her arms which enhanced The swan choreography to perfection.

Canada's champions started off very strongly and their program components scores and perseverance helped to offset the damage from a one point deduction resulting from a fall for Jessica on the side by side jumps.  They are in 6th place.

It will all come down to the free program which happens tonight and with only 2.5 points separating the top three teams it's will come down to the wire, literally as Shen and Zhao are the final skaters.

In seeing the field, I am still standing by my predictions:

Gold -     Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao                     CHN

Silver-    Qing Pang and Jian Tong                           CHN

Bronze - Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy - GER

We'll all know in about 12 hours.

Enjoy the skating!

For me, the real work of the Games starts in about 12 hours when the pairs take the oce for the short program.  All of the preparation for us is to be able to present all of the athletes' preparation to the best of their ability.

I have been at the venue numerous times since arriving over a week agao to go over details with Peter and Mario and Amanda  and Brian and Mike and as much as anything else I feel blessed to be part of such an amazing team. (These names are just a few of many...)

Josee Chouinard, two-time Olympian for figure skating is part of our team and we were talking yesterday and she said that as an athlete she had never really given any thought to anything about the Olympics outside of her own experience.  Being here and seeing things from a perspective that is different from her "athlete on the ice one" makes her treasure those memories of her Olympics even more.

The great thing about the figure skating event will no doubt be the skating.

I have seen most of the pair contenders in practice and have a couple of comments to offer:  I still stand by my original prediction that the tw0-time Olympic bronze medallists and three-time world champions form China, Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao will take the title.  Former world champions from China, Qing Pang and Jian Tong also looked in practice like they were ready to play.

Although I haven't seen the Russian teams I will say that the German two-time world champions, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy had moemnts of great speed in their practice but, honestly looked a little tight.  No doubt the pressure is excrutiating.  they have had a difficult season.  They do have an impressive technical arsenal which will have an impact on the field if they can produce it.

The Canadians are also looking good:  Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison drew me in once again with the emotionality and romance of their The way We Were free program and had a GREAT triple twist which is what they will need to do in order to land where they want to be.  Anabelle Langlois and Cody hay looked realaxed after side by side triple jumps and seemed happy and unfazed by being on the Olympic ice.

Am I excited?  You bet!

Well, I know  the Olympics are here because the talk of scandals has already started.

The Games haven't even begun which means that people don't have quite enough to do.

A case in point:

I was asked if I would be willing to comment about the surfacing of an email written by American Joe Inman to judging colleagues about judging what they see.at the Games.  Apparently, and I have not seen this myself, but Russian skater Evgeni Plushenko talked about his lack of transitions for both he and Brian Joubert and the fact that they get rewarded frequently in this area regardless.   Let me say first of all, both skaters do have transitions in their program, in my opinion they are simply weak but weak is still worth (some) points.

The brouhaha: Could this be the "priming of the pump" for North American skaters? 

Hmmm...let's think about this one.  Last time I looked, there were more than North American contenders in the men's event.  Names like Stephane Lambiel, Tomas Verner, Nobunari Oda, Samuel Contesti and Daisuke Takahashi to name a few in addition to the North American names of Abbott, Lysacek and Chan.

It is true that the technical elements are much easier to identify and therefore quantify and I think we would all agree that the judging of the technical side of skating has a high degree of accuracy.  The  five program component scores, which include the transitions score is definitely more difficult to judge and when you know how many things that a judge is trying to assess simultaneousy, you can really see why.  I have been watching skating a very long time and I can still sometimes get bamboozled by a lot of speed, technical prowess and execution and I know what I am looking at. The assessment of the PCS isn't perfect yet and I think that the powers that be realize this as there is a big push towards more education in exactly this area.

I think you can talk to anyone in any sport where human perspective is involved with all of the nerves and andrenaline associated with an event and then add on the necessity for immediate decisions and you will find a difference of opinion.

I wonder if hockey referees and short track referees have ever wondered if they made a weird call?  Bet they have.    I'll bet, if in their shoes, you might wonder too.

***A FLAT STANLEY OLYMPIC ADVENTURE****

Hi Kids!

This has been a very busy couple of days!

When I last wrote you...I told you that I was going to be able to go on a sleepover with my friend Gaston Bison and Monique.  As promised, I got to go to the Athlete's Village and hang around while Monique and Patrick "DJ Iree" Sweeney worked on the Team Welcome ceremonies.  This is a really cool tradition here in Vancouver where the arriving teams get welcomed officially into the athlete's village and you have to have a special pass to be there.  Pj hasn't even been there but I got to go!  
Everywhere I went I told people that I was representing 3 schools...and I told everyone about the banners I have with me as well...and hopefully I will get the chance to put them up some more places very soon!

I got to take a picture with an RCMP officer as well as my pals the mascots and then Monique, Gaston and I GOT TO MEET RICK HANSEN!!!  Check out our picture together :)  Mayor Hansen is one of the mayors of the athlete's village.  Pj was really jealous that she didn't get to meet the original man in motion!!

Tonight was a very special night because Pj and her team were given Opening Ceremonies' dress rehearsal tickets.  We had to be there an hour early and we were not allowed to take any cameras and we are not allowed to say anything about what we saw because it would ruin the surprise for this coming Friday when it all happens for real.

WOW!

There is nothing more that needs to be said!

A lot of proud Canadians in that venue tonight and we were right along with them.

Pj and I will be getting together with friends to watch the Opening Ceremonies and we both hope that you will get permission to watch as well on Friday.  You won't want to miss a minute!

Well, it's late here and Pj and I are both sleepy.  I will be back to you with more adventures very soon!

Bye for now!

Stanley and Pj