Olympics are Here! Let's Celebrate with Ten of Coach Becky's Favorite Olympic Programs.

For anyone who meets me or knows me, knows that I live for the Olympics and especially the figure skating competitions. I remember as a kid being allowed to stay up and watch the competition and sleeping in the living room in sleeping bags. As I learned about skating and coaching in school, I studied the past programs and what was great about them. Here are my top 10 programs from the Olympics. These programs span all disciplines, years and are just my opinion.

1. Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean (Great Britain) - Ice Dance - 1984:

   Torvill and Dean's most recognizable program is to Bolero. They skated to this in their free dance in the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics. The concept was original and had not been seen previously. Torvill portrayed the matador's cap with their skills and movements representing it while Dean portrayed the matador. This program also pushed the boundaries of music start times because the rule at the time was the program began when when a blade touched the ice. The pair used 18 seconds of the beginning of the program to set the story of the cap without a blade touching the ice. This was groundbreaking and changed the rules of ice dance going forward. Click here to watch the Youtube video from Olympics of Torvill and Dean's Bolero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNCSij0hUp8&t=101s

2. Michelle Kwan (USA)- Women's Singles - 2002:

   Ask any figure skater who they think is the greatest female skater and they will probably mention Michelle Kwan. Michelle was one my skating idols. All of Michelle's programs are iconic for many reasons however, her exhibition number to "Fields of Gold" is a favorite. Michelle performed this program at the last Olympics she attended in Salt Lake City. Michelle was never an Olympic Gold Medalist, she won a silver and a bronze. I feel this program shows Michelle Kwan's love and passion for the sport. Click here to see a Youtube video of Fields of Gold from Olympics channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKi_wHwImL0

3. Nancy Kerrigan (USA) - Women's Singles - 1994 :

   As I mentioned in my last blog Nancy Kerrigan's performance in 1994 inspired my skating career. This performance wrapped up the Nancy Kerrigan v. Tonya Harding scandal that increased figure skating viewership during the 1994 Liilihammer Games. Nancy placed second behind Oksana Baiul but I think winning the silver medal definitely felt like watching her redemption story. To watch the Youtube video of her Long Program from the Olympic Channel, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV-SfAOmI1M&t=24s

   
   

4. Yuna Kim (Korea)- Women's Singles - 2010:

   In Vancouver, Yuna Kim skated her Free skate program to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. This program showed Yuna's ability to meld the techincal skills together with the artistry. When watching the program feels light and airy. To watch Yuna Kim's program from the Olympic Channel, click here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoMkWIA2jVY&t=310s

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6. Jamie Sale and David Pelletier - (Canada) - Pairs - 2002

   It may seem obvious to skating fans why I listed this team on my list. Their performances were entangled in a scandal that would change the figure skating judging system going forward. However, this is only one reason why I choose their long program for my list. Jamie and David skated to the Love Story theme. Their skating technicality was on point and their chemistry added to the performance. Keeping their skating costumes to a simple gray and black palate I felt showcased their technical skills without distraction. Originally the Russian pair was ranked 1st place (due to judging politics) with Sale and Pelletier in 2nd place. After further investigation of the scandal and consideration from the International Skating Union (ISU), awarded both teams a gold medal. To watch Sale and Pelletier's Love Story free skate, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR1eILXRJjY ( Figure Skating).

   
   

7. Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov - (USSR) - Pairs- 1988

   The 1988 Calgary Games was the first Olympics for the pairs team of Gordeeva and Grinkov. In the figure skating world Gordeeva and Grinkov are well known and loved. Their love story was inspiring and heartbreaking. The pair married and had a daughter but Sergei died in 1995 of a heart attack when he was only 28 years old. In their first Olympic performance, viewers got to see their technical ability, artistry and chemistry. The free program was to Italian Symphony. To watch their chemistry in the program, click here to watch the link from The Skating Session .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3fM87cxquM&list=PL3GrmHTVfIs8rKOciKlzxgpyGyh2CCKri

7. Brian Boitano - (USA) - Men's Singles - 1988

   The men's competition in Calgary 1988 was called the "Battle of the Brian's" because of the competition between Brian Boitano and Brian Orser. I am focusing on Brian Boitano. Brian skated to Neapolitan and embodied the character throughout. This program also showcased Brian's signature moves, the spread eagle and the "Tano lutz (one arm over the head) To watch Brian's signature moves, click on the link from YouTube and 3Axel1996 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8p3EhqI94s&t=198s

   
   

8. Stephane Lambiel (Switzerland) - Men's Singles- 2006

   The 2006 Olympics in Turino, Italy was the first Olympics to use the new judging system created after the 2002 Olympic judging scandal. The IJS or International Judging System created as a way to decrease a chance of a judge ranking a skater higher or lower for political gain for their governing body. I was in college and was learning it in my Figure Skating Science classes alongside coaches.

   
   

   Stephane Lambiel was able to create a performance that not only had the jumps and spins, but also the steps and footwork which made a complete program. His Zebra print costume added some piazza to his Four Seasons program. Today Stephane is now a coach. To see the full package of jumps, spins, footwork and artistry of Stephane, click here for a video from Olympics Figure Skating Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8p3EhqI94s&t=190s .

   
   

9. Surya Bonalia- (France) - Women's Singles - 1998

   Surya Bonalia is very athletic and did not fit the normal figure skating image of thin and graceful that was popular at the time. She was stong, athletic and powerful. During her competitive career she also considered a rebel and was scored lower than her competitiors. She pushed back against the system during the time speaking out about the the judging discrepancies. During the 1998 Olympics Games, judges scored her lower than her competitors. She performed for the crowd by executing her signature backflip landing on one foot. The backflip was an illegal element in skating at the time. She wasn't performing for the judges during this performance but for herself and the audience.

   
   

   Today she is coaching in the United States To watch her crowd pleasing performance, click the link from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mreoWzjej8k

   
   

10. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir - (Canada) - Ice Dance - 2010

    Tessa and Scott are an ice dance pair who I feel are known for their Latin dance programs. I have enjoyed all their programs from their Spanish Flamanco program to Hip Hip Chin Chin and finally their performance to the Roxanne Tango from Moulin Rouge. After the Moulin Rouge program many people questioned whether the pair was a couple off the ice because of the intense chemistry they showed on the ice. Roxanne was very sharp , full of tango choreography and step and the Come What May portion was romantic and soft. To watch one of their best Latin ice dance programs, view the video of Tango Roxanne from their Moulin Rouge from Olympics and Olympic Figure Skating Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOEKdWrtz6U&t=137s

BONUS: I can't end this blog post without mentioning the 1948 and 1952 Men's Olympic Champion who opened many avenues for skaters today, Dick Button. During his Olympic games, the events were held outside on ponds and lakes. He created many of the elements such as the camel spin that are still performed in skating programs today. He later returned the Olympic Games as a commentator. Dick Button, I feel was the true Olympian.

Photo courtesy of the TODAY Show

 I am excited to see TEAM USA honor the Olympic Motto of Faster, Higher Stronger in Milan and Cortina. Feel free to share your favorite Olympic memories, athletes and performances in the chat section! GO TEAM USA!!!!!!