Happy Thursday! Our second throwback event is the 2002 Olympics pairs short and long programs, recommended by several people on Twitter. Our judges will be looking at the top 5 finishers.
The ISU and International Olympic committees controversially awarded two gold medals during this event. The Russian team of Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze won the first, despite making a small mistake, while Salé and Pelletier of Canada, who were cleaner with slightly less difficulty, were awarded the second after a French judge admitted that she had been pressured into voting for the Russians (before retracting that statement almost immediately). Our judges this week will tell us who they believe really won Olympic gold!
While our judges review this event, the ISU Congress is meeting in Dubrovnik. They will elect a new president, and Didier Gailhaguet, who was suspended for three years in the wake of this scandal, is running. The ISU also just overturned the anonymity in judging put into place in the wake of 2002 to stop cheating (although it certainly didn't stop cries of fixed results at the 2014 Games in both dance and ladies). It remains to be seen how fully transparent judging will look under the IJS.
The ISU and International Olympic committees controversially awarded two gold medals during this event. The Russian team of Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze won the first, despite making a small mistake, while Salé and Pelletier of Canada, who were cleaner with slightly less difficulty, were awarded the second after a French judge admitted that she had been pressured into voting for the Russians (before retracting that statement almost immediately). Our judges this week will tell us who they believe really won Olympic gold!
While our judges review this event, the ISU Congress is meeting in Dubrovnik. They will elect a new president, and Didier Gailhaguet, who was suspended for three years in the wake of this scandal, is running. The ISU also just overturned the anonymity in judging put into place in the wake of 2002 to stop cheating (although it certainly didn't stop cries of fixed results at the 2014 Games in both dance and ladies). It remains to be seen how fully transparent judging will look under the IJS.
All ten skates are available in the playlist above if you'd like to remember some of the drama from Salt Lake. Last week I claimed Lillehamer wasn't the typical Olympics, but I retract that statement - there's controversy every year!
Here are our judges!
Emmy (@ach_nein)
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Viktoria Helgesson FS Euros 2012/Viktoria Helgesson SP Euros 2015/Viktoria Helgesson's whole career
Keira (@keirailene_) | Tumblr
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? There are so many... the first two that come to mind are Akiko Suzuki's FS at NHK Trophy 2012 and Weaver/Poje's FD from the 2015 World Championships!!
Meghan (@DadeMeghan) | Figuratively Speaking
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? The fact that Michelle Kwan did not win the 1998 Olympics is still a major tragedy that haunts me.
Shannon (@gameofspirals)
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Mao Asada's Sochi free skate, Adam Rippon's short program at '15 Nationals
There are still 1-2 spots left in this event - if you're interested in judging, leave a comment or shoot over an email!
And don't forget to come back next week to find out what our judges thought of the pairs event at the 2002 Olympics! If you'd like to join our next event, sign up to be a judge! If you have any ideas for fun off-season activities, shoot over an email or send them through Facebook and Twitter.
To keep up with our judges, subscribe to our Twitter list and follow The Judges' Table on Facebook and Twitter. And check out the updated Judges' Page to quickly find all of our judges online.
Here are our judges!
Emmy (@ach_nein)
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Viktoria Helgesson FS Euros 2012/Viktoria Helgesson SP Euros 2015/Viktoria Helgesson's whole career
Keira (@keirailene_) | Tumblr
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? There are so many... the first two that come to mind are Akiko Suzuki's FS at NHK Trophy 2012 and Weaver/Poje's FD from the 2015 World Championships!!
Meghan (@DadeMeghan) | Figuratively Speaking
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? The fact that Michelle Kwan did not win the 1998 Olympics is still a major tragedy that haunts me.
Shannon (@gameofspirals)
What's your favorite grossly underscored skate of the last five years? Mao Asada's Sochi free skate, Adam Rippon's short program at '15 Nationals
There are still 1-2 spots left in this event - if you're interested in judging, leave a comment or shoot over an email!
And don't forget to come back next week to find out what our judges thought of the pairs event at the 2002 Olympics! If you'd like to join our next event, sign up to be a judge! If you have any ideas for fun off-season activities, shoot over an email or send them through Facebook and Twitter.
To keep up with our judges, subscribe to our Twitter list and follow The Judges' Table on Facebook and Twitter. And check out the updated Judges' Page to quickly find all of our judges online.
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