Breaking with tradition on this here review, in that the event is starting at 0.45 Irish time, and I have not yet gone to bed. I have a day off tomorrow, so going to bed at five in the morning is no big deal. I say this now...talk to me again at three and four!

I must start this off with a totally off-topic story, so feel free to skip this paragraph should you wish to! I went into school today, and of course all the kids were up in arms over Valentine's Day. And one of the boys had got a card and brought it into school. He didn't know who it was from (although I'm pretty sure I recognised his mum's writing, but didn't want to tell him that) and all the girls in the class were being accused of having sent it, and he hadn't a clue who sent it, which was vexing him thoroughly. And they're eight and nine years old, so this is a big deal. Anyway, he took great delight in reading me some of the poems which were scattered here and there on the card....among them, the first one that he read out to me was as follows, that old favourite...."Postman, postman, don't be slow, Be like Elvis, Go man, go"

In light of the night's event, I thought it appropriate for sharing!

Now, on to the skating!

We miss the first two skaters Sergei Rylov AZE and Yosuke Takeuchi JPN

Dmitri Dmitrenko UKR

Black top and trousers avec tin foil....do you think he shared the roll with Abt?....first jump....triple toe....should've been quad....around for hte axel...double footed and pouts the triple toe on...into a little mini spin...and posing....and miming....lutz triple think the foot stayed off....very close though....camel spin...drop down in the knee....steps with much arm waving to the music....triple flip...turns going into it...steps..triple loop with a very high free leg coming out...flying sit....aaxel and ddouble footed again....into the triple sal....that was fine....spin where leg is at right angle and bent....around he goes.....spread eagle...that was nice...spiral steps....straight line steps....into camel to layback to half biellman change to scratch spin....and drums beat and hes done. Music was Meet Joe Black...and Barry thhinks this costume was much better than his short one....amen to that brother! lutz was df....both 3ax were too....

marks 4.4-4.8...4.4-5.1...he leads.

Min Zhang CHN
Black trousers. Red top. With black undershirt, the odd sparkle or seven, and we were doing fine till we got to the black gloves. Oh why oh why? he's going to try three quads....first to do so at Olys ...if he ulls it off...has to turn out of 3ax...free foot stayed off though....double 3turn at the end...quad sal clean!....one down....he's motoring around I must say....quad no 2...hand almost down on the toe, forward on landing but stayed off...flying camel...nice position on spin...slow part now....and he steps in a circle....sit change sit....fast spinner is he....is that that's amore????? quad toe triple toe and he raises his hands in fist.....historty is made! spread eagle...there's not much in between the elements mind....lutz triple with turn out and nearly hit the boardss...think the back end of his blade did!...round into the flying sit...and out and RObin thinks he's lost...missed trple from hitting wal...does a double flip...he's tired....no triple loop either, he didn't put it in at all...camel to layback to sit change sit....to scratch and he's done. leaning in air on first quad toe but he got it....lutz, yeah did hit the wall,,,turned out into it with the toe pick....

marks 4.8-5.5...music was Robin Hood sdtk....4.4-5.3...he leads.

Gheorghe Chiper ROM
Black shirt. Grey trousers. With black piping down the sides. starts with back to the judges....hands were joined as if in prayer for part of the choreography...triple flip triple toe....made it look easy!....aroudn he goes...axel tripel....pops lutz badly to single....camel spin and stops...mini spread... nice steps....well fitting with the music...which bangs suddenly to wake me up....fall out of triple axel, does double toe....flying sit....I notice much back crossovers and two foot skating in the footwork...triple sal.....to sit. to scratch spin....Robin bitches about the spins and lack of quality in general from all men so far...also notes that the choreography he's seen so far is distinctly junior...triple loop which he falls out of....steps to double flip....footwork....into a camel spin....with hop to sit.....and scratch....and he's done. He shakes the fist when he's done so he was happy with that....leaning in air on second triple axel....

marks 4.1-4.9...4.3-5.0...he's fourth.

Roman Skorniakov UZB

And this is me not saying a word. Zip goes the mouth. Which is a good thing considering that costume. Blue trousers. Dark blue. Shirt goes blue to white at the shoulders, all shades in between...deep v on the neck. And if I were his wife, I wouldn't have let him out of the house in it. But that's me. Nice flow on the ice, nice picking out nuances of music...triple axel....triple toe ...scratchy landing but clean on both....down for the triple flip triple toe....much better landings on both of those....and he gets the takeoff on the second triple axel all wrong and does one rotation....lutz...and he's down right in front of tatiana....oh dear....turns in the step sequence...camel spin...change to sit....little spreadeagle....longer spread....lovely position....and change of edge to inside eagle....some lovely moments in here....back spiral...loop...was clean and triple...into flying camel....nicely centred....not long spin though...he covers head and crouches...as music becomes more lyrical again....trple sal with real lean but kept it clean....into cross foot upright spin....circular step worthy of the name.....good changes of direction, nicely inc with the music...another jum opwhich I miss...but itwas triple ...camel to sit to half biellman change sit to scratch... and out of that and walk back and stand and take the applause....that was lovely that was. More complete program says Barry and oh, a big fat word to thta! Robin agrees that the choreography matched the flow of hte music....says hes loose in the arms on the take off of the jumpos.....Tatiana said something to him when he fell....she waves a salt lake bear in the kiss and cry...that's cute!

marks 4.6-5.1..awww...kiss in the k&c.....4.5-5.0...he's in third.

Stephane Lambiel SUI

Black bodysuit, yellow arm, and the yellow cuff on the opposite arm and the spidery red thing on the back. and the red back...did triple axel in warmup, has never done one in competition. 16 years old....from Geneva...Cirque du Soleil...one glove black one yellow....lutztriple...and shouldve been toe combo but no running edge ....flies around....if he's doing 3ax its next...and he's down on it....andaround he goes...triple flip with very low landing, touchdown...flying camel....and he travels a lot...mimes going up the rope...mimes tightrope with unbrella....tuens into triple loop, all with hand in holding the umbrella postiion.....triple flip triple toe.....steps...as a dah da dee dee soundtracj starts up...footwork.....lutz triple lutz and does the double toe...scratchy landing on lutz...spins...combo spin...and how he's doing that with his free leg I don't know but I'm aching looking at him! steps ...along the diagonal...and down he foes..tripel sal...into camel to sit with variation....change sit...also with variation....and out of that....and he walks along the ice...stars to flying sit...and out of that and into scratch spin...and you'd know he was Swiss by the last 30seconds! we see the axel again...landed sideways on the skate, too much overlean onthe ankle robin tells me...spins are spectacular...

marks 4.7-5.1..he claps, so he's happy with that...4.9-5.1...he leads.

Kevin van der Perren BEL

Navy velvet body suit...with sparkles on left hand side...I sing a verse of starry starry night....paint your palette blue and grey...dum de dum de dum de dum.... and I'm not going to say that I loved his short. No. I am zipped. 13th after short... lord that's skintight....well it is!...axel triple triple toe, and the smile on that! down the diagonal...lutz triple with triple toe....into triple loop....slow music now..around the ice in steps...builds speed....triple sal...flying camel....nice centreing on that...down the ice for the triple flip...no problems there....circular step...nice changes of edge and position...flyinf sit....layback...Robin says he could have more revs on flying spins...he stops ...turns aorund....do you think he heard him? slow part now...bluesy music....besti squat in there....lutz triple!...and he looks thrilled! double axel....camel to sit to layback...change sit....and up...and glide and he covers his face with his hands! no jumping up and down this time, troubled man by marvin gaye the music....but he's had a great olympics! yay! this zippy thing works! ssh....needs work on spins...jumps are great...in betweens aren't too bad either...

marks...5.0-5.3...consistent marking who'd'a thunk? 5.0-5.3...1st place and they're gone with him and good on them!

Vakhtang Murvanidze GEO

Vakhtang has robbed Gheorghe Chiper's I am your wine waiter for this evening how may I help you costume. I'm tempted to ask for a good program, but you know what that would do to him....so once more, I am zippy lippy girl. he's 18th after short . oh, look at the little dicky bow untied! starts off with axel tripel axel triple toe! axel not the best I will admit....flip and he falls out...and does double toe...camel spin...cahnge camel....and to the baords he goes....dances at the boards before straight line steps...which aren't....into triple flip? ....nicfe slide spiral...and cantilever spread....handdown on the triple loop...flying camel...stop...wave arms....and stop again....festure while turning soulfully....build up a bit of speed...axel and holy god the lean...down hardon side...not a hope....lutz triple....flying sit...stepsalong the diagonal....lots of little hops and leaps...triple sal....he looks pooped...great cantilever....camel to sit...change camel to sit....to cross foot......and he stretches out arms and is done. And he turns slowly looking up at heaven...music the Godfather....yeah, so maybe this zippy thing isn't working so good after all....no running edge from triple axel....too much rotation on lutz...

marks....4.4-4.9...4.7-5.2...he's 4th.

Yunfei Li CHN

And he's in a blue ensemble, with a deep v and a white tshirt underneath it...not a good look I would have said...there are sparkles on it....in a pattern which isn't so bad....lots of durms and alarm bells in the music...I get it! ...quad toe and hes down hard does double toe atthe end....too much flight into it...and hes down again on the triple axel...enver got off the ground....backcrossovers...lutz..and he's down again and he looks as if he's hurt...and he goes again and does the spin sit and the crowd are getting into it now in the steps....huge appluase....steps aren't half bad acutally ....and stop....doubles the sal....sit spin cahnge sit to shotgun...robin queries a reinjury of the tailbone....gets the triple loop and the crowd roar!...steps...spiral...spreadeagle....and he's down on the flip....camel flying....music speeds again....you can see that he's in pain....triple liutz and he pumps the arms! you can see waht that meant...camel to sit to y spin change sit..to scratch....and he's done. ...and a huge respsone...and he can't stand. he cannot stand. he takes his bows now, and some of them are standing up for him....and I knoew we're going to see those falls a gazillion times and I cna't take it! youch! the fall on the first lutz was really bad,,,Barry and I thought he was going to withdraw...three times the jacket also came open robin notes....

marks 3.9-4.6...was 14th .... 3.7-4.7...he's 7th

Sergei Davydov BLR

Colgate green jacket....my teeth feel cleaner just looking at him. Black tshirt underneath and black trousers. 15th after short. Zorro, Mask of....if I ever hear this music again...lots of little steps...arm thrusting on the music....axel down on triple....steps around and dow nthe diagonal....axel and down again worse that time....and he doubles the flip....steps...into flying camel....a little travel on that....and stop and mug and spin in front of the judges...and go again...lutz steps out of triple....loop double.....this is not good....loop...and he sits down on that one....camel t sit to layback change camel to sit to upright....around for thedouble sal....layback....to the boards....straight line step....well fit in with the castenets....calps hands....flying sit....around we go....circular step...he kneels and trns on the ice and he's done, arms thrust out...and that is not a happy camper there....these slomos are painful and hard to watch...of course that could just be fatigue....

marks 3.5-4.2...4.0-4.9...8th overall, 11th on the free.

Brian Joubert FRA

And if Vakhtang has raided Gheorghe's wardrobe, then Brian is raiding Yags', because darned if that's not the costume Yags wore when he won his first worlds in 98! Same white blouse, same navy waistcoat with sparkles. Matching trousers. 17th after short...big chance for him here...17 years old, bronze at Euros....know the music....turn out of quad....didn't put the foot down....mimes boxing....axel trple no combo...very low in the air it was...steps around..into flying sit....very fast and centred....triple flip ,scratchy lnading,,,music is the mission can't believe I didn't get that sooner...but I did before robin told me!...axel triple toe, with step out of toe, no running edge....axel was great....steps to sit spin...change sit...travel on the change.....sprial steps incl something that falls between a spread and ina bauer....theres a nice inside spread...to the boards....straight line step....nicely done...both blades both edges both direction...flying camel to sit....and march a little....and boucne a little....steps ...doubles the loop....loss of speed evident....lutz is next and he nails the triple!...down on the sal. leaning all over it...camel with travel to sit change sit and upright thing and he's done. And he can smile at that...nice expression on his face....and he mimes the set up for the sal again...crowd seemed to like him, and he encourages them to cheer more....quad was good...needed turn out....robin bemoans his lazy arms...hanging all over the place going into jumps...

marks 4.8-5.4....4.9-5.3 and he's second.

Ice resurface

We see the guys backstage in the warmup...and Elvis has just gone up to every guy, Michael Anthony and Ivan were the ones we saw, and he shook their hands and wished them luck....there's Anthony rubbing his hands over his face, and I know just how he feels...I'm doing it myself. When I'm not typing of course. But it's now 2.41, I've been up since eight this morning, no sleep and I'm wrecked. Of course, I'll be buzzing in a minute....Evelyn Kramer gives Anthony some advice...we see Michael staring into space.. yep, here come my nerves. A little late to the party, and I hope they've brought snacks....

And now they're on the ice...this is so not fun. So not fun. And there he is...our boy...and theres Todd doing a quad....and Micahel does triple with step out...one minute remaining...Anthony is flying....I just love him...but not too much, not until he's finished anyway....this is me still shutting up...and Elvis just did a quad triple! yay! we see the canadians in the crowd...and was that one from Anthony too? deep cleansing breaths....deep cleansing breaths....

and here we go.

Todd Eldredge USA

Black outift, sparkles here and there, classic Toddwear....and I find myself hoping, but not too loudly, that he does well. There's Kristi again, leading the cheers. And a little smile from Todd. And he takes his time and why not....come on now Todd...you can do it...who'd'thunk I'd ever write that????? quad will be first we think....no! down on it...made rotation didn't land it...come on now boy....robin says underrotated....come on now....axel triple axel triple toe.. good boy....lutz triple ... steps...nice steps....kneel on ice and turn...lordof the rings is I think the music...camel spin...change camel...perfect position...not sure if there was travel, bad angle for that....so much more in between the jumps than some we've seen...interp of the music...good....round we go building speed....triple loop triple toe....flyinf sit....travel but got it back....flip triple....dlying camel to sit and he didn't move in the sit....good speed too.....axel triple! yes! looked like he overbalance d nearlyon footwork...triple sal....steps....big high kick....split jump....into spin camel to sit change sit...and up to scratch spin...and hes done. Kristi claps, the crowd stands and I'm thrilled for him....no quad, but he got everything else...and he's near tears on the ice....that was great....we love you todd says the sign and they really do....but that was something that he can be proud of...and a nice moment with Elvis as they come off.....still wrapped when he did the ladning on the quad....

marks...5.3-5.6...what do you expect going this early? really? 5.5-5.8. he's first.

Elvis Stojko CAN

It's the Dragon outfit! The one that sparked a full blown obsession eight years ago....I'm getting weepy already....and strangely nauseous.....come on now...come on....takes Uschi's hands....and out he goes....deep cleansing breaths...deep cleansing breaths....i love this routine...have i mentioned? does it go without saying? quad to start...qwuad double! yes yes yes! come on now....round we go....yes! quad double toe double loop puts a turn on the end!!!! and I clap and I hope I didnt wake my mother....stops on the ice...and does nthe mimey martial arts thing as I try to remember how to type and breathe all at once...its hard you know....come on now.....lutz triple....steps....circular pattern....the flow of the routine is lovely....axel andhe steps out and does a double toe...flying camel.... short on rotation says robin....flip is clean....ahnd down on the loop...flying sit ...foot dfown on landing of flying spin....to the boards we go for the straight line step...uschi is bouncing...he jumps...come on now....sal triple is fine....butterflies.....sit spin....to upright change sit.....to scratch spin.....and he smiles....and hes done....and I'm not gong to cry I am no I am not.....ok so you knew that was a lie didn't you.....robin says content wise it wasn't close to Todd , quad aside....who knwos what the judges will do....and I'm totally biased and I have him in the lead but this is no surprise.....I expect him to be second though

marks 5.3-5.6...just shade Todd....bbut these will go down.... 5.3-5.6..he's second. 6/3 split (ger bul jpn)

Michael Weiss USA

Black pants...shirt that is purple velvet with patterns on it, black collar, and a very deep v which reveals more of the Weiss chest than anyone, except Lisa, really wants to see. And big ruffles on the ends of the sleeve. Which are black. The ruffle cuffs not the sleeves. 8th after short. classical something or other....mcuh swingging of the arms to start....qaud toe triple toe double loop....leaning on triple axel but held onto it....flying sit....scratchy landing on triple ax from horrible takeoff robin tells me.....turns to triple loop...and its doubled....flyinf sit....to upright....and stop...and little runs on the spot on the ice...around he goes....building speed....axel nad anoterh lean, gott it, triple toe loop long time after it it seems....circular step....fall off the end of triple flip...over rotated takeoff...spin as I realise the music is nessum dorma...which as its 3.15 here is appropriate.....footwork...much spirals. leg held in front of him....and back spiral....triple sal....kneels and slides on the ice....hold elgs in front of him again...lutz double footed.....goes into spin camel....to sit cahnge sit.....to scratch and he's done and he's happy and the crowd are delirious...standing O....I predict a second place for him, I just have a feeling...I would have him third, but I am biased and admit it....quad combo was great...slight touchdown on the final part? nearly had hand down on the triple axel....second one was under rotated but he was lucky....

marks audrey is on thephone...and now so is he to Lisa... 5.3-5.7...from USA and ROM...are the 7s..theres lisa in the stands . 5.3-5.7..and he's second....3 3rd, 2 2nd the rest first.

Frederic Dambier FRA

Cream shirt, black trousers. Classic and simple. One hand has a glove ,or did in warmup. Trousers have that leather look. Starts lying on the ice, resting on one hand....which might explain the need for glvoe ...St-Saens at the start going into Puccini....triple axel with screatchy landing, over the toe rake on that....inside spread....aroudn the houses...sal...and hands down and down on the sal....little spin from stag position...spin sit cahnge sit.....travelling....lots of back crossovers....axel triple double toe....very low on axel...trriple flip and hes down, snatched the takeoff....ciruclar step....nearly lost footing there....triple loop..flying sit...mad travel on it....stop and puase...short on rotation of spin robin says...blessed be he who can count and watch....I can ahrdly type nad watch, I'm not coutning too...lutz....double.... camle spin...again with the travel....ina bauer with straight back...into inside spread....spiral...into insidesrpead....loop triple....outside spread...triple toe...camel to sit...travel on teh cahnge hop to upright....and kneel on ice and he's done. Quality of last two triples not graet said Robin....quad was too far forward not relaxed enough in the knees which was his problem on a lot of the jumps....

marks 4.6-5.3...5.0-5.4...he's fourth.

Ivan Dinev BUL

Black trousers...green red and yellow top....it has a meaning, I'm sure. And it's not just a new brand of superhero....is it a bird is it a plane, no it's superskater! able to leap the boards in a single bound and influence the judges with his piercing glare....back of top is black pleather...with lattice laces on it. There are tassles around the waist. And wristbands on the sleeve. 12th after short. Stress injury in left foot...starts with mad amount of dancing....and arm waving...I think that might have been the hand jive....leaning on qaud does a teriple toe instead..more dancing...which might be Saturday Night actually.....flies to triple axel which is huge as is his flying sit which goes on forever.....lutz and he pops that to a asingle....slow part now...camel spin...change camel....travel on second...to upright.....and big long stop....and go along centre....and another stop with a rotation this time....triple axel triple toe....cantilever....robin remarks on the standing around....triple flip ahdn down....triple loop and again forwards with hand down....stands at boards and jumps uip and down...diagonal steps.....flying camel....to sit....o up right....and step dancing....lutz and he pops taht too...and he throw in a triple toe...and sit flying sit and another and he's done. He won't be too happy...and it seemed to me like he tried a huge amount of jumps, then had nothing in the middle, then more jumps then more nothing....Barry rips the music....Robin rips the costume and the music....not audience or judge friendly material he says/ "I'm sure that maybe in Bulgaria it was a huge hit" is the exact quote....miaow! Robin, you are so getting on my wavelength! I knew I liked you!

marks 4.7-5.4 ... 4.6-5.4...he's 6th

Anthony Liu AUS

White shirt...black waistcoat, high buttoned up...sparkles on it too....navy trousers. Robin thinks he's unfortunate after the quad to be 10th. I say Robin is my guru. (No disrespect to Simon and Chris) . I want to cheerlead for him, but you know that I won't until he's safely done, for I am unclean. A jinx I am, and I will not jinx him no sir not me. So I whisper rather than holler you go boy...and I wont join in the aussie aussie aussie chant. No sirree. Not me. Come onAnthony!!!! (I lied. I'm sorry!) I can't watch......quad....hand down! flew into it...anthony I'm so sorry! this is my fault....come on now (whisper) axel and he's down...I'm shutting up now...flying camel....great position and centre....lutz triple and triple toe that's more like it...spiral with bent leg....slow part of the music....aroudn to camel and upright and stop....steps ..doubles toe....still not saying a word....spiral.....spreadeagle....to inside....triple loop....sal triple ....goes to the boards.....striaght line steps.....flip come on .yes! scratchy landing but claen...camel to sit change camel to sit....and out....and along the ice to flying sit....and scratch..and he's done....and I apologise to him, to fans of his and to Australians everywhere and vow never to open my mouth again in support of a skater. He's kinda grimacing coming off there....and these slomos are not nice....triple lutz toe is the exception....like that....

marks 4.9-5.5...4.9-5.3..he's 4th. (from 4th to 10th on ordinals) 4th on free and overall.

So we have todd michael elvis and anthony are the top four.

And the next group on warm up.

I am not making predictions, I am not cheering for anyone. I am neutral.

Chengjiang Li CHN

Bluey grey and dark grey jumpsuit...there are sparkles on left shoulder...and going along the bakc...and yet it still manages to be dull dull dull. All grey dark is not good....quad toe triple toe which he flew into nearly ran out of rink on second one....uad sal...and he pops to double....flying camel....star wars phantom menace the music....axel and he pops that too to a single....and he stop....and music changes...steps .....lutz long set up and double...did something funnyi n the air..camel change camel....to upright....and he does this mimey pully up thing which looks odd....and steps which look odd...not sure about this....loop...triple and clean...squeaked it out...sprial and he pats his chest as if he's forgotten something...his jumps perhaps....second attempt at 3ax planned....and he gets it! camel to sit with major travel to upright change sit....and around...crossovers....sal triple .....and flying sit...travel again...three revs only....and he's done and he finished early. Clasps hands as if in prayer, but not much to shout about there really....couldn't sustain everything right the way through, and very little in between the jumps...sal didnt have right position on takeoff....bad toepick into takeoff for lutz and look at his legs in the air...they did something very odd there....

marks 5.2-5.5....4.9-5.4...he's fourth.

Takeshi Honda JPN

Wine/crimson blousy top...cinched at waist...black trousers...not disastrous! Final words from Doug....can you believe he's in second? Wed morning, I got a text message from my sis who didnt say up, with two words " Takeshi Honda????" So here we go and there he goes.. classical something....nice flow along the ice...3flipperfect! out of steps all one foot his left...quad coming up next...toe is first.....here wer go....and he steps out of it...too much effort...come on Takeshi....sal triple....could've been a quad....come ON Takeshi!. triple axel next... yes and double toe.....camel spin....hop to sit...travel and more travel....flying sit... and he glides and swallows hard and the music changes....axel clean and perfect...around we go now and the music builds up speed....flamenco tpe thing there and great expression to the music...triple loop.....spreadeagle...split jump...back spiral....glide....triple lutz....and into camel to sit to upright change camel to sit...little hop and spreadeagle...stars to flying sit....nice centre on that one....and spread circle to finish and he covers his face with his hands....and he's almost in tears....oh Takeshi.....oh my poor dear....first not to be affected by failure on quad says Barry....and he says it will threaten Todd that the whole package will do that..I don't know....good job says Doug.....kept hand off on quad.....axel the first was forward on landing....second was a beauty....footwork into triple lutz and flip were great too....good spins....Robin has him in front of Todd too...and I don't know!

marks 5.3-5.7...we've got a new laeder. oh yes we do. 5.5-5.8.....only one judge has him second from AUS

Evgeny Plushenko RUS

Yeeek! Black trousers and kind of tuxedo matador in Vegas effect on the top....red and black and sparkles and more sparkles....is that undershirt lilac? I know I said there was a lot of it in the pairs but yeesh! Tie is red and billowing....there's some kind of sashy thing....and a red cumberband with sparkles around it and tassles....gloves are grey...and the breastplate of the thing is reflective mottled mirrory silver....dear lord... Carmen isn't it? arm waving to the music....quad triple triple loop and stepped out of the loop...over rotated...and unnecessary says robin....quad and he gets that .... and he throws up the arms...and he's selling hte footwork now...triple axel half loop triple flip....and little inside spread...and look at that face, he's loving this.....crossovers....axel..and he gets thre triple....and stod at centre ice...and vamp a little ...ok a lot....steps littel steps a little spin more vamping.....and now he's moving again...at least there was no bumping and grinding ...triple lutz with arms going up on landing....triple axel from nowhre....flyingcamel....lots of rotation.....camel ...to changes ist to shot gun...not very high....robin callls it a waste from a position and rotation point of view....circular steps.....lots of speed....double sal....and glide...straight line step.....more arm waving to boom s on music...flying sit....four and a half rev on back sit....camel to sit...to biellman...........tha'ts got to hurt....sit spin again..and he's done with a smiel. And it was good, no bones about that. I question some of the in between pieces....didn't look like he was doing muchat times to me, but then, it's a new program and he's injured,. Fair play to him though because he came out and did it...Robin and Barry talk about the arrogance and Robin talks about the over the top choreography...also harps about rotation in the spins....leaning on the triple loop in the combo and was half rotation short. Will lead after this. On the free certainly. On the whole....jeanine does the maths...yes, in tie with Honda and winning because he's winning the free...I think...couting on fingers at 4.13 in the morning!

marks 5.7-5.9. (one of each the rest 8s) 5/7=5/9 (one 7, 2 9s) and he leads on long and overall.

cats! pigeons!

me shutting up!

Timothy Goebel USA

Classy....white shirt, black trousers, black waistcoat....there a dark blue sequined necktie but I can overlook that....and this crowd can overlook anything judging by that response....and good lord he's wearing some serious foundation...well, he is....steps to start...and the triple lutz from nowhere! and from steps also! quad sal to come...with triple toe! good boy! come on now...you can do it.....spread to trriple axel double toe.....sit spin....nicely centred change to camel...and upright....spread....lovely.....to inside....oh that's nice....toe quad...please. yhes!!!!! I'm putting away my pompoms really...fdlying camel....little eagle coming out of that.....looks so relaxed says Robin....steps sequence now....steps out of triple axel....the crowd and their oh!...camel to really low sit change camel to cross foot to out of that...ncie spin says Robin as do I.....music speeds again....turns quad sal!...steps circular....good boy good boy!....steps around.....triple flip...keep thinking! kneels and slides and spins...spread eagle.....steps....triple loop hydroblade into it and it's clean...flying spin.....this is great....scratch......that goes on and on and on...run....flying sit.......and hes' doneyes!!!!! pompoms are out! I am pumping arms like crazy and hoping that the bouncing up and down doesnt wake my parents and I cna't clap nad I really want to!!!!! that was great ! graet! and I kept my mouth shut and there's elvis clapping him! I kept my mouth shut and you see what happens? This happpens! And don't talk to me about the triple axel, that was fantastic! Has to be ahead of Plushy (a) on merit and (b) if he's not, the judges will never get out of there alive! oh I'm so happy happy happy now!!!! yay Timmy!

marks ....oh please....please.... and theres frank jumping up and down....go frank! 5.6-5.9....5.4-5.7...he's seocnd....no way. no way. two thirds.

I spoke too soon.

Alexander Abt RUS

He's got the greyish blue slashy blouse on, and the black trousers. and let me do my maths...he's too far behind isn't he? isn't he? rachmaninov....and he's down on the quad toe....triple axel triple toe....clean as you like...triple lutz with wild take off and turn on the end....camel spin.....nice position..change camel...I don't think he moved on that! steps along the ice....and turns along the ice....huge triple axel! that was awesome!...spread eagle....triple sal.... steps along the diagonal....flyin g camel with hop to flying sit....nice combination of spins says Robin...steps intrepeting the music....triple flip...is clean ....tight on landing....steps along the ice diagonal...triple loop....lunges and glides along the ice....flying camel....with harding variation...steps to triple toe???.....sit cahgne sit to scratch and he's done. he says he's retiring at the end of the year....have probably misidentified a couple of the jumps there...I'm quite pissed about Timmy actually.

Marks 5.1-5.7...5.5-5.8...he's 4th AUS has him second????? Hello?????????

Alexei Yagudin RUS
The black thing with the mask on it on the front...you all know what it looks like...and frankly it's his to lose, and I ain't shouting a thing after Timmy! Second is enough to win. Starts off with hands over face....manin the iron mask....love this music....quad to start..toe... and he doesit with a triple toe double loop! perfect! goodboy.....quad and he does it....and it's fine....he thought he needed it and the way judging is going why not...triple axel...flying camel hop to flying sit hop to hcange sit.....and she stops...leans back on cie , pulls himself up....around we go..triple sal....lutz from steps....loop.....and he stops...and the fast music...has bypassed a triple axel robin tells me.....cicrular step...and around he goes....triple flip with a little bit of a lean....just got it...sit change sit to shotgun....spreadeagle....slides on teh ice...and butterly int osit spin.....to the baords he goes ....striaght line steps...this is a case of sell baby sell.....come on now....camel spin to sit to layback change sit with variation to upright and he'd done. and he kneels down....and he kisses the ice. And the crowd stand to him....and not even I, not even I can jinx that one. and he's jumping! well done alexei well done. lovely picture there - him kneeling to his coach....RObin is looking for sixes....flip he landed right on the toe rake...didn't put the hand down though!

marks straight 5.9s! tech! and he's in tears....he's in tears.... 4 60s!!! the rest 59s! and they've got it right tonight says Barry!

well apart from the silver and bronze which should be reversed .

So top six - Yags, Plushy, Timmy, Takeshi, Abt, Todd.

Michael, Elvis, Chengjiang Li, Anthony, Dambier, Van Der Perren, Dinev, Joubrt, Lambiel, Min Zhang

there's timmy congratulating plushy...and he's coughing up a lung out there..bless him....first us mens medal at olympics since paul wylie....good lord there's a lot of hair on that medal bearers head....i'm just saying...and listen to this roar! and I'm so happy for him! And he gets on the wrong place on the podium....or did he? <jeanine arches an eyebrow> Nice shake of the hand from Plushy...and here's Yags....and he's just beaming....and he jumps up and down on the rostrum!

That's taht gang....and if you think I'm doing compulsory dances tomorrow, you'd be mistaken...next stop the original dance!