Not sure if you know or not, but the main story thus far is the horror of
Obertas and Palamarchuk. You guys know I love this pair, and aside from a
pesky single axel from her, I was celebrating with thirty seconds to go.

You know what happens when I celebrate.

He had her in a lift, caught an edge, he flew up in the air, literally,
landed bang on the ice, she of course had nowhere to go, and her leg landed
on his head. He was out on his feet and the wonderful french doctors decided
he should walk off the ice. Julia came straight off sobbing into the arms of
the coach. He's gone to hospital for a checkup.

Then Sargeant and Wirtz came out. Another Jeanine favourite, another
disaster.

It was obvious from the outset that Kris' heart wasn't in it. She doubled
the toe, he stepped out of a triple,, when they did a single twist, they
stopped, and asked for a reskate. Which was denied. They had to come out,
pick up the music, and their first element was the very lift that O&P fell
on. THey did well though and only stepped out of the throw 2a

They're in second behind Scott and Dulebohn

Second last group on now

Totmianina and Marinin
Clean on the sals.....she has a nice pink dress on, he's in a tux type
thing....almost lost her on the triple twist...nearly a lateral! Clean onthe
throw 3loop....very Kazakova and Dmitriev posey movements then.......lift,
.....nothing special although that's good right now.....triple toe double
toe combination.....death spiral very low and very nice....lift....athrow 3
sal and she was very low on the landing! Bechke and Petrov type death
spiral....side by side spins very nice....spiral......pairs spins....and
they're behind the music at the end. Simon is already raving...Rachmaninov
Variations on a Theme of Paganini, and the audience is quite quiet....very
subdued at the moment, as am I! Higher thought processes are not my friend!
Are they ever, I hear you ask??
Marks 5.4-5.6 / 5.3-5.5....Americans have them in second....national bias I
hear you say Simon???

there's Julia backstage the poor kiddy

Schwartz and Muller
Patch Adams and I love this routine! The cuteness! Not sure about her dress
though.....and she falls on the triple twist and I'm shutting up
now....clean on the triple toes,.....upside down lift......he jumped before
her on the 2a and she fell out of hers....I just wish they'd skate this
clean...Mirko reassures her just before the throw sal and it's clean, nice
spins....throw 2a.....perfect! Well, a skitty landing, bu t clea ....lift
with changes of position....very nice, and this is great!!! Death
spiral...b/outside, not too bad....and there's the cuteness...she doubled
the next jump not sure bout him....and he vaught an edge on the lift there.
she has her hips too far back. so it just went up and down but no
big....nice s/s spins....spiral step sequence.....and the geatsaiocht at the
end is lovely! (Geatsaiocht by the way, is an Irish word, it takes into
account miming and facial expressions and body movements and all that stuff,
and now you know why I use the Irish and confuse you all. If you know the
word in English ,tell me!) And she shakes her head...she's not happy. Simon
says there is rumours of a split here.....he thinks the performance will
hasten it. Just seen the lift agian, and he did well. A disaster averted and
no mistake about it.
Makrs 5.0-5.3 and they are third....on the night second overall....5.3-5.6


theres Sarah and Stephane backstage...they will skate.....

Zagorska and Siudek
And thank you God the Colgate green ugly costumes are gone! Noe it's nice
purpley cerisey velvety things! YAY!!! New World Symphony, Dvorak......clea
nthrow 2a to start, so high!! clean onthe 3toe......he took the 3turn
wide!.......split3twist and it was perfect .....she singles her axel.....s/s
spins and nice timing.....lift with upside down entry great!!! liift with
Meno Sand dismount also perfect. although we're all skittish on lifts! Death
spiral where she has a great position and he started in a spread eagle....as
the music goes into the Hovis add, they do some natty graceful
movements....throw3sal and her hands are down and she was leaning all the
way in that one, I thought we'd see a pratfall......spiral step sequence
into a small lift......lift with somersaul entry....their signature
really,,, Shishkova and Naumov used the same one....death spiral....pairs
spins......lift and I cringe!! But unnecessarily, and they're done and
finally the crowd come into it! They really loved it, and that has lifted
them from their stupor.......and Simon is mystified, and the man is giving
me a headache! Chris says second, behind the Russians as does Simon.....I
liked that ,and I'm with the crowd here, I prefer it to the Russians but I'm
me myself... what more can I say??? Chris and Simon are also wigging on the
lifts which makes me feel better
Marks 5.5-5.8 and S&C are surprised, as are Z&S,.......5.5-5.7...all
firsts.....


theres Sarah again.....

Ina and Zimmerman
In 6th place....pale ivory velvet.....phantom of the opera....the dress and
colour isn't disastrous on her, it does nothing for him......what is with
her hair?? and SHE steps out of the toe...John was perfect......split
3twist.....and he catches an edge on the 2ax and down he goes....gets up
quickly....nice secure steady lift, with a spin out...clean throw
3sal.....Music of the Night....s/s spins nicely timed.......she doubles the
toe...think he did too so that was intentional....lift......with chnge of
position....matching besit squats.....clean throw 3loop.....spirals and
spreadeagles.....natalia death spin....lift.....death spiral.....and they
are done.....
Marks....5.2-5.6 / third on the night.....and overall......5.3-5.7

resurface

Abitbol and Bernadis
And they look good, even with his arm injury.....and she got rid of the
trousers from Europeans and she almost looks angelic! He still looks fine
and the crowd just adore them! You should hear the applause....it must be
heard to be believed! Angel and Devil......you could hear a pin drop.....and
the crowd clap.....3toes yes clean, and he was a little off axis but he
pulled it back....2a 2t......huge split 3twist.....throw
2ax.....lift.....the next throw is next......triple loop....not just yet, we
get dancey moves first.....oh no! down on the loop! and it was
bad.....lift......spiral into death spiral.....straight line step.....s/s
spins.....lift......;oft death spiral with her in besti squat ugly move if
ever there was....pairs spins and she stabs him! Can't wait to see the irony
on that! And they are done! Simon and Chris didn't speak for the entire last
two minutes and Stephane is crying oh bless him........that was great! Such
a shame about the fall but the artistry was fantastic....can't do
more....fair play to him. Fair play to him!! That took guts!
Marks....5.6-5.7.....5.6-5.8
In first at the moment

Petrova and Tikhonov
And he still needs to do something with those costumes...more of his chest
than I ever wanted to see, and if I see this Vivaldi ever again it will be
too soon! triple toes....and clean, although she looks skitty on the
landing.....clean onthe axel....another jumps and she was again funny on the
landing....triple twist.....clean throw triple sal, and it was a
beauty.....lift....with a forward backward flip out.....another
lift.....slow piece.....death spiral....nice arch of the
back.....spreadeagle from him spiral form her, and then both.....throw
triple toe and she was a bit late getting the leeg back but she held
it...another lift....and the Vivaldi we all know...s/s spins....death
spiral....straight line step.....and they are done! And the crowd seemed to
like that too....and they are happy....and why shouldn't they be?? It just
might do it, they are in second after the short....
Marks.....5.7-5.8/ 5.7-5.8 USa and Canada in second ...surprise surprise!!

Shen and Zhao.
Ugly green...ugly ugly ugly.....Spirit of Spring......he steps out of the
double axel...perfect triple toes.....triple twist.......huge....throw
triple loop.....lift......was that a botched dismount.....triple
toes.....although I think one of them doubled out....lift.....and she steps
out of the throw salchow and thats a mistake on the psins and the gold
gone....pairs spins.....spirals.....death spiral, nice and low.....and
striaght into half of another one.....steps, steps and the unison could be
better.....lift....and they're done....was it that good Simon asks? And I
don't think it was and the door is open for Jamie and David....that won't
get the gold....and I have my honest doubts if it'd even hold off the
french......she singled the axel.......not getting much luck on the
replays....not on the night says Chris.....
Marks....5,7-5.8 oh my ...USa and Can in first.....5.7-5.8 they're second oh
my oh my


Sale and Pelletier
The door is open.
Love Story.....she double foots the toe....got it all wrong and landed
forwards.....lift.....split tiplr twist perfect.....throw 3sal
next....clean! and he has such a nice spreadeagle.......and she singles the
axel......and they have to be careful because the french are strong behind
them lift, nice and she singles the second axel and the spins are
good....can this keep them in the bronze postion........back entry into
death spiral position of which is great.......and hers' the
artistry....throw triple loop clean as a whistle....spiral......oh this is
lovely.....lift.....lovely lovely lovely......death spiral.....great
position from her.......spins to finish.....oh I loved it! I really did,
but I don't think that it's gong to be good enough.....I think they're in
fourth.....just too many mistakes, and she must be devastated....the throws
were fantastic.....and I just shouldn't predict greatness for anyone ever!
Although even by my standards this is one hell of a disaster of a
night......
Marks....and Jamie is crying...she can't look.....5.4-5.6 and the french
know and jamie is inconsolable...the american has them in first can in
second....5.7-5.9,,,,they are fourth....and the american and canadian are
going to have to do some serious writing..........

and look at sarah!! and there's stephane hugging her!!! and they're both
crying and there's david crying too.....

Petrova and Tikhonov
Shen and Zhao
Abitobl and Bernadis

Oh I wish you guys could see this.....they were so so so happy.......and
Stepahne can't stop crying and while I'm so thriled for them Jamie is just
gutted....and so is Xue Shen.....she's crying on Zhao's shoulder.....Simon
and Chris say it's either a drink or alie down...I'm thinking both sound
pretty good right now!

The podium…..

You guys should see Sarah and Stephane....I mean it, they are just sobbing,
both of them....to do so much after such an ordeal.....oh, well done them

We've just heard that Dmitry Palamarchuk is in hospital...apparently he lost
conciousness for five minutes...

We've seen Sophie Moniotte in the stands, sitting beside Sergei Bubka.
Prince Albert of Monaco and Eric Millot are also around the place.

And here's the presentation committee...and they're showing the podium.
Yay!! And now I wish I were there, I really do!

And here's Petrova and Tikhonov....funny, they were almost forgotten after
all the kerfuffle over the bronze! They really do deserve it, I must
say...even with a dodgy costume!! Shen and Zhao are being announced
now.....how must they be feeling? She's putting a brave face on it but it
must hurt...

Waiting for the noise on this one.........

The roof might not stay on......and he's almost gone again...ok no almost
about it....she's coping well....and they go and stand in front of the
french....and he can't stop crying, although he's stopped sobbing....as the
crowd bang their feet onthe floor.....you should ***hear**** the booing of
the judges here.....maybe they think the french should have won....you've
got to feel for Maria and Alexei.....they've both come a long way too. you
tend to forget that. Poor Xue Shen...and the crows cheer again....if I
didn't feel so bad for them and Jamie and David, I'd be thrilled.....first
French medals since 1932.......Sarah Abitbol has a lovely smile you know. We
don't see it often enough. Them is one big bunch of flowers that she has
there.....the crowd boos again, and Stephane puts his fingers to his lips to
shush the crowd....now that's something! Simon says I'm glad I don't have to
write about it...can you imagine condensing that into 500 words?? I feel his
pain!!!

Crying?? Who's crying? I'm not crying.......