2022 Winter Olympics - Beijing, China - February 7-10 - Figure Skating (AFTER the team event)

[Elizabeth]

Once the team event is completed, the Olympic skating competition will begin with the Men's SP on Tuesday morning Beijing time/Monday evening Eastern Time. The start order for the Men's SP is now posted along with the detailed time schedule. Links are here:
https://results.isu.org/results/season2 ... /index.htm

Note that there will only be 24 of the 30 men going through to the free skate which will take place Wednesday evening Eastern Time.

[Elizabeth]

If you have ever looked at Jackie Wong's "play by play" notes on rockerskating.com or his tweets on Twitter, you may have wondered about his "shorthand" - here is his explanation FYI:

[Elizabeth]

Some good news - this morning I saw video of Keegan actually practicing on Olympic ice

Some sad news - Vincent Zhou, who contributed to the US silver medal in the team event, was not able to be part of the souvenir or medal ceremonies, and has now had to withdraw from the individual event due to a positive COVID test. You might want to have some tissues ready before watching his Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZrh0jbgDYU/

[happyheini]

A whole box of Kleenex, Elizabeth. It shows how mentally strong these athletes are, not only physically.

[Kevin]

Some sad news - Vincent Zhou, who contributed to the US silver medal in the team event, was not able to be part of the souvenir or medal ceremonies, and has now had to withdraw from the individual event due to a positive COVID test. You might want to have some tissues ready before watching his Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZrh0jbgDYU/

The very concerning thing about this is that everyone there is supposed to be clear before leaving, and before arriving, so the environment is safe from covid. If it's spreading through athletes once they have been in Beijing for some time, then that means it's on the ground and running. Not to be a downer, but I'm now very concerned about the whole American team who was seated with him during the competition in such close proximity. I'm afraid he's not going to be the last athlete we see being forced to withdraw at the last minute, or even mid competition. So upsetting.

[Elizabeth]

Some sad news - Vincent Zhou, who contributed to the US silver medal in the team event, was not able to be part of the souvenir or medal ceremonies, and has now had to withdraw from the individual event due to a positive COVID test. You might want to have some tissues ready before watching his Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZrh0jbgDYU/

The very concerning thing about this is that everyone there is supposed to be clear before leaving, and before arriving, so the environment is safe from covid. If it's spreading through athletes once they have been in Beijing for some time, then that means it's on the ground and running. Not to be a downer, but I'm now very concerned about the whole American team who was seated with him during the competition in such close proximity. I'm afraid he's not going to be the last athlete we see being forced to withdraw at the last minute, or even mid competition. So upsetting.

I agree, Kevin, in his video Vincent talks about all the precautions he has taken (and the toll on him). I trust that the US authorities are being super vigilant. I wonder, for example, who Vincent's room-mate was...

[Elizabeth]

Meanwhile, photographic proof that Keegan was able to practice in Beijing today

[Elizabeth]

To watch the Men's SP tonight there is a dedicated CBC Gem link for the live stream (with the international commentary): https://gem.cbc.ca/live/1992993859955
It appears that the TV coverage will be on TSN, beginning at 8 p.m. ET

In addition to the usual ISU page linked in my first post for the start order and results, there is an Olympics site. For the Men tonight see: https://olympics.com/beijing-2022/olymp ... 00100-.htm

[Elizabeth]

Kurt Browning's preview for the Men: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/wint ... -1.6342590

[kittykins]

Oh that's just DREADFUL about Vincent Zhao having to withdraw. HOW disappointing for him...definitely his worst nightmare! It's also incredible to think how this could be spreading when the athletes are having to go through such vigorous screening and then catching it once they arrive. The other interesting item is that both Vincent and Keegan, for instance, don't/didn't seem sick AT ALL...both asymptomatic. I wish Vincent all the best and am SO glad he was able to get a silver medal...I only wish it had been GOLD. I believe he'll be back even better than before and hope he can make the Worlds!

Thanks for the pictures of Keegan and the link. Enjoy tonight everyone. Like everyone I have a knot in the pit of my stomach thinking about Vincent.

[Elizabeth]

The coverage on TSN this evening was the international feed that we usually get on Gem - the commentators are Belinda Noonan & Olly Hogben. She is a former skater and very clear and knowledgeable on the technical details. He's normally a gymnastics commentator but is very well researched and positive.

An exciting night of skating with some surprises, I think

[Elizabeth]

From Twitter:

Canadians, looking for Kurt Browning's commentary on CBC of the men's short program? On CBC Gem, look for the Primetime Day 4 video. From about 3:32:24-3:52:48 they cover Sadovsky, Jin, Kondratiuk, and Semenko. Then from 6:26:56 to the end, Hanyu, Uno, Messing, Kagiyama, and Chen.

Here's a link to the video mentioned: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1992994371898

[kittykins]

The coverage on TSN this evening was the international feed that we usually get on Gem - the commentators are Belinda Noonan & Olly Hogben. She is a former skater and very clear and knowledgeable on the technical details. He's normally a gymnastics commentator but is very well researched and positive.

An exciting night of skating with some surprises, I think

I've really been enjoying Belinda & Olly's commentary. They are exact in their calls and stick to what's happening on the ice in a non-judgmental way. I often watch it with other commentary later.

Such a cute screencap of Keegan with Wyatt. Thanks.

[Kevin]

I've really been enjoying Belinda & Olly's commentary. They are exact in their calls and stick to what's happening on the ice in a non-judgmental way. I often watch it with other commentary later.

I agree - I have found Belinda to be very clear, and knowledgeable in her presentation. She gives the information that I really want as a viewer, and in some ways reminds me of Debbie Wilkes in the way that she provides technical information. I love Kurt Browning as a skater, but I find his commentary quite lacking, as he struggles for words and then strings together sentences that don't quite make sense, or confuse the viewer as to what his original point was. Please don't revoke my Canadian citizenship for saying that - just my perspective!

[kittykins]

No, you're right on Kevin. I know what you're saying.

[Elizabeth]

I agree - I have found Belinda to be very clear, and knowledgeable in her presentation. She gives the information that I really want as a viewer, and in some ways reminds me of Debbie Wilkes in the way that she provides technical information. I love Kurt Browning as a skater, but I find his commentary quite lacking, as he struggles for words and then strings together sentences that don't quite make sense, or confuse the viewer as to what his original point was. Please don't revoke my Canadian citizenship for saying that - just my perspective!

I have found myself keeping the CBC Gem stream open even if there is TV coverage - they are a little out of sync but at times I have been using the Gem commentary and then "rewinding" to listen to the CBC comments later.

Belinda's commentary reminds me, in a way, of the days when we had PJ Kwong doing the English commentary for the ISU stream and us being able to see it on a Canadian channel. Belinda and Olly make a good team.

[kittykins]

Oh my...controversy and a possible positive drug test in the Team Event??!! Well, maybe we'll find out soon. As always, I feel sorry for the athletes who are competing fairly, but it could turn out better for Canada....

[Elizabeth]

Oh my...controversy and a possible positive drug test in the Team Event??!! Well, maybe we'll find out soon. As always, I feel sorry for the athletes who are competing fairly, but it could turn out better for Canada....

I have put a post about this situation in the Team Event thread It is still unresolved as of about 10:25 a.m. ET on February 9th and may go on for at least several more hours as it is now 11:30 p.m. in Beijing.

[Elizabeth]

The start order for the Men's Free Skate: https://results.isu.org/results/season2 ... SEG002.htm and here: https://olympics.com/beijing-2022/olymp ... 00100-.htm

The competition begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The CBC Gem stream: https://gem.cbc.ca/live/1993628227822

The TV schedule shows that TSN (aka TSN1) will be showing the full men's FS, starting at 8:30 p.m. ET. I presume they will be using the international feed as they did for the SP.

It appears that the CBC TV will join the coverage in their time block beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET which would include the final 2 groups, I expect.

[Elizabeth]

Men's FS detailed start order with times - all in Beijing time, 13 hours ahead of ET:

[Elizabeth]

An opportunity for former training mates and coaches to "catch up" in Beijing.



Evgenia (aka Zhenya) Medvedeva is part of the "working media" for Russia as well as being an "ambassador" for the team. She and Jason are very good friends from the time when she was training at the Cricket Club.

[Elizabeth]

The skate order for the Rhythm Dance has now been posted here: https://results.isu.org/results/season2 ... SEG007.htm
It's also here: https://olympics.com/beijing-2022/olymp ... 00100-.htm



Live results will be available in both locations, as usual.

It will be an early morning start for those of us in the Eastern Time Zone. The detailed time schedule (Beijing time): https://results.isu.org/results/season2 ... hTimes.pdf

[kittykins]

I'm sort of looking forward to the early morning times now as I tend to wake up early anyway. Burning the candle at both ends is something that is so easy to happen with this Olympics and the time difference.

Nathan Chen is so impressive! I am reminded of a quote I heard about Bobby Orr that "He is an even nicer person than he is a good hockey player". I think the same could be said for Nathan. He's not arrogant at all and seems like such a nice person who has been well brought up. That goes with his continued success, no doubt. When reporters gush, he doesn't really buy into the "you are the greatest ever" idea...just takes it in stride.

[Elizabeth]

Here are some medal photos from an actual medal ceremony - this one for the Men's event - note the "flowers" which are actually knitted!

[kittykins]

Here are some medal photos from an actual medal ceremony - this one for the Men's event - note the "flowers" which are actually knitted!

Wow, those knitted flowers are fantastic! Thanks for the pictures with and without masks.