Run, Karla, Run!

VANCOUVER, British Columbia—It’s ladies’ night at the Pacific Colisuem. What will it take for any of the other skaters to dethrone Korea’s “Queen” Yu-Na Kim? Nothing short of an anti-monarchy revolution. In other words, a miracle.

The reigning world champion delivered a show-stopping performance in the short program on Tuesday night that put her nearly five points ahead of Japan’s Mao Asada. Short of a total meltdown, which would be unprecedented—Kim has won every competition she has entered this season—the Olympic crown is hers for the taking. She simply needs to skate like she usually does. And with record scores in both the short program and free skate, it shouldn’t be hard for her to do. Read the rest of this entry →

VANCOUVER, British Columbia—It’s the most exciting Olympic men’s figure skating final perhaps since the famous Battle of the Brians in Calgary in 1988. American Brian Boitano came out on top. Will the USA be that lucky again? It’s certainly possible. With only .6 points separating the three leaders—Russia’s Evgeni Plushenko, USA’s Evan Lysacek, and Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi—they might as well be tied. It’s any man’s medal going into the free skate tonight.

And not to be ruled out are Nobunari Oda of Japan, Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland and Johnny Weir of the USA, who sit in fourth, fifth and sixth place. If any of the three leaders fall apart tonight, one of them could move into medal position.

There’s going to be drama, funky costumes and odd music choices for sure. But there’ll also be some darn good skating. So stay tuned for the Men’s Figure Skating Free Program! Read the rest of this entry →

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA—The feeling in the room is electric. Maybe it’s the years of watching figure skating as a little girl or maybe it’s because there is a little magic in the air tonight.

Here at the Pacific Coliseum, the second night of pairs figure skating is about to get underway. The first group of couples is warming up on the ice, the crowd is buzzing and the press tribunes are packed. So stay tuned for the free program live from Vancouver!

5:17 p.m.: The first two pairs from Germany and Ukraine have taken the ice, but the pairs to watch are yet to come. Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao come into the free program in first place after a flawless performance in the short program last night. But the room is also buzzing about Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany in second and Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia in third. Canadian hometown favorites Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison are in sixth, while Team USA’s Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig are in 10th, and Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett are 14th of 20 couples. Read the rest of this entry →