Figure Skating: He's Here, He's Weir, Get Over It

[swanflake]

Grishuk & Platov and Usova & Zhulin were each coached by Natalia Dubova, but after it was discovered that Sasha Zhulin was putting it to Oksana Grishuk, Dubova threw Oksana out. I don't know why Oksana got the blame, though I suppose the fact that Maia and Sasha were married might've been why she kept them togther. Plus, they were the better team at this point with the 1992 Olympic bronze medal and the 1993 World title. Well Dubova wanted to find Evgeny Platov a new partner, but he wasn't having any of that so Oksana and Evgeny went with Tatiana Tarasova and won the 1994 Olympics while Maia Usova took second and cried backstage.

Maia has said that Sasha was physically abusive at times, and I've never heard anyone say that she was lying, but she stayed skating with him professionally anyway.

And elin, that competition you're thinking of was the 1998 World Professional Figure Skating Championships.

Another great Oksana Pasha Grishuk story was about how at a 1997 Skate International Series event (precursor to the Grand Prix), Pasha had her aunt pose as a journalist so she could stand up and tell Shae-Lynn Bourne and Viktor Kraatz in the middle of a press conference that their original dance wasn't a real jive dance and that they didn't deserve to be in second place after the OD even though Pasha and Evgeny were in first place at the time even with a fall. Then later that week Pasha started talking shit about Shae-Lynn and Viktor's free dance to "Riverdance" saying that it was easy and she could go out and skate it all by herself.

Oh the 1998 Olympic ice dance competition... That was a Hell of a season.

[Deleted]

Oh the 1998 Olympic ice dance competition... That was a Hell of a season.

Couldn't agree more. It was better than a soap opera. Speaking of Bourne and Kraatz, didn't they have a story as well?

[swanflake]

moonglow said:

Couldn't agree more. It was better than a soap opera. Speaking of Bourne and Kraatz, didn't they have a story as well?

I don't know if they ever smoothed things over, or if they ever even cared to, but at the end of their career they did not like each other at all. At 2003 Skate Canada they saw each other backstage and both went in other directions to avoid having to be near to one another, and it was very clear to everyone around them what was going on.

[Sunnyhorse]

elin said:

I wonder what Pasha looks like now. She strikes me as someone who would age terribly and go the way of Baiul and Jamie Sale as opposed to those who look forever preserved like Yamaguchi and Gordeeva.

Is Jamie Sale not aging well? *Runs off in search of a current photo.*

[swanflake]

I don't know how she's aging, but damn if she doesn't get homely haircuts.

Skate America is going on right now. The men's short program is underway and currently Andrei Lutai of Russia is in 1st, Ryan Bradley of the US is in 2nd, and Yasuhari Nanri of Japan in 3rd. Evan Lysacek and Daisuke Takahashi still to skate.

Belbin and Agosto lead after the compulsory dance, and in pairs Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison of Canada have a narrow but still surprising lead over 2006 World Champs Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China.

A repeat of last year's Halloween on Ice will air on NBC tomorrow. Check local listings!

[dwanollah]

Grishuk & Platov and Usova & Zhulin were each coached by Natalia Dubova, but after it was discovered that Sasha Zhulin was putting it to Oksana Grishuk, Dubova threw Oksana out. I don't know why Oksana got the blame, though I suppose the fact that Maia and Sasha were married might've been why she kept them togther.

Gads, that whole situation was just insane. Didn't one of them -- Pasha? -- wear a piece of jewelry that belonged to the other's husband, and made sure she saw it right before she was about to go skate? It was like something out of Sweet Valley High.

[swanflake]

dwanollah said:

Gads, that whole situation was just insane. Didn't one of them -- Pasha? -- wear a piece of jewelry that belonged to the other's husband, and made sure she saw it right before she was about to go skate? It was like something out of Sweet Valley High.

Yes, but here's Pasha's side of things...[/color]

This photo was taken at a party to celebrate Sasha giving teenager Pasha that famous necklace & wedding ring. The happiest person there most of all was Maia, because she knew that with Sasha's present of this ring, trustful girl Pasha must leave her skating career and now the favorite on Gold could be gone... Very soon people from Russian Federation found out Usova&Zhulin's roguish plan against Pasha Grishuk&Evgeny Platov and explained all the facts to Pasha. Pasha took Evgeny’s hand on the ice once more, and with great passion and anger against Usova&Zhulin's betrayal. Pasha and her partner won the coveted Olympic Gold medal instead, and against all the odds! Maia's happiness in this photo soon disappeared however, along with her hope and lifelong dream of EVER winning an Olympic Gold medal. Since that time Maia makes up stories full with lies about Pasha, as the old saying goes: "a photo says a thousand words."

Esta from FSUniverse did it better...

When was that photo was taken? Was the affair in 1992? And when did Maia slam Oksana's head into the bar at Spago again?

[Deleted]

I'm not even into skating that much these days though I was totally crazy about it a long time ago. Went to Euro Championships in Germany when Kulik won for the first time (with Urmanov and Sagarodnjuk coming 2nd and 3rd).

Loved Elvis Stoijo, Urmanov, Yagudin, Philippe Candeloro, Sasha Abt....these days there aren't many on the men's side I like all that much though I do like Buttle, Lambiel and especially Johnny Weir. I think Johnny is great and when you read his journal entries on his website you can see that he has a lot of entertaining/funny/bitchy things to say. His skating is so beautiful but I hope he can get his shit together before it's too late. Hate Evan Lysacek. Is he still "dating" Tanith Belbin?
Here's what Johnny said in a q&a on his site when asked about Evan and Tanith:

A: I was a little shocked about their situation when I realized what was going on last year, but it's fine. Tanith is a chameleon and can change her personality to match her boyfriend or friends. She's always been like that, not exactly in a bad way, unless I don't like her boyfriend. It's not really my business what she and Evan do, but I do wish she acted the way she did a few years ago. In general we're still cordial.

Anyway, I'm even more clueless when it comes to the women these days but I can say that I looooved Michelle and that she was on of the very few American skaters I ever liked (sorry). That she lost out to little robot Lipinski is something I'll never understand. But I guess it's ok, she's a legend even without Olympic gold.


And God yes, the drama around figure skating is the best, I really need to get into it again this winter...

[swanflake]

Who watched Skate America today?

[kostgard]

I didn't know it was on and only caught the last four or so skaters.

I'd never seen the really young gal before - Caroline Zhang? Is that right? Damn, that kid is flexible. I wonder if she'll still be able to do "The Pearl" in a few years.