Olympics Pairs Skating - is mixed the new black?

[Huckleman2000]

After decades of watching Olympic Pairs skating, the biggest change to my eyes is not the new scoring system (although that is a welcome change), but the seemingly sudden commonality of mixed-race pairs. I confess I haven't followed the sport closely since the last Olympics, but still!

The sport has always had a mixed-race feel in the fantasy sense, sort of a Barbarian-Wood Elf aesthetic, just by nature of the advantage of muscular men and waifish women in the lifts that comprise such a large part of the performances. Previously, there have been white American men with Asian-American partners. Women of Asian heritage and nationality have regularly placed high in worldwide singles competition since Kristi Yamaguchi and Midori Ito in the 80's and early 90's. Black skaters of any nationality have been rare (Debbie Thomas), or even idiosyncratic (Surya Bonaly).

Suddenly this year, in the featured pairs (i.e., televised), there were black(or mixed)/white pairs from both the US and Germany, as well as the top US pair of an American with a naturalized Japanese woman. And importantly, they were aesthetically beautiful pairs, with strong pair connection.

Also black speed-skaters!

Maybe I'm showing my age, but the fact that these athletic couples have cracked the highest tier of international sports, AND I didn't see some patronizing 'black-guy in winter sports' puff piece around it, seems to be worthy of acknowledgement. I think it's a healthy sign, in a time when cultural differences are so widely exploited, that maybe racial differences mean so much less than they used to.

 

[3113]

Blacks at the winter sports are certainly a break-through; it really wasn't that long ago that the Winter Olympics was lily white. You're especially right in that we're seeing mixes from other countries as well--not just the U.S. It's very refreshing. It makes the Olympics seem all that more international--less a competition between countries/nationalities than between actual atheletes.

I must say, the pair's skating was VERY emotional this time around! My GAWD! First the Russian couple who had that devistating accident which nearly ruined them not only professionally but as people (he dropped her at a match and she was knocked unconscious--it took him a year to get over it). They won the Gold.

THEN, the last Chinese pair--they tried a daring throw, she landed badly, right on her knees. It looked like she was injured too badly to continue, but she went back out, finished the program with aplomb. They won the Silver and a standing ovation for their courage.

Now that's what the Olympics is really about--or ought to be if we make them an object lesson. No matter what happens, you finish what you start, you do your best, and you hold your head high.

I've been seeing that more and more in these Olympics--atheletes taking chances, maybe not winning, but giving it their all. It's not the gold metal or glory to their country--it's going the distance. Very inspiring.

 

[elsol]

I did notice the whole black thing... although I believe the female in the other US pair was Latin.

I think this year is proving why figure skating is so popular... so much drama.

Let's see

a) Michelle Kwan pretty much hangs up her skates.
b) The little sister of the last Olympic Gold Medalist gets the nod to give it a go.
c) New Scoring system
d) A chinese pair comes back from a tragic injury (did you see the size of the dude's scar).
e) The russian pair comes back from a concussive (always loved that adjective) fall
f) Another chinese pair comes back from a fall DURING their long program to win the silver medal

And it's only the first of four competitions.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[Huckleman2000]

Yes, it's definitely the soap-opera of Olympic sports. You're right, though, that the drama seems to be of a much more positive and inspiring nature. I composed the top post before I actually saw the final pairs skate (West coast... ), but you're absolutely right - what a show! And, the Chinese pairs seemed so much more human than in the past! In previous Olympics, I always got the vibe that they were sort of automatons, skating with as much precision as they could muster, but without much passion or artistic flair, as though personality was completely buried. What a difference! Fearlessly bad hairstyles and costumes! and also good, too.

 

[Lord DragonsWing]

The heart that the chinese couple, Zhang/Zhang, put into their skating after that fall made me route for them more than my own country. That is what the olympics are about to me. The athlete pushing themselves forward. Striving to do their best.
I really didn't notice much of the racial issue until the german couple skated. A co-worker asked me about it and all I could think of was he's probably part American from the Gi's who are there.
We've had reporters get in trouble here for saying African-Americans are more athletic than caucasians. That they were bred for work. I really have to disagree. Maybe that was the true in the past, but not now. The athlete is an athlete. They all train and work as hard as anyone else. It doesn't matter if you're black, asian, white or even purple.
I'm just surprised how much larger the chinese are. Do they seem larger to you also?

 

[3113]

Yes, it's definitely the soap-opera of Olympic sports. You're right, though, that the drama seems to be of a much more positive and inspiring nature.

Hellava lot better than soap opera drama about one skater trying to break another skater's knee or a judge on the take for the Russian mafia.