If you are going to lose gold, it is some consolation if some of your best friends walk away with it.
Best friends took the top two podium spots in a historic ice dancing final that saw North American skaters displace the old Russian guard.
Seven of the nine gold medals handed out in ice dancing since it was included in the Olympics had gone to the Soviet Union or Russia with one going to each of Great Britain and France.
On Monday, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir made history for Canada by claiming gold in the event, but it was also a historic moment for North America when the Canadian pair’s good friends and training partners Meryl Davis and Charlie White took silver home to the U.S.
The two pairs train together in Michigan under Russian-born coaches Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband.
Also at the training camp is U.S. pair Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, who would have scored bronze if not for the Russian duo of Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin.
Charlie White said it was easy to share the spotlight with some of his best friends.
“To have one of your very best friends with you on the podium with you at the Olympics is an amazing feeling,” said White.
“We’re so proud of what we were able to do out there, to come so prepared and be able, under the pressure of the Olympics, skate three amazing programs is such a joy, such an accomplishment. And then to have your best friends out there with you too is just the icing on top of the cake.”
“To have this experience and to be a part of it is so rewarding and we are so grateful,” added his partner Davis.
The IOC has started using a new judging system that focuses on the technical merits of figure skating rather than the subjective impressions that used to guide the previous judging system.
That change has been advantageous to North American skaters and looks to have changed the dominance the Russians once enjoyed.
Best friends took the top two podium spots in a historic ice dancing final that saw North American skaters displace the old Russian guard.
Seven of the nine gold medals handed out in ice dancing since it was included in the Olympics had gone to the Soviet Union or Russia with one going to each of Great Britain and France.
On Monday, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir made history for Canada by claiming gold in the event, but it was also a historic moment for North America when the Canadian pair’s good friends and training partners Meryl Davis and Charlie White took silver home to the U.S.
The two pairs train together in Michigan under Russian-born coaches Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband.
Also at the training camp is U.S. pair Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, who would have scored bronze if not for the Russian duo of Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin.
Charlie White said it was easy to share the spotlight with some of his best friends.
“To have one of your very best friends with you on the podium with you at the Olympics is an amazing feeling,” said White.
“We’re so proud of what we were able to do out there, to come so prepared and be able, under the pressure of the Olympics, skate three amazing programs is such a joy, such an accomplishment. And then to have your best friends out there with you too is just the icing on top of the cake.”
“To have this experience and to be a part of it is so rewarding and we are so grateful,” added his partner Davis.
The IOC has started using a new judging system that focuses on the technical merits of figure skating rather than the subjective impressions that used to guide the previous judging system.
That change has been advantageous to North American skaters and looks to have changed the dominance the Russians once enjoyed.
Davis said with the new judging system has allowed some of the North America teams to be recognized for what they had done so well for many years.
“And I think that it really benefits not only North American teams, but specifically Charlie and myself.”
Scott Moir took the site of his pairs top score calmly, almost relaxed as he realized he and partner Tessa Virtue had just won gold.
“It felt like everything was happening in slow motion, I wanted to be way more excited than that, but it just happened,” he said.
“We knew we were ready, we were in confident in that. It was just about skating together and skating from our hearts and enjoying the moment,” said Virtue.
“So proud to be Canadian and to do it for the nation, this is absolutely Canada’s medal.
But the gold was all the sweeter, the pair said, when they got to share the podium with their best friends.
“There is a very special friendship between Meryl and Charlie and Tessa and I,” said Moir.
“Training with them everyday and pushing each other really helps us. I don’t think either of us would be where we are without the other, we help each other on our bad days and even push each other a little bit more on the good days so to have each other out there on the podium side by side, it’s amazing.”
He said the other couple showed no signs that they were disappointed not to have won gold themselves.
“They’re just such great friends, and they gave us the best hug and they’re so happy.”
“And I think that it really benefits not only North American teams, but specifically Charlie and myself.”
Scott Moir took the site of his pairs top score calmly, almost relaxed as he realized he and partner Tessa Virtue had just won gold.
“It felt like everything was happening in slow motion, I wanted to be way more excited than that, but it just happened,” he said.
“We knew we were ready, we were in confident in that. It was just about skating together and skating from our hearts and enjoying the moment,” said Virtue.
“So proud to be Canadian and to do it for the nation, this is absolutely Canada’s medal.
But the gold was all the sweeter, the pair said, when they got to share the podium with their best friends.
“There is a very special friendship between Meryl and Charlie and Tessa and I,” said Moir.
“Training with them everyday and pushing each other really helps us. I don’t think either of us would be where we are without the other, we help each other on our bad days and even push each other a little bit more on the good days so to have each other out there on the podium side by side, it’s amazing.”
He said the other couple showed no signs that they were disappointed not to have won gold themselves.
“They’re just such great friends, and they gave us the best hug and they’re so happy.”
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