Not to name names, but, after having watched the men's grand prix free skates, I'm struck by how the Japanese lads are incapable of an ungraceful position, while the non-Japanese ones seem incapable of a graceful one.

Ok, I'll name a name. Shoma Uno is just exquisite.

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Gilles and Poirier's rhythm dance opening makes me laugh each time. The music begins with a voiceover that says, 'Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce . . . ME!' And at the 'ME!' they take this pose, right in front of the judging panel. Classy and cocky at the same time.

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Ah, I've talked about the youngsters saluting each other, and the oldsters shaking hands, but Guignard and Fabbri opt for the good old fashioned high-five.

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Fear/Gibson and Fournier-Beaudry/Soerensen definitely have similar costuming tastes.

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Ah, and Yelim Kim also gives me what I love. Like Tom Holland's umbrella lipsync, when I see a gorgeous Ina Bauer, I must remark upon its gorgeousness. I really do love her short program. So beautifully constructed.

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Remember how I said that Rinka Watanabe will eat your soul for breakfast and pick her teeth with your dreams? Remember how I said she would hunt down the 3axel and loop and crush them beneath her might blades?

Soul EATEN! Dreams TOOTH-PICKED! 3axel and loop BLADE-CRUSHED. Fuck yeah, Rinka. Bra-fucking-vo!

https://wandering.shop/@ergative/109376193427833913
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Ok, see, the thing about getting older is that I no longer really get into the competition part of figure skating competitions. I want EVERYONE to do well. I want the wee babbies not to fall over; I want the grown-ups to succeed in their careers; I don't really care who wins.

Unless it's Miura and Kihara. Miura and Kihara should win everything.

I've used this moment from their programme before, and I'll do it again, because it's perfect.

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Knierem/Frazier: God, their synchronization on the spin was superb, and this lift dismount was really cool. I like the epic-ness of their music, too: they are definitely up to carrying that degree of intensity.

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Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps: I know I've mentioned before how charming I find it when the young pairs teams salute each other. But these dribbling antique codgers* scorn such new-fangled expressions of respect, and instead have a good old-fashioned handshake.

*my GOD, they're SO OLD, I'd almost forgotten how ANCIENT they are, good thing the commentators reminded me!

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Chan/Howe: These poor babies had a rough time.

Does anyone else get real stormcloud/sunshine vibes from them? This is what they looked like after skating, knowing they messed up badly. This one image, just after they get their scores, really captures a lot of what I see in their character when they're not actually performing their programme.

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Ghilardi/Ambrosini: Fun to see them rock out during their step sequence, but not as interesting to me as Conti/Macii.

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Back on my nonsense! First up in the pairs short programme are Conti/Macii. Beautiful clean skate, wonderful synchronization on the side-by-side spin, and the cameraman decided to do an Artistic during the death spiral replay which I can't say I disapprove of.

Macii is so interesting to watch. He has kind of a tragic mien, and he's so tall that I always worry he's going to be unwieldy (like that poor camel Morisi), but he's very graceful.

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Massive props to these synchro skaters just holding position through all of this piece. #TorinoGPF