I too loved the outcome, we stayed up to watch the finals last night. It surely was thrilling to see the medals come home to North America! I did not see the Aboriginal dance but I did not like the costumes, nor did I like the costumes they wore last night. I bet there will soon be a ruling about the straps.

I think you're right, Lynn. Those straps have got to go!

I didn't care for Tanith Belbin's costume either....and her partner's looked like something out of the 1970s. Maybe it was supposed to? But they could have come up with something better. She's really beautiful.

Although I am always cheering on athletes from the good old USA, I was happy that the Canadians won gold, as they really deserved it based on their performance. I thought the Russian dancers were wonderful and I really liked the nice form they had which was partially due to her height and long legs. Remember how great Stacey looked on DWTS when she extended her nice, long legs? I just think that gives a very elegant look. As for me, I'm short and have short, stocky legs so I always notice nice, long legs and am very envious!

I enjoyed it immensely also and think the gold & silver were just right. I would have preferred Belbin & Agosto to have won the bronze.

I didn't care for the Russian costumes in this part, nor the "Aboriginal" costumes.... but I would guess that doesn't really enter into the judging?

I loved the outcome, too, and thought it was fair and just as it should be. I loved the costumes of the Canadian gold winners - simple but elegant.

DH and I were discussing it this morning. He thought the American pair should have won the Gold and I smiled because at first, I did too. However, when I thought about it last night, I realized it was the music that got to me as much as the skating. I realized then, how important the music is. Who doesn't like the music from Phantom? It's so haunting. Yes, I think the outcome was correct although I too wish the Belbin & Agosto had won the bronze.

This is the first time I could agree entirely with the outcome. I love the new judging system. It seems to be taking the whole program into account rather than just technical elements and subjective artistry. At first I was afraid that skaters would just work on cramming their programs with elements but that doesn't seem to be the case. Pleshenko (whose skating I do generally like) learned this the hard way. It's not enough to do a quad it's about skating clean and that is how it should be. His landings were wild and there was too much arm flapping.

I fell asleep :( and missed the end. I'm so disappointed. I was watching as they said "up next, the final four". Then the next thing I new it was two am. Poo :(
I loved the young American couple. I really enjoyed the French couples fairwell dance.

I was happy with the outcome too. Although I think it's hard to beat the drama of the ice dance to Phantom. The Canadian's dance was lovely though. An amazing group of ice dancers, overall.

I do wish it didn't run so late though. I'm Eastern time and usually the ice skating (figure and dance) isn't coming on until about 10. My husband is up at 4:30 and I'm awake when he gets up, after staying awake late to watch skating. I'm just exhausted and there's still women's figure skating to go. It's hard to stay alert at work :-)

I think our USA couple really deserved their medal, and wish the other USA couple had gotten the bronze.

The Canadians absolutely deserved the gold!!! They were the best! Congratulations, Canada, for a victory well earned.

As a Canadian I was very happy with the Gold medal outcome. But what I enjoyed watching the most was the happiness and respect that the US and Canadian pairs had for each other. The two pair were genuinely happy for each other and congratulated each other right away. It just reinforces the great relationship that the USA and Canada share.
I too would have preferred to see the US win the Bronze medal. I did not enjoy the Russian couples routine at all.

Ohhh I am so mad...I slept throught the ice dance finals las t night. I thought the canadian couple wer fantstic in the the original dance and the short program..so I am not surprised they took gold.
Put me with the others that wished Tanith and Ben had taked the bronze.
I watched on youtube today the 1984 gold medal winners Torvil and Dean dance. That was so beautiful..Just pure gorgeous skating..not all the jumps and leaps that are dominant in ice dancing today.

Gemini, funny you should mention Torvill and Dean. I thought about them last night......skating to Ravel's "Bolero." It was unforgettable. I'll have to look them up on YouTube. I wonder if there are any Tai Babilonia/Randy Gardner videos?

I think Christopher Dean married another skater, Jill Trenery.

Anyone remember Janet Lynn? She was wonderful, but in those days they had to do the "compulsories" - figure 8's etc. - and she always lost points on them.

Oooh, look what I just found on YouTube! This is a good short video about Janet Lynn, why she didn't win a medal, and how she changed figure skating.

I loved watching the ice dancing and was so happy to see Tessa and Scott win the Gold. I have been following their skating career for a while now as they have a local connection. Tessa goes to school at the University of Windsor and both train in Canton, Michigan with the Davis and White the Silver Medalists. Tanith is Canadian also and became a US citizen so she could skate in the last Olympics. She also lived in this area while she trained in Canton.

Susan, I remember my sister taking me to see Janet Lynn perform at the Olympia Arena in Detroit. I was very young but my sister who was 10 years older would always take me to the figure skating events. I also saw Peggy Flemming there and I still have my programme with her autograph.

Sad news for our Canadian single skater Joannie Rochette. Her Mom had a heart attack and died 2 days ago in Vancouver where she came to see her daughter skate. She is going to skate tonight and I know I will shed a few tears for her as I watch her.

Anne

I watched the ice dancing again this afternoon and I tried an interesting experiment. I muted the sound so I could just watch the skating and not be influenced by the music. Oh my, Tessa and Scott were so magnificent it was unbelievable! I'm going to watch it one more time with the music before I erase it.

Gemini - MSN.com has a video of Davis and White's dance from last night. Amazing!

Jel48, Im on the west coast and it wasn't on until 10 for us either. The programing schedule is horible. If I want to see everything Im up until midnight every night. It makes no sense to me.

I was also pleased with the outcome, congratulations Canada. I also wasn't that impressed with the Russian pair and think the USA deserved Bronze. Torvill and Dean have a tv show here in UK called Dancing on Ice where celebrities are paired up with pro skaters and preform each week. In the final the skaters preform their impression of Bolero. I'm always amazed how well the celebs do, some with no skating or dancing experience.

Diane

That would be fun to watch, Diane. Maybe it will cross the pond the way so many other UK shows have.

here are a few of their routines from the shows and tour.
Diane

Here is a link that might be useful: Torville and Dean now

Ok. I just watched the video of Virtue and Moir....they are absolutley deserving of every inch of that gold medal...That was sheer ice skating at its' best. Congratulations Canada!!
Now can we talk about the us womens chances of winning a medal..Not so good, and very boring if I do say so myself.
I was stunned when I heard that Sasha Cohen didn't make the team, and there were some others I saw during this past fall that also didn't make the team.

June

His hubs was watching curling (again0 and I fell asleep. Missed skating. Darn!

Thanks for posting that video, Diane. They look great!!

Thank you for your appreciation, folks.

Scott's family lives near here - they showed the gathering in the Ilderton arena, about 7 miles away, several times during the evening, and Tessa is from nearby London.

I haven't heard of them before, but they are making quite an impact in London these days! As is the other lady from here - Nesbitt?

I appreciated the respect - and affection - which they and the U.S. pair showed for one another ... and they've been training together for some time.

Though we Canadians didn't win medals at the last Winter Olympics here, in Calgary in '88, they wanted to improve on that situation this time, but the theme that they dreamed up of "Own the Podium" embarrassed some of us as being somewhat divisive ... and rather arrogant.

ole joyful