Saturday, March 31, 2018

Highlight of Pyeongchang's 2018 Olympic Winter Games

Canada sent the largest contingent ever to Olympic Winter Games!
And were richly rewarded placing 3rd in nations represented
after closely tailing the power-countries of Norway and Germany!

Alone and Golden, On Top of The World
(wrote Lori Ewing, a sports journalist)
Canadians, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir became the most decorated figure skaters in Olympic history ~ after their ice-dancing 'free skate.' They sang along to parts of their breath-taking Moulin Rouge program as they whirled around the Olympic ice. Caught up in the magnificence, they were 'alone in their own world' ~ Canada went along for the ride! A partnership, 20 years in the making, Virtue and Moir penned their own thrilling ending by capturing the Gold Medal.

It's an overwhelming feeling because it is something we envisioned for so many years,” Virtue said about their center-ice hug at the program's end. “I couldn't help but think about the 20 years we've spent working for this moment ~ and the incredible team of people behind us.”
Coaches Patrice Lauzon and wife, Marie-France Dubreuil from Montreal agreed.
They're a once-in-a-generation talent, that you seldom see.”

Moments before they step on the ice for their 'free dance'
and as they've done every skate for years, they've hugged for a half minute...
eyes closed...Virtue's head resting on Moir's shoulder...
(“It helps us focus,” they said, “and melds our emotions
to the 'telling of the story.')

Dressed in a skin-tight backless red dress, with a high jewelled neck, Virtue played the role of Nicole Kidman. Moir, in a mostly sheer black shirt made a great love-struck Ewan McGregor. And together they dazzled the Gangneung Arena crowd with their passionate skate to “Moulin Rouge” ~ a movie they'd seen together when Virtue was 11 and Moir was 13. They had wanted to skate to it ever since!
Their personal-best score of 122.40 for the 'free skate'
and a world-record combined score of 206.07 points
carried them past French rivals and silver medalists whose total score was 205.28.
(I'm certain Moulin Rouge will become their 'signature performance)

The Gold was their fifth career Olympic medal (breaking a tie with a previous Russian pair).
Since they first melted hearts when they were Gold in Vancouver Olympics 8 years ago, Virtue and Moir have 'pushed the ice-dance envelope' with their athleticism, lifts, footwork and in addtition have made sensuality practically a required element in the sometimes stuffy world of ice-dance. They had the crowd roaring with another gorgeous, soaring lift that had Virtue bending backwards...her arms reaching to the rafters victoriously...her blades balancing on Moir's thighs!
They certainly took 'chemistry' to a new level!

Virtue was just 7 and Moir 9 when they were paired together by Moir's aunt...
it's a partnership, in the London, Ontario area, that kept growing with their love of skating.
Canada's longest-tenured team, credits those 2 decades and their legitimate desire to skate together...
for their uncanny ability to 'tell a story on ice.'
Moir, in the post-skate news conference stated,
I would never even think about skating with someone else!”
Virtue comments, “We're very proud of our business relationship and it's been very special for 20 years,

What They Said” from the Canadian Press

Kristie Yamaguichi (retired American skater): “A dance event with roller coaster emotions. Congratulations to Virtue/Moir on an awe-inspiring skate and history made.”

Dick Button (retired American skater): “ Your skate will be an iconic Olympic skating moment.”

Elvis Stojko (retired Canadian skater): Congratulations, you two!”

Arlene Dickinson (Canadian business woman and star in CBC's Dragon Den): “Tessa and Scott are what pure joy looks like. Magnificent!'

They skated for Canada: Always Their Dream!
Sometimes, you will never know the true value of a moment,
until it becomes a memory!” (Unknown Author)

Behind the Scenes ~ According to Tessa Virtue
We put ourselves out there and we're the only ones on the ice! But it takes a 'village' ~ we need to be surrounded by the right people...we learned to utilize the members of our team better...so we know we can rely on them...reach out for support...and approve things in a more scientific way.
Their choreographers vary from David Wilson and Sam Chouinard to our husband and wife coaches
(Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon) plus several other technicians.”

Surprise at the Games!
Hamilton, Ontario's “Arkells” (a Juno-winning rock band and favoured musicians of both Tessa and Scott, arrived at the Olympic Village to pay tribute to their special fans.) The Arkells played an unplanned 90-minute concert set at “Canada House” on Saturday evening in Pyeongchang before more than 600 people, including most of the Canadian athletes participating in the Games.

The band was introduced by Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and were joined onstage by other well-known Olympians including silver-medal women's hockey team. Justine Dufour-La Poine (a silver-medal freestyle skier) came up to sing Stevie Wonder's 'Signed Sealed Delivered'. The band closed with its latest Juno nominated hit, “Knocking at the Door” which was adopted as the unofficial theme song of the Canadian team soon after the Olympics opened.


The Arkells were unexpectedly invited to South Korea the previous week, arriving as guests of the Canadian Olympic Committee...and without instruments...and no definite plans to perform. The COC managed to find enough gear to allow it to stage this impromptu concert...and put them up in a hotel 10 minutes from the Olympic Village.

Little things done and given may seem nothing, but they give peace
like those meadow flowers which individually seem odourless
but altogether, perfume the air. (Georges Bernanos)

Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 26, 2018
All comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

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