Russians prove they are back as two pairs’ teams lead the way at Skate America

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Russians prove they are back as two pairs’ teams lead the way at Skate America

Brandon Frazier sounded like a lot of the leading U.S. pairs’ skaters who have come before him over the years.

“We’re trying to push ourselves to be more competitive with the top teams in the world,” said Frazier, reigning U.S. champion with partner Alexa Knierim.

For six decades, that goal for U.S. pairs has primarily meant trying to be competitive with teams from Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union.

And, despite some unexpected Russian dry spells in the past 15 years, that is what it means again.

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Vanessa James says she was unaware of former pairs partner's alleged sexual abuse, apologizes for her silence on subject

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Vanessa James says she was unaware of former pairs partner's alleged sexual abuse, apologizes for her silence on subject

Canadian pairs skater Vanessa James insisted Thursday she was not aware that her former partner, Morgan Cipres, had been involved four years ago in alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl who trained at the same Florida rink.

This was the first time James, who competed for France with Cipres at the 2014 and 2018 Olympics, has addressed the subject. She apologized for silence some may have deemed hurtful.

Speaking during a press conference in advance of next week’s Skate Canada Grand Prix event, James said, “I’m deeply disappointed that my ex-partner would engage in that type of behavior.”

James said she had not thought of making a public statement until now because “it was an ongoing investigation, and it was something that I was not involved in in any way.

“Though I could have or should have supported victims of abuse, people that know me – and I hope the whole world – know I’m a good person, and I condemn that type of behavior.

“I chose not to make a statement, maybe to my regret, but I hope that victims and survivors know I commend their bravery, and I support them and believe them. I am sorry if my silence hurt them in any way.”

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ISU investigating "surge of hate" directed at French ice dance team, condemns reported homophobic comments

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ISU investigating "surge of hate" directed at French ice dance team, condemns reported homophobic comments

The president of the French Ice Sports Federation told the International Skating Union that the ISU “can’t remain silent in front of this surge of hate” directed at French ice dancers Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron.

In a letter dated Oct. 12, a copy of which I have obtained, FFSG President Nathalie Péchalat made a forceful appeal for the ISU to take action after several months in which Papadakis and Cizeron “are targeted, not on a sporting level but due to Guillaume(‘s) sexual orientation.”

Cizeron, 2018 Olympic silver medalist and four-time world champion with Papadakis, came out as gay in May 2020.

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A “new” Alysa Liu in a good place for a transformative season

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A “new” Alysa Liu in a good place for a transformative season

UPDATE: Alysa Liu won the Nebelhorn Trophy, giving the USA a third women’s singles spot at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Choosing FaceTime rather than a telephone as the medium for an interview with Alysa Liu last week was fortuitous.

The video connection revealed a Liu who smiled constantly – and punctuated the smile with frequent laughs – during a 30-minute conversation.

Liu, talking from a hotel room in the small northern Italian town of Egna, clearly was in a good place.

And not only because the mountain scenery Liu could see outside the hotel is beautiful.

It also was because Liu’s new view of herself has put her in a good headspace.

“I’m much happier now,” Liu said. “I feel better. Mentally, I’m in a very good spot.”

You could see that clearly from Liu’s confident, mature skating in her first two events as an international senior competitor, the Cranberry Cup International in August and the Lombardia Trophy in September. She won both events by huge margins and, more significantly, her performance quality showed a striking maturity.

It was evidence that, at age 16, Liu has suddenly gone beyond the image of jumping prodigy that once captured her skating.

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Even so close to Opening Ceremony of Tokyo Olympics, there is time to avoid having fools rush into decision on their fate

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Even so close to Opening Ceremony of Tokyo Olympics, there is time to avoid having fools rush into decision on their fate


As of early this week, there were 3.3 million deaths worldwide attributed to the Covid-19 virus,

And yet the Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee continue to set the tables for a July global party that 59 percent of the Japanese population wants cancelled, according to polling done last Friday through Sunday.

In that poll, postponement was not an option. Another poll in April showed 70 percent of the population wanted the Tokyo Summer Games either cancelled or postponed again, as they had been from 2020 to 2021.

Make no mistake about it: the Tokyo Olympics are in essence a shindig, a giant, made-for-TV, ATM of a sports festival, sort of a wedding reception on steroids. And think of how many wedding receptions and family celebrations have been cancelled or postponed in the face of a pandemic still raging out of control in some of the world’s most populous countries, notably India and Brazil.

The preparations and regulations necessary in the hope of keeping the Olympics from becoming a feast for the coronavirus mean they will be essentially a joyless party, a wedding with no food or dancing, a festival without the cultural interactions that are supposed to make the Olympics more than just another sporting event.

No foreign spectators. Maybe no domestic ones, either. Strict distancing and masking rules. Little freedom of movement for everyone directly involved.

Is that the youth of the world assembling to celebrate the Olympics, as called for in the ritual appeal at the Closing Ceremony of the previous Games? Only if they stay two meters apart.

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