Evgenia Medvedeva, Russia
Evgenia won this fairly easily, and correctly so. She is just VERY VERY good -- in part, I think, because she really COMMITS to her routines, as you can see in her face here. I snapped this so you could enjoy the detailing in her short program dress, but it's amusing that she appears to be in awe of her own score.
Evgenia Medvedeva, Russia
In case you were wondering, the kids are wearing gloves all over the place now.
Evgenia Medvedeva, Russia
Evgenia's long program is set to music -- and sound effects -- from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which is (to condense it very simply) about a child, and the events of September 11th. This has been, apparently, quite controversial, and I had EXTREMELY mixed feelings about it when I heard about it. However: I think it's a beautiful program, sensitively done, and not at all played for bombast. It was an interesting experience for me, a 41 year-old American who clearly remembers that day, to watch a young Russian girl, who was two years at the time, skate a program about something that is, truly, just history to her. It is a very emotionally delicate piece and it's really moving, I think. In addition to the fact that her technical skills are exceptional, being able to express something so complex is incredibly hard. I just think she is lovely.
Kaetlyn Osmond, Canada
OH CANADA! Y'all had a GREAT Worlds, which is very exciting! Kaetlyn took the silver and she has NOT shied away from accessories here. (Her skate is to Edith Pief, so a scarf, truly, is required. I wish she had worn a beret, too.)
Kaetlyn Osmond, Canada
This was just a fun routine, and she nailed it. It was exciting to see all these women skate so well. I think we can all remember various Worlds where everyone looked TERRIBLE -- skating into photo pits and crashing all over the place -- and this seemed, to me, to be a fairly solid one (with the exception of, sigh, Ashley Wagner). Which is always way more fun.
Kaetlyn Osmond, Canada
But my goodness, can we please declare a moritorium on La Boheme? I understand, it's a beautiful piece of music, but I think everyone just zones out to it now.
Kaetlyn Osmond, Canada
Her costume is very pretty, though. Classic, elegant. Nothing risky here.
Gabrielle Daleman, Canada
Gabrielle was ALSO great -- Canada, I always love your skaters! -- and I feel like I could tell you that Gucci designed this costume and you would believe me. Here, she's skating to Herodiade, which is the lesser-known opera about Salome, and I applaud that decision to veer to the left a bit. (If I understand correctly, Herodiade skips the bit about the severed head.)
Gabrielle Daleman, Canada
Her long program is to Rhapsody in Blue, which is a bit more on the beaten path, but DOES make the costuming less complex.
Gabrielle Daleman, Canada
Although she looks more like a rhapsody in purple, here. She was also FANTASTIC. (And needs to update her Wiki to note that she nailed this bronze spot. Come on, Team Daleman!)
Maria Sotskova, Russia
As far as the rest of the ladies go, I pulled a few other looks I thought you might enjoy. I feel like this could have gone wrong, but is actually really cool. (I also enjoy Ashley Wagner's eyeroll back there. Ashley did not perform particularly well. I have real doubts that she's going to be a good bet for Team USA for the Olympics)
Anna Pogorilaya, Russia
I pulled this photo to note that Anna's shoulder floof looked SO MUCH BETTER in action that it does here, and also....
Anna Pogorilaya, Russia
...Anna had a ROUGH NIGHT. She did so badly in this long program, for which she wore this interesting and funky get-up, that Johnny Weir called it OUTRAGEOUS and DISASTROUS, and she nearly started crying in the midst and basically sobbed in the kiss and cry. Poor Anna.
Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise, Italy
The Italians didn't place, but I thought you'd need to see these catsuits with...faux...tattoos? I don't even know what these two are doing. Fun fact: He was originally a roller skater. OBVIOUSLY they're wearing these dramatic catsuits to skate to Carmina Burana. OF COURSE.
Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise, Italy
BLESS.
Aliona Savchenko / Bruno Massot, Germany
He's her fourth partner! She's skated for two countries! One of her coaches got in BIG and continuous trouble because he was collaborating with Stasi, the East German state police about all kinds of stuff. That seems real bad, and yet she seems like she was okay with it for a really long time! Her previous partner once "violated the regulation against men wearing tights"! In short: SHE HAS A LOT GOING ON
Aliona Savchenko / Bruno Massot, Germany
I also feel like someone might wear this outfit to Coachella.
Aliona Savchenko / Bruno Massot, Germany
This is one of those outfits where it looks pretty good in motion but a bit moldy in still shots.
Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim
These are the Americans, and they finished 8th, which is decent considering the very strong field of competators AND the fact that apparently she was diagnosed with what Wikipedia called a RARE AND LIFE-THREATENING GASTRO ILLNESS last year. I was gonna ding them for the fact that these outfits make no sense given that they're skating a Moulin Rouge routine but who cares?! LIVE YOUR LIFE! YOU BATTLED A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS TO SKATE RESPECTABLY! YOU ARE A MOVIE! (Wiki also tells me, "Their total score of 202.37 is the second highest in U.S. pairs history, and they are the only U.S. pair to have ever surpassed the 200 point barrier." SKATE YOUR TRUTH, YOU GUYS! Also, make out.)
Sui Wenjing / Han Cong, China
And here are our winners and THEY. ARE. GOOD. (In the grand tradition of Chinese athletes, though, they've BOTH had an age-related scandale. HE allegedly fudged his age to skate as a junior when he was too old to do so, and she allegedly did the same, except she was too young. Regardless: They are certainly of correct age to be in the senior competition and they nailed it.)
Sui Wenjing / Han Cong, China
Having said that, I am not sure how this outfit ties into "Bridge Over Troubled Water," but...SHRUG.
Evgenia Tarasova / Vladimir Morozov, Russia
This program was skated to something called "Glam (Electro Swing Remix)" and I don't know what that means but I'm just glad it's not a Gatsby number. I have doubts about his vest, yes, but she looks fab.
Evgenia Tarasova / Vladimir Morozov, Russia
Costumed by Colorforms!
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canada
Don't you think that all of ice dancing CURSED THE NAMES of Virtue and Moir when they said they were coming back? They're so GOOD. You don't want to compete against them if you can avoid it! Also: When they skated out, I admit that I said, "TESSA WHAT ARE YOU WEARING" and then the music started. It's Prince. And then it ALL MADE SENSE and, in fact, was perfect.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canada
This neck ruffle is so Prince. It brings me joy. (Also, fun fact! Tessa and I share a birthday, so I'm extra fond of her.)
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canada
Yes, they are spectacularly great but these looks are straight out of Snoozeworthy Ice Dancing Central Costumes. Maybe the costuming is more rusty than the skating, or they blew their creativity on Prince.
Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron, France
As I may have mentioned, the short skate this year was "blues or hip-hop," and people really made some intriguing interpretations as to what that meant. These two are GREAT skaters -- and she looks lovely here -- but the whole routine sort of felt like, "is...this...what you wanted? Does this seem....blues-y? We don't know. My DRESS is blue?"
Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron, France
But their free skate is AMAZING. People were LITERALLY CRYING IN THE STANDS. And not just because they don't like ombre!
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Canada
I just wanted you to see this. He apparently really grew that mustache. Also, I feel like allowing disco to count as "blues and hip-hop" is stretching the limits of musicology.
Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan
There was a lot of Prince this year. I'm into it. Also: He won, and OH MY GOD this routine is GREAT.
Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan
I cannot tell you how much I wish everyone skated to Prince ALL THE TIME. (You can see this program here, with Russian commentary. His footwork and spins are FANTASTIC.)
Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan
His long program, of course, required a watercolor wash and a curious shoulder floof.
Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan
See? I dunno. Why do you need that flouncing around back there, like a hankerchief on holiday? He's great, though.
Shoma Uno, Japan
Shoma Uno is ALSO great; this was one of the most enjoyable men's competitions I've seen in a long time. I also like how NONE of the men who placed went for that classic Oh, I'm Just Wearing A Shirt And Pants That I Got at Banana Republic. No! WE HAVE MAN JUMPSUITS AS GOD INTENDED
Shoma Uno, Japan
But lots of ombre this season, from everyone. Ombre everywhere. Ombrewhere.
Jin Boyang, China
When he skated out, I was like, "um, unless he's skating as SPIDER-MAN I do not know what this outfit is," in my usual unbearable self-righteous way. Well. He's skating as Spider-Man, and it's SO CHARMING.
Jin Boyang, China
And, yeah, okay, so I want his sweater from the long program. Leave me alone.
Anyway, this skate was also great, and his unmitigated delight at doing so well was SO CHARMING. It turns out that I basically love him.
Maxim Kovtun, Russia
Speaking of sweaters I want. I'm not even kidding. Maxim, let me know if I can borrow this.