Editorial use only
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kommersant Photo Agency/Shutterstock (12808051m)
Kamila Valieva, of Team ROC, during a performance.
Figure Skating: Women Single Skating, Beijing Olympics, Beijing, China - 15 Feb 2022
Well, here she is. Johnny noted during the broadcast that he thinks the judges were giving all the Russians lower grade of execution scores than usual and I'm interested if those of you who watch a lot of international skating agree. (I saw someone else note that they felt EVERYONE was getting scored low.)
Anna Shcherbakova of ROC
Mandatory Credit: Photo by CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Shutterstock (12807682w)
(220215) - BEIJING, Feb. 15, 2022 (Xinhua) - Anna Shcherbakova of ROC performed during the figure skating women single skating short program at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 15, 2022.
China Beijing Olympic Winter Games Figure Skating Women Single Skating Short Program - 15 Feb 2022
She is the reigning world champion -- she's also coached by Kamila's coach, Eteri Tutberidze, as is Alexandra Trusova. For what it's worth, I actually personally think she is a better skater than Kamila and this routine is superior to Kamila's. This costume is lovely. Eteri's girls LOVE a glove.
Kaori Sakamoto of Japan
Mandatory Credit: Photo by ROMAN PILIPEY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (12806945oe)
Kaori Sakamoto of Japan in action during the Women's Short Program of the Figure Skating events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 15 February 2022.
Figure Skating - Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, China - 15 Feb 2022
"This outfit looks like Gladiator," I thought, and lo and behold -- IT WAS. The Japanese skating team is SO strong this year -- and they have not forgotten a bracelet. You can't really tell from this photo, but she also has a great ponytail.
Alexandra Trusova of ROC
Mandatory Credit: Photo by YUTAKA/AFLO/Shutterstock (12807213aj)
Alexandra Trusova (ROC) - Figure Skating : Women's Short Program during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China.
Beijing Olympic Winter Games 2022 SP, Beijing, China - 15 Feb 2022
Tara shared that Alexandra has never landed in a triple axel in competition and in fact she did not land one here -- but apparently she has five quads in her long program so anything goes as far as where she will eventually end up. I kind of like this costume but I also found her skating sort of flappy (technical skating term) and I feel like the gloves make it FLAPPIER. Tara seemed very irritated when she noted that she felt Alexandra was OVERscored on components.
Wakaba Higuchi of Japan
Mandatory Credit: Photo by HOW HWEE YOUNG/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (12806945hx)
Wakaba Higuchi of Japan performs in the Women's Short Program of the Figure Skating events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 15 February 2022.
Figure Skating - Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, China - 15 Feb 2022
Whereas she landed a BEAUTIFUL triple axel; we saw this look during the team competition, and I still really love this routine. She skates with so much feeling.
Young You of South Korea
Mandatory Credit: Photo by YUTAKA/AFLO/Shutterstock (12807213ah)
Young You (KOR) - Figure Skating : Women's Short Program during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China.
Beijing Olympic Winter Games 2022 SP, Beijing, China - 15 Feb 2022
And this costume is GORGEOUS. She skated right after Kamila, which might be challenging under any circumstance, but she seemed very serene.
Loena Hendrickx, of Belgium
Editorial use only
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kommersant Photo Agency/Shutterstock (12807895u)
Loena Hendrickx, of Belgium, during a performance.
Figure Skating: Women Single Skating, Beijing Olympics, Beijing, China - 15 Feb 2022
I LOVE this costume -- so many skaters are going One Armed this season -- and I thought this routine was excellent. This feels like one of those instances where the casual viewer HAS to tune in and be like, "I don't get why she's not higher when some other people fell down." Fun fact: Her brother is her coach.
Alysa Liu of USA
Mandatory Credit: Photo by ROMAN PILIPEY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (12806945ja)
Alysa Liu of USA in action during the Women's Short Program of the Figure Skating events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 15 February 2022.
Figure Skating - Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, China - 15 Feb 2022
(a) She is adorable. (b) She's the only US skater with a triple axel, but it's not in her short. (c) She had Covid during nationals. I love this costume and she did so well. "Her skating is something everyone can enjoy, like ice cream," is Johnny's take.
Kim Yelim, of South Korea
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Natacha Pisarenko/AP/Shutterstock (12806978da)
Kim Yelim, of South Korea, competes in the women's short program during the figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing
Olympics Figure Skating, Beijing, China - 15 Feb 2022
She looked SO nervous before her skate, which was to Liszt. This costume feels right for Liszt.
Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI/Shutterstock (12807237b)
Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia performs during the Women's Single Figure Skating Short Program in the Capital Indoor Stadium at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic on February 15, 2022.
Beijing Olympics 2022, United States - 15 Feb 2022
And finally! We saw her in the team competition as well, and this is still perfectly French (her skate is to Mireille Mathieu).
