Graceful, breathtaking, sometimes even sexy is the sport that is Figure Skating. The outfits are dazzling as are the competitors stunning to look at in every way. Long limbs, gorgeous hair, and camera-worthy smiles seem to be requirements too.
Figure Skating was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games and since then has risen in popularity and has been a staple since. There are various categories including freestyle, pairs, and even synchronized. And no, it is not easy.
Just look at Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres.
They represent France and are free skating in the World Figure Skating Championship. If ever they were nervous, they did a good job hiding it.
Vanessa is originally from Scarborough, Ontario. She looks lovely in her glittery white outfit while Morgan looks so much like a rock star he could front for a band.
Look at that skating rink. It’s massive!
Both skaters take their positions in the center. James in an embrace, resting her head on the much taller Cipres as they wait for the music to come on. Skating to “Requiem for a dream” from the Angels and Demons soundtrack and “Heaven and Hell” by Vangelis, they were in ninth position before taking the ice.
They bend and dip with hips flared out while stretching their arms up and out to the melodic violin. James and Cipres proceed to join hands and glide across the ice, skating backwards at speed as they build up momentum.
James lifts and hoists Vanessa in to the air where she spins a few times and as she lands in his hands, they both extend a leg and do an almost ballerina like sequence.
The female commentator says, “Nice height on that opening triple twist.” along with the audience’s applause. All of that happened in one motion and it was only the opening act for these two fantastic skaters.
No wonder Figure Skating has become one of the Olympics’ most popular sports.
Where most of the events have athletes sweating and pushing themselves physically, this sport has the competitors dressed for a party looking very flamboyant and they are not going to sweat it out.
When they glide across the rink together with arms and legs extended, there doesn’t seem to be any effort.
Like the motion is automatic and those bodies are just moving along without expelling any energy. It takes a lot of strength and control though so joke’s on us.
After a sequence of dazzling speed, Morgan picks Vanessa up and with one arm, spins to the music as James extends her body and holds on to her leg while balancing on Cipres’ shoulders. The level of difficulty on this one. There are many risks involved in sports and figure skating is no exception.
After a number of mind-numbing spins, Morgan bends on one knee and you can see his right arm wobble a bit. He can no longer hold her up and with a disastrous fall, James lands a bit sideways on her back. On ice.
Morgan looked pretty upset with himself and he goes over to help her up and locks her in an apologetic embrace with a sweet kiss for his partner. Vanessa is one tough lady and she just smiles as she holds back her tears.
Mistakes do happen even to the best of us. Just get back up after a fall, brush away those tears, and fight another day. The routine was and still is, absolutely breathtaking.
Watch the video below and see two world class skaters push the envelope.
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Source: YouTube, Britannica
