Zhang/Zhang
Pelletier:On the takeoff, she was leaning back, so she was on an angle in the air. She decided to open up and that's the worst thing you can do on a quad Salchow. I can't believe she's going back and is going to finish her program.
The crowd roars to encourage them. They return to center ice, and the music is playing and they're skating around, trying to get ready to go. They resume skating and go right into double Axel, triple toe. Unbelievable. The hardest jump combination we've seen tonight by far. Unbelievable that she's just managed that. Next, an incredibly high triple twist. Now they're into a lift. After how badly she was shaken up it's hard to believe they're skating now. Then a death spiral. Now time for a throw triple loop. She turns out of the landing. Now side by side triple Salchows. Now their spiral step sequence. Another death spiral, and now a lift. Circular step sequence. Now side by side spins. He loses his balance a bit before the last change but covers well. Their last move, a lift, is rough. But it's amazing that they even did the program after that incredible fall. She looks composed. Incredible poise.
Sale: That has to be the most inspiring, phenomenal comeback I've ever seen. I have fallen like that, and I was out of commission for a week. That just goes to show you the impact the Olympic Games has on you. She's my hero. To have the courage to come back and skate -- and as well as they did, I can only imagine what was going through their mind. I was standing here shaking myself. So to skate as well as they did -- I'm amazed
Pang/Tong
Pelletier: The first perfornmance tonight I was kind of inspired. They really interpreted their Phantom of the Opera well. Their throw triple loop was the highlight of their program. Their triple twist was a close second, as far as highlights go.
Sale: I actually really liked their attack. These two always go out with the intention of skating their absolute best performance, and they can be happy with that skate. I just wished they had in certain elements and their lifts more speed. They do interesting things, but on those elements they don't cover the ice as well as some of the other teams. Their death spiral is slow.
Shen/Zhao
Sale: I saw them before they skated the long program tonight, and they showed the same attitude they've had all week -- smiling. I really admire their courage and perseverance.
Pelletier:Obviously the conditioning was not as good as it could have been, but if you look at their reaction... they are very emotional right now. To come back from an injury -- to be here was already their gold medal. The goods in the program are still there. Both throws were amazing, the twist was amazing. The lifts were a bit slow. Overall, for them to be here is an amazing thing.
今晚中国感动世界啊! |