How Our Relationship Won Gold | Torvill & Dean

Want episodes before anyone else? Download The High Performance App: hppod.co/app
Iconic ice dancing duo Torvill and Dean sit down with Jake and Damian to reflect on their illustrious career spanning over 50 years.
Sponsors:
🚨 Eight Sleep: Click here: hppod.co/eightsleep for £200 discount
🚨 Manual: Click here: hppod.co/manual for a 55% discount
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are a lengendary former British ice skating duo and 1984 Winter Olympics Champions. In this episode, they reflect on their early days, recalling the pivotal moment when they realised their potential as a duo. They highlight how their shared passion for skating and unwavering commitment to improvement bound them together for over five decades.
Delving into their creative process, Torvill and Dean recount the discovery of ‘Bolero’, the routine that would later become iconic for their 1984 Olympic success. They emphasise the dedication and discipline required for success, the challenges they faced, and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of their sport.
Looking back on their illustrious careers, the pair reveal their decision to retire after 50 years on the ice. With wisdom gleaned from a lifetime of skating, they embrace the idea of leaving the stage on their own terms, ready to embark on new adventures.
This conversation explores the insights behind Torvill and Dean’s dynamic partnership, and how they navigated tensions and dealt with failure to become two of Great Britain’s most celebrated Olympians.
0:00 Introduction
0:38 What Is High Performance?
2:31 50 Years Of Unity
7:55 🚨 Eight Sleep
9:02 Awkward Partners
12:20 The Story Of Bolero
21:07 It's All About Eye Contact
23:18 Keeping It Professional
25:41 What Is Hard Work?
30:47 🚨 Manual
31:47 Zeros To Heros
35:42 We Wouldn't Speak
40:17 Balancing Failure & Empathy
42:42 Dancing On Ice Doubts
45:34 Thank You
447:55 Quick-Fire Questions
#HighPerformance #TorvillandDean #JayneTorvill #ChristopherDean #DancingOnIce #IceSkating #Bolero #WinterOlympics #1984Olympics

[@MeeMawTx]

Thank you for asking the "crossing the line" question. Their response reaffirmed what MANY of us fans thought for years. There was a romantic spark between them. However, even as late teenagers, they realized that having a relationship off the ice would definitely (and potentially negatively) impact their on-ice performance. Thus, they forfeited romance in order to have friendship and professional success. Their coach, Betty Calloway, put it this way, "They had this special contact with each other... I don't think they realized that Bolero was them."

[@marynoonan6111]

These two were absolutely ahead of their time. They make everything that came after them happen. They were the risktakers.

[@lindaroland2277]

They were absolutely the greatest of all time. In their day, it was them above and beyond everyone else. No one even came close to them. I was fortunate enough to see them skate, live, at World’s in 81’, 82’ and 83’. Even their compulsory dances were superior. Anyway, to this day, I can still remember watching those routines and being completely in awe of them.

[@user-xj9nk2rr4z]

Да!!! у них все абсолютно 🧚😇😇 это счастье, что они с нами были 👏👏💕

[@deborahhamilton9388]

Beautiful interview. Rare privilege for laypeople to hear this sort of mature reflection so many years after we saw that matchless Olympic performance. Thank you for filming and sharing it.

[@glancycorner7425]

Torvill and Dean made me fall in love with ice dancing. ♥️

[@paulslater9061]

I remember the winning Olympic performance like it was yesterday still fills me with emotion it was spectacular especially the use of bolero my favourite piece of music ever

[@darylfishwick8891]

And me !

[@janetbilbe126]

What a great interview. It just seemed like a chat between friends. They have left us some awesome memories. They changed ice dance forever with those spectacular routines.

[@georgehorwell6502]

Love Torvill &Dean. Grew up in awe of their work. They belong to a unique group of people, their dedication and incredible hard graft and determination may be available to us all, but not many go for it. And it’s that which separates them from Joe Public. All the Greats have it. Much respect and thank you for sharing your gift to us all to enjoy so much x

[@patlaing4489]

Thank you for Nottingham Council for sponsoring them to be able to train for the Olympics and Worlds. They did repay the money once they turned professional I understand that but nobody seems to give any credit to Nottingham for their help.

[@denisej4813]

@@patlaing4489 Good point! I was surprised that the sponsorship from Nottingham Council was completely ignored in that biographical film of their journey to the 1984 Olympics that ITV made a few years ago. Firstly, because the money and the chance it gave them to train full-time was such a game-chsnger for Jayne and Chris, but also because it was quite controversial at the time: not everyone was convinced it was a good use of ratepayers (these days it would be Council Tax-payers') money, although T&D quickly proved it was a great investment by winning European and World titles within a year of receiving the first instalment of the grant.

[@chrispasson1940]

Thanks to KZbin i have relived that four plus minutes of joyous wonder just by watching and listening to them in this interview

[@silviaquesada2499]

One of the really good parts of this interview is that they did not ask any questions about their personal lives, marriages, children etc. Very professionally done with a lot of wonderful insights into what made them such accomplished, successful skaters. I would have enjoyed if they would have had the chance to tell us how they came up with their most iconic performances after winning the Olympics.

[@user-vk7zr9uc6g]

ASTONISHING RE-MOMENT IN HISTORY ! REMARKABLE, JUST STUPENDOUSLY MARVELOUS !!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!

[@DanyAndreaEm]

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful interview with Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. I admire them since I was a kid in the 1980s. Their "Bolero" was the most beautiful performance I have ever seen on the ice until this time. I was fascinated from their breathtaking charisma, their magically eye contact, from the pure beauty of ice dancing. They still are the best ice dancers of the world for me. After so many years of being partners on ice and of friends of lifetime, Jayne and Chris still shows their deeply respect and their absolutely honesty to each other, something many people seems to have lost. That's why I love and admire them so much. Lovely Greetings from Germany

[@user-xj9nk2rr4z]

" Болеро", "Цирк", " Тореодор😇", " Пассадобль", "Навстречу музыке" и все, все в ФК

[@victoriagill3337]

Having followed them since 1981, reading their biography from their competitive career which was written in the moment as I was following it, it is fascinating to hear them look back and reminisce about those moments now with hindsight, learned experience and wistfulness. They have always been so humble and just lovely people and I remember Chris saying he wanted to retire before people started saying ‘oh it’s those old skaters again, pushing them round the ice’😂

[@photostockcanada]

They worked hard and were always nice people who wanted to give back.

[@sheilapreston3997]

They are truly mesmerising. The best 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

[@elizzy8754]

An intelligent and respectful interview. It was wonderful to hear Torvill and Dean speak about their career in such an articulate and considered way. (On another subject: would you consider similar interviews of dancers and musicians?).

[@purplerabbit7190]

I feel their strengths as a couple were patience, tolerance, acceptance, forgiveness and admiration for each other. Very rare gifts. I feel proud to be English after listening to this interview. Greetings from Melbourne Australia

[@prioress]

They will always be my favorites. As I age, I think, no matter how glamorous one is, age happens. God bless us all.

[@user-xj9nk2rr4z]

❤❤❤

[@culturalcobwebs]

This was such a pleasure to watch and I appreciate how you both gave Jayne and Chris space to answer the questions in their own time but then followed up where appropriate. Very unusual to see them both so reflective and would honestly love a part 2 after their final tour because I'd love to know more about how the 94 Olympics may have shaped their thinking about performance.

[@alomafoggo3239]

Always loved their skating!

[@aileenclarke9651]

That’s the first thing I noticed from the start all those years ago was the eye contact between Jane and Chris. They maintained that as they danced. Not just putting on a show for an audience, they were there doing the one thing they both loved. Always innovative, always in sync, always perfection, never flashy always humble. The received respect and the accolades they deserved. Countless fans like me now know that they’ve retired, but they’ve certainly earned it. There are some events in life you never forget, one for me is Jane and Chris.❤❤

[@lorraineeason3756]

what a lovely interview. I have always like these two people,right from the start and still do

[@user-km4lv2en5j]

Who’s going to watch bolero after watching this?

[@mariadange06]

Aging is cruel... being 60+ myself you think it won't happen, but it gets us all.

[@Warwck24]

I have not seen them fr years so that's so amazing to hear they are 50 plus together. The interview is fascinating thank you

[@user-xj9nk2rr4z]

У них потрясающие отношения друг другу 👏💕

[@dianegarciaprieto2118]

Incredible couple,then and now. Awesome 💯👏👌♥️💙

[@marynoonan6111]

I think their friendship worked so well because they were actually mates. It wasn’t sexual, it was two people working towards an amazing goal. They were extraordinarily hard workers in an error when all their competition was trained and taken care but these two had a day job!! it was an extraordinary achievement

[@jasperhorace7147]

Thank you. A wonderful interview. Two totally successful people who haven’t let it change them, which is probably fairly rare. You can see and feel the love, respect, trust and friendship in their partnership.

[@ileanamuntean7338]

What an inspiration these two people are. Skating is such a beautiful sport. Unfortunately, skating rings have been demolished and blocks of flats have replaced them.

[@user-qy2kw9kx3o]

Fabulous interview . Many thanks.

[@Dagmar-St]

Thank you for that worthwhile interview. They are my idols 🥰

[@marynoonan6111]

Great interview. Two lovely people. ❤❤❤

[@jacquichimes]

Wonderful interview on both sides ❤

[@user-kf6zg1pq3u]

Очень хорошее интервью. Джейн и Крис друзья на всю жизнь. Шикарные танцоры в первой половине 80-х г.г.20 века. Совершенно справедливое золото на Олимпиаде в Сараево в 1984 г. Досадная неудача спустя 10 лет на Олимпиаде в Норвегии. Для своих лет они прекрасно выглядят,хотя Джейн очень болела. Реформаторы ледового танца. Они дружат и с Бестемьяновой Букиным,которые были их постоянными соперниками в 1978-1984 г.г. Здоровья им и их семьям. Вечная память Бетти Калловей,их тренеру.

[@stephensieg9976]

What a wonderful example how becoming Olympic Champions keep them Humble and Great to see and demonstrate what dedication means. Their personalities were so well matched.Ravels Bolero was revolutionary in the sport where the usually choice of up tempo Dance music was used . Their choice was spell binding. Their costumes The Music And the skating was magical. What a wonderful way to put your mark on such a well loved sport. They will go down as one of The Best Ice Dancing Couples in History. Delightful interview.

[@dkotero]

Great interview!

[@gwynwellliver4489]

Their quick fire answers apply to teaching as well.

[@gabrielwood9345]

Just love them❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@richardwait1206]

The choreography was so important who did that

[@MeeMawTx]

Chris envisioned the moves. Jayne put them into reality.

[@cheryldodd-marko9787]

Love them always 🕊🇺🇲💕

[@JyotsnaShahane]

❤

[@anovemberstar]

Too many ads!!!

[@Burglar-King]

Yes they were brilliant, yes it was exciting but how many more times? I clicked on this and now it’s going to blow up my iPad..please enough already.

[@jaktag]

They were fantastic skaters and did our country proud winning the gold medal,but i think they are very over rated.

[@teribreci1539]

I have to agree. But then I'm looking at Marina Anissina & Gwendal Peizerat & also Tatiana Volosozhar & Maxim Trankov even though these 2 are pairs & married, I have never seen such love on & off the ice.

[@melindamitchell6584]

But Torvil and Dean came first. They paved the way for the greats that came later. They dared to be different.

[@marynoonan6111]

They absolutely were not overrated. They were friggin brilliant and 50 years later if you watch that Bolero routine you will see their totally artistry and technical brilliance. It is as good as ANYTHING you’ll see today. It’s not all about ‘tricks. It’s about artistry.

[@user-xj9nk2rr4z]

​@@marynoonan6111Да! это было абсолютно 🙏😇😇🧚💕 такое не забывается❤

[@vitoshawordcom]

Love them both! Great interview! Thank you.

[@slevydubois]

The choreography was so important who did that

[@MeeMawTx]

Chris envisioned their moves. Jayne was their "technician", making Chris' ideas a reality.

[@jacquichimes]

They did