Karen Barber and Nicky Slater

1984 worlds free dance.

[@markketteridge582]

I felt for them because they were fantastic... UK hasn't had this quality since.

[@marshallscott7955]

How this brilliant couple never got a medal I'll never know. Still amazing 35 years later.

[@lucyfoster4082]

I guess just because of who their competition was.

[@scopex2749]

Karen hasnt aged a day she still looks amazing. Superb routine!

[@ginnylorenz5265]

So nice that someone as lovely and sweet as Ms. Barber is with Chris Dean!!!!!

[@quillerpen]

I this this particular performance was the best Karen & Nicky ever gave. Someone who was there that night told me that the whole audience was so 'charged up' with emotion from watching T/D's Bolero, that this piece was the perfect follow-on, and Nicky and Karen responded to the audience feedback and gave the performance of their lives.

[@virginiamei9120]

I have to say this is the best I have seen Nicky and Karen skate. Good routine.

[@josieshy2376]

Having the audience laughing from joy and delight is really rare in competitive figure skating - they showed a talent not many skaters were able to develop. They were a very good match, both in appearance and ability. Their synchronicity is amazing.

[@scook5599]

What an enjoyable free dance! Their marks should have been higher especially the artistic. You could see how the audience loved them!

[@suejones8661]

I remember watching these 2 they were amazing should have won a medal. Such a shame that they didn't and the Russians and Americans got silver and bronze. These 2 were really good as well...

[@tongapuss]

that was such a fantastic routine and I often watch it. Such a pity they didn't get higher marks as it was well worth it. I am glad to see her training on Dancing on Ice, pity Nicki is no longer on the programme. They were such fantastic ice skaters.

[@Mistysmudge1]

Oh I loved this routine so much thanks so much for posting it 😁❤️❤️❤️

[@Fatima502]

Not many skaters will get a crowd reaction like that at Montreal 2024

[@fionamayock6344]

AMAZING! Loved it. xxx.

[@NickieOHara]

I think everyone sort of forgot how good Nicky Slater & Karen Barber were...

[@kc9music]

Like most of you, I believe people didn't realise how good these two were. Being in the shadow of Jayne and Christopher must of been hard. They had the potential to go further.

[@jonatanwildchild8490]

In the years 1981-1984 every pair was in the shadow of Jayne and Chris, even the better skaters than Karen and Nicky. Karen and Nicky had neither the skills nor the mentality to be the best,

[@ronnig4009]

No but they were a pleasure to watch and YES, everyone bowed down to the perfection that was Torvill and Dean!

[@grantnoroyan4083]

@@jonatanwildchild8490 they were a great couple when you compare any team to torvill and dean they are not as good but karen and nicky were a great team british champions when torvill and dean retired and were as high as 5th in the world i would say they were very respectable

[@davidpascoe6161]

@@jonatanwildchild8490 It was nice though that Karen and Nicky medalled in the only championship which Torvill and Dean missed during their gold run of 81-84 (Bronze medal in the 1983 Euros).

[@Nyah823]

How lovely.. This video makes me smile whenever I'm in low mood.. =)))

[@loolzerr]

she teaches me at blackburn. shes awesome :)

[@sandranaylor2348]

Lovely routine

[@dianasmith3785]

had forgotten just how good you were!

[@noradee01]

loved this routine. In a way shame they followed Chris and Jayne. Mind you when we will EVER see the likes of having T & D and these two in the same Olympic skating event, we were SO lucky back then

[@dalymc]

I remember this...they were fantastic. They deserved much better scores...the judges must have had sticks up their a*ses not to have appreciated this routine...

[@emjaypee71]

They should have come second this year. This routine was only bettered by Torvill & Dean, but I think they were always in the shadow of Jayne & Chris and consequently got unfairly marked down by the judges!

[@goffik]

(L) themm so good, love them on doi and they are so amazing dancing together, karen was stunnnnning! still is :)

[@iceskatingtracing784]

Does anyone know what the pieces of music are? Other than limelight in the middle, I don’t recognise them. I love this routine

[@franckvielcazal9799]

better than 2017... they're alive... love it!

[@Na3nAe101]

If Karen was telling the truth about doing what Jayne and Chris did the previous year, this does reform Barnum a little bit in the music. very well done Karen and Nicky

[@amybaker4654]

This was a crowd pleasing routine, i can remember seeing them do this and felt that they were robbed of points.They were a very good team and this Chaplin theme has been used by others since then but they were not this entertaining.Nicky commentates on Eurosport with Chris Howarth and they humoorous in their comments as well knowledgable.

[@jeremyheath5675]

Always remember this was So Good had they not been up against T&D they could have had some 1sts. Think judging was way down, but we all now know that judging then could be a little bit dodgy & they prob didn't like 2 UK pairs being that good! After all that time I still think it is superb. At least they did get a 3rd which is way better than many.

[@moneypenny1267]

Lovely

[@npe1]

@tongapuss Yes. This vid is all Karen needs to show Jason Gardiner that her opinion does count. How can a man who has never skated criticise Karen Barber?

[@sandranaylor2348]

Lovely routine, fun to watch

[@clairehenderson9710]

Karen ❤

[@npe1]

@tongapuss Definately and Karen is a really nice person. I skated at the old Altrincham rink in the 70's and knew her then.

[@darreneaston70]

They were better than the American couples who finished ahead of them. Probably not as good as Bestemianova/Bukin or Klimova/Ponomarkenko but it was a golden age of ice dancing. The top 7 or 8 couples of that time are probably amongst the top 20 best of all time....

[@jonatanwildchild8490]

Better than Blumberg and Seibert? You must be joking.

[@grantnoroyan9275]

@@jonatanwildchild8490 agree maybe better than spitz and gregory they were in the same league as fox and dalley but not nearly as good as blumberg seibert

[@amybaker4654]

@@jonatanwildchild8490 This is just one routine,there were others.They always had artistry and the ability to interpret music well.

[@jonatanwildchild8490]

@@@amybaker4654 I saw different routines of theirs. And I have seen nothing special in them. And I still believe they were much worse than Blumberg and Seibert. They wanted to be the next Torvill and Dean (or maybe it was what British public wanted) but they never had talent, determination and probably also work ethic of T&D.

[@amybaker4654]

@@jonatanwildchild8490 And you knew them personally did you? How do you know how they trained.

[@cogidubnus1953]

Deserved better placing than they got!

[@iceskatercharlotte]

she teaches at blackburn arena now were i go! he aint my coach tho

[@cgek1996]

That was way under marked :-(

[@Jemjane_89]

Yeah you can see why they were always in the shadows of Jayne and Chris... I find it odd considering thy had a romantic relationship thy have less chemistry than Jayne and Chris!!

[@tongapuss]

@npe1 I agree but I think the majority of the viewers will be disgusted by what Jason Gardiner had to say. Glad that a very high percentage were on Karens side as it was completely uncalled for. Nice to know that Karen is now dating Chris Dean. Surprised he didn't go and smack Jason in the face when the comment was made!! no not really, too much of a gentleman.

[@jazzy7991]

what place did they finnish in this yea?r

[@lindamoggioable]

Is the announcer from another planet. This is NOT Ravel's Bolero!

[@G6JPG]

He said "a piece that's completely different from Bolero", or something like that. (Torvill and Dean having been on just before, using Bolero.)

[@MissBoagJunior89]

@TorvillDean84 arrgh god your telling me

[@skaterfan1]

they were certainly worth a 5.7, but i had them behind both B+B and B+S

[@G6JPG]

What, behind themselves? :-)

[@rebeccahooper7968]

Well she dating Chris now lol

[@debs1042]

He wouldn’t pat her bottom these days and get away with it!

[@TheAnn2shoes]

Not Torvill & Dean but not bad at all and very entertaining.

[@rebelruth9582]

Looks so boring in today's standards

[@sandranaylor2348]

Lovely routine