Torvill & Dean (GBR) - 1984 Sarajevo, Ice Dancing, Free Dance (US, ABC) ("Bolero")

Sarajevo, YUGOSLAVIA - 1984 Winter Games, Ice Dancing, Free Dance - Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean of Great Britain received an unprecedented twelve 6.0s for their Free Dance. They easily won this phase and easily won the Gold Medal here.

[@DWilton]

Today is October 2, 2023. It feels like forever since I last watched this performance, but here I am with tears in my eyes because this was perfection. Thank you Torvill and Dean!

[@Vancoin]

Us humans don't achieve it very often, but this is what perfection looks like.

[@mariakelly5]

The best Ice Dancing Pair of all time!

[@lars-eriklarsson8067]

One of best sportsmoments ever

[@superyachtchef]

Technically still the most difficult routine #epic

[@maryleone2023]

To any commentators from those on TV or any below, the program was skated fast in order to cover the entire Olympic rink as required. Dean's shirt is billowing as they skated. I didn't see any wind machines blowing so the wind to cause the billowing had to come from fast skating. The only reason they started on their knees and swayed back and forth was to run the clock on the music which was 18 seconds too long. They were not officially timed until Jayne's skates hit the ice as per the rules.

[@jonneke1965]

still breathtaking.....

[@sandywalker5691]

This performance lifts my spirits more today than in its original timing. Human beings can be so inspirational and full of joy and God given spirit. We desperately need this God given spirit today of complete harmony, balance, imagination and for all people to enjoy.

[@NYCBro]

The single most magnificent moment I have ever seen in the history of sports in my lifetime. Thank you, Torvill and Dean.

[@schlippche1]

Eine ganz großartige und einmalige Performance - Geschichte auf dem Eis

[@laylarosexxx7467]

This still gives me goosebumps watching it in 2019 .wow!! nobody will ever come close to the perfect couple pair of ice dancers .

[@sandranorman5469]

Watching it in 2020 November 7th. Still makes me cry. Had just found out I was pregnant with my second child the day before. 13 years between children.

[@elaineculbert8594]

They certainly deserved the Gold for that compelling performance!

[@zomorrow]

Magic Moment

[@siosioliver3474]

I'm speechless , amazingly beautiful & breathtaking l can watch this all the time

[@loz2293]

There getting more flowers than the queen

[@nigelianson2811]

I've watched this video several times and I honestly think the commentator says not typical. I'm not American nor a fan of Dick Button, but I think its one of those times the quality of the sound is at fault.

[@chubbyflower305]

He says 'perhaps not difficult'. It's clear to see why he said it, he is a 1948 Olympic Champion in Males skating - a discipline where axels are more important than artistry.

[@pam0626]

I only allow myself to watch this once a year so it never becomes ordinary for me. Every time I watch it, it’s like seeing magic.

[@szqsk8]

'Perhaps not difficult'. Is Dick Button kidding? I've been ice skating for twenty years and I've always found that the easier something looks, the harder it is to do.

[@muscleboi4use]

How could Dick Button say that this FD wasn't "difficult" - every move had transitions before/after, every edge change had a change of dance hold - utterly original - superb.

[@chooseyourpoison5105]

Ikr? In my opinion, apart from getting all 6.0s for artistic impression, I cannot work out how they did not get straight 6.0s for technical merit. I've watched this dozens of times over the years and I still cannot find a single thing technically wrong with it - perfect synchronization, flawless lifts, spot on edge changes - it is technically perfect, and three of the judges did give them 6.0 for technical merit, so obviously they thought the same.

[@dorvilltean3649]

As Jayne herself said, skating over ice slowly is much harder than skating fast. Dick Button, a mens skater, was used to travelling fast, as well as performing the jumps inexistant here.

[@cindyknudson2715]

They make it look easy. 🙂

[@henryhawran9953]

Remember, there was a small bit of controversy about the choice of Bolero; that the program wasn't sufficiently difficult etc. That was being bandied about in the media at the time. Dick Button was merely repeating what some of those "critics " in the media were saying. He was most certainly not stating that he agreed with it. Just that he was aware of said comments.

[@maryleone2023]

@@henryhawran9953 I have watched the program about 43 times and even saw it on live TV on 2/14/1984. I was in awe. I have noticed that they were skating quite fast since Dean's shirt was billowing as they covered the entire Olympic rink. In order to billow they must have caused quite a wind. I know they took the audience and judges by storm! I will never forget it. I agree with your comment about Button.

[@karenwilliamson7095]

The gold standard by which all skaters will be forever measured!!! Words cannot do this justice!!!

[@ServandoWatercolor]

that was not a gold medal performance......... that was an offering to the Olympic gods......

[@sandranorman5469]

Comparing Jayne and Chris to mere mortals is a desecration.

[@pst702]

The best I've ever seen...no doubt! We lucky to have seen this live on TV when I was in college (Ohio State)...this performance is the gold standard. I wish more Americans can understand that being an Olympian is a achievement by itself but to be a perfectionist in your sport leaves an lasting impression for generations. We as Americans have many sports and it's heroes but to be an Olympian and win a medal, especially a gold medal you'll be remembered by millions for many generations. I played organized sports as a young man but I also ran track in HS and college and I appreciated more of the possibility that it can take me to the world level. Unfortunately I did not get to that level but I truly understand that to be a handful of people in a billion like Torvill and Dean, Michael Phelps, Carl Lewis, it's a god given gift.

[@maryleone2023]

Thank you. I saw it live on 2/14/1984 and was totally mesmerized by the most passionate, sensual, artistic Ice Dance of all time. Dean's choreography brought Ravel's Bolero to life. It was Beauty In Motion. Dean's shirt is billowing throughout their total coverage of Olympic Ice. The footwork is outstanding and I counted seven lifts. It is obvious Dick Button knows nothing about Ice Dancing and the audience and judges proved it. Button should have zipped it!

[@spottertruk]

I don't care that 26 years have passed since this stunning performance; it is breathtaking, and as perfect as an ideal should be. Davis and White are worthy of note, but Torvill and Dean made me cry.

[@TheCarnivalguy]

Am I missing something about your math?

[@ОльгаСевальнева-х6о]

Я лично смотрю это спустя почти 40 лет, т.к. сейчас 2023 год! И от этого танец не стал хуже. Наоборот. Я помню всё это тогда, в 1984-м, были те же эмоции, что и сейчас. Потому что это шедевр! А он неподвластен времени.

[@mikedowal1075]

What a wonderful gift Torvill & Dean gave to the world! I believe their performance will be 1 of the best of all time and sets the bar for all ice dancers to follow.

[@flickymcbean]

Everytime I watch this, I get a little lump in my throat. No performance in Olympic history has ever made me feel like I do watching this. It's just stunning.

[@MsSlucyna]

The more whem you realize what has happened to Sarayevo and its people due to war.

[@sberacatalin2250]

Beton! Perfect zis!

[@maryleone2023]

Look at Dean's shirt BILLOW, hear the crowd roar, all you have to do is look at that score! Now don't you feel like a total fool BUTTON. ABC and now NBC commentary is so annoying and unnecessary. See Vienna 81 for the BBC version of silent observation!

[@memoir4you]

Still brings tears to my eyes after 36 years , happy memories watching as a 9 year old .

[@MrSaltphone]

You can only like this comment if you've watched this FS more than 100 times!!!...and double nerd points if you were looking to watch it to hear the commentary from another country's broadcaster's perspective...

[@desalozo9590]

Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo, c'étais un honneur d'être le résident de Sarajevo et de profiter de la merveilleuse organisation des Jeux olympiques et de voir tous ces athlètes de haut niveau.

[@tackssherbo7104]

It's sad to think that, before ice dancing actually was added to the Olympics competitions, the British couples dominated that phase of the sport. Even my wife agrees that Jane Torvill was one of the most elegant and classy ladies to don a pair of skates. Christopher Dean too is one of the perhaps two or three ice dancing male partners that draws your attention equally to that of his partner. We both keep coming back to these videos to watch performances, and we always begin and end with Torvill and Dean. They are now legends, not because of the difficulty of their programs, but because of their absolute perfection and originality for the time.

[@XYZUNKNOWN]

Great Britain hasn't been a world power in figure skating since Torvill and Dean retired after their bronze medal in 1994. In Ice Dancing, only the Russians won more gold medals. Britain also had a strong Figure Skating team for the home Olympics of 1908, winning quite a few medals. Britain also had much successes in the 40s, 50s, 70s and 80s

[@maryduff8317]

I never tire of watching the videos of this beautiful pair of skaters and their incredible artistry and skill and cohesion. Whether they were in a sexual relationship or not, one can see deep love and respect in their every performance. Perhaps the most enduring kind of love.

[@Bossmanrocks]

After watching the ice dancing at the Sochi games I can't understand where they came up with all the new rules. For instance, the announcer, or whoever she was, kept saying 'here come the twizzles" and the dancers had to do fast spins in unison. There's nothing going on like that here. They are just allowed to dance and interpret the music the way they see fit. That's the way it should be, in MHO.

[@3Axel1996]

As you watch the years to come, block judging (placement swapping) became an issue and one of the reasons for that was because there was no guideline as to how to score a lift, a footwork sequence, etc. So, to make it easier on the judges and easier for the audience and media to follow and understand, the ISU incorporated the current rules, which began in 1999, after questionable judging took place where 5 of the 9 judges all seemed to be colluding.

[@Bossmanrocks]

3Axel1996 Thanks for filling me in. I didn't know that. I see now that they are no longer showing which countries are voting. I thought the Olympics were going to become more transparent?

[@leelokyan1923]

Bossmanrocks the ISU requires anonymous judging, and the Olympics are included. There are calls to remove anonymous judging at the next ISU congress, so we'll see how well that goes.

[@Dom64600]

Merci pour ce moment de perfection artistique

[@SuperSmile2004]

Absolutely unique!

[@1955Miriam]

So good to watch them, because Christopher Dean was and is one of the most handsome skaters of all time. Is brilliant.

[@carolwilson6317]

I love this video of Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean on ice Carol Wilson

[@YourBeingParanoid]

A tear for better days gone by

[@anneperry9014]

Steven Nodlehs oh, definitely steven!!!

[@maidmoira]

good old day's,how I miss everyone.

[@ServandoIV]

Nadia, Torvill&Dean and Mishkutenok&Dimitriev…..memorable.

[@gracjan71]

Beautiful..

[@patriciaroger7595]

Sublime

[@usernamevidio]

Because D. Button is an ass. That's how. He still thinks of himself as the Master. LOL

[@paulsonj72]

Al Michaels doing double duty in 1984. He also did the ice Hockey

[@lflagr]

Any sports historians out there know?...is this the highest free-skating score in history, across all disciplines?!? 6.0 scores in both Technical Merit AND Artistic Impression, straight 6.0s in Artistic Impression, and nothing below 5.9 overall. Amazing.

[@3Axel1996]

Under the 6.0 scoring system, they were the one and only to do so, and twice at the World Championships (83, 84).

[@carolinaalcalde]

It still makes me cry, so many mixed emotions 😢

[@milyvanily4461]

bolero is alvays great...

[@Enaisitirk]

Das ist im Himmel geboren

[@kevinblakey9249]

Forty years yesterday!

[@davidevans6375]

Jean torvald and Christopher dean are the very best in the world just so far tactically on the ice

[@maryleone2023]

Jayne Torvill!

[@MsSlucyna]

Those were the days...

[@lilianflynn198]

The best

[@janethu9169]

Perfect

[@sandranorman5469]

No changes ???? Please Dick Button get your appreciation in gear...

[@AmusedChild]

You don't get all 6.0s for artistic merit by not "breaking the rules."

[@abbeymclaren6778]

How pretty and powerful

[@AKAMom-dc7gc]

Bravo !

[@josephinethomas5854]

.

[@elenafursova9472]

Никто и никогда не превзойдет их. Выдающиеся спортсмены с непревзойденным Болеро!

[@Самсунг1-х2х]

Превзошли давно уже. Они возвращались в 94 и проиграли двум нашим дуэтам.

[@helenhelen3259]

@@Самсунг1-х2х это ни о чем не говорит.Эти два дуэта не идут с ними ни в какое сравнение. Культура катания совершенно иная и возраст разный на тот момент, сравнивать нельзя.Торвил и Дин остаются непревзойденными.

[@Самсунг1-х2х]

@@helenhelen3259 ну да, "никакого сравнения", но почему-то обыграли)))Не буду спорить со старшими.И сейчас есть дуэты с высочайшей культурой катания, культура не закончилась парой Торвилл-Дин)

[@ethan88hunt]

So this is what Ice dance was like in the old days ..... no twizzles. So are they judged? .... by the fluidity of the choreography?

[@nigelianson2811]

One can only imagine you are being facetious, as this performance is one of the most viewed on any medium. This is what is meant by ice dancing not just technical ability but true artistic expression.

[@ethan88hunt]

Nigel I'Anson Facetious - me? No ...... what I said was true. There was no twizzles. And I do have a valid question. Are they being judge base on choreography? You mentioned "This is what is meant by ice dancing not just technical ability but true artistic expression." - then it would have been better if you differentiate Ice dancing then and now. The differences in how its was judge and interpreted.

[@chubbyflower305]

@@ethan88hunt Technical Merit is the difficulty and execution of choreography, Artistic Expression is the interpretation of music and the way this is expressed through the dance.

[@victoriagill3337]

@@ethan88hunt What J&C were always so brilliant at was making the technically difficult (read near impossible) look easy. So just one example - at 2:59 Jayne does a complete 360 with her leg up, held by her partner, straight into a lift without having the opportunity to check her balance and lands on one leg facing forwards then another 360 immediately on landing. If you have no idea how technically difficult this is then please try it yourself.