Kismet - Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao 2002 Olympics Short Program

[@katydid41]

Pls don't misunderstand my comment below. S&Z are longtime faves of mine since 1997 when their skills didnt' match their talents yet. I love these two people very much. But in 2002, even Yao Bin= their coach would have admitted that the Chinese pairs' spin skills were lacking and he went to work with them to fix that problem. Fixed by the 2006 Olympics in Torino. Zhao skated on a very sore ankle just 4 mos after surgery for a severed achilles tendon in his left leg. Very brave. Won bronze!

[@eringobraugh]

Fast, clean (beyond spins), strong, beautiful, well fitted to the music, awesome costumes, original choreography... spectacular

[@mike11022]

Watching this video, I kinda miss their earlier years when they had MUCH more SPEED and POWER in their skating. Anyway, VERY happy for them winning the Olympic gold at Vancouver.

[@KZahoo]

definitely a amazing performance.

[@animefreakkitty021]

These two are my favorite pair in figure skating. I LOVE them.

[@DebateKari]

love the music

[@danng38]

Thank you so much !!!

[@muscleboi4use]

Hmm.... Sandra Bezic and Scott Hamilton, not my favourite commentators - really like the British Eurosport guys (but, I am British so maybe biased!) and Tracey Wilson of Canada. BUT, always loved Shen and Zhao - especially Xue Shen, she really has presence on the ice, and a great athlete.

[@jindasukbunma9657]

So far they are the bast!

[@vickyc99]

haha i love how excited scott hamilton gets.

[@jindasukbunma9657]

Canada,love you!!

[@tansoyaksoylar1293]

I think they deserved second place after the short

[@JonnyMason]

@oesdoob That is not Peggy Fleming, the commentator is actually Sandra Bezic. She was a Canadian pairs skater. She is a choreographer now.

[@danng38]

Prior to the 2002 season, Sandra Bezic was choreographer for Shen/Zhao. After they fall out, Shen/Zhao excel to another level. Sandra Bezic can not stand Shen/Zhao and China's success. Unprofessionally, she uses the platform, the commentator for NBC and depletes Shen/Zhao's performances with every mean and opportunity. Even at 2010 Vancouver. Thnaks to Tom, another commentator interrupted her every time she tried. Now she is targeting Zhang and Zhang. NBC shouldn't allow her unethical behavior.

[@DorEnErnil]

As far as commentary, I always liked the ABC team (Terry Gannon, Peggy Fleming, Dick Button, Susie Wynn, etc.). Sucks that NBC has skating now instead of ABC.

[@extvega6]

much better than 2001 i think that they felt more the song of bond (kismet obviously) the spins are more faster but it could be better a little more

[@sherryanng19]

Xue Shen looks so powerful here .... here physique looks like she doesn't have a pinch of fat on her.

[@bear66459]

why deduction is on the presentation mark instead of technical merit? I mean they made a mistake on the spin.

[@keatonesque6059]

Great dynamic performance. Scott Hamilton has the most unpleasant commentating voice EVER.

[@1andonlyCobra]

I actually had no problem with the comment. Even in their '10 Oly programs, spinning was definitely still an issue. Unfortunately, they just never really mastered THAT element.

[@Zuranthium]

@danng38 Bezic said they made artistic improvement. She was completely correct about their spins. Not sure what you're whining about.

[@jindasukbunma9657]

Amy,my gosh,

[@pdgf]

could someone upload the event i don't know exactly what year or what event, but I think it was the first time these two were on the Olympics and they had the best performance but didn't win any medal perhaps because the judges think they were just new to the competition. Thanks. I just remember that they had this spectacular throw.

[@danng38]

@Zuranthium Expressing an apple but got the reaction of a orange. Not a single performance or element; I'm talking about my understanding of the brief history that effects the relationship between S/Z, China pairs figure skating team and Sandra Bezic. The whining is about talking ice to the summer insect. Instead of commenting someone's opinion, comment one's own thoughts is more contributed.

[@louislocke]

sbs spins...Shen & Zhao's Nemesis...:) Otherwise perfect.

[@co0kii]

@Ingretto i reckon... especially the female commentator ==

[@danng38]

Does anybody know name of the woman commentator ?

[@cookiesluvkreme]

Gosh that female commentator. ARGH.

[@mlc2005]

@oesdoob: Yeah, Peggy Flemming has way too much class to make snotty comments about a skater's supposed weakness. Even when Peggy points out a flaw, she tries to do it ever so nicely (that's why she was such a great spoiler for Button's gruff approach). Sandra Bezic was completely unmemorable as a skater (unlike Flemming), and if it were not for her later choreography, would have been completely forgotten long ago.

[@rod1cut2]

Shen and Zhao were better than all the others that came after them. Today (23 Jan 2013) I watched the same program at the Europeans with Savchenko and Solkovy (what a shame)!!! could not live to the chalenge..

[@mlc2005]

It really annoys me when mediocre, second rate skaters, i.e. Sandra Bezic, are given a podium from which to criticize other skaters.

[@katydid41]

S&Z skated after Canadians robbed. All in arena were upset including commentators. Bezic is correct about SZ spins here. SZ are also favorites of mine.. REMEMBER in this Olympic skating event the scoring was fraudulent betw French and Russian judges. French judge to support Russian pairs team and Russian judge to support French ice dancing team. BECAUSE of this scandal = proven and admitted later w/ judges kicked out of sport, the current scoring system was invented and adopted.

[@Ingretto]

annoying announcers