Images by Melanie Heaney
That is my final buongiorno from Milano!
It’s already time to prepare to go again residence, with this unbelievable expertise reaching its finish with the Girls’s Remaining.
The quick programme day was fairly unbelievable, with most skaters delivering stunning performances with only a few errors. The free managed to even exceed that: the highest 13 skaters all scored greater than 200 factors in complete, which is an indication of how critically all the ladies took to the ice, decided to ship their finest skates and showcase the prime quality throughout the discipline.
The gold medal went to a unbelievable Alysa Liu, who went on the market along with her normal massive smile and optimistic perspective. She was third after the quick, however her free was skated virtually as if she have been performing in a gala, with quite a lot of enjoyment and making it seem like a simple trip.
Alysa’s perspective in the direction of irritating conditions ought to be studied! I actually admire her capacity to compete in certainly one of an athlete’s most irritating occasions and ship with such a cheerful and optimistic perspective. She was shining in her gold gown and added one other layer of gold along with her medal.
Alysa was sixth on the 2022 Winter Video games and didn’t take part within the staff occasion again then. This time, she leaves the Olympics with two gold medals round her neck.
Requested about how she manages to be so optimistic, she stated it’s as a result of her household and associates are an excellent assist, and he or she feels she is in an excellent place to point out the perspective she does.
She can also be eager to boost consciousness about psychological well being in sport and basically, admitting that her first skating expertise was a tough one, however now she feels so a lot better.
She needed to stress that a very powerful a part of her story is human connection. That’s all she desires, and he or she is conscious that she is now related to lots of people. Defending her id can also be a purpose she has: she doesn’t go surfing that a lot, likes to hang around along with her associates, and tries to remain as grounded as attainable to maintain herself sane.
Kaori Sakamoto, the divine (if I could name her that), skated elegantly, inserting second in each segments to safe the silver medal. It’s identified that that is Kaori’s final season, and it’s already “time to say goodbye”.
Kaori is a real inspiration. At her third Winter Olympics, she provides this silver to the one she received at this Staff Occasion, in addition to to her silver from the 2022 Olympic Staff Occasion and her bronze from the person occasion.
This silver medal just isn’t precisely what Kaori got here to Milan for. She needed gold. She knew she had what it takes to win it, and he or she fought till the top. Her practices have been practically excellent on a regular basis, however the Olympics are the Olympics. Everybody brings their finest sport, and any small mistake makes a giant distinction. Within the blended zone, Kaori couldn’t maintain again the tears, figuring out she was lower than two factors away from her Olympic dream.
“It’s actually irritating, or moderately, I’ve regrets,” she stated within the press convention. “I’ve labored so laborious up up to now that I really feel annoyed. I hope I can give attention to this quest and transfer on to the subsequent step in my profession.”
Her legacy is immense, and he or she will likely be missed, however she is already occupied with her subsequent chapter as a coach, prepared to assist and encourage the brand new generations of skaters.
Talking of the brand new generations, allow us to speak in regards to the bronze medallist, Ami Nakai. At solely 17 years of age, she landed a triple Axel in each her quick and free programmes, delivering stunning skates that allowed her to win her first Olympic medal. Within the kiss and cry, she didn’t instantly realise she was a medallist and appeared in the direction of Alysa Liu, Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba, asking if she was third whereas displaying three fingers on one hand. Instantly after realising it, Alysa jumped up with pleasure and went over to a tearful Ami to provide her a giant hug.
Ami’s practices earlier than the free programme weren’t very constant, however that didn’t matter. What counted was that she was capable of focus when it mattered most. She stated this expertise was extremely priceless for her and admitted that she must proceed engaged on her triple Axel, a soar she’s going to want sooner or later. She additionally was not shy about admitting that she’s going to work laborious to qualify for the subsequent Olympics.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry and ISU President Jae Youl Kim awarded the medals and presents.
There are such a lot of different skaters I would wish to say, ranging from Mone Chiba’s flawless performances that earned her fourth place total, to Amber Glenn’s inspiring comeback from thirteenth within the quick programme to 3rd within the free, ending fifth total. Everybody competing on this last must be pleased with themselves.
In the meantime, a few of our ice dance groups are already again practising within the devoted rink in Milano while persevering with to benefit from the Video games, attending occasions and dwelling the Olympic spirit as a lot as they will.
The opposite day, Olympic celebrity and GOAT (Biggest Of All Time) Simone Biles was on the follow rink! She and Anthony Ponomarenko have been doing flips off the ice. I don’t assume it will likely be lengthy earlier than we see Simone with skates on, trying to study some skating strikes (Lilah Worry is unbelievable eager to show her some!).
Matteo
