Drama on the ice: The fall of the 'Quad God'
Milan is buzzing, but the atmosphere in the Milano Ice Skating Arena was tense enough to cut with a knife last night. As someone who has been part of the dance world for thirty years, I know that the line between triumph and tragedy is razor-thin. We saw that painfully clearly last night with Ilia Malinin. The American top favorite, also known as the 'Quad God', finished in a shocking eighth place. He wanted to make history with his quadruple axel — a jump considered almost impossible — but the pressure of the Olympic stage proved too great. Malinin fell twice and made mistakes that we are simply not used to seeing from him.
While the world star faltered, Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan seized his moment. With a fabulous score of 291.58 points, he took the gold. It is the first time Kazakhstan has won gold in figure skating at the Winter Games. Shaidorov was technically rock-solid and landed no fewer than five quadruple jumps. In a report from the NOS, you can read how the top contenders all had a difficult time, which only makes Shaidorov's performance more impressive.
The power of expression: The story of Maxim Naumov
What touched me most as a dance expert, however, was the performance of Maxim Naumov. For a dancer, the stage is often a place to process emotions, and that is exactly what Naumov did. Last year, he lost both parents in a tragic plane crash. His parents were world champions in figure skating themselves, and last night he literally skated in their footsteps. Although he finished in twentieth place, his free skate was a tribute that left no one unmoved. After his performance, he held up a childhood photo of himself and his parents. This is where sport turns into art; it's not just about the points, but about the story you tell.
Jorrit Bergsma's 'Mullet Trend' conquers Italy
In addition to the artistic intensity on the ice, we see a trend in the skating world that I, as a fashion lover, cannot let go unnoticed. Our own Jorrit Bergsma has not only won bronze in the 10,000 meters, but he has also sparked a true hair trend in Milan. His 'matje' (the mullet) is the talk of the town. In Friesland, he was already supported by 'De Matties', a group of friends from his village Aldeboarn sitting in the stands with fake mullets, but now it seems all of Milan has been won over.
According to a report by Omrop Fryslân, reporters in Milan are investigating whether the Italian fashion capital is now going to adopt this hairstyle en masse. It is fascinating to see how a 40-year-old athlete — the veteran of the team — appears with such a distinctive look. At Miss Salsa, we always say: presentation is half the battle. Whether you dance a salsa routine or skate a 10-kilometer race, your appearance determines how the audience remembers you. With his bronze and his mullet, Bergsma has struck gold in terms of popularity.
What's on the schedule for the coming days?
The Games are far from over and the schedule for the coming days is packed with highlights. For fans of speed and technique, these are the moments to be in front of the TV:
- Sunday, February 15 (today): Figure skating continues with the short program for pairs. We look forward to Michel Tsiba and Daria Danilova (from 7:45 PM).
- Monday, February 16: The climax for the pairs with the free skate.
- Tuesday, February 17: The women begin their short program.
- Wednesday, February 18: Short track action with Jens van 't Wout hunting for his second gold medal.
- Thursday, February 19: The women's figure skating final.
- Saturday, February 21: The mass start in long-track speed skating, where Bergsma will undoubtedly let his mullet fly again.
Lessons from Milan for the dance floor
What can we as dancers learn from this Olympic battle? First: resilience. Look at Nika Egadze, the Georgian skater who trains under controversial coach Eteri Tutberidze. The training methods there are often described as 'military'. While we in the dance world believe more in passion and flow, it shows that discipline is the foundation of every top performance. Without technique, you have no foundation for your art.
Second: the power of community. Maxim Naumov indicated that without the support of the skating world, he would never have stepped onto the ice again. I recognize that from our own dance schools. The group carries you through the low points. Whether you're training for a quadruple Lutz or for your first salsa performance, the people around you make the difference.
In the coming days, we will continue to follow the events in Milan closely. The combination of brute strength on the skating rink and refined elegance on the figure skating rink remains a source of inspiration. And who knows, maybe I'll soon see the first dancers with a Bergsma mullet appearing in the studio. After all, in fashion and sport, everything is possible.