(Beijing) Canadian Piper Gilles held back tears as she tried to explain how a lift went horribly wrong in the ice dance event at the Beijing Olympics.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
Her longtime partner, Paul Poirier, kindly told her, “You were amazing. »
In what was likely their last Olympic appearance, Gilles and Poirier finished seventh in ice dancing after a missed lift brought Gilles to tears in the area where the skaters await their scores.
Skating to the sound of The Long and Winding Roadof The Beatles, the Canadians posted a total of 204.78 points.
During the rotation of the lift, Gilles turns from behind over Poirier. His foot is supposed to land on Poirier’s leg, while his other leg stretches skyward. But as in every ice dancer’s nightmare, she found herself squatting on one knee.
“The turnaround just went a bit too far. Where I landed, I was on my heel and… I don’t have enough pressure to push on the blade, it wants to slide, explained Gilles. At that point, we just tried to hold the maneuver… it was just to hold it as long as possible and try to get the most points. »
Frenchmen Gabriela Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron triumphed with a total of 226.98 points after the two events. The pair finished second in this event in PyeongChang in 2018, behind Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.
PHOTO SEBASTIEN BOZON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The French Gabriela Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron triumphed with a total of 226.98 points.
Russian Olympic Committee athletes Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov, the reigning world champions, finished second with a score of 220.51. Americans Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue completed the podium with a combined 218.02 points.
If this was really the last Olympics for Gilles and Poirier, it was certainly not the end they hoped to write. But they were still proud of the way they fought despite their mistake.
“That’s what every athlete who comes here to the Olympics does — fight for every moment and be at their best,” insisted Gilles. That’s what we did today. We have been very resilient and we should be very proud of that. »
“You can watch the sport and say ‘they didn’t win’, but it’s all about the work that has been put in to get to those moments. People forget it, added Gilles. We can just be so proud of what we have done and we are blessed to have competed in the Olympics. »
Gilles and Poirier plan to compete in the World Championships next month in Montpellier, France, and then decide their future.
“I feel like our story has always been an open story and I think it really depends on what we want to do next. Do we feel creative enough to continue? Where do we want to be in life? “Gilles said.
The Canadian duo made up of Nikolaj Soerensen and Laurence Fournier Beaudry finished ninth while the one formed by Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha finished the event in 13and rung.
Next up will be the ladies’ short programs on Tuesday. Madeline Schizas, who celebrated her 19and birthday on Monday, is the only Canadian entered in this individual event.