Oh the drama that is men's figure skating.
The roster for Tuesday night's short program is looking mighty full; jam packed with enough ego and "diva power" to fill the seats of an Aretha Franklin concert.
Two of the medal contenders, Evgeny Plushenko and Stephane Lambiel, have come out of retirement for this last quest at gold and Plushenko has already had some choice words for international skating judges.
Plushenko, the gold medallist at Torino in 2006, retired in 2006 and came back on the international skating scene in March 2009. He has recently criticized the International Skating Union and it's judges for what has appeared to be overt criticism of his style of skating. His alleged comments have appeared in an email that was circulated by international judged Joe Inman and been the centre of attention in the days leading up to the Games.
Plushenko was not speaking to the media until after his short program Tuesday night, where he was the first to skate and garnered a record shattering 90.85 score.
Stephane Lambiel, the silver medalist from Torino, skated to a disappointing score of 84.63 while my fellow Torontonian Patrick Chan is currently clinging to sixth place with a score of 81.12 after not ending with the music and a few minute mistakes.
The battle of the Americans is on between our favourite little diva Johnny Weir and his less flamboyant rival Evan Lysacek. Call it the feather-filled 2010 reprisal of the "Battle of the Brians." Weir's short program skate left him in fifth place ahead of Patrick Chan with a score of 82.10 while Lysacek has not skated as yet.
Weir, always known for his quirky and cute comments and sexual ambiguity, is rooming with Lysacek's ex-girlfriend ice dancer Tanith Belbin in the Olympic Village after he decided to forgo his posh hotel accomodations for something more "spartan." Who knows what secrets Belbin may share with him.
It's these drama-filled moments why I love the Olympics.
V.K.L
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