What the heck is Team Figure Skating!

Tenners · ‎05-29-2010

Is it just me or aren't the Olympics supposed to be about individual achievement? It seems to me that this competition will only tire out the competitors for their individual events. Can they opt out of the team competition?

faeriemoon · ‎03-14-2010

I don't get the team competition either.

On another note (rant), I used to love to watch figure skating when there was more focus on artistry. Now all they care about is landing triple jumps (which they seldom manage to do under the pressure of competition.) I find it rather boring, personally.

Adding: I enjoy ice dancing the most. Smile

~What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.~ William Shakespeare

Yuban3 · ‎03-10-2010

There are other team events in the Olympics.

2 Man bobsled

4 Man luge

hockey

pairs skating

Not every event is an individual event.

Was Yuban, then changed to Plaid Pants due to forum upgrade, and apparently, I'm back to being Yuban.

EmmaBunting · ‎01-19-2013

Well....I would suppose it's like team gymnastics.

Clover29 · ‎03-09-2010

Isn't it like synchronized swimming, but on skates?

I don't see why it has to be about individuals. Someone I went to school with got a bronze medal in the 1980 Olympics for the 200m relay, which is about the team.

Tenners · ‎05-29-2010

I think you're missing the point. This is new and only an attempt by TV to add more figure skating to their line-up. The sports you list were never individual events.

RedHeadedWench · ‎03-21-2010

Team figure skating is not a bunch of people skating around at the same time. ${#emotions_dlg.lol}$

There are several events in skating..individual, dance, pairs, men, etc etc. They compete..the highest total for the entire TEAM wins gold..silver..bronze.

I hope that helps.

The only reason I know this is, Matt Lauer explained it on the Today Show the other day. I am not an Olympics fan, and really don't watch.

ninjawife · ‎11-15-2011

On 2/8/2014 EmmaBunting said:
Well....I would suppose it's like team gymnastics.

Exactly. Competitors can opt out of the team competition or opt out of individual events.

boby · ‎01-12-2012

Several posters have gotten the concept exactly right, but don't feel bad if you're still a bit confused. You have to realize that they all have their own coaches, and from what I heard the first day of competition the team captains were a little baffled as to what their own roles were. Kind of like trying to build something from a bunch of big parts, and then they don't fit.

And yes, the poster who effectively said it was "made for TV" got it right too. Skating is always the biggest ratings draw of the Winter Games, especially the women.