The Chinese couple who were in fourth place after short came second with best free dance of the night. The Germans came third with a lovely programme but couldn't jump.

The other Chinese pair got the silver medal (they were lying in 4th after the short program) and the Germans got bronze

Ah, smude beat me to it!

Just watched it on BBC. Really enjoyed it but gutted for Germans who I love.

Yes I watched it on the red button. I stayed up for the first half (i.e. the dross hehe) last night but couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

The Germans have such a great connection. They are very engaging, more so than the Chinese who are technicians, but alas their jumps let them down

I loved the two Chinese performances. I mentioned before I was already impressed by Tong & Pang in the short program, and they really stepped it up for the free skate. It must be so good for the other Chinese couple as well because they came out of retirement specifically to win an Olympic gold medal, they've now come first at least once in every competition they've competed in.

Did feel bad for the Germans and Russians having bad skates, but I do think the Chinese had artistry as well technical ability, which they didn't used to (I think the Zhangs were still lacking in this department). I think Robin said as much on the commentary as well.

Looking forward to the men's... though I'll probably have to catch up with most of it tomorrow since I'm attempting to have an early night tonight.

Where did Kemp and King finish up, I know they were out of the top 10?

16th.

I don't think their position changed from the short.

They need to start performing triples to challenge the leading pairs....

Yes, the Germans just have an extra something the Chinese do not have, I do wish they could be more consistent with their jumps, but they did lose to 2 excellent performances so I can live with it.

Yes, can''t grumble. The result was fair and I don't want to take anything away from the Chinese. They have made considerable strides with their artistry over the years - but it feels a touch contrived to me sometimes.

Didn't enjoy as much as previous competitions too many nerves and a lack of presentation in a lot of the routines, sacrificed for technical content to gain marks.

Thanks

What happened to the BBC's red button coverage after 16.50pm? Just cut the coverage!

Hi, I just started a thread elsewhere not realising this was here (Thanks to combathamster for telling me!)

Well I was heartbroken to see the Russians mess their free dance up (I'm in love with Alexander Smirnov). They did it so much better at the Europeans a couple of weeks ago where the Germans also performed better. The German couple also make it look like it's ice dance with pairs elements I think (in a good way I mean).

This was the first time I've watched all the coverage live (somehow managing to stay up and fit it in with work) and I've now decided that having loved ice dance for years (since Torvill & Dean) I now prefer the pairs competition instead.

The silver medallists were the only real "wow" couple for me but some of the other pairs further down the table looked really good (the Americans and the French couple).

The other German couple dressed as Vikings were also v.promising (and not just because the guy is v.easy on the eye).

There are still tickets for the World Championships in Turin next month which I'm attending so I hope to see this lot again.

I noticed that too! I was a little miffed.

The Chinese couple skated so well to win gold, what a fantastic routine. Gutted for the German's as I personally love watching them, but if you don't land your jumps, then that's that!

Just finished watching a recording of the pairs as have been at work all day.

Chinese deserved to win but like others on here I love the Germans but it wasn't clean so no complaints.

Mens short tonight. I won't be able to stay up & watch it all. I think I might get up a bit early & watch a few of the routines before work.

I saw I won't stay up but I can't contain my excitement and I know I'll watch at least the first 4. But then having made it that far I'll wanna watch Plushenko!

The order for the short program is random isn't it?

If so, Plushenko might skate early with any luck

1 RI Song Chol
2 KOVALEVSKI Anton
3 URBAS Gregor
4 AMODIO Florent
5 PFEIFER Viktor

6 RAKIMGALIYEV Abzal
7 DOMANSKI Przemyslaw
8 NURMENKARI Ari-Pekka
9 CHIPEUR Vaughn
10 PLUSHENKO Evgeni

11 BACCHINI Paolo
12 KELEMEN Zoltan
13 BORODULIN Artem
14 LINDEMANN Stefan
15 FERNANDEZ Javier

16 TEN Denis
17 TAKAHASHI Daisuke
18 SCHULTHEISS Adrian
19 LAMBIEL Stephane
20 ODA Nobunari

21 JOUBERT Brian
22 KOZUKA Takahiko
23 CONTESTI Samuel
24 CHAN Patrick
25 WEIR Johnny

26 VAN DER PERREN Kevin
27 VERNER Tomas
28 LYSACEK Evan
29 ABBOTT Jeremy
30 BREZINA Michal



Johnny Weir & Brian Joubert in the same group! Ugh but I'll have to wait til last to see Evan =( Plushy in the second group tho so that's ok!

Ooh ta for publishing the running order.

I will watch the first two groups - the routines are only short anyway

I know he doesn't really have a chance of a medal, but I enjoy watching Kevin van der Perren skate. I saw him in a gala at Basingstoke rink before Christmas and he landed some sweet jumps.

Finally they show the rest at 9.40pm, well one more the overall winner! Thanks BBC

Chinese couples won gold & silver in the pairs competition, not sure which team got the bronze.There were a lot of mistakes made by many of the skaters, even those in the top five, who'd been around a while. Looking forward to the ice-dance though, thats my favourite discipline in the skating.

Is me or are there an awful lot of falls this olympics? I don't remember ever seeing so many people not landing the jumps.

It seems fairly typical to me.

And, after all, it wouldn't pay to play it safe by doing only jumps you're almost sure to be able to do; and so they do jumps that are closer to the edge of what they can manage.