Their gold medal winning programme to the Adagietto of Mahler's 5th symphony was sublime, the best thing since Bolero. Are they as good as T & D ?

Robin thinks so.

He commented that their performance will be the first since 1984 to enthuse people to talk about them and not T&D.

LOVE watching Virtue & Moir, they're fantastic

I was very impressed with them, but I think a part of the magic was that they performed as they did in front of their home crowd. It's very hard to compare the 2 given that the rules of Ice Dancing have changed so much since Bolero, but in terms of sheer magic, T&D produced the more spellbinding (and probably ground breaking) performance for me.

I agree, I loved their performance and they obviously deserved to win but it wasn't ground-breaking.

Yes.

I'm not sure about this idea that Torvill & Dean are untouchable. There have been many performances that I have enjoyed as much as theirs, if not more so.

The Canadians gave me goosebumps. They were unreal.

Who are they?

They have just won the Olympic Gold Medal in ice-dancing, they are Canadians.

imo Sid - it's only the Brits who consider T&D untouchable - probably due to the dearth of talent we've had since their hours in the sun.

I do think they are to be respected for the magic they brought and in their heyday- but I think 26 years on it is naive to think no none else has emulated them.

Times, rules and, yes, even standards move on.

I'd say there's every chance that the Canadians are not only as good as T&D but, in terms of their skills on the ice, even better. I'd be disappointed in a way if they weren't - it's been 26 years!

More of a valid question perhaps - Are Virtue and Moir as magical/memorable as Torvill and Dean?

In a competition where the measure of success is purely subjective, such comparisons are pointless.

In answer to your question, no, I don't think they will be as memorable/magical. Torvill and Dean were groundbreaking, imo Virtue and Moir aren't.

I agree with you in principle but why does there have to be an absolute point? Can the point not be the fun of discussion?

the point of discussion is truth, with subjectivity there is no truth

I think another point of discussion is the enjoyment/entertainment one you get from putting forward your own point of view (however subjective) and taking on board that of others. Then rejecting the other point of view out of hand immediately, doing the same after thought or adapting one's own opinions depending on what sort of person you are. I think something can be gained from the process of discussion; there doesn't necessarily have to be a definite conclusion to be arrived at.

I disagree

What is the point of you being on a discussion board about one of the most subjective TV programmes ever then if all you want is truth (whatever that is?).

Loved Virtue & Moir but the stand out performance for me was Meryl Davis and Charlie Whites OD to the Indian music.

I think probably all the top ice dancers are as good if not better than T & D but less memorable mostly because T & D had the iconic 6.0's. T & D did also change the face of ice dancing by daring to use a single piece of music instead of cutting two or three different pieces together as had been common practice previously.

They have different skills now and with more constraints it is more difficult to make such a massive impact as T & D with Bolero.

Thanks. I guessed that - you didn't need to point it out. Still, maybe doing so entertained you, in which case - excellent!

searching for the truth of course

I entirely agree

T and D where good for their time I expect. Since then Ice skating has become more exciting, adventurous, harder and a lot more enjoyable to watch. The required elements are much harder on there. Bolero is enjoyable to watch, but there are things that the skaters do that give me goose pimples. Before anyone slaps me, I enjoyed watching Suzanne Shaw performing the bolero more than T & D.

I can't handle the truth...

Out of interest, as the measure of success in ice skating/gymnastics/trampolining and the like is indeed subjective, is there any point in competition in such sports since I assume there cannot be any truth in victory or defeat?

Can I recommend this T shirt for you?

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/benedictxvifc.352086062

All fans of 'The Truth' should have one.

Not at all, as in any one competition the judgement is largely consitent, but comparison across competitions isn't.

I don't like Bolero much, I didn't when they won with it and I still don't. I always hated that piece of music, probably through having to listen to it, with its interminable repeats, at school.

I enjoyed T&D's other routines, and still watch them occasionally, but they are just a blast from the past now, from a simpler time, I suspect that all of today's top ice dancers would blow them into the weeds.