Of all the Winter Olympic events, few inspire us and create as much of an ongoing storyline as the women’s singles event in figure skating. For decades, this individual sport has provided story lines and, at times, bizarre drama (see Tanya Harding). But it always seems to capture the casual sports fans imagination in ways which few can really understand.
I’m a relatively normal sports fan. I tend to enjoy and prefer the sports that most males look to for general enjoyment. I have watched little figure skating thus far primarily because of the length of the overall event. We Americans enjoy immediate gratification and a five plus day event offers little of that.
But the pure competition combined with a realistic understanding of what these athletes do on a daily basis provides an appreciation for what it is you watch. Combine that with the grace and beauty inherent within the female competitors and its no wonder it draws incredible ratings.
This year, I sense a potential american storyline emerging within the event thanks to the efforts of Gracie Gold. Yes, you read that correctly; her last name is Gold.
Gracie is an 18 year old from Massachusetts who has been in international competition since 2011. She trains in Los Angeles and has apparently learned a lot more than just ice skating. She has the sort of smile that built Hollywood, and her overall personal along with an incredible skill set might just take her to the next level in these Sochi Olympics.
Gold won the silver at the 2012 Junior World Championships and has steadily progressed in virtually every year she has been competing. She parted ways with her previous coach, Alex Ourashiev in the summer of 2013 and relocated to Canton, Michigan briefly while involved in a search for a new coach.
Normally, a coaching change would be a scary reality for someone at the point in their career that Gold is at. Yet, this Olympics is the biggest stage she’s ever been on and she’s slowly becoming a primary focus of it.
Gold was absolutely sensational in helping the U.S. collect bronze in the inaugural team skating event. She scored a career international best of 129.36, second only to Russian superstar Yulia Lipnitsaia. The Russian is second behind Yuna Kim of South Korea.
Both girls have far more impressive resumes and are already established international sensations. Lipnitsaia has been described as a “jumping bean” by some and is only 15 years old. She is a prodigy when ti comes to figure skating and also a testimony to just how far the sport has progressed in Russia to date.
Lipnitsaia, at times, looks indestructible and incapable of ever getting tired. She is sound in approach and well beyond her years in terms of on ice maturity. But big moments create a variety of reactions in different people. Let’s be real, no one knows how this 15 year old will perform when the spotlight shines brightest.
Not only is Gold essentially a long shot to win it, but she was an afterthought to some extent coming into these games. But, as a casual sports fan will quickly tell you, getting hot at the right time is a significant part of the battle in taking home any title, and the same can be said for Gold here.
She is slowly starting to perform her best and no moment appears to large for her. The naive nature with which she entered the team event will be carried forward as she attempts to unseat a few potential legends.
Currently, Gold is being tossed around as high as 18-1 to take home the gold. It is somewhat unlikely that Gold takes home the gold, especially given the fact that Putin might well have these games rigged anyway. But, at the end of the day, Gold is a storyline that is going to only attract more and more media attention as we head toward the final days of this saga.
Her good looks, American background and last name are enough to get her in the conversation. The fact that she’s starting to potentially heat up and looks to be the type willing to play loosely with house money is highly beneficial to her cause in going all the way here.
Listening to the way Gold discusses her opponents indicates a definite feeling of reverence. She sees herself and knows herself to be the underdog here, and we often see underdogs rise up in “playoff” sort of moments all the time.
But, more so than, anything else, Gracie Gold is talented. She is an athlete with good size and tremendous agility. She has the skills and pure talent to compete, and that is going to make this Olympic event one you do not want to miss.
Gracie Gold +1800
