A silly but fun (well, to me) question...
We were talking on the Yuzu/GOAT thread about charisma and likeability and greatest status (obviously, the three are NOT synonymous, no matter how starry-eyed we all are about our favourites).
And a couple of names popped into my head of skaters who for me do have enormous charisma and likability, but who never made gold at a major competition, but who I would happily watch for ages, way more than greater and much medalled skaters (no, we are not talking Eddie the Eagles here, I doubt there was ever an Eddie in major skating competition... pity) These people were or are good, maybe never made top flight internationally but just for me have the 'it' factor: warmth, sheer lovability, aura, quirkiness, sheer beauty, sex appeal, any or all of them.
Like Elladj Balde, whose segments in Fantasy on Ice are a highlight even again the horde of Olympians also there, because he comes across as such a lovely and heartwarming personality. And my own personal favourite ice dancers ever, Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi because they are always always fun (and they brought zombies, stylish zombies)
So (because the heights have their own charisma and we want other names) leaving out all those who medalled at Worlds and Olympics, or got gold at Europeans, 4CC or GPF, who are your go-to feel-good skaters? The ones that you love not because they wildly impress you with feats and scores and such, but because watching them simply makes your day better?
We were talking on the Yuzu/GOAT thread about charisma and likeability and greatest status (obviously, the three are NOT synonymous, no matter how starry-eyed we all are about our favourites).
And a couple of names popped into my head of skaters who for me do have enormous charisma and likability, but who never made gold at a major competition, but who I would happily watch for ages, way more than greater and much medalled skaters (no, we are not talking Eddie the Eagles here, I doubt there was ever an Eddie in major skating competition... pity) These people were or are good, maybe never made top flight internationally but just for me have the 'it' factor: warmth, sheer lovability, aura, quirkiness, sheer beauty, sex appeal, any or all of them.
Like Elladj Balde, whose segments in Fantasy on Ice are a highlight even again the horde of Olympians also there, because he comes across as such a lovely and heartwarming personality. And my own personal favourite ice dancers ever, Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi because they are always always fun (and they brought zombies, stylish zombies)
So (because the heights have their own charisma and we want other names) leaving out all those who medalled at Worlds and Olympics, or got gold at Europeans, 4CC or GPF, who are your go-to feel-good skaters? The ones that you love not because they wildly impress you with feats and scores and such, but because watching them simply makes your day better?