Chapter 101 2017 Final Free Dance
Crazy
Ji Tang and his group took a car to the competition venue. As soon as they got off the car, Ji Tiantian saw that there were many spectators in front of the venue waiting for the ice dance competition to begin.
When everyone saw Ji Tang, they rushed over to cheer him on.
As before, many reporters from all over the world are conducting pre-match interviews here, interviewing both players and spectators.
A Japanese reporter is interviewing Judy Jayne.
"You chose a Chinese-style free dance before, and had a unique bird-snake battle with the Chinese group. Will a similar situation happen again this time?" the reporter asked.
"I don't think so." Judy said with a smile, "We've watched Ji Tang's races, and our style this season is a little different."
"Really?" the reporter asked, "Whose style do you think is more advantageous?"
"Ji Tang is seeking their breakthrough, and we are also seeking ours. China's Ji Tang is indeed a strong opponent, but our opponent is not only Ji Tang. We need to tap into our advantages and strengths." Judy looked at Jayne beside her, and then showed a motivated smile to the reporter, "I can't say who has the greatest advantage, but I am confident in our program."
"Tiantian, Tang Yi, congratulations on taking the lead after the short dance." A reporter from the Chinese online platform came to interview Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi who had just got off the car. "Your short dance results this time are better than Russia No. 1 who is always in the lead. What do you think about this?"
"Hmm..." Ji Tiantian thought seriously about yesterday's roller coaster-like situation and showed a complicated smile, "I really want to say that we are ahead of them because of luck, but it seems that we are not lucky." After she said that, she turned and looked at Tang Yi.
"My luck is just average." Tang Yi looked at Ji Tiantian, then spoke to the reporter, "I hope today will be better."
"It's definitely better than yesterday! This kind of ice jam can't happen again! I wish you good results today!" The reporter said excitedly, "You must have worked hard to prepare for this season? Have you thought about where to relax after this game?"
"We want to have some fun after the season ends." Ji Tiantian smiled at the reporter, then lowered her eyes, "But actually, I really want to go back to South City after the game. I haven't been back for a long time."
Last year, in order to prepare for the Four Continents Tour, she did not return to South City during the Chinese New Year.
Although transportation is now convenient and her parents can come to the capital to see her at any time, she can never give up the ties with her hometown. South City is where she grew up and where she settled in her previous life.
"Then let's make an appointment after the competition and go to South City together?" Tang Yi asked Ji Tiantian.
Ji Tiantian was stunned. She thought that Tang Yi must have many memories in South City, so she nodded vigorously, "Okay."
As soon as she agreed, she heard the reporter screaming like a kettle. "Ahhh! Sorry... I'm just a little excited!" The reporter looked at Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi expectantly, "Are you going to meet the parents so soon?"
"Actually, I've already met him." Ji Tiantian had just finished speaking when the reporter screamed again, so she quickly added, "It was just a casual meeting! There's no point!"
"I know, I know, everyone knows it!" The reporter tried hard to suppress his inner excitement and nodded vigorously, "You should always be happy!"
"What is Tiantang talking about? Why are the reporters so excited?" An ice fan nearby made a confused sound.
"It seems that... he has already met the parents?"
"Ahhh, this is progressing so fast!"
"Ahhh my big sweet ship will never sink!"
The ice fans around who heard the interview also screamed one after another.
Ji Tiantian blushed and dragged Tang Yi into the venue.
After greeting Mia Lucas who was already there, the tense atmosphere of the arena was overwhelming.
Ji Tiantian lowered her head and closed her eyes, calming down and concentrating on preparing for the competition.
As the competition was about to begin, Chen Yusheng and other spectators entered the venue one after another and took their seats in the auditorium. Soon the auditorium was full, and everyone started a heated discussion on the situation of the short dance.
"China's JT is very strong this season! He got first place in the two-point stage and also in the short dance!" A foreign ice fan expressed surprise.
"They were able to get first place in the short dance even though they were stuck in the ice. I feel like they can win the gold medal in this competition!"
"I don't think so. The difference in the short dance scores between China's JT and Russia's No. 1 group was very small and almost negligible. Russia's No. 1 has a solid foundation and must have reflected deeply after the short dance. I believe they will perform well in the free dance and turn defeat into victory."
"I think so too. Russia's No.1 is aiming for the Winter Olympics gold medal this season, and they will definitely not give up the victory easily."
"JT doesn't have as much experience as Dalia and the others. Short Dance is currently ahead, but this should be the limit of what they can do at the moment..."
"But I remember JT seemed to be better at free dance, so they don't have any chance of winning!"
"The main thing is that Dalia and the others are not weak in any event. The short dance was just a mistake."
"That's right. Looks like JT will get the silver medal again this time."
"The adult ice dance competition is about to begin. The first group, please get ready to warm up." Soon, the broadcast sounded.
After a brief silence, the audience became agitated again. Everyone was anxiously waiting for the game to begin.
"I really don't know what the outcome will be until the very end!" Chen Yusheng looked restless.
"Think about the initial results of Tiantianjie and Tang Yi. It's not easy for them to get to where they are today!" Ni Chuan said to Chen Yusheng, "Anyway, no matter what results they get, I will congratulate them."
"You're right." Chen Yusheng nodded and turned to look at Ji Tiantian who was fixing her makeup on the ice.
No matter what the final ranking is, Ji Tiantian will always be the best ice dancer in her mind.
The competition started, and the first group of contestants came on stage to warm up. The first group of contestants were the three pairs ranked 4th, 5th, and 6th in the short dance.
After warming up, they competed in reverse order of their short dance scores.
The first to perform was Mia Lucas, the Canadian No. 2 who ranked sixth in the short dance. The music for their free dance this time came from the animated film, How to Train Your Dragon.
Mia wore a Viking-style kilt, while Lucas wore a black kilt with rhinestones glued on it to look like scales. This time he will play the role of a dragon in the free dance.
The two performed the story of a Viking girl taming a dragon on the ice to the sound of majestic movie music.
Mia sat on Lucas' shoulders, and the two of them completed a fast arc lift together. Mia's happy smile drew applause from the audience.
"The theme chosen by this couple is a bit strange. But you have to say, the lift makes it feel like the girl is flying on a dragon." Someone in the audience commented.
Mia and Lucas finished their free dance and came to the equalizing area to wait for the results. Their technical score was 54.32, the program content score was 55.32, and the free dance score was 109.64. The two sets of step sequences were level 3, and the other technical movements were level 4. Together with the short dance score of 73.49, the total score was 183.13.
"The top team performed pretty well, but their rating seems to be low." A veteran ice fan in the audience commented.
"The referees are stricter this time. They probably want to do a better job of checking before the Winter Olympics."
"Oh, it feels really strict. I wonder what the other groups are like."
Although the scores did not improve much, the elite team still looked very happy, and they were still talking and laughing after leaving the waiting area. They enjoyed skating and liked the theme of this competition. They were very happy with the competition, which was enough.
Katerin and Ivanov were next to perform. The music for their free dance was "AIMER (Love)" from the musical "Romeo and Juliet".
Katerin is very good at free dance with love as the theme. She and her partner are in the passionate period of love, and the performance is very natural.
When Ivanov held Katerin in his arms and performed a twist and lift, their faces were very close. Katerin couldn't help but hold Ivanov's face and gave him a kiss. There were screams from the audience.
Soon, Katerin and Ivanov finished their free dance and came to the equal area to wait for the results.
Their technical score was 57.81, the program content score was 57.01, and the free dance score was 114.89. One set of transition steps was level 3, one set was level 4, and the other technical movements were level 4. Together with the short dance score of 74.27, the total score was 189.16.
"This group performed well this time." Someone in the audience commented.
"Yeah, the P score is higher than before. Katerin is in great shape this time. Back in Sochi, she was still breaking up with her previous partner!"
Katerina and Ivanov in the waiting area kissed passionately and were obviously very satisfied with their free dance performance.
Then it was the turn of the last contestants in the first group, Rita and Thompson.
The soundtrack of their free dance was from the movie "Interstellar." The two wore high-necked costumes in the style of aviation suits and skated onto the ice one after another.
Probably to express the ethereal feeling of walking in space, the two sets of steps included a series of difficult single-foot steps, that is, a series of sliding foot steps that repeatedly switch between the inner and outer edges without changing feet.
However, during the second set of connecting steps, Rita suddenly stumbled and her footwork was interrupted, which was bound to result in demotion.
After finishing the free dance, both of them looked unhappy, and it was obvious that they were not satisfied with their performance in the competition.
Soon, Rita Thompson received their results in the waiting area. The technical score was 54.65, the program content score was 56.01, and the free dance score was 110.66. One set of transition steps was level 2, one set was level 3, and the other technical movements were level 4. With the short dance score of 75.57, the total score was 186.23.
"Great! The referee was finally fair this time! The P score of the American team is not that high!" Some Chinese ice fans made happy voices in the audience.
"It's mainly because they made mistakes in their movements, so their P score will also decrease according to their technical score, so there's no way to be too harsh. But seeing this P score... I don't know why I feel relieved."
"Ahem, they are no match for us Tiantang anymore, don't worry about it."
"Oh, that's right! He was just a defeated general!"
After leaving the waiting area, Thompson and Rita immediately began to argue.
"I told you a long time ago that you would have problems if you were not proficient in your footwork and that you should practice more. Why didn't you listen?" Thompson yelled at Rita.
"You discussed both sets of steps with the choreographer! They are the steps you are good at!" Rita, who was always calm, screamed, "I have told you many times that I am not good at single-leg steps! I have told you many times! When have you ever cared about my feelings?"
The two of them were talking loudly, and many of the surrounding players heard them and cast their eyes at them. They didn't argue for long, and were soon persuaded by the coach.
Ji Tiantian looked at the crying Rita silently. In Ji Tiantian's impression, Rita, the female partner of the American No. 1 group, has always been relatively taciturn. She expressed her opinions so fiercely this time, obviously because she had been suppressed in the past.
Ji Tiantian pursed her lips and subconsciously moved closer to Tang Yi. Tang Yi felt her approach and immediately held her hand.
Along the way, she had seen Judy dislike Jayne, seen Catherine break up and split up the group, and now she had witnessed the quarrel in the American group.
She truly realized that the peaceful and stable cooperative relationship between her and Tang Yi was truly precious. It was a priceless treasure.
The first group of competitions was completed and the ice-making truck went on the ice to repair the ice surface.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi took off their coats, handed them to the coach, and then stood at the edge of the ice, waiting to go on the ice for warm-up. Also standing at the edge of the ice waiting were the Canada No. 1 combination and the Goose No. 1 combination.
The air was quiet for a while, and everyone was looking at each other silently.
"This outfit of yours must have taken quite a while." Finally, Dalia from the Big Goose Group spoke first and addressed Judy from the Canadian Group.
Because of the performance requirements, Ji Tang's free dance costumes were very light, and the same was true for the Big Goose group. Only Judy Jayne's group was dressed more solemnly.
It is obvious that Judy is going to play Cleopatra. The Costume and makeup on her face are all in Egyptian style. In order to play the role well, Judy deliberately dyed her blonde hair black.
"What can I do?" Judy said, "In order to get good grades, this sacrifice is necessary."
"Yeah." The male companion, Jayne, nodded, looked at Goose No. 1, then looked at Ji Tang, and smiled, "Actually, I think it's not easy for everyone."
After hearing Jayne's words, Ji Tiantian and the Big Goose Group couldn't help but recall the hardships they had experienced in the past.
"Unlike you, Nikolai and I have been in the arena for more than ten years. When I was seriously injured, I thought I couldn't skate anymore. But in the end, I still stand here." Dalia held her dance partner with one hand and reached out to Ji Tiantian with the other. "Being able to stand here is a victory. Come on, let's cheer together."
Ji Tiantian looked into Dalia's eyes silently. She could read the infinite love for ice dancing from this senior's eyes.
If it weren't for the passion, we wouldn't have gotten to this point. This love makes the fierce competition field become especially sacred.
"Let's work hard together." Ji Tiantian reached out and held Dalia's hand, then turned around and found Judy looking at her expectantly.
Ji Tiantian smiled and reached out to Judy. Judy looked at her with a slightly grateful look, then held her hand tightly.
"Let's work together!" Judy whispered.
Ji Tiantian held the hands of her two opponents, put away her smile, and looked at the ice surface solemnly.
Compared with the past, the relationship between her and her opponent is more harmonious. However, the competition is as fierce as ever and must not be taken lightly.
Soon, the second group of three pairs finished warming up and the main competition began. The first to go on stage was the Judy Jayne group.
The soundtrack for their free dance was the Egyptian-style song "The Secret Chamber".
In this free dance, Judy plays Cleopatra and Jayne plays Caesar, and the two perform a legendary exotic love on the ice.
Ji Tiantian stood by the ice and watched silently. After the bird-snake battle, Judy and Jayne seemed to have a strong interest in exotic styles, and this time they brought the Egyptian story to the ice.
Also during the lift, Judy lay in Jayne's arms, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him passionately, causing screams from the audience.
"Is this okay? As far as I remember, this couple are not a couple!" The audience started a round of heated gossip.
"Fake ship! Fake ship!"
"Is there a possibility that they suddenly became real ships?"
"No, I didn't see any news saying it was a real ship!"
"I seem to have heard a rumor that if you perform a kissing scene on the show, you will get more P points!"
"Ah? Then hurry up and get on board, Sweetie! How can a real ship lose to a fake one!"
"I don't think Tiantang will do such an arrangement. I can only hope to have a chance to see the kiss off the court. Sob."
"Damn it, I hope this group's P score isn't too high!"
Soon, Canada No. 1 finished their free dance and came to the waiting area to wait for their results.
Their technical score was 57.06, the program content score was 57.42, and the free dance score was 114.48. The two sets of step sequences were level 3, and the other technical movements were level 4. Together with the short dance score of 79.55, the total score was 194.03.
"Looking at this score... their step sequence should not have reached level 4." Xu Chi looked at the display screen and spoke thoughtfully, "It seems that they have really become stricter."
"They didn't do the five twists they did before, probably because of control errors. The whole set of movements was completed well, but the P score is a bit high..." Jiang Lin sighed lightly, and the uneasiness in her eyes became more and more intense. "It all depends on Tiantian and Tang Yi."
Next up was Goose No. 1, who was ranked second in the short dance. The music for their free dance was "Curse of Love" from the musical "Rock Red and Black".
Darya and Nikolay, wearing red and black costumes, danced hand in hand on the ice.
But when I'm in your arms
There is no more clarity in this world
To the somewhat sad music, Nicholas took big steps, squatted down and skated on the ice.
Daria put one foot on Nikolai's thigh, raised the other leg high in the air, and did a straight vertical split in the air.
Nikolay held one of Darya's legs with both hands. Darya's red skirt fluttered in the air, extremely dazzling.
Dalia looked down at her dance partner with a bright smile. In their eyes, there seemed to be nothing else except each other.
"This lift seems to be also in Tiantang's free dance?" someone in the audience whispered.
"Yeah! It depends on who performs better."
Soon, Goose No. 1 finished their race and came to the waiting area to wait for their results.
Their technical score was 59.15, the program content score was 58.86, and the free dance score was 118.01. One set of transition steps was downgraded to level three, and the other technical movements were level four. Together with the short dance score of 80.90, the total score was 198.91.
"Big Goose No. 1 didn't do the quintuple twist that he did before." Jiang Lin breathed a sigh of relief, "We are probably the only pair of players who can do the quintuple twist in this round."
"Since I was injured in the World Championships, I don't plan to blindly challenge difficult moves. After all, difficult moves are also a kind of loss." Xu Chi stretched out his hand and rubbed his forehead helplessly, "But Big Goose No. 1 performed well overall."
The two coaches stopped talking. They all raised their eyes at the same time and looked at the two players who were about to play.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi stood hand in hand on the edge of the ice, waiting for their names to be heard on the radio.
"Do your feet hurt?" Ji Tiantian turned to look at Tang Yi. During the warm-up, she noticed that he didn't look well.
"When you lead me later, don't use force. I can do it myself." Ji Tiantian spoke softly to Tang Yi.
"It hasn't come to that yet." Tang Yi smiled at Ji Tiantian.
"Tiantian, let's win the gold medal together." He shook her hand vigorously and spoke word by word.
"Next pair, from China, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi!" As the broadcast sounded, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi skated together and slid towards the center of the ice.
They bend their floating legs and suck on the sliding leg's knees, while raising their arms high.
“Ahhhh!”
"Tiantang, go!" The ice fans and followers in the audience shouted uncontrollably.
"Tiantian! Win the gold medal! You must win the gold medal!"
Chen Yusheng, who originally thought that all the results would be good, was infected by the atmosphere in the audience and couldn't help but shout excitedly.
"Come on! Tiantian! You can do it! You have to win the gold medal!" Chen Yusheng shouted along with the ice fans, and his voice instantly became hoarse.
"Come on! You can do it!"
"It will work!" Wang Hao and Ni Chuan also shouted together.
Amid the noise, Goose No. 1 and other players all looked towards the ice, expecting Ji Tang to start their game.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi stood at a distance in the middle of the ice, waiting for the music for their free dance to sound.
The noise in the audience gradually died down.
In the silence, the music for their free dance, "Hidden Fragrance", sounded.
When the petals leave the flower, the fragrance remains
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi moved closer to each other as the song played, and they began to perform snake-like steps.
They held hands and changed their steps in perfect sync. They slid, switched positions, then let go and did a double twist together. When the twist was over, they held hands again and changed their grip.
Although they kept changing their grips and footwork, their feet slid out an unusually wide arc.
"This set of serpentine steps is similar to the one they performed in Sochi, but they are obviously more proficient now." Someone in the audience made a surprised sound.
"It's so beautiful..." Someone couldn't help but exclaim.
However, the discussion in the audience was not loud. Most people were watching the ice with bated breath, waiting to see Ji Tang's next performance.
On the ice, Ji Tiantian spun quickly, her white skirt fluttering like a blooming plum blossom.
Unforgettable whispers
Use your smile to pay tribute to me
Tang Yi squatted and slid with a wide step, and Ji Tiantian stood on one of Tang Yi's legs.
Tang Yi held Ji Tiantian's leg with one hand, while Ji Tiantian's other leg was stretched straight into the air.
She stood on Tang Yi, splitting her body vertically, with one hand stretched back and the other hand stretched towards Tang Yi. She looked at Tang Yi with a slightly sad smile.
The two of them completed an arc lift together.
"Wow, even though it's the same lift...but I feel like Tiantang's lift touched me more..." Someone in the audience sighed softly.
The first arc lift is completed, followed by the second arc lift, and the two lifts are put together to become a combined lift.
Tang Yi squatted down with one leg bent in front of him and the other stretched out at his side, while Ji Tiantian rested her upper body on his bent leg, with her legs crossed and resting on his other leg.
The two faced each other, their breaths touching, staring at each other. Tang Yi put one arm around Ji Tiantian's body, while Ji Tiantian put one arm around his neck, and they both stretched one hand into the air.
Combined lifts are two lifts spliced together without interruption. It is easier to get GOE and P points than two lifts alone. However, this requires a lot of strength from the male partner. After all, the female partner will be on the male partner for a long time.
Besides, it was not easy for both of them to lift the weight, and Tang Yi was still injured.
Tang Yi looked at Ji Tiantian closely. His movements were smooth and steady, but he couldn't help biting his teeth, and his expression looked a little ferocious, as if he was trying to endure the pain.
Ji Tiantian looked at Tang Yi, tears welled up in her eyes. She stretched out her hands in the air and held Tang Yi's. The moment her hands were tightly clasped, tears fell from her eyes.
In this free dance, what they express is still their story.
If Darya Nikolai's lifting expressed a kind of firm companionship, then what they wanted to express was the fate of two lives, a tangled entanglement on the verge of madness. Live with you, die with you. Let their crazy fate and crazy love for ice dance bloom on the ice.
Let the heart die in splendor
Let love be reborn from the ashes
The lift was completed successfully, and Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi slid face to face, hand in hand.
Tang Yi looked at Ji Tiantian with a smile, and couldn't help but free up his hand to wipe away the tears falling on her cheek with his thumb.
This was an unchoreographed move, but he did it very naturally.
Don’t be afraid, the hardest part is over. His smile and actions seemed to be saying this.
You can trust me today and in the future.
Ji Tiantian's cheek was against Tang Yi's palm. She looked at Tang Yi and couldn't help but smile.
“Wow, my sweet candy…” Many people in the audience couldn’t help but shed tears as they watched this scene.
At the edge of the ice, Jiang Lin couldn't help but tear up. Mia and many other players couldn't help but lower their heads and wipe away their tears.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi held hands and completed a joint rotation, then slid quickly one in front and one behind, entering a synchronized twist.
Ji Tiantian knows very well that the best reward for her dance partner is to get better results.
She smiled in the wind brought by the gliding.
Tang Yi, I will soar with you.
They began to twirl in sync.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi raised their hands together. As they spun forward on one foot, they slowly lowered their hands, imitating the posture of petals slowly opening.
Ji Tiantian's snow-white, wrinkle-free skirt fluttered in the wind.
She is like a plum blossom that blooms tenaciously in the world of ice and snow.
One week, two weeks, three weeks...five weeks were completed successfully.
With her hands stretched out at her sides, Ji Tiantian raised her chin, revealing clear lines on her neck. She gently closed her eyes and revealed an intoxicated smile.
"Ahhh, sweet sugar rush!" screams broke out in the audience.
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