February 11, 2018

Russian (oops, OAR) figure skaters still a name brand at Olympics

February 11, 2018/ Philip Hersh

Russia is gone from the Olympics, at least in name and official image, having been censured by the International Olympic Committee for a massive doping scandal that included a nefariously creative scheme for sample tampering at the Sochi Games.

Its athletes are in PyeongChang as OAR, "Olympic Athletes from Russia," competing under the Olympic flag. Their medals will be marked by the raising of that five-ringed flag. Their triumphs will be saluted by the playing of the anodyne Olympic hymn rather than the stirring Russian national anthem. Their team's uniform jackets are a solid color, white or light gray, rather than the country's red, white and blue national colors.

And yet...

February 09, 2018

He said, he said: Chen, Arutunian dissect methods

February 09, 2018/ Philip Hersh

Prior to their departing for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, last week, I asked Nathan Chen's coach, Rafael Arutunian, questions on three topics about both himself and his prized student.

A few days later, without telling the skater at first what his coach had said, I asked Chen the same questions.

The topics were dealing with bad practices, changing jumps before - or during - a program and whether the coach is too mean for some skaters.

For their answers, click "Read More"

Philip Hersh, formerly Olympic specialist for the Chicago Tribune, has covered 19 Olympic Games. He often uses sport as a way to write about the culture of a country or athlete. READ FULL BIO — **Philip Hersh**, formerly Olympic specialist for the Chicago Tribune, has covered 20 Olympic Games. He often uses sport as a way to write about the culture of a country or athlete. **READ FULL BIO**

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Russian (oops, OAR) figure skaters still a name brand at Olympics

He said, he said: Chen, Arutunian dissect methods

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