Anime and the Olympics: Winter Edition! Part 1

(Due to the length of this post it has been cut into 3 parts)

Though not a whole lot of time has gone by since the Summer Olympics this passed July, the Olympics have indeed returned and this time it’s for the Winter edition! All the sports, competition, and international drama you know and love from the regular Olympics, now available with snow! And much like the Summer Olympics, the Winter version also has the whole hearted support of the Anime Olympic Committee .

The AOC (Anime Olympic Committee) is here to support any and all anime characters that wish to participate in the Olympic events. Not all anime characters participating this year are from “Sports” anime, yet all the characters exhibit the sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and love of the Winter season that the AOC believes is integral to the true spirit of the Olympics! So let us once again cheer for our anime athletes, and the Otaku nation they represent!

Yuri on Ice

Starting off in our sports line up is Yuri Katsuki, coming to us from the picturesque anime of Yuri on Ice. Yuri does a few stretches before walking to the ice. Wait a minute, it seem that a young Russian skater has approached Yuri Katsuki before the Japanese skater’s performance and is having a rather heated discussion with the Katsuki on the sidelines of the rink. The Russian skater also seems to be named Yuri! Yuri Plisetsky is now yelling quite emphatically in Russian and has even kicked the wall of the ice rink. Okay, it looks like some members of the Russian coaching team are pulling Plisetsky away to be reprimanded. Oh boy, Yuri Katsuki looks to be a bit rattled after the altercation. Is he going to be okay on the ice? Katsuki appears hesitant to step on the ice, are we going to see our first forfeit of the day? Here comes Katsuki’s coach and world renowned figure skater Victor Nikiforov. With a veteran like that coaching Katsuki, surely Nikiforov has plenty of experience in dealing with stress. The athlete and coach seemed to be having a very intense conversation . . . and . . . Nikiforov seems to be giving Katsuki a . . . um . . . good luck kiss? My my, the Russians are quite passionate today!

And Katsuki takes to the ice. Yuri begins his program with a double lutz landing into a very nice spin. Of course, this skater is known for his expressive gestures and choreography well matched to the music. Katsuki has a record of doing well on the artistic elements of the program, but lets see how he does on the technical elements coming up. Here comes his last salchow, if he makes it he will clench his position for the finals! And . . . Oh no, he’s down! Oh that has to be just heart breaking for him! Yuri is still sitting on the ice, he doesn’t seem to be taking this well. It looks like Yuri’s coach is heading over to him, he’s helping Yuri up off the ice. Aw, yeah some times these athletes just need a hug and a shoulder to cry on. What is this?! It looks like Yuri Plisetsky is heading to the center of the ice. The same Russian skater that just moments ago was yelling at Katsuki is now also hugging the Japanese skater! My oh my! Now the whole coaching delegation is heading on the ice! And the other athletes, and even spectators! Yuri is crying, Victor is crying, even the judges are crying! Yuri Katsuki might have not won a medal at the Winter Olympics, but he has certainly won the hearts of everyone here at the ice rink!