I just love watching the Olympics, witnessing the numerous feats of athleticism, skill, courage, endurance and passion. Athletes have to hone their bodies as well as their minds and, on the day, it is often the individual who has greatest control over their mind that wins. Major championships are always dramatic and what occurred during the Pairs Figure Skating Programme in the 2006 Winter Olympics at the Turino Palavela was certainly that.

The last couple to skate was Xhang and Xhang from China, one of three pairs of Chinese skaters in this particular contest. Totomania and Marinin from Russia had produced a sublime performance and were tipped for gold. For Xhang and Xhang to succeed in their quest for the major prize their skating would have to be impeccable as well as encapsulating the difficult technical elements such as the quad jump where the skater makes four revolutions mid-air. This is a situation where potential does not come into the equation