In 2018, Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot went onto the ice rink at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics as contestants and came out as champions. It was a performance that would capture the world’s hearts and bring a new wave of excitement to figure skating, whilst also being a story of personal success for these two incredible athletes. Needless to say, it was one of the highlights of the 2018 Olympics and an incredible moment in the world of skating.
Not only did the free skating duo provide a knockout routine, but they beat France’s team score and grabbed the gold medal for their efforts. It was a performance that was adorned in grace, professionalism, and true passion for their craft, with some moves leaving the world breathless. Performing a gradually intensifying operatic movement, Aljona and Bruno’s routine was dynamic and exhilarating. Watch it for yourself in the video below:
Before their performance began, it was intensely clear that the nerves were kicking in for this professional pair. Taking deep breaths before they began, they took to their positions and allowed the power of the sport to take over them, ignoring the nerves and simply placing themselves entirely in the moment. This led to a powerful blend of fluid skating sections, and some truly incredible acrobatic moments that many would deem impossible.
Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot are true experts in the world of skating, both individually and as a pair. Aljona was already an Olympic medallist through her skating career, but it was this performance at the 2018 Olympics that skyrocketed her fame further. Before this, Aljona is a six-time World Champion, a five-time Grand Prix Final Champion, and a four-time European Champion, amongst a combination of other Olympic medals across her career. Watch one of her other performances below:
What is perhaps most notable about Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot’s 2018 performance is their expressions once their performance is over. As soon as their last move ends, they both collapse to the floor in a combination of tears and elation at their success. There is a blend of relief, hope, and exhaustion on their faces as the moment that they had trained and trained for had come to an end. Bowing respectfully to their roaring crowd, they anxiously awaited the results of their labors. And with that, they both earned another Gold medal to add to their impressive roster.
With an incredibly impressive track record behind both Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot, their career together sadly came to an end in 2018. This did not stop the pair from having one final hurrah by being the first pair of skaters to ever break 160 points in a single skate. While Savchenko and Massot may not be seen on the ice together in the future, Savchenko herself requested to join U.S. Figure Skating shortly after her retirement announcement in 2021, so it may not be the last we see of this Olympic champion.