Figure skaters are not to be trifled with. In a sport that judges technique and showmanship, a childhood of sleep deprivation and falling on ice tends to unhinge its participants a bit. Look at Tonya Harding.
Ice dancing androids are a dime a dozen, so whenever a whirling dervish's facade weakens and a human is revealed, it is never not compelling. Out of a whole team of solid water walkers that took home the bronze medal, U.S. skater Ashley Wagner stands out because she got a little carried away on live TV.
Her whole career is a study in facial expressiveness. Maybe it's the eye shadow.
Or the lipstick.
Before these Winter Games, Ashley's wardrobe designer set to create her "a suit of armor" to protect her from the haters that came out after a poor showing at the U.S. nationals. She could have used some armor right here.
Armor would have saved her from holding her breath.
But you can't knock the girl for a lack of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is missing most of the time among these ice automatons.
Ashley is much more mild-mannered off the rink, even when she's gearing up to fight for freedom.
But you also could have used that armor to stave off Bob Costas's eye stank. Don't touch your eyes, Ashley!
As long as Ashley can endure until more temperate months, she'll be OK.
And there's no B.S. about that.