SARAJEVO 1984

 



Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have been crowned the Olympic ice skating champions after scooping gold in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

More than 24 million people watched the British couple score maximum points at the Zetra Stadium for their slow, sensuous free dance performance of Ravel's Bolero. The quintessential ice dance were the only one to score 6.0 from all judges at the1984 Olympics where they won gold.

It was an overwhelming St Valentine's Day victory for the duo in an event traditionally dominated by Soviet skaters.

The couple from Nottingham received a standing ovation from the 8,500 spectators in the arena and flowers rained onto the ice after they completed their stirring four-minute performance.

They scored 12 out of 18 possible sixes for their free dance and the maximum possible of nine sixes for artistic impression.

" I think it was the most emotional performance we have ever given. What just happened out there - getting the medals - that is what we've worked for so hard for so long "
Christopher Dean

Torvill smiled as the gold medal was hung around her neck and Dean had to fight back tears as he stood on the Olympic podium to receive his award.

"Tonight we reached the pinnacle. I don't remember the performance at all. It just happened," Dean said.