12 Days of Christmas Countdown: Day 11: Philippe Candeloro's D'Artagnan Freeskate at the 1998 Winter Olympics

Philippe Candeloro always put the crowd first. As Scott Hamilton said, "The judges didn't pay to get in. They're incidental." Ever the showman, Candeloro was capable of creating riveting characters on the ice with The Godfather in 1994 and 1995 and D'Artagnan in 1998. In 1998, Candeloro was considered a long-shot for a medal, not with other far more consistent and reliable athletes in the mix, but, as always Candeloro proved everyone wrong. After not medaling on the World stage in two seasons, he delivered two of his strongest programs in recent memory, along with a dazzling array of swashbuckling and sword fighting. I remember watching the straightline swordfight sequence in awe--I had never seen something so clever and entertaining and funny on Olympic ice. Afterward, he stumbled on a second and late-attempt at a Triple Axel. Hamilton Quipped: " I think he might be a litlte bit tired after all that sword fighting." Tired or not, Candeloro deliverfed the goods again, winning his second consecutive Olympic Bronze medal. Trés magnifique!