Story and Photos by Susan D. Russell

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games were a magical experience in so many ways.

From the moment the Olympic flame was lit at the opening ceremonies the world was set on fire. "Olympic fever" was something not only the locals caught - it spread to all four corners of the earth.

There was no denying that those who attended the figure skating events at the Pacific Coliseum were not immune, if the decibel level every evening was anything to go by.

History was rewritten daily: Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao capturing China’s first Olympic crown; Evan Lysacek’s winning in stunning fashion; Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and Meryl Davis and Charlie White, causing a revolution in ice dance.

And then there was Korea’s golden girl, Yu-Na Kim, who skated into the hearts of millions of people all over the world with her inspired performances.

Kim, Shen and Zhao and Virtue and Moir wrote themselves into the history books, winning the first Olympic figure skating titles for their respective nations. It was a celebratory moment for the U.S. when Lysacek broke a 22-year drought by claiming the top step of the podium in the men’s event.

But there were many other enthralling moments too, particularly the fabulous performances from non-medalists that earned countless personal best scores. The level of figure skating in Vancouver was worth the price of the ticket.

The ice dance discipline took a quantum leap forward in Vancouver. For the first time in memory, the outcome was not predictable and that made it refreshing to watch history unfold.

These Games marked the end of Russian dominance in pairs and ice dance. Skaters from that nation managed to claim only two medals - silver in the men’s and bronze in ice dance.

There were also two heartbreaking moments in Vancouver. The death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, following a training crash on the morning of the opening ceremonies struck a chord. The Georgian team received a rousing ovation as they marched into the stadium that evening.

Tragedy also struck Canada’s Joannie Rochette, whose mother Thérèsa suffered a heart attack and died shortly after arriving in Vancouver on Feb. 21.