Watch: Two Olympic Figure Skating Pairs Dance to ‘Despacito’

You’re allowed to skate to total bangers at the Olympics now. 
Watch: Two Olympic Figure Skating Pairs Dance to ‘Despacito’
Watch: Two Olympic Figure Skating Pairs Dance to ‘Despacito’ /

Here’s a pretty cool byproduct of the recent decision to allow Olympic figure skaters to perform to music with lyrics—now you can see them skate to some of the biggest hit pop songs. 

Skaters competing in the ice dancing short program on Saturday night were required to feature a “Latin rhythm” in their routines, and two pairs picked the Luis Fonsi megahit “Despacito.”

First up was the South Korean pair of Yura Min and Alexander Gamelin. 

The very next duo, Chinese skaters Shiyue Wang and Xinyu Liu, also incorporated “Despacito” into their dance. Not the most original choice, but can you blame them for picking such a banger?


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Dan Gartland
DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).