Winter Olympics 2014: American Skaters Whip Their Hair Back and Forth in Sochi
American figure skater Jason Brown has the most talked about hairdo on ice since Dorothy Hamill's signature bob made its debut in the 1976 Innsbruck games.
Although Brown took an uncharacteristic fall earlier today during the men's free skate portion of the new figure skating team event, that probably won't dampen fan enthusiasm for his pulled-back locks.
Brown's flowing ponytail is so popular it has spawned its own Twitter feed, @2014ponypower.
Got a great shot of you right here @2014PonyPower pic.twitter.com/1kWcOL4qQK
— #1 reporter (@harharharmony) February 9, 2014
Looks like @jasonbskates gets to officially skate river dance in the team competition today/tomorrow! I will clearly play a feature role.
— Jason's Ponytail (@2014PonyPower) February 9, 2014
@2014PonyPower With great power comes great responsibility. Do your best, Pony! We're all counting on you.
— Antoinette (@starshine_3) February 9, 2014
Ashley Wagner and her mane are a bit more polarizing. The American figure skater, whose selection to the team created a bit of controversy in itself, turned in a lackluster short program in the team event Saturday. She smiled and gave her trademark ponytail flip. It wasn't enough for her hair to earn a Twitter handle of its own, but it did get the fans talking.
Laughing so hard when @ScottHamilton84 told @AshWagner2010 to WORK THAT PONYTAIL ahahahha #Olympics2014
— Amelia Libman (@Amelia_Libman) February 9, 2014
Great job Ashley Wagner. (but maybe stop doing that thing with your ponytail when taking a bow?) #sochi2014 #teamusa
— Cori Laners (@Cori_LA) February 9, 2014
I'm not impressed by Ashley Wagner… Attitude problems and that annoying ponytail flip. #getoveryourself
— Makinna (@MakinnaElmgreen) February 9, 2014
Both skaters will need more than bouncy hair to medal in their individual events next week. Brown, who lacks a quadruple jump, will have to turn in a perfect performance to get on the podium.
And Wagner still has something to prove after her selection over Mirai Nagasu - who finished ahead of her in U.S. Championships - sparked a backlash on social media. She faces some stiff competition in Sochi, notably from teammate Gracie Gold and South Korean World Champion Kim Yuna.