Sleeping With Enemy: Figure Skating Edition

As you likely know, the winter Olympic games are coming up next month and one the most popular Olympic events is paired figure skating (though I prefer the winter Biathlon—skiing and skeet-shooting event—and drinking in a hot tub. It's a game of grace, synergy and athleticism and generally leaves the uninitiated viewer with these two outbursts, "That was amazing," and, "If he's not nailing her, he's probably gay, right?" Well, that fan is half-right and half-wrong. Per the LA Times, Jeremy Barrett's on-the-ice partner is the 16-year old Caydee Denney and his off-the-ice partner is Amanda Evora, whose on-the-ice partner is one Mark Ladwig (married off the ice). Complex? You betcha! Read: Life As An Olympic Couple

The actual couple, Amanda Evora and Jeremy Barrett, keeps things professional during the week and makes things steamy on Saturday, Sunday and periodically a Friday/Monday holiday tip. It's just a complete Cris Angel (a mind-freak) that the only thing that can break up metaphorical couples skating is actual couples skating. Only in America! Read: The Scourge That Is Couples Skating

Jeremy Barrett thinks being romantically paired with your partner is a big mistake, even though it worked in The Cutting Edge and for the Chinese super-team of Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo (though it famously failed in Blades Of Glory). 

The team of Jeremy Barrett and Caydee Denney dominated the US trials and are hoping to carry the momentum into the games (though experts say this could be a down Olympiad for the US paired figure skating squad). On the other side of things, Barrett and Evora are able to encourage each other as teammates and not hire some Gillooly to cave in a knee.

In summary, go Team USA, and puh-lenty of male figure skaters love the ladies. 

Have you ever had to compete with a spouse or loved one?