{"id":123,"date":"2023-01-26T10:20:38","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T10:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/?p=123"},"modified":"2023-01-26T10:24:03","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T10:24:03","slug":"we-miss-you-javi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/26\/we-miss-you-javi\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;We Miss You, Javi!&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\">The Biography of a Celebrity Figure Skating Banner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/We-Miss-you-Banner-1024x519.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/We-Miss-you-Banner-1024x519.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/We-Miss-you-Banner-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/We-Miss-you-Banner-768x390.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/We-Miss-you-Banner-1536x779.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/We-Miss-you-Banner.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I still remember the look on D\u2019s face when she got the idea to start making banners for Javier Fernandez. Troika Javi (D, G, and I) was at the Internationaux de France in Grenoble in November 2017. It was towards the end of the competition, and she looked contemplatively around the rink. \u201cJavi has never had many banners. Maybe we should do something about it?\u201d We agreed, and the two first ones were debuted only a few weeks later at the Spanish Nationals in Jaca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But before wroting about the first two, this is the story of the third banner in honor of the 10<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary of Javi\u2019s first European crown in 2013. On January 26, 2013, he skated a glorious Chaplin free in Zagreb and started a winning streak that lasted for seven seasons. The blue banner commemorated his absence from the last competition in 2018, World championships in Milan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Javier Fern\u00e1ndez FS European 2013 Zagreb. \u00a1CHAMPION!\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kyFLDc1BISM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Javi and Chaplin in Zagreb, the first major championship for him in 2013!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Beginnings and Debut: Milan 2018<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>D recollects vividly getting the idea and making the banner:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>For the creative process the key was the quote from Kurt Browning: \u201cJavi is the heart and soul of this sport.\u201d Among all the social media reactions to the men&#8217;s event in PyeongChang, that jumped out to me as the one summarizing Javi&#8217;s entire career, really: his evolution into a wonderful all-around skater and soulful performer, but also the general respect and love the skating community clearly shared for him as a person.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/0-Inspiration.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125\" width=\"397\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/0-Inspiration.png 794w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/0-Inspiration-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/0-Inspiration-768x566.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I had had the idea to create a banner specifically to commemorate Javi\u2019s absence at Milan first, with the image of a huge \u201cWe miss you, Javi!\u201d sign already in my mind, but that \u201cheart and soul\u201d quote, ringing so true to me, was what gave it a center and focus, and everything else followed from it very quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I immediately knew that the large image should be a photo of Javi with his Olympic medal, the jewel in his crown so to say, but also that the banner cannot be complete without including his journey to becoming that heart and soul of the sport. So, I picked images from the programs that have had the greatest impact on me personally as a figure skating fan: Javi\u2019s transformative first short program with Brian&#8217;s team, Petit Fleur \/ I Love Paris (2011\u201312), along with Black Betty (short 2014\u201315), Guys &amp; Dolls (free 2015\u201316), Malaguena (short 2015\u201317,&nbsp; with my most favorite image ever of Javi performing), and of course his two 2018 Olympic programs, Modern Times (short) and Man of La Mancha (free). Spanning across eight seasons, they show to me, and hopefully to others as well, the evolution and many different sides of Javi as a skater and an incomparable, once-in-a-generation performer.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/4-Javi.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-127\" width=\"405\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/4-Javi.jpg 540w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/4-Javi-169x300.jpg 169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The banner then debuted at the Worlds in Milan 2018. We got a pretty good spot for it: opposite the judges\u2019 side so that cameras caught it regularly. It attracted a bit of attention and was photographed and shared by Javi fans on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most important acknowledgement came from Madrid around the start of the men\u2019s short program \u2013 almost caused a heart attack. We were so happy to know he got the message!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Full Grand Prix Season 2018<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Then we settled down to wait for his last competition in January 2019. At some point in the summer\/early fall we started to think that it might be cool to get the \u201cWe miss you, Javi!\u201d banner to other competitions as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>None of Troika Javi was planning to go to very many of them, so I asked my Finnish friends, B and I, whether they might be interested in taking the banner to the Grand Prix of Helsinki. They were excited at the possibility and the banner traveled from Budapest to Helsinki by post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>B and I were keen on the job and offered to take the banner also to the Internationaux de France \u2013 we were truly delighted to see that happen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"129\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/8-Delivered-at-Helsinki-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-129\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/8-Delivered-at-Helsinki-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/8-Delivered-at-Helsinki-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/8-Delivered-at-Helsinki-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/8-Delivered-at-Helsinki-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/8-Delivered-at-Helsinki.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"757\" height=\"777\" data-id=\"131\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/9-Up-Helsinki.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/9-Up-Helsinki.jpg 757w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/9-Up-Helsinki-292x300.jpg 292w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"130\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/13-Up-Grenoble-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/13-Up-Grenoble-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/13-Up-Grenoble-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/13-Up-Grenoble-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/13-Up-Grenoble-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/13-Up-Grenoble.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10-Brian-and-banner.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-132\" width=\"376\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10-Brian-and-banner.png 752w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10-Brian-and-banner-300x229.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 376px) 100vw, 376px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Both occasions were noticed by the keen eyes of skating fans and also by others: Brian Orser was caught pointing out the blue banner to Junhwan Cha at Helsinki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you so much for everyone for posting pics and feelings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What happened next was a couple of amazing coincidences. Firstly, in November 2018, D and I travelled to Malaga to see the first show in Javi\u2019s Revolution on Ice 2018 tour. We did some sight seeing and at the castle of Malaga noted a pair of ladies wearing jackets from Virtue \/ Moir \u201cThank you, Canada\u201d tour. We went to say hello to obvious fellow skating fans, and indeed E and B were also there for the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Secondly, after the two Grand Prix competitions, we got greedy and wanted to get the banner to the Grand Prix Final in Vancouver, Canada. Who did we know who would be going there? B from Malaga\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thirdly, B from Malaga travelled also in Grenoble and the banner was delivered to her by the Finnish B hot from the Helsinki GP. Figure skating and Javi connecting people! The social media had certainly caught on and the banner was being sought after in different competitions and it did not take long for it to get noticed. After the display in Canada, B sent the banner by mail back home to D in Budapest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Last Competition: Europeans 2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It would have been unthinkable to leave the banner home when we headed out to Minsk for Javi\u2019s last competition, the European Championships. We went to the rink bright and early Monday morning to try and get a good place for all our four banners (there was one more now!). There were some limitations as to where you could hang banners and we were caught immediately when discussing the place with the organizers \u2013 it is difficult to hide anything from social media!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/minsk-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/minsk-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/minsk-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/minsk-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/minsk.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, our requests were met by very helpful and sympathetic organizer ears, and we got some prime positions for all four banners, especially the blue banner was there in the background of just about every program.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/laligasports-chinese-e1674495788947-973x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-136\" width=\"487\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/laligasports-chinese-e1674495788947-973x1024.jpg 973w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/laligasports-chinese-e1674495788947-285x300.jpg 285w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/laligasports-chinese-e1674495788947-768x809.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/laligasports-chinese-e1674495788947.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 487px) 100vw, 487px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>There were also other banners commemorating the last competition and my favorite was the one from the Chinese fans which carried 7 stars for Javi\u2019s European crowns \u2013 the last one he got to color with gold after the competition. (I happened to be there when it took place which was one of the billion special moments at Minsk.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our banner business was also newsworthy as the well-known figure skating journalist Titanilla B\u00f5d decided to write a piece on us. It came out in a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ujszo.com\/sport\/magyarul-is-drukkolnak-fernandeznek?fbclid=IwAR0pG6xvQj67DzRjY4fC2xo1qJEmCFdSWBkS2MPkTwgMXi5BCHt3ivLHYZA\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ujszo.com\/sport\/magyarul-is-drukkolnak-fernandeznek?fbclid=IwAR0pG6xvQj67DzRjY4fC2xo1qJEmCFdSWBkS2MPkTwgMXi5BCHt3ivLHYZA\" target=\"_blank\">Hungarian online publication on January 24<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Japanese Tour 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the small medals ceremony at Minsk, we gave the blue banner to the representative of the Japanese Javi fan club, Equipo Javier Japon, to go to the World Championships at Saitama 2019. However, banners were not allowed inside the rink in Saitama, but fans could see it on several occasions during the competition. The banner stayed in Japan for some time and went also to the Fantasy on Ice shows as well as to Japan Open as far as I know. It was having a life of its own!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"546\" data-id=\"138\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Equipo-FaOI-2019-1024x546.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Equipo-FaOI-2019-1024x546.png 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Equipo-FaOI-2019-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Equipo-FaOI-2019-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Equipo-FaOI-2019.png 1310w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"544\" data-id=\"139\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-05-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot-1024x544.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-139\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-05-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot-1024x544.png 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-05-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-05-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot-768x408.png 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-05-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot.png 1330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" data-id=\"140\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-41-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot-1024x559.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-41-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-41-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-41-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Screenshot-2023-01-08-at-13-17-41-Javier-Fernandez-@javierfernandezskater-\u2022-Instagram-kuvat-ja-videot.png 1303w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By now, it had already travelled around the world, although it has never flown over the Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>Madrid December 2019: Javi and the Banner Meet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After spending most of 2019 in Japan, the banner got sent back to Europe by the Japanese fans by mail. It almost did not reach its destination \u2013 postal services are not that reliable these days. Luckily, it was sent back to Japan and then came to Madrid for the New Year shows of Revolution n Ice with Y. D and I were there and received the banner from her. Thank you for taking care of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we went to the meet and greet, the banner was of course with us and got to meet its inspiration. Javi signed the banner \u2013 he chose the place without hesitation: over the heart (and shoulder) of the Olympics medal picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"149\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_439132846991263-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_439132846991263-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_439132846991263-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_439132846991263-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_439132846991263-1536x1151.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_439132846991263.jpeg 1997w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_2645722495663992-1-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_2645722495663992-1-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_2645722495663992-1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_2645722495663992-1-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_2645722495663992-1-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/received_2645722495663992-1.jpeg 1728w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Last Show: Graz 2020<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It was now my turn to travel with the banner as I was headed out to work as a volunteer at the 2020 European Championships at Graz. We of course wanted to the banner witness the changing of the crown after seven years on Javi&#8217;s head. I was helped in the process by the lovely bosses of the volunteers: V and J. They got the banner be set up on the short side of the rink where it was caught on camera literally behind every skater. Javi was sorely missed in many ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/P1120263-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/P1120263-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/P1120263-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/P1120263-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/P1120263-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/P1120263-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After the men\u2019s competition the banner was taken down and it was almost lost. No one knew where it was, and I thought I was going to have to go home without Javi. Luckily, my boss V went after it doggedly and found it just in time for which we are eternally grateful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Perfect Lockdown Companion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I had already found a courier to take the banner to the 2020 Worlds in Montreal, a dear friend W. But I discovered just in time that banners were not allowed at the rink there, so that plan was scrapped. Just as well, because we all still remember what happened next: pandemic, lockdowns\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20200514_194729-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20200514_194729-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20200514_194729-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20200514_194729-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20200514_194729-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20200514_194729-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The banner served its unexpected retirement as my lockdown companion in Vantaa, Finland. It was perfect company: a delight to look at, always happy, no unnecessary chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Comeback: Espoo 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On this day, January 26, 2023, a decade after the first European Championships gold for Javier Fernandez, I am again at the European Championships. This time in Espoo, Finland. The competition starts with the men\u2019s short and the banner got back to work! The King, El Rey, is watching the crown princes battling for the European title on the ice. Javi&#8217;s incredible seven year winning streak is full of unforgettable moments and although the current skaters are wonderful to watch,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We Miss You, Javi!<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Biography of a Celebrity Figure Skating Banner I still remember the look on D\u2019s face when she got the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[21,20,8,19,14],"class_list":["post-123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-javier-fernandez","tag-banner","tag-european-championships","tag-figure-skating","tag-javier-fernandez","tag-skating-history"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":188,"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123\/revisions\/188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fascinatioglaciei.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}