Some Olympic blunders are horrifying, then sad in their downward aftermath.  Others are horrifying, then spectacular in their upward recovery.  So it is– the latter– for one American figure skater who suffered a severe wipe out on the ice, looking for a moment like he was finished for the night.

From here, his only way was up. (Photo: Reuters)

Au contraire!  To the amazement of the audience– including yours truly in front of the television– he picked himself up to complete what was from then on a seemingly perfect performance, in the end trading the encouragement of onlookers for his own inspiration to us all.  An indelible moment it was, and an even better comeback it became– literally from the ground up– for Team USA champion Jeremy Abbott.