Law & Order: CI Season 9 Episode 8 Love On Ice

Detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe) investigate the death of world champion figure skater, Elena Kusarova (played by Olympic champion skater Sasha Cohen), in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 9 episode titled "Love On Ice."

The episode begins with Elena's body being found on the ice rink, with her neck broken after a jump. Goren and Eames start their investigation and come across many suspects in the enigmatic world of competitive figure skating.

The lead suspect is Elena's former coach and lover, Nikolai (played by Oleg Vidov). Nikolai is a known control freak and has an infamous temper. He also has a history of violent behavior with his students, and Goren and Eames find evidence linking Nikolai to the crime, but he claims innocence and insists on cooperating with the detectives.

As Goren and Eames dig deeper into the case, they find out that Elena was having an affair with another skater named Paul Nystrom, who was also Nikolai's student. Paul had a motive to kill Elena since he wanted to win the championship, and he knew that Elena was a major hurdle in his success. Paul initially denies any involvement but eventually confesses to the crime.

However, when Goren and Eames ask Paul to recreate the jump that supposedly killed Elena, they realize that Paul's confession is a lie. The jump would have been impossible for him to execute as he doesn't have the technique or flexibility.

As the investigation progresses, the detectives find out that the competition was rigged, and the judges were paid to ensure a specific result. Elena's sudden death changed everything, and the plan went awry. It was revealed that Nikolai is the one who hired a hitman to kill Elena, so his student Paul could win. In the end, Nikolai is arrested for the murder of Elena.

The episode has a fascinating storyline with several twists and turns, culminating in an exciting and satisfying conclusion. The icy backdrop of the skating world adds a unique element to the show, making it a great watch for both fans of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and figure skating.