Lambiel announces retirement

[Eevun]

*screams* There. I said I'd scream. Now I have. With all due respect, not even Plushenkos retirement made me this sad. Stéphane had so much more to give this sport. It is so sad to see him leave at such a young age. The last FS he made was one of the best programs I have ever seen. I loved every bit of it. I'm going to miss his artistry on the ice greatly. Bye bye Lambiel...

I'll console you, darling...

 

[antmanb]

Brian Joubert on Stephane's retirement:

"Buttle had a great competiton at worlds, even if he did not try any major technical difficulties. "

What like the major technical single axel Joubert managed

Easy to smack talk the competition when they retire. From his mouth to the skategods ears.

Ant

 

[Coach]

"Get with the times Joubert!... great skating is not only about a 4T or 3A... get to work buddy or you will be disappointed again come 2010!

 

[antmanb]

I think it explains why Joubert has been improving, and Lambiel has not been improving. Say whatever you will about Joubert, but Joubert is committed to being a champion. He's willing to do the work that is necessary, make the changes and sacrificies that is necessary. I remember he mentioned after 2006 that he realized he needed to change everything about his skating, because things weren't working, and he did.

Honestly speaking i think what happened to Joubert after 2006 was that his ego took an almighty bashing. He promised to change everything about his skating and spent one off season working on spins with Ludinda Ruh, and two seasons working with Kurt Browning.

Since the off season with Ruh he's let his spinning slip again and hasn't worked on them so much, and this season has gone back to Platov for choreography which, looking at the youtube footage, leaves back with choreography of 2006 proportions.

I think his skating this season will probably look more like his Olympic season than his last two seasons which, for me, is sad. Worst of all is that he will see Buttle and Lambiel retiring as him being handed the Olympic title.

Ant

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Interesting thought ... While it sounds logical to me, I don't know if Joubert's consistency can be explained by it...
Interestingly, Joubert has 2 European and 1 World title so far whereas Lambiel has 2 World titles and and 1 olympic medal.

There has always been a rivalry between them in skating, but I did not realize that the personal attitude of Joubert came to such caustic, and specious observations. A simple "That's tough!" would have been the way to go without expressing any sorrow.

I can imagine what he thinks of Buttle.

 

[emma]

Thanks for the links.

I will really miss Lambiel in competition. I know a lot of people got frustrated when he would do well medal wise with mistakes or without a triple axel - but, I literally could watch him skate all day long and never get bored. I loved the different qualities both he and buttle brought to competition and just feel like we 'lost' some of the dynamism of competition (although, there is still a nice long list of great and interesting and diverse men....i'm just missing those two a lot right now).

I do think Joubert's point about focusing on training is interesting and important - I don't think we can prove (or disprove) in any easy way how it effects skaters, but I just bet there is something to working through a multi-year training strategy without too much distraction that helps a skater improve and reduce injuries. Having said that, I also get that skaters have a 'short life' in terms of the money they can make...so, I get why they would do shows and tour too.

I don't really like that Joubert often equates technical with quad - and Jeff did have tons of 'technical' that was unmatched by his peers even without a quad; and so too did Lambiel (with a quad but sans triple axel) -- YET, I also see why the quad gets emphasized. So, Joubert's comments about the quad don't bother me so much - what does get me with him is this: while he has improved a lot and is a great competitor, the one area where he is strong but doesn't improve is with the quad triple combos - he seems to do quad doubles -- so maybe he should work on that and let it speak for itself (points wise/medal wise)!

Anyway, I really can't wait to see this season unfold, but I do feel like I'm at a 'low note' today....I really hope Stephane feels fulfilled in whatever he does, gets heeled and more pain free, and hopefully we will seem him in shows or other venues.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think it explains why Joubert has been improving, and Lambiel has not been improving. Say whatever you will about Joubert, but Joubert is committed to being a champion. He's willing to do the work that is necessary, make the changes and sacrificies that is necessary. I remember he mentioned after 2006 that he realized he needed to change everything about his skating, because things weren't working, and he did.

Need we repeat. Lambiel two World Titles; Silver Medal Olympics. Joubert - his best skate in 2007 was the SP at Worlds which gave him his only Title but not the glory.

I will watch this presumed committed dynamo and see if improvements are there. They should be, he's been at it long enough. Now back to Lambiel's Thread.

 

[antmanb]

There has always been a rivalry between them in skating, but I did not realize that the personal attitude of Joubert came to such caustic, and specious observations. A simple "That's tough!" would have been the way to go without expressing any sorrow.

I can imagine what he thinks of Buttle.

You don't need to imagine - you can read all of his whiney nonsense about buttle in most interviews and articles from around the dates of the last world championships

Ant

 

[bekalc]

Need we repeat. Lambiel two World Titles; Silver Medal Olympics. Joubert - his best skate in 2007 was the SP at Worlds which gave him his only Title but not the glory.

I will watch this presumed committed dynamo and see if improvements are there. They should be, he's been at it long enough. Now back to Lambiel's Thread.

Joubert is World Champ. That's the glory. Joubert was injured at that worlds and wasn't sure if he'd be able to hold up.. That was the guy's goal going to the free program. We saw this year how Daisuke handled being in the lead. I like Daisuke's style. But I'm not convinced Daisuke would have handled the pressure of having a shot at winning.

 

[jamie]

How depressing. 2 very recent world champions call it a day. Japan are going to OWN the mens event this year. Like everyone else, I will mis Lambiel's innovative style. I'm also bummed we won't get to see his new programs!

You rocked hard Stephane, thanks for the voids and delerious moments!

 

[Medusa]

You don't need to imagine - you can read all of his whiney nonsense about buttle in most interviews and articles from around the dates of the last world championships

Ant

Is there any good reason why we are suddenly bashing Joubert here? He has his opinions and that's it, it's not like he has murdered someone.

Lambiel sought help from a specialist in Munich, who prescribed homeopathic shots to relax the muscle. The skater also consulted a chiropractor and had regular massage treatments. Curiously, none of this affected his performing schedule, including shows in Japan in September and a gala event in Italy earlier this month.

What's up with icenetwork? Do they have to make strange statements like that?

Hopefully Lambiel is at peace with himself now. He will be greatly missed.

Jeez, I feel as if someone died. I also talk as if someone died...

 

[Tonichelle]

his skating will be missed.

Do they have to make strange statements like that?

considering american journalism in general likes to swing stories to one view point or the other (and it's considered unbiased to do so if you do it subtly enough...) yeah, they HAVE to... it's a rule... (jaded journalism student here lol can ya tell?)

 

[Winnipeg]

You don't need to imagine - you can read all of his whiney nonsense about buttle in most interviews and articles from around the dates of the last world championships

Ant

I agree. Joubert seems to take every opportunity to criticize others to make himself look better. Did he really have to sort of 'blame' Lambiel or infer he took money so its his own fault he is retiring. Why not just say bye and wish him well, acknowledge his contribution to the sport and leave it at that?:scowl::disapp:

 

[Pikachuusb]

:no: Stephane too? Ugh I was soo looking forward to seeing him at Worlds this year along with Jeffrey Buttle. I loved their style because they were sooo artistic on the ice. How heartbreaking

At any rate, I wish him the best in everything he does in the future:agree:

 

[Winnipeg]

"Get with the times Joubert!... great skating is not only about a 4T or 3A... get to work buddy or you will be disappointed again come 2010!

ITA

 

[Audrey19]

That is sad, so sad I also feared the day of his retirement but did it have to come so early? Such a great loss for the skating world. With both Buttle and Lambiel gone, most of the artistic potential of the men's discipline is also gone.
Anyhow, thank you, Stephane for all the awesome skating and great moments.
You will be greatly missed!
I wish him all the best for the future, whatever he decides to do, and I look forward to seeing him in many many shows!

 

[libby]

Is there any good reason why we are suddenly bashing Joubert here? He has his opinions and that's it, it's not like he has murdered someone.

I think the issue people have with Joubert is that he is routinely dismissive and even contemptuous in his comments about his competitors, and it really makes him sound petty.

In just the last few months, he has dissed Plushenko (calling him overweight and saying he has no chance at a successful return to competition), Buttle (while sitting right next to him at the post-Worlds press conference!) and now Lambiel.

It wouldn't hurt Brian to learn some tact and graciousness, IMO.

 

[shine]

Jeez, I feel as if someone died. I also talk as if someone died...

I think a major part of my skating fandom just died.

 

[annlfs]

I think a major part of my skating fandom just died.

oh god... i feel the same way, stephane is one of my favorite skaters EVER, this is just so saddening to me, he is soooo insperational on the ice, he drives me into his performance every single time, my personal favorite of his was his ex at this years worlds "romeo and juliet' he gets me with that performance at the brink of tears every time...
but really he had so many great moments
i wish him all the best, he will be missed greatly by me and by many people i'm shure...

STEPHANE YOUR AMAZING, keep on rockin'!!!

 

[calica]

What like the major technical single axel Joubert managed
Easy to smack talk the competition when they retire. From his mouth to the skategods ears.
Ant

I respect you do not like Joubert, and who does not agree with it, but please do not implies that things are not true.You can like his opinion or not, but he has supported it from March up to today; he does not take advantage of Jeff's retired to criticize it

Since the off season with Ruh he's let his spinning slip again and hasn't worked on them so much, and this season has gone back to Platov for choreography which, looking at the youtube footage, leaves back with choreography of 2006 proportions.

Brian returned to Platov because Kurt decided not to work with him for problems of agenda.

. Joubert seems to take every opportunity to criticize others to make himself look better. Did he really have to sort of 'blame' Lambiel or infer he took money so its his own fault he is retiring. Why not just say bye and wish him well, acknowledge his contribution to the sport and leave it at that?:scowl::disapp:

To say that Lambiel's fatigue, so much physics as mentally, can be due to the excess of shows, it is not a critique, is HIS possible explanation to Lambiel's retire.
Since you can read, he says that the same thing happened to him in 2005.

I think the issue people have with Joubert is that he is routinely dismissive and even contemptuous in his comments about his competitors, and it really makes him sound petty.

It is not routine contemptuous, is simply that journalist ask him for the rest of skaters.
In addition, he did not say that Plushenko does not have possibilities of returning, but that are very difficult for him after two years of pause.
As for the overweight, he said it in October, 2007, after the Golden Skate Awardas, and did not say any lie.