- Joined
- Jul 31, 2003
Let me explain what I mean by 'REAL' dark horses. They are skaters that are not expected to win the OGM, nor are considered even contenders for the gold, but could surprise everyone (Sarah Hughes, for example in 2002- you get the idea).
Here is my list.
Ladies: Michelle (if she makes the Oly team), Carolina Kostner (skated poorly all year) and perhaps Miki Ando. Sasha is definitely a contender for OGM.
Men: Johnny Weir. I think he is the only one of the top men that is not even considered a contender for the gold at this point. Lambiel, Buttle, Joubert, and of course Plushenko are all considered contenders (some may disagree about Joubert). I don't see Takahashi beating all of these guys. Past dark horse was Urmanov in 1994, when Boitano, Petrenko, Browning were upset by him. Lysacek could be on the dark horse list, but I like Takahashi's chances a little better than his. I don't see Takahashi beating top 4-5 men at this time.
Pairs: Zhang & Zhang. I don't see them as OGM contenders but they could actually win which makes them dark horses by my definition. T&M have a chronic medical problem (gall bladder for Tania) and S&Z are coming off an injury. If S&Z skate there, they will be considered contenders for the gold, so I am not putting them on the dark horse list. Some may question putting Michelle on that list for the same reason. However, she has not competed under the COP and that makes her more of a dark horse in my mind. I don't see Pet-Tik winning even if everyone else bombs. The judges would simply not give them the OGM.
Ice dance: Reluctantly I decided on Belbin & Agosto as the dark horses. This is a discipline where dark horses are rare, the only exception being Grishchuk & Platov in 1994. I don't see any way G&G or D&L or any other couple winning the OGM, barring injury to N&K.
Vash
Here is my list.
Ladies: Michelle (if she makes the Oly team), Carolina Kostner (skated poorly all year) and perhaps Miki Ando. Sasha is definitely a contender for OGM.
Men: Johnny Weir. I think he is the only one of the top men that is not even considered a contender for the gold at this point. Lambiel, Buttle, Joubert, and of course Plushenko are all considered contenders (some may disagree about Joubert). I don't see Takahashi beating all of these guys. Past dark horse was Urmanov in 1994, when Boitano, Petrenko, Browning were upset by him. Lysacek could be on the dark horse list, but I like Takahashi's chances a little better than his. I don't see Takahashi beating top 4-5 men at this time.
Pairs: Zhang & Zhang. I don't see them as OGM contenders but they could actually win which makes them dark horses by my definition. T&M have a chronic medical problem (gall bladder for Tania) and S&Z are coming off an injury. If S&Z skate there, they will be considered contenders for the gold, so I am not putting them on the dark horse list. Some may question putting Michelle on that list for the same reason. However, she has not competed under the COP and that makes her more of a dark horse in my mind. I don't see Pet-Tik winning even if everyone else bombs. The judges would simply not give them the OGM.
Ice dance: Reluctantly I decided on Belbin & Agosto as the dark horses. This is a discipline where dark horses are rare, the only exception being Grishchuk & Platov in 1994. I don't see any way G&G or D&L or any other couple winning the OGM, barring injury to N&K.
Vash