- Joined
- Jul 31, 2003
I know it's early, but i can't help speculating. May be we have not seen some of the skaters that would be in contention in 2010. However, we have seen quite a few young ones that could make it to the podium.
Here are a few projections.
Men:
Lambiel is the two-time world champ but the skater I see as the one to beat in 2010 is Joubert. He has rediscovered himself and he will work hard to improve his footwork and spins. I don't expect to see Plushenko there, so it should be a wide open field. Lysacek and Weir could challenge for the top spot. Buttle could, only if he learns to be consistent. USA's Scott Smith may have potential to make the Olympic team, but there could be other young skaters we have not yet seen.
Among the young skaters I see Nobunari Oda developing in the next few years. Can Takahashi be consistent with his jumps? From Canada we may see Shawn Sawyer and Chris Mabee develop. I don't expect Sandhu there. Russian men are a big question mark. I don't expect Klimkin to be there; he is 25 already. Can Uspenski develop? I have not seen him skate so it is hard to tell. We may see Preaubert (France), Kovaleski (Ukr), Griazev develop. IMO Davydov (Belarus) may be too old to learn the quad. My early prediction: Joubert, Lambiel and Lysacek or Oda.
Ladies:
Early prediction has to include Kimmie Meissner to be the favorite for OGM, but she will have lots of competition- Mao Asada, Yu na Kim, Katy Taylor perhaps. Can Yukari make it to the next Olympics or will she be too old? Fumie still plans to be there but will she make the team? I don't expect Miki Ando there, unless she does some major changes. Ultimately the mental toughness will be the deciding factor and some of these young ladies have not been tested yet. Elene Gedevanishvili has talent, but does she have mental toughness? We don't know. IMO Emily Hughes is a fighter and she will be there. Christine Zukowski may develop. In Canada I expect Joannie and Mira to be there. From Russia Arina Martinova, and may be Sokolova will be still around. From Europe Amanda Nylander (Swe), Kiira Korpi (Fin) and may be Poykio would be still around. Sarah Meier may win a world medal between now and 2010. Will Sasha be still around? Hard to tell. My early prediction is Kimmie, Mao and the number 2 US lady (whoever she may be)
Pairs:
The Chinese will rule- that is for two podium spots. Savchenko-Szolkowy should be a developed pair by then. I hope to see Naomi Nari Nam and Leftheris in Vancouver, challenging for a medal. A couple of junior pairs may develop, and may be Orsher-Lucash if they decide to be around. Canada looks strong in pairs; Marcoux-Buntin and Dube-Davison will develop. I like Putnam & Wirtz although they did not make it to worlds this time. From Europe I like Spassova-Todorov (Bulgaria), Volosozhar-Morozov (Ukr). The Russians are a question mark again. Can Obertas & Slavnov develop into a top pair? Can Shestakova-Lebedev develop? I don't see Mukhartova-Trankov make it to the podium. For the top 3 spots I see two chinese, and one Canadian; or it could be 1 chinese, 1 German, 1 Canadian.
Ice dance:
IMO many of the top teams will retire/turn pro in a couple of years, leaving the field open to Belbin-Agosto, and possibly Domnina-Shabalin. Matthews-Zavozin and Silverstein-O'meara could develop, although I have a bad feeling about S&O'm- they may not stick around that long. I don't know why I feel that way. Kerr & Kerr could challenge for a podium spot, IMO. Faela-Scali, Khokhlova-Novitski could develop but not challenge for the podium. Delobel-Schoenfelder (they may still be around) could be there too. For the top 3 spots I see Belbin-Agosto, Domnina-Shabalin, and Kerr & Kerr.
That's all I can think of right now. I know it's very early and I could be way off.
Vash
Here are a few projections.
Men:
Lambiel is the two-time world champ but the skater I see as the one to beat in 2010 is Joubert. He has rediscovered himself and he will work hard to improve his footwork and spins. I don't expect to see Plushenko there, so it should be a wide open field. Lysacek and Weir could challenge for the top spot. Buttle could, only if he learns to be consistent. USA's Scott Smith may have potential to make the Olympic team, but there could be other young skaters we have not yet seen.
Among the young skaters I see Nobunari Oda developing in the next few years. Can Takahashi be consistent with his jumps? From Canada we may see Shawn Sawyer and Chris Mabee develop. I don't expect Sandhu there. Russian men are a big question mark. I don't expect Klimkin to be there; he is 25 already. Can Uspenski develop? I have not seen him skate so it is hard to tell. We may see Preaubert (France), Kovaleski (Ukr), Griazev develop. IMO Davydov (Belarus) may be too old to learn the quad. My early prediction: Joubert, Lambiel and Lysacek or Oda.
Ladies:
Early prediction has to include Kimmie Meissner to be the favorite for OGM, but she will have lots of competition- Mao Asada, Yu na Kim, Katy Taylor perhaps. Can Yukari make it to the next Olympics or will she be too old? Fumie still plans to be there but will she make the team? I don't expect Miki Ando there, unless she does some major changes. Ultimately the mental toughness will be the deciding factor and some of these young ladies have not been tested yet. Elene Gedevanishvili has talent, but does she have mental toughness? We don't know. IMO Emily Hughes is a fighter and she will be there. Christine Zukowski may develop. In Canada I expect Joannie and Mira to be there. From Russia Arina Martinova, and may be Sokolova will be still around. From Europe Amanda Nylander (Swe), Kiira Korpi (Fin) and may be Poykio would be still around. Sarah Meier may win a world medal between now and 2010. Will Sasha be still around? Hard to tell. My early prediction is Kimmie, Mao and the number 2 US lady (whoever she may be)
Pairs:
The Chinese will rule- that is for two podium spots. Savchenko-Szolkowy should be a developed pair by then. I hope to see Naomi Nari Nam and Leftheris in Vancouver, challenging for a medal. A couple of junior pairs may develop, and may be Orsher-Lucash if they decide to be around. Canada looks strong in pairs; Marcoux-Buntin and Dube-Davison will develop. I like Putnam & Wirtz although they did not make it to worlds this time. From Europe I like Spassova-Todorov (Bulgaria), Volosozhar-Morozov (Ukr). The Russians are a question mark again. Can Obertas & Slavnov develop into a top pair? Can Shestakova-Lebedev develop? I don't see Mukhartova-Trankov make it to the podium. For the top 3 spots I see two chinese, and one Canadian; or it could be 1 chinese, 1 German, 1 Canadian.
Ice dance:
IMO many of the top teams will retire/turn pro in a couple of years, leaving the field open to Belbin-Agosto, and possibly Domnina-Shabalin. Matthews-Zavozin and Silverstein-O'meara could develop, although I have a bad feeling about S&O'm- they may not stick around that long. I don't know why I feel that way. Kerr & Kerr could challenge for a podium spot, IMO. Faela-Scali, Khokhlova-Novitski could develop but not challenge for the podium. Delobel-Schoenfelder (they may still be around) could be there too. For the top 3 spots I see Belbin-Agosto, Domnina-Shabalin, and Kerr & Kerr.
That's all I can think of right now. I know it's very early and I could be way off.
Vash
