- Joined
- Jan 6, 2007
But isn't the same thing true for Johnny? Joubert - check (Olympics, Worlds 2005 come to my mind), Lambiel - check (twice at a Grand Prix in 2007, Worlds 2008), Lysacek - check (Nationals, CoC 2007), Takahashi - check (Worlds 2008), Buttle - check (GPs), Chan - check (Worlds 2008)...He's beaten every one of his international competitors at some point in his/their careers with the exception of Plushenko.
I don't want to diminish Lysacek's accomplishments, but I don't think he is that much better than everyone else. And he also had his downs, off the podium in 2007 after medaling at Worlds 2005 and 2006, not on the podium at the Olympics.
He will go to the Olympics as the reigning World Champion, that is written in stone. But is he really the leading US-American man? I prefer to see it more open, Abbott and Weir have just as much potential and chances the coming season. Plus Rippon is coming from a very good experience at Junior Worlds and seems to be able to project his love for skating onto the ice.