Ladies LP 2:00 AM Eastern Time Saturday

[Mathman]

If there is something objective about beauty, then I think, it is also inherited.

I was reading where they recently discovered a new human precursor, much older than Lucy, which pushes the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees back another million years or so.

The main difference between this creature and contemporary apes was that our grandpop had smaller teeth and an arched foot. Male chimpanzees vie for the attention of females by fighting each other, biting with their strong teeth. But a guy with a sexy high instep – he can walk upright instead of on his knuckles. This frees his hands to carry back food for his mate. Grandmama was no fool, and here we are today.

And that’s why good posture is regarded as beautiful in figure skating.

[Olympia]

shwh08, one of the great things about this discussion is that, although physical appearance was mentioned, most people who weighed in said that they feel that Akiko looks just fine. I hadn't realized that she had suffered from an eating disorder until I saw that post, and that makes me even more impressed with her, because she has managed to pick herself up and keep going.

My philosophy, and I suspect many of the other posters here share it, is that beauty can be defined in a wide range of ways and includes many looks and combinations. Better yet, one of the greatest forms of beauty is poetry in motion...a trait just about every skater shares.

[sjwh08]

shwh08, one of the great things about this discussion is that, although physical appearance was mentioned, most people who weighed in said that they feel that Akiko looks just fine. I hadn't realized that she had suffered from an eating disorder until I saw that post, and that makes me even more impressed with her, because she has managed to pick herself up and keep going.

My philosophy, and I suspect many of the other posters here share it, is that beauty can be defined in a wide range of ways and includes many looks and combinations. Better yet, one of the greatest forms of beauty is poetry in motion...a trait just about every skater shares.

I guess I was unnecessarily grumpy. My comment was directed to one posting, not to the whole discussion or this board though.

[R.D.]

As I see how much Mirai has grown, I wouldn't think it the end of world if she struggles a little for a year or two.

Yeah, she's only 16. She's got time, but sometimes I worry if getting older = understanding the magnitude of the pressure = loss of consistency.

[Wicked]

I understand what you are saying, Blades of Passion. I think there are standards of beauty that many agree upon, often media-driven, and that people who meet those standards may be judged less harshly than those who do not. I have often wondered how this impacts figure skating and I have had the thought that certain skaters benefitted from this in judging.

That being said, I think personality and performance do go a long way to making a particular skater (or person) attractive. Akiko is someone who I don't personally find attractive when she first skates out. However, as soon as she starts performing and watching her interactions with her coaches, she becomes adorable. She was as cute as a button in the KnC! And of course, some people get less attractive by the same process.

[Medusa]

Yeah, she's only 16. She's got time, but sometimes I worry if getting older = understanding the magnitude of the pressure = loss of consistency.

Perhaps coaches, federations, fans and journalists should broaden their minds a bit and start to accept that sometimes the development of a skater, especially a female skater, should also be allowed to take some time. That people shouldn't just be aiming for that one chance and make the skaters pull off all the Triples and 3-3s right away.

We now have got several examples of skaters who took their time, or had to take their time - and were at the top of their game at a later age. Rochette, Arakawa, Suzuki, Phaneuf, Meier... Those are all skaters who weren't the wunderkinds (or they were and had to fight to get back) and trashed the competition at Junior Grand Prixs with 3-3s. And maybe, if coaches slow down the development a bit, concentrate more on skating skills, precise technique - there would also be less injuries and therefore the skater would be longer be able to skate at a competitive level.

[i love to skate]

Perhaps coaches, federations, fans and journalists should broaden their minds a bit and start to accept that sometimes the development of a skater, especially a female skater, should also be allowed to take some time. That people shouldn't just be aiming for that one chance and make the skaters pull off all the Triples and 3-3s right away.

We now have got several examples of skaters who took their time, or had to take their time - and were at the top of their game at a later age. Rochette, Arakawa, Suzuki, Phaneuf, Meier... Those are all skaters who weren't the wunderkinds and trashed the competition at Junior Grand Prixs with 3-3s. And maybe, if coaches slow down the development a bit, concentrate more on skating skills, precise technique - there would also be less injuries and therefore the skater would be longer be able to skate at a competitive level.

Fantastic post Medusa!

Slowing down development is the most important thing. I find coaches (often in the US) praise a skater for getting triples and triple triples at a young age; even when their technique is horrendous or they are obviously cheating the jump. Having poor technique ignored is just going to hinder the skater later on as they further their career. Examples - Meissner and Zhang.

[R.D.]

Perhaps with the new focus on correct jumping technique, things will change. It has to be kept in mind that these things weren't so important a few years ago when these skaters were going through that phase.

[Blades of Passion]

Yeah, she's only 16. She's got time, but sometimes I worry if getting older = understanding the magnitude of the pressure = loss of consistency.

Yes, certainly.

Mirai has immense talent, though, and I really hope she gets it under control by next season. America needs a new star in figure skating and she has more potential than anyone else.

[Olympia]

Bravo, Medusa! What an eloquent post on a really crucial subject. For years it has bothered me deeply to watch a constant succession of promising sprites whose bodies or spirits give out early on. On the surface, it looks as though that's just a natural effect of the way girls' bodies develop mixed with the demands of all those triple jumps. But then someone like Shizuka comes along, twenty-four or however old she was in 2006, and kind of tall in the bargain. And she had triple-triples! Though she didn't do one during her Olympic program, she was capable of it. Then I have to ask myself, why are we using up these little girls when there's a better way to create good female skaters?

[schiele]

Bravo, Medusa! What an eloquent post on a really crucial subject. For years it has bothered me deeply to watch a constant succession of promising sprites whose bodies or spirits give out early on. On the surface, it looks as though that's just a natural effect of the way girls' bodies develop mixed with the demands of all those triple jumps. But then someone like Shizuka comes along, twenty-four or however old she was in 2006, and kind of tall in the bargain. And she had triple-triples! Though she didn't do one during her Olympic program, she was capable of it. Then I have to ask myself, why are we using up these little girls when there's a better way to create good female skaters?

[Binthere]

Mirai's comment in K&C both broke and filled my heart. Didn't she say something like "I just want to go home and practice" Was sad for her disappointment but inspired by her fight