Yu-Na Kim

[silverlake22]

"I’m aware that the Olympics are full of surprises and that one could happen to me." ===> This means she will prepare herself for unhappy result, because there is no knowing what the future may bring forth.

I guess this is good, but I will be really upset if she does not perform and place well. At her best Yuna just blows everyone else out of the water (yes even Mao-sorry), she's simply amazing. Yuna Kim for 2010 Olympic Gold

[Nadine]

Oksana retired from competitive skating after winning the OGM.

I don't think she ever trained as much after she retired and her jumps did suffer for it. BTW, how many Lady skaters try a 3Lutz at this type of event? Did the Lady skaters at FOI do 3Lutzes last summer?

Oksana is still a skater who will always be remembered for her innovative and balletic style. She had a real and lasting impact of Ladies skating.

The announcer's comments you refer to were from a cheesefest. That announcer was not a skater and was more than likely reading from a script.

Lovely words about Oksana, janetfan, much appreciated.

Regards the 3Lutz, oddly enough that is Oksana's favorite jump...though she was an edge jumper (her 2A & 3R were things of beauty)....it was her 3L that really set her apart from all the rest when she was on. I'm serious, that's why she always went for this jump in competition, whether eligible or professional. 99% of the time it was too big & as a result she couldn't hold onto the landing. Not only at the aforementioned pro. competition, but others as well, nevertheless she always went for it. My favorite 3L of hers was at the 2000 Goodwill Games. I recall Peter Carruthers said this about it:

One of the most incredible triple lutzes I have ever seen! That's bigger than Brian Boitano's...that was HUGE!

Regards the announcer you mentioned in your quote up above, lol, that was Verne Lundquist, also a huge fan of Oksana Baiul. He first saw Oksana at the 1993 World Championships in Prague, and it was love at first sight, regards her skating of course (btw his mother & Oksana share the same birthday, November 16th): The following is what he had to say about Oksana at Ice Wars in 2003:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5emTblCcD-c


Back to Yuna Kim, since this thread is about her after all. I just wanted to say that I find it fascinating the little similarities between Oksana & Yuna when it comes to their skating. Both artists of course, but Oksana was known to entrance the judges with her skating, and the same can be said about Yuna, which I noticed (& wrote about) the first time I saw her "James Bond" performance at TEB in October. Both different, but oddly similar. Now "Meditation from Thais". Hmm, food for thought. By the way, as I mentioned at TEB, Oksana is still the only one that can make me do both (laugh & cry & feel excitement all at the same time, be it "The Dying Swan", "Swan Lake", "All That Jazz", "Sadeness", "Dove L'Amore", "Desert Rose", "Wonderful World", "Feeling Begins", "Bolero", "Nobody's Business", "Safe From Harm" & on & on & on ad infinitum). Yuna has yet to make me cry...

[janetfan]

Lovely words about Oksana, janetfan, much appreciated.

Now "Meditation from Thais". Hmm, food for thought. By the way, as I mentioned at TEB, Oksana is still the only one that can make me do both (laugh & cry & feel excitement all at the same time, be it "The Dying Swan", "Swan Lake", "All That Jazz", "Sadeness", "Dove L'Amore", "Desert Rose", "Wonderful World", "Feeling Begins", "Bolero", "Nobody's Business", "Safe From Harm" & on & on & on ad infinitum). Yuna has yet to make me cry...

How interesting that Oksana has hijacked a Yuna thread

I don't know if Yuna has ever made me cry, but watching her "Roxanne" has sure made me happy.

I have a feeling that Yuna's "Meditation" will be very expressive. I think it is a very good exhibtion program for the Olympics where fans want to see something special from the medal winners.

Here is Oksana's beautiful exhibition after winning the OGM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bH0CAPzef8

[SkatingAnalyst]

How interesting that Oksana has hijacked a Yuna thread

I don't know if Yuna has ever made me cry, but watching her "Roxanne" has sure made me happy.

I have a feeling that Yuna's "Meditation" will be very expressive. I think it is a very good exhibtion program for the Olympics where fans want to see something special from the medal winners.

Here is Oksana's beautiful exhibition after winning the OGM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bH0CAPzef8

I loved Oksana's skating when she was 16-year old.

Yu-Na and Oksana have the most beauyiful arms.

This is my all time favorite program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiso8eA2_bg

[schiele]

Yu-Na and Oksana have the most beauyiful arms.

This is my all time favorite program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiso8eA2_bg

Yes Yuna has wonderful arms indeed. But I have to say I'd take her Roxanne programme or Dans macabre over this gala any day, for the artistic quality she has in those programmes. Funny thing is they are competitive programmes not galas, yet she's so fierce, passionate and musical she can pull off incredible competitive programmes. I feel she does not show the same kind of fire in galas. Oksana's swan gala is a masterpiece in comparison.

I think that a gala programme should lift up the audience with energy, entertainment or profound emotional intensity. Just a couple of recent history examples that immediately come to my mind when thinking of good galas are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thK6U8svp_E (wonderful execution of blues)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1mFEUrTk-E (musical, fun and so light)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNjV45j8R3g (absolutely silly and incredibly fun.. he's the master of entertainment)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnJp3M6eJXM (if you don't like fun&silly Plushenko, he can do emotional and profound galas too. This is the best for me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=911uxrpcmY0 (100% pure fun and energy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHxBvJgKLgA (I guess everyone knows this by now)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCIk7...eature=related (She's made for the audiences)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivi941jVyM8 (Who better than the original showman)

[Phoenix347]

Although not exactly a gala (in fact it's based on his actual free skate) I love this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3lsMXe_bFA

It could definitely be a gala... if Stephane were to be included at the Olympic gala, this is what I would love to see him do.

Edit: And to be back on topic, I must also agree that I am much more captivated by Yuna's competition performances than her exhibitions.

[schiele]

Although not exactly a gala (in fact it's based on his actual free skate) I love this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3lsMXe_bFA

It could definitely be a gala... if Stephane were to be included at the Olympic gala, this is what I would love to see him do.

Edit: And to be back on topic, I must also agree that I am much more captivated by Yuna's competition performances than her exhibitions.

I can see Stephane's Poeta programme over and over and over and over again, as a gala, as an LP, as anything.. It's similar to Yuna's Roxanne. Both are incredible masterpieces.. I keep hoping to see smth similar from lambiel for this season's LP but I guess that may be expecting a bit too much.. At least he can still do this for gala maybe?

[silverlake22]

Yes Yuna has wonderful arms indeed. But I have to say I'd take her Roxanne programme or Dans macabre over this gala any day, for the artistic quality she has in those programmes. Funny thing is they are competitive programmes not galas, yet she's so fierce, passionate and musical she can pull off incredible competitive programmes. I feel she does not show the same kind of fire in galas. Oksana's swan gala is a masterpiece in comparison.

ITA! Yuna has great arms because they are strong and wiry, and the subtle movements really give a unique beauty to her skating. The gala piece is nice, but I saw her perform Danse Macabre live last year and it was SO good .. I'm actually surprised she's been breaking all the records with the 007 SP this year, I mean obviously she is a great skater, but I am not quite as impressed with the choreography and her expression in it as I was with Tango De Roxanne and Danse Macabre. Yuna is a very sophisticated skater and while she still pulls of the whole sexy look in 007, the program seems almost kind of silly.

[schiele]

ITA! Yuna has great arms because they are strong and wiry, and the subtle movements really give a unique beauty to her skating. The gala piece is nice, but I saw her perform Danse Macabre live last year and it was SO good .. I'm actually surprised she's been breaking all the records with the 007 SP this year, I mean obviously she is a great skater, but I am not quite as impressed with the choreography and her expression in it as I was with Tango De Roxanne and Danse Macabre. Yuna is a very sophisticated skater and while she still pulls of the whole sexy look in 007, the program seems almost kind of silly.

Ditto! You put my thoughts on paper..

[Ptolemy]

ITA! I'm actually surprised she's been breaking all the records with the 007 SP this year, I mean obviously she is a great skater, but I am not quite as impressed with the choreography and her expression in it as I was with Tango De Roxanne and Danse Macabre. Yuna is a very sophisticated skater and while she still pulls of the whole sexy look in 007, the program seems almost kind of silly.

I think the problem is how do you raise the bar from a Danse Macabre. What could have measured up? I think the move to an 007 type was likely the best way to go.

[skatingpunk]

I think the problem is how do you raise the bar from a Danse Macabre. What could have measured up? I think the move to an 007 type was likely the best way to go.

I agree. James Bond = Danse UnMacabre

[Tinymavy15]

I think the problem is how do you raise the bar from a Danse Macabre. What could have measured up? I think the move to an 007 type was likely the best way to go.

I do think that was Team Yu-na's goal. She said herself in the begining if the season that she wasn't sure she could top last year's SP. Personlly I would have used Danse Macabre for another year.

[Ptolemy]

Personlly I would have used Danse Macabre for another year.

I guess that would have been an option. Would the judges have viewed that as too cautious?

[Nadia01]

I guess that would have been an option. Would the judges have viewed that as too cautious?

Or imagine the bots that would've come out and accused her of recycling an old program!

[silverlake22]

I think the problem is how do you raise the bar from a Danse Macabre. What could have measured up? I think the move to an 007 type was likely the best way to go.

You make a good point. I think doing 007 this year shows that Yuna is versatile. Her Fliedermaus SP in 07-08 I wasn't crazy about at first either, but she can make any music look good.