2010 Olympic Preview to Men's Figure Skating

[gsk8]

Most think that it is a forgone conclusion that reigning Olympic champion Evgeny Plushenko is a shoo-in for a second title in Vancouver. After handily defeating every opponent he has faced this season, Plushenko is the favorite, but his dominance is as of yet untested among a full field of the world's best.

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[KKonas]

What - barely a mention of Jeremy Abbott? Think he has as good a shot to medal in Vancouver as Lysacek. Johnny Weir less so but you never know.

[jennylovskt]

Thanks for the article. I like E. Walker, but by reading this article, my blood pressure has gone up. Alright, it seems that everybody has to work his way up to pass Evan Lysacek of all skaters before he could think of getting the OGM.

Can someone explain this to me:

At the European Championships Lambiel won the silver medal, and was attempting the quadruple toe loop in both of his programs. With a full field of competitors in Vancouver, the absence of the triple axel in the short program could prove to be too much of a scoring set back for Lambiel to overcome. Even with his trademark world-class spins and step sequences, Lambiel needs to at least attempt the jump in the short program to have a shot at another Olympic medal.

Why a quad is not enough in the short program and one has to have a 3axel? Can he use a quad instead of 3A?

...... I think I'd better go to watch my Jeremy Abbott's ex.

[seniorita]

but he has to do an axel type jump and he has a double so far. That was ok.
Nevertheless...

Thanks for the article. I like E. Walker, but by reading this article, my blood pressure has gone up.

I had an espresso after.

Thanx for article Can i comment a little??
All people but one have faults there, and looks like the man to beat is not plushy even if it says that
Jouby is not a bad copy of plush, this is too diminishing for a skater, he is not and he is a multiple champion himself.
Plushy is not naive to think he can beat lysacek just like that so why the speculation, he has not said anything about being the favorite himself, if he has i d like the link, he has said lysacek is a gold contender.
Taka has bomped footwork and spins this year at some point, but quad aside his triples are huge.
Oda has not done a stupid mistake this year, people remember last worlds.
Plush all week comments physicked out Joubert, where are the comments?Before the end of Lp skaters talked in the airport on arrival and after sp only, in airport he said he d like not a medal but a clean skate, part of his preparation and after sp conference they had a play with words, Joub: no i can win you with two quad- Plush:I have one quad but you can try, and joub was nothing less but confident and competitive spirit there. Here it sounded like he became a scared puppy. Lambiel only said i want to go for the gold, but this is not a bad comment.

first time i disagree with an article here, please dont kick me out:o

i have objections for pairs also

[schiele]

Lambiel is unfortunately limiting his potential in SP as he has to do an axel there as per the rules but he can manage a double. Then he does a 4T+2T, which is essentially very close in base value to 3F+3T, what other guys are doing. Then they have both 3Lz, so Lambiel's base value is hurt compared to non-quadders as well, due to his 2A vs 3A of others. I hope and think he'll be able to make up for it in the LP.

Jouby is not a bad copy of plush, this is too diminishing for a skater, he is not and he is a multiple champion himself.

Seniorita, thanks for pointing out that Joubert part, I didn't wanna comment cos I don't wanna go around ranting like a Jouby-uber but that was not an accurate comment. Joubert is accused of being a Yags copy over and over but now is supposed to be a bad Plushy copy as well? I think what was meant here is that both are perceived as quad guys with no transitions and are both from the Euro zone. So only one should/can be on the podium, since Plushy is more succesful if we look at his whole career, then it will be Plushy on it. I doubt the above quote is the way to put it. I also don't think the analysis as to why Joubert failed in LP in Euros is correct, if we're gonna base it on the "supposed" quarrel of words between him and Plushenko. Anyways, I was watching Jeremy's tango from last season before this, I think I'll go back to watching some Lambiel now. :sheesh:

[Bennett]

Some bad words on Joubert .

Descriptions on Evan are rather vague and not very convincing - it is not very meaningful to say that he would have won the nationals if he had tried (not setting the National title as a goal would not mean that the team intentionally tried not to win:indiff. I did not find it a good example to make a case that the team is accomplishing every goal.

p.s. This was what I found a vague statement.

In Vancouver, Lysacek is the most dangerous hurdle for Plushenko to get over, and the Russian champion would be naïve to assume that he is just going to win another gold medal. Lysacek is trained, healthy, and hungry. Seems like a great combination to have heading into the Olympics as the current World Champion.

Every top competitor has that great combination.

Sorry for being picky.

[Buttercup]

I'm sorry, I know how much time and effort go into the articles published here, but the men's preview wasn't up to the standard I'd expect from GS, for all the reasons others have noted: it was biased, there wasn't enough of a focus on some major contenders, and parts of it were really unconvincing.

I especially agree with seniorita's and schiele's point that Joubert and Plushenko are nothing alike as skaters - surely there are more convincing critiques of Joubert that could be made? Also, ITA with Bennett on this:

This was what I found a vague statement.

In Vancouver, Lysacek is the most dangerous hurdle for Plushenko to get over, and the Russian champion would be naïve to assume that he is just going to win another gold medal. Lysacek is trained, healthy, and hungry. Seems like a great combination to have heading into the Olympics as the current World Champion.

Every top competitor has that great combination.

I thought Evan has problems because of the stress fracture he had his foot? Wasn't that the reason given for his barely practicing the quad? So that's all good, and only Evan is now ready and motivated? Give me a break. Bennett is right - everyone has worked hard, all of them want it, and most of them are, if not 100% healthy, at least in the best shape they can be physically.

I would argue the two biggest threats to Plushenko are the guy who's beaten him before and the guy who beat his PB - assuming both skate well. That's a big if, of course. Also, people who have very different strengths from his, like Lambiel or Abbott. Or, in other words: this is a wide open field, and the over the top stuff about Evan Lysacek is really .

ETA: also, what museksk8r said about the outcome of US Nats.

[ilsalund]

Interview w/Evan yesterday on TV Guide.com: http://www.tvguide.com/News/Evan-Lys...s-1015029.aspx