Emanuel Sandhu makes a return to competition!
- Thread starter blue dog
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Two things need to be taken into account:
1. Skating men's single is far more demanding both physically and technically than skating pairs.
2. Zhao was world Champion a couple of times before he retired, but Sandhu didn't even get a medal at the worlds.
1. Skating men's single is far more demanding both physically and technically than skating pairs.
2. Zhao was world Champion a couple of times before he retired, but Sandhu didn't even get a medal at the worlds.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2010
1. Debatable. Mybe different kinds of demands.
2. Zhao came back at 36 and Sandhu is not yet 31, almost a puppy in cmparison.
But they both felt they had unfinished business. Methinks Sandhu is not aiming for an Olympic Gold medal.
2. Zhao came back at 36 and Sandhu is not yet 31, almost a puppy in cmparison.
But they both felt they had unfinished business. Methinks Sandhu is not aiming for an Olympic Gold medal.
I think we do agree on some points. There are pros and cons in both ssytems.
But I need to point out that when "poineering Chinese skaters went through poverty and personal hardships", average Chinese were having the same problem. During that time, training in sports system was a better choice for many kids. When they didn't get much prize from competitions, they didn't have to pay for the training either. I remember during a TV interview Zhao talked about leaning pair skating in Russia at the early stage of his career. Whey they prepared for Olympics, the federation got a top therapist from America (or maybe Canada). Together with other therapists, they would give them same hours of treatment as training every day. Individuals health, I think, has more to do with the system.
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- Nov 19, 2010
If a young athlete had it easier than other kids in China, it was not better off than most Western kids and young athletes, which is what we are comparing.
American and Canadian athletes have access to the same therapists as Zhao too. Zhao was told how long it would take for his injury to heal, as long as it would for any other athlete, state sponsored or not. He would be lucky to even start skating by Olympics time. It was personal will, grit, and the "cruel" demands from his partner, that created a miracle for them to not only compete but won a medal in the Olympics. I always say everything starts with the mind. Not the system.
This superhuman feat by Zhao is better compared to Canada's Silken Laumann whose courage and determination are greatly admired as well. Heroic human spirits know no borders or political systems.
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- Aug 18, 2010
You can't really compare skater to skater. Gordeeva/Grinkov got first Olympic pairs gold, left for 6 years, then came back and got another Olympic pairs gold. How many could do that? If Sandhu wants, by all means, do let him try. He has never had any big international win except that GPF that Plushenko gave to him. So he has nothing to lose. The worst scenario is to leave the unfinished business unfinished.
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- Sep 14, 2008
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Well so much for that.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
Expected news.
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