Plushenko and Europeans

[seniorita]

Maybe he wants to have an international score and get something among SB so as to have grand prix assignement next season, cause I thought the comeback Olympic medalist right etc can be used only once.

But as I said if V/T didnt have a B event to go either, I would want them to compete at Worlds with exception, and I believe people who mostly were thrilled to see them together at last wouldnt mind the rules.
But I m not a rules are rules person anyway, I have asked for exception at University when I couldnt do anything else and there was no written exception. I believe people should evaluate circumstances and be flexible.
I dont know what should be done either, I find the rule stupid anyway but if he goes to Euros he ruins my initial intention to root for Fernandez to win

[Buttercup]

Maybe he wants to have an international score and get something among SB so as to have grand prix assignement next season, cause I thought the comeback Olympic medalist right etc can be used only once.

But as I said if V/T didnt have a B event to go either, I would want them to compete at Worlds with exception, and I believe people who mostly were thrilled to see them together at last wouldnt mind the rules.
But I m not a rules are rules person anyway, I have asked for exception at University when I couldnt do anything else and there was no written exception. I believe people should evaluate circumstances and be flexible.
I don't know what should be done either, I find the rule stupid anyway but if he goes to Euros he ruins my initial intention to root for Fernandez to win

There were two events in the two weeks before Russian Nats - Golden Spin and the Istanbul Cup - that probably could have been used as qualifiers. So maybe Plushenko's team really was unaware of the requirement; after all, it's not something that comes up often. OTOH, if they were aware and chose to ignore the rules - well, even if they're stupid rules, skaters don't get to pick and choose which rules they follow and which ones they don't (though if Plushy wants to do a Surya-like backflip at some point, I for one will be very amused and will applaud the effort!). As I said, I don't find the rule in itself stupid, but I think it needs some fine-tuning with exceptions written into it for skaters who have proven in the (recent) past to be at a high level - say, medalists from ISU Championships in the past 4 years (such a theoretical clause this season would allow skaters like Evan Lysacek, Laura Lepisto, Joannie Rochette and Johnny Weir to bypass the minimum score rule).

Would being on the season's best list really be something Plushenko would care about? If he wants to do Rostel, he can get a host pick anyway, and he didn't show much interest in doing other GPs in the recent past.

[seniorita]

I think he cant get a grand prix again as past Oly champion without Sb or any ranking, as he and sasha did in 2010 , even for a host pick because you can use the olympic status comeback once. I m not 100% sure about it but I think he wouldnt be able to.

Eislausfan talked to team Mishin about it before RN and she said that Mishin seemed not to have thought about it or not knowing it sth, which seems weird to me since he has other athletes as well.

[chuckm]

Plushenko does have a World Ranking (#47) but no SB score. However, he does not need either one for a host pick. Elladj Balde did not meet the minimum score requirement at his one pre-GP competition but he still was able to skate at SC.

Plushenko has never wanted more than one GP event so just doing CoR is fine with him. That will give him a SB score for Euros and Worlds 2013.

[demarinis5]

From Examiner.com regarding Plushenko competiting at Europeans.

http://www.examiner.com/figure-skati...e-at-europeans

[sky_fly20]

looks like Zhenya was at Milano Golden Gala 12/30/2011

short program Gala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3mV3...q45LHVfL7IIBI5

Long Program Gala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3mV3...feature=relmfu

Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=178zI...feature=relmfu

Finale Gala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjAlx...Jbq4jg0Lxtc202

[gmyers]

Fernandez is the most scary opponent to Plushenko if it is 100% confirmed beyond a doubt that Plushenko is going.

[chuckm]

Fernandez does two quads: a 4T and a 4S, as well as two 3As, a 3z, and two 3Fs. His TES at the GPF beats Plushenko's TES at Russian Nationals: 84.89 to 77.77. And I doubt Plushy is going to get all 9s in PCS as he did at home.

IMO Javier let expectations get to him a bit at the GPF and his skating was a little sloppy. Euros (where he is the overwhelming favorite) may be even more of a pressure cooker for him.

[ciocio]

I´m happy Plush will have fierce opponents at Euros (Javi, Artur), I think he´s really excited about it, as I am!!! Plush, stay healthy, please!!!!!!

[glam]

IMO Javier let expectations get to him a bit at the GPF and his skating was a little sloppy. Euros (where he is the overwhelming favorite) may be even more of a pressure cooker for him.

Yeah, Euros will be the first international competition where Javier skates as a favorite. So we'll see how he handles the pressure!

[bestskate8]

Fernandez does two quads: a 4T and a 4S, as well as two 3As, a 3z, and two 3Fs. His TES at the GPF beats Plushenko's TES at Russian Nationals: 84.89 to 77.77. And I doubt Plushy is going to get all 9s in PCS as he did at home.

.

Plushenko lost 10 or 12 points on two lutzes in LP at RN, so if he skates clean and adds transitions as he did in some recent galas, it will be hard to beat. If Gachinski funally will land all his jumps, he will be up there fighting for gold, because his transformation this season just amaizing, thanks to Lambiel and another new choreographer, it is visible and well appreciated.
Many years Plushenko's injuries kept him from reaching his full potential, and it is very dissaponting. Now he needs to stay healthy to show more.
If he skates at Euros, it will be great opportunity for everybody in Europe to see what he is really up to.

[seniorita]

Announcement of ISU

http://www.isu.org/vsite/vnavsite/pa...00.html?id=990

Evgeny Plushenko to compete at ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2012
03 January 2012
The ISU received a specific request from the Figure Skating Federation of Russia pointing out that the skater Evgeny Plushenko was unable, for different reasons, to obtain the required minimum score in an International Competition during the ongoing and past season. Based on this request and also noting that Evgeny Plushenko has recently returned to competitive skating by winning the Russian National Championships at the end of December 2011, the ISU Council exceptionally agreed to accept the entry of Evgeny Plushenko into the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2012 in Sheffield/Great Britain. This exceptional decision is valid for the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2012 only.

[gmyers]

Plushenko lost 10 or 12 points on two lutzes in LP at RN, so if he skates clean and adds transitions as he did in some recent galas, it will be hard to beat. If Gachinski funally will land all his jumps, he will be up there fighting for gold, because his transformation this season just amaizing, thanks to Lambiel and another new choreographer, it is visible and well appreciated.
Many years Plushenko's injuries kept him from reaching his full potential, and it is very dissaponting. Now he needs to stay healthy to show more.
If he skates at Euros, it will be great opportunity for everybody in Europe to see what he is really up to.

Plushenko also did two double jumps that were thrown out because of a step out of the first jump so if he hits that that is more points plus the GOE points.

In a few weeks at Euros should be a good show!!

[ILoveFigures]

No offence to Plushenko, but I find the "exceptional decision" by the ISU to allow him to complete plain ridiculous!! If rules don't apply to one skater, then they shouldn't apply to anyone else either!

[Mathman]

^ I kind of go back and forth on that. Rules are rules but...

Some rules go like this: "In order to accomplish x, the rule from now on is y."

The ISU's position seems to be that the rule should be read: "In order to weed out weak skaters, the rule is you have to have a certain minimum score. Plushenko is not a weak skater, so therefore..."( OK, it is finishing that sentence that makes it awkward. )