I completely agree with you. For the life of me, I can't understand Akiko's PCS scores. I feel like I'm missing something...can someone offer at least a plausible explanation?I really, really wanted Ashley to podium, and finally break both the medal drought for the US ladies and just for herself. But then I realized I actually wanted it for Akiko more when I noticed I was nearly falling out of my chair during her skate 'cause I was rooting so hard.
Akiko, IMO, is possibly the best performer on the ladies side in skating right now. She has never gotten her due in that regard in the PCS. But she made up for it by working so very hard on her technical elements, learning a 3/3 and a 2a/3t at her relative late age (and she gets better and better at them, too). If the judges won't give it to her in the PCS she'll just have to win it with TES.
Really, anyway you look at this Worlds, the bronzes in every discipline were the highlights. All 4 bronzes went to first time world medalists, all of them at varying stages of their careers, but all of them delightful skaters with lots of supporters who wanted the best for them. I will say, though, that Akiko's win is the most satisfying and touching for me.