Very often, a skater coming back from injury -- especially in the first competition medically allowed -- has a joy that (IMHO) is close to unbeatable. Kwan had it at Nats in 1998 -- her firt event after recovering from stress fracture in her toe -- and Irina has it now (I think Irina's joy is outlasting Kwan's because Irina's illness was more serious). However, Sarah didn't have it after her injury.