Michelle on the Today Show | Golden Skate

Michelle on the Today Show

Oh, wow, Michelle is such a class act. Let's hope her inspiration for Vancouver doesn't end after she leaves China and gets back to life. The media isn't going to let this one go now. I'm sure we'll be hearing more updates in the future. If anyone can make a comeback, it would be Michelle!
 
Thank you for the links. Always nice to see and hear from the Kween.
 
It was great to see her!
Whatever she decides about 2010, she has always honored the sport by her presence. That will never change.
 
Arianne said:
If anyone can make a comeback, it would be Michelle!
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I'm afraid that if Michelle were to make a comeback, she would be completely out-jumped and out-spun by today's young stars. I doubt she would even make the US team on merit, let alone the Olympic podium.

But good for her if she wants to have a try for the fun of it. :clap:
 
It's a shame skating isn't more like swimming (Torres) or gymnastics (Chusovitina ... sp?)... where a 'specialist' can make a come back and succeed on a wondrous stage like the Olympics, ... while not having to be "the All around Champ"... Figure skating has only one medal ... and we see how it goes to the All Around champ... but wouldn't it be wonderful if there was for instance a "no jump" artistic event for instance (probably too difficult to imagine... and too subjective to be sustainable)... then... would allow for a Michele to return to such a stage... and that would be great for the sport ... and for the fans as well...IMO
 
goldenpleasures said:
I'm afraid that if Michelle were to make a comeback, she would be completely out-jumped and out-spun by today's young stars. I doubt she would even make the US team on merit, let alone the Olympic podium.

But good for her if she wants to have a try for the fun of it. :clap:
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No one would know better than Michelle if she still has what it would take today to be competitive. Given her competitive drive I cannot imagine she would try "for the fun of it." Now she may be beaten by the young stars, but she won't come back if she cannot hold her own - and she will have something on the young stars - years of experience, poise, and maturity. The older athletes in China have certainly shown us this time around that they are competitive physically with the young ones and can be better than when they were young. Dara, the gymnast who won silver, and the marathon gold medalists to name a few. And the mindset of our culture has changed. The media loved the older athletes - respected them for their courage to just try, and focused on them and made them stars just as much as the young darlings. The public mood has changed and maybe just in time for Michelle - if she can and still has the passion to try.
 
Trust me, if Michelle comes back, it won't be "for the fun of it." If she returns, it will be with the goal of finally winning that elusive gold medal.

Now, whether she'd have any chance of that, or even of making the team, I won't venture to guess right now. But that would certainly be her intention.
 
She looks amazing. Very professional yet sexy. It must be so cool for her to attend the Olympics there in China, but not having the pressures of competing. I do not think she would want to go back to compete. She is busy at college and with all this great envoy work.
 
eyria said:
Trust me, if Michelle comes back, it won't be "for the fun of it." If she returns, it will be with the goal of finally winning that elusive gold medal.

Now, whether she'd have any chance of that, or even of making the team, I won't venture to guess right now. But that would certainly be her intention.
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I'll take your word for it since I don't know her motivation. But if she really does come back with the sole intention of winning an OGM, she's going to be disappointed. Even if she came back with her old consistency, which seems very unlikely, the youngsters are far ahead of her technically now.
 
She tried to "return" once, and her body gave out on her.

It's not about age so much as it's about how much more your body can take.

I think she, along with other skaters are just clinging onto that sliver of hope. Still, what Torres did must be a great inspiration. But that comeback took what, 4-8 years?
 
IMichelle (or any other skater in her place) could well have multiple motives for any comeback. Of course she would want to win the OGM, but she might also (for example) want to wipe out the memory of her leaving Torino hurt with a strong performance at Nats, even if she can't qualify for the team. After all, in '94Kat Witt probably also wanted to win a third OGM, and I doubt that Elaine Zayak would have minded making the US Oly team, but both ladies also had other reasons for their respectvie "comebacks" that made themt satisfying, even without the medals.
 
I don't think she has any intention of returning to eligible competition.

As for being 'inspired'.

a) she's saying something diplomatic in her capacity as a diplomat and retired athlete.

b) sometimes when a friend has a new baby, a woman who has no serious intention of having more kids gets broody for a few days and thinks how nice a new baby would be. I wouldn't be surprised if Kwan is feeling the ex-athlete's version of that. I'm sure it will pass and she'll get back to her new life soon enough.
 
goldenpleasures said:
Even if she came back with her old consistency, which seems very unlikely, the youngsters are far ahead of her technically now.
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I don't think they're that far ahead of her technically, assuming she is at least where she was before her injury. In 2004, one year before her injury sidelined her, she was still capable of a six triple program--maybe even in 2005 at Nationals--I can't remember. I do think she needs a triple-triple--but it's not like she's never done one before. And by the way, didn't Irina run off a string of victories under COP without doing a 3-3 every time? And with the downgrades being handed out now, it's not even clear that Mao is going to have all her 3-3s ratified and her triple axel is not exactly a model of consistency. Michelle can certainly up her point total on her spins, spirals and footwork. And if PCS is scored correctly, she should receive among the highest marks.
 
Michelle with her 3Tx3T by Kimmie alone with her 3Zx3T. Can you imagine what Caroline, Rachael and Mirai will score on jumps at that Nats?

Michelle will probably have a Flying Sits, and what else. A Bielman? hmmm.

Footwork? with the right choreographer, yeah, she could pull that off.

PCS: Well, great spiral, skating ability? - not by comparison to above-named, but Very lyrical and neat.

Realistically: A nice performance which we all will enjoy watching. A medal? Nah.
 
Joesitz said:
Michelle with her 3Tx3T by Kimmie alone with her 3Zx3T. Can you imagine what Caroline, Rachael and Mirai will score on jumps at that Nats?

Michelle will probably have a Flying Sits, and what else. A Bielman? hmmm.

Footwork? with the right choreographer, yeah, she could pull that off.

PCS: Well, great spiral, skating ability? - not by comparison to above-named, but Very lyrical and neat.

Realistically: A nice performance which we all will enjoy watching. A medal? Nah.
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Even so, I'm sure everyone will be thrilled just to see her skate again. Her last public performance was two years ago wasn't it?
 
Joesitz said:
Michelle with her 3Tx3T by Kimmie alone with her 3Zx3T. Can you imagine what Caroline, Rachael and Mirai will score on jumps at that Nats?

Michelle will probably have a Flying Sits, and what else. A Bielman? hmmm.

Footwork? with the right choreographer, yeah, she could pull that off.

PCS: Well, great spiral, skating ability? - not by comparison to above-named, but Very lyrical and neat.

Realistically: A nice performance which we all will enjoy watching. A medal? Nah.
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Well - alot can happen - the young-uns will be hitting their growth spurt big time by then. And Kimmie has not exactly been a sure thing lately. And if Michelle competes she'll bring her A game - and your dismissive description of her skills and skating hardly does her justice. A year ago when skating next to Caroline, well just her stroking put her in another stratosphere. Even Caroline was standing looking in awe. But no matter what the case - as none of us have a crystal ball - I hope she comes back if she is able and has the passion. Then it surely will be a treat for us all.
 
Joesitz said:
Michelle with her 3Tx3T by Kimmie alone with her 3Zx3T.
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Last year Kimmie failed on her 3Lz+3T at Skate American SP, Skate America LP, Eric Bompard SP, Eric Bompard LP, GP final SP, GP final LP, US Nationals SP, US Nationals LP, Worlds SP and Worlds LP. She was 0 for 10. So we'll have to wait and see whether Kimmie's big combo is a threat or not this year.
Can you imagine what Caroline, Rachael and Mirai will score on jumps at that Nats?
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I can image quite a few scenarios ;) , but by-the-numbers, in ISU competitions here some personal bests:

Caroline Zhang, 176.48
Michelle Kwan 175.20
Rachael Flatt, 175.20
Mirai Nagasu, 163.84
Ashley wagner, 158.63

Never mind the Olympics, it would be beyond cool if Michelle came back to win her tenth U.S. Championship! :rock:

Internationally, I suppose it's a pipe dream after all. The winning performance at the 2010 Olympics will probably be over 200 points. Mao Asada's personal best is 199.52; Yuna Kim, 197.60; Miki Ando 195.09.

On the other hand, Shizuka Arakawa scored 191.34 at Torino with only five triples and no triple-triple combo. I don't see any reason why Michelle couldn't match that.
 
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I think you all are missing my point about the US Nats.

The competition will NOT be judged under the 6.0 system, in which MK won in 2005 Nats and not since then. But she has to stand up to the high tech quality of the USFS' trio of stars plus a renewed Kimmie, Emily,Ashley, Bebe and how many more who are feverishly working to make it to the Olys.

Add up the points if she skates her best: jumps, spins, footowk, etc (don't forget, she hasn't trained since 2005). and compare it with the 3 stars. I doubt it would even be close.

I am sure she will skate beautifully and somewhat competitively and she will bring down the Staples Center with the loudest ROAR but.....
 
Joesitz said:
I think you all are missing my point about the US Nats.

The competition will NOT be judged under the 6.0 system, in which MK won in 2005 Nats and not since then. But she has to stand up to the high tech quality of the USFS' trio of stars plus a renewed Kimmie, Emily,Ashley, Bebe and how many more who are feverishly working to make it to the Olys.

Add up the points if she skates her best: jumps, spins, footowk, etc (don't forget, she hasn't trained since 2005). and compare it with the 3 stars. I doubt it would even be close.
Click to expand...

I don't know Joe, did you miss this:

Mathman said:
but by-the-numbers, in ISU competitions here some personal bests:

Caroline Zhang, 176.48
Michelle Kwan 175.20
Rachael Flatt, 175.20
Mirai Nagasu, 163.84
Ashley wagner, 158.63

Never mind the Olympics, it would be beyond cool if Michelle came back to win her tenth U.S. Championship! :rock:
Click to expand...
 
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