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HUH? You make it sound like Stephane hadn't been attemping the the triple axel for most of his career. In fact, he had landed the jump in competition from 2003 to 2007 and it was really only in 2008 when he really stopped attempting it as it was giving him too much trouble. He landed more triple axels in his career than some have ever landed their quad. And are you trying to suggest that he shouldn't have come back because he doesn't attempt a triple axel? I'm sorry, I totally disagree. He has SO much to offer the sport besides the triple axel.The axel has a forward take-off that makes it difficult in a unique way. For me, quads of other jumps do not, and never will, replace it. Timothy Goebel had problems with the triple axel, too. I appreciate that both he and Stephane Lambiel have their dedicated fans, but I noticed that back when Stephane was competing and winning *without* the triple axel, some other skaters dropped doing it, also. Why struggle with something so difficult, when one could win without it? It seemed back then that I might be witnessing the beginning of the demise of the triple axel in male competition, because of CoP. Fortunately, the rules of CoP got more finely tuned every season, and the triple axel made its return to most programmes, because of improved value under the system. To each his own; I do not want to watch men's figure skating, without the triple axel. Quads do not replace it for me; they never will. Moreover, to me, the words "Olympic Champion" do not spell avoidance. Under 6.0, the men had to display a competence in *all* the major jump styles, even under the greatest emotional pressure.
As for injuries, no one is forced to compete for the Olympic gold; it is a choice. If one is not up to the job, then I think that one should not essay it. This is a sport, and I think that it should not become a place where doing "extra credit" work can make up for what is lacking. The axel is the only jump which has a forward take-off; that requires the development of a special skill. Jeffrey Buttle worked hard, and finally achieved that skill. So did Stephane Lambiel, for *one* season. I respected the work that both of them had put into that. I am sorry that Stephane has suffered injuries that make it harder for him, but the comeback was his decision, not mine. My opinion is that I want to see a triple axel performed in Olympic competition by *whoever* gets the gold medal and is named Olympic Champion. It is his right to compete when unready; it is my right not to expect him to be granted a pass for it. People posted here whom they wanted to win the gold. I decided to post my honest opinion about it, because I really, really care a lot about the survival of the triple axel in men's competition, especially in Olympic competition. This is not about nationalism for me; this is about the sport itself. I hesitated to say how I really feel, because I do not want to offend Lambiel fans, but ultimately, I chose not to lie about what I should like to see happen. If Stephane were to win *with* a triple axel, then my feelings about his winning would be different.
I would prefer
Plushy
Joubert (or vice versa, depending on who's cleaner)
whatever
Men should skate like men, these first are the only ones who do, who are not afraid of challenge, Plushy's comeback was evident, men became less sportive, more lazy and put stress on dancing skills rather than on achieving sport results.
Let's be objective!
I would prefer
Plushy
Joubert (or vice versa, depending on who's cleaner)
whatever
Men should skate like men, these first are the only ones who do, who are not afraid of challenge, Plushy's comeback was evident, men became less sportive, more lazy and put stress on dancing skills rather than on achieving sport results.
Let's be objective!
Aw, I dunno. Jeremy Abbott did a gorgeous quad at nationals. AND he has amazing transitions AND every moment in his program is accounted for, every moment flows into the other. What's the point of having all these other elements in figure skating if they are not going to count? Besides, what you dismiss as "dancing skills" is actually athletic prowess. It takes athletic ability to be able to do intricate transitions into jumps, sharp footwork sequences and fast and centered spins. Maybe you'd like the men's event to be like the men's floor program in gymnastics, where they don't have to dance at all. But it's not. So it shouldn't be judged that way. (Personally, I'd like to see the women's floor exercise judged the way the men's is because I absolutely hate the "dancing" that the women are expected to do ... but that's a different forum )
(BUT. Don't think for a moment that I don't love Plushy's skating because I actually do. I understand the criticism against some aspects of his skating but as I've said before I think there is something awesome that's it's the "old guy" who's totally out jumping the youngsters ... Go Plushy!!)
I completely agree, it's sad to have men skating without quads, if they do 4+3 combos + transitions it would be a pleasure to watch...