Tatsuki Machida

[ioanna]

mikaboo & Newbiespectator, thank you for translating so promptly. Well there were less than 2 weeks between GPF and Nationals so it must have been hard training with a fever, especially because he was already exhausted.

 

[mikaboo]

It "After returning from GPF he caught a cold and had a fever."
I'm really sorry for Machida. That must have really set him back. Hanyu also looked very tired. -All of the guys did.

I feel so sorry for the TJ guys and girls. I kind of envy someone like Denis Ten who has no concerns about making it to Worlds and even has enough energy to appear on ice shows mid-season (good for him!). I hope they have a relaxing oshougatsu and get some well deserved rest.

 

[ioanna]

More quotes from Tatsuki (if anyone can also translate this I will be grateful )
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20141227/fgr14122723360020-n1.html

 

[unico]

More quotes from Tatsuki (if anyone can also translate this I will be grateful )
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20141227/fgr14122723360020-n1.html

--After finishing your program
I'm thankful that I've come this far. I want to calmly accept these results. I gave my everything.

--Your fourth place finish
I've learned about many things from skating. I've expended all my energy. My conviction is to give everything. It's really not too regretful. I want to try my best going forward.

--About the 9th
I was able to skate full of emotions. It was full of "my everything".

(Very quick, hopefully not wrong lol. He talks in a very broad sense.)

 

[ioanna]

Thank you so much, shingalas. I'm happy he doesn't seem to be beating himself up for this.

 

[Sandpiper]

I didn't dare look in this thread after a woke up, since I was already nervous about the Russian ladies... I guess I'm glad I didn't, after this news.

How could Tatsuki end up fourth? Was he really bad, or was it just a case of "Japanese Hunger Games - One Mistake You're Out"? Darn it, he started the season as the most consistent skater.

 

[Interspectator]

I didn't dare look in this thread after a woke up, since I was already nervous about the Russian ladies... I guess I'm glad I didn't, after this news.

How could Tatsuki end up fourth? Was he really bad, or was it just a case of "Japanese Hunger Games - One Mistake You're Out"? Darn it, he started the season as the most consistent skater.

He had a hard fall and missed 2 combinations...so got seriously dinged in the technical score.

 

[ioanna]

I didn't dare look in this thread after a woke up, since I was already nervous about the Russian ladies... I guess I'm glad I didn't, after this news.

How could Tatsuki end up fourth? Was he really bad, or was it just a case of "Japanese Hunger Games - One Mistake You're Out"? Darn it, he started the season as the most consistent skater.

It was bad, but not anywhere near GPF bad. Considering yesterday's SP, the layout of his FS is most likely the reason for this. He risked it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXfeylcgGDY

 

[Alba]

It was much better than the GPF. I think that's important. Is he going to be in the team for Worlds?

 

[ioanna]

Is he going to be in the team for Worlds?

The million dollar question Maria Victoria posted the selection rules earlier in this thread because we were all worried this would happen ever since GPF - and the fact that he has the highest personal best in Team Japan (behind Yuzuru), he is the reigning World Silver Medalist and higher in the world standing will weigh in his favor. But we can't really know for sure.

 

[Sandpiper]

It was bad, but not anywhere near GPF bad. Considering yesterday's SP, the layout of his FS is most likely the reason for this. He risked it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXfeylcgGDY

Actually, that... wasn't too bad. I think only two errors were really disruptive: the fall on the quad, and the final spin finishing behind the music. It was nowhere near as messy as GPF, and he had a lot more fight than TEB.

I agree, the layout is what did him in: He wasn't confident in the landing of the first quad, so he didn't go for the combo. Then fell on the second one. Could he has stuck the -2T back on a loop or salchow... or did the +COMBO mean that counted as a combo even though it failed? With the axel, the landing of the first wasn't good, but the second was so late in the program that he had no hope of doing 3A-3T by that point. And when he stepped out of the flip, he couldn't do the three-jump combo because it would get invalidated anyway. He couldn't do it off the final lutz 'cause he was running out of time. ...Did I get all that right?

I understand why he's doing this crazy thing, because it truly is the layout that best fits the music. The crescendo with the 3A would be incredible if he could hit it. But after today, and after all the outings this program has had... I really hope for a change. Keep the jumps in the same places, but reorder them, perhaps?

4T-2T
4T
3A-3T
3Lo
--
3A
3Lz-2T-2Lo (actually, maybe -2Lo-2Lo if he can pull it off, as a safeguard against Zayak if he doubles one of the toes in the first half)
3F
3S

It's not quite as amazing, but the essence of the program should be intact. Tatsuki, are you reading this?

(Btw, I shouldn't have said "Japanese Hunger Games." I mean, Japanese Hunger Games is just Battle Royale, right? )

 

[ioanna]

^ Just reading all that makes my head hurt, I cannot imagine what went through his head at that time. If we exclude the jump errors it was actually a beautiful effort and he didn't seem to be losing energy at all.

But bad news - Tatsuki says this arrangement of jumps is very important to him and that he wants to stay true to his vision of what Symphony no 9 should be. He still believes he can nail this (maybe he'll keep it for another season?)

 

[Sandpiper]

^ Just reading all that makes my head hurt, I cannot imagine what went through his head at that time. If we exclude the jump errors it was actually a beautiful effort and he didn't seem to be losing energy at all.

But bad news - Tatsuki says this arrangement of jumps is very important to him and that he wants to stay true to his vision of what Symphony no 9 should be. He still believes he can nail this (maybe he'll keep it for another season?)

Sorry for the headache. I have a bad habit of analyzing everything and going on long rambles.

My best guess of what went on in his head: "Don't Zayak, Don't Zayak" (hence, he left out lots of combinations and points)

Hmm... does that mean he'll stay on another season? (Trying to be positive...)

 

[ioanna]

Hmm... does that mean he'll stay on another season? (Trying to be positive...)

Actually right now there are rumors floating around among Japanese fans on twitter that he will retire... they think his behavior/quotes were rather suspicious during Nationals. Since his original plan was to retire after this season and so far it looks like this was the end of it, I can't help worrying.

 

[Silvia451]

I'd love to see this FS next year too. Actually, I'd like to see it until it's perfect. He can do it, the performance from SA was sensational. Maybe he was tired this time.
Anyway, I'm still on the opinion that he deserves another chance this season and I hope the JSF will give him this chance to prove that what happened this month was just an accident.

edit: no, I'll pretend I didn't see the word "retire"

 

[Alba]

Actually right now there are rumors floating around among Japanese fans on twitter that he will retire... they think his behavior/quotes were rather suspicious during Nationals. Since his original plan was to retire after this season and so far it looks like this was the end of it, I can't help worrying.

I don't believe that at all. He has no reasons to do that, not now. He is among top 3 men in the world. Why would he do that and close on a low note? It doesn't make any sense. Just alarmed fans I suppose.

 

[Sandpiper]

Considering he said "I want to try my best going forward," I think retirement is unlikely.

 

[ioanna]

Considering he said "I want to try my best going forward," I think retirement is unlikely.

Depends on what "going forward" means to him. Right now he finished 4th and he's not a lock for the Worlds team. I guess he's always mysterious with what he says and his fans have learned how to decipher his intentions. But everything is purely speculation at this point and we will only find out the answers tomorrow (I guess that's when they announce the World team).

 

[Sandpiper]

Depends on what "going forward" means to him. Right now he finished 4th and he's not a lock for the Worlds team. I guess he's always mysterious with what he says and his fans have learned how to decipher his intentions. But everything is purely speculation at this point and we will only find out the answers tomorrow (I guess that's when they announce the World team).

Surely he won't say "I want to try my best going forward" if "going forward" means "studying hard for school"? No fan would want to be tugged around like that.

 

[ioanna]

Surely he won't say "I want to try my best going forward" if "going forward" means "studying hard for school"? No fan would want to be tugged around like that.

That's what I thought, but I guess given his previous plans to finish his skating career in 2015 and start working in a different field, the rumors are not completely unfounded. He should seriously look at his own team mate Kozuka and understand that focus and determination does pay off in the end.