Yu/Jin & Peng/Zhang switch partners

[uhh]

Well it's hard to say. But if their focus is on creating the very best Olympic team, then perhaps Sui/Han, Yu/Zhang, and Wang/Wang is their best bet. Then after the Olympics Yu/Jin can get back together, if Peng is still failing her jumps and not going anywhere with Jin.

How is breaking up a team that has been together for 7 years and has proven results to create an untested new team with less than 2 years to go to the Olympics "creating the best team"?

Yu/Jin have fairly beaten Peng/Zhang this season, and have looked far more reliable. They are an actual pair instead of two skaters who happen to be on the same ice. There was clear manipulation of the test skate marks to keep them off the world team this year,. They have been held back by Yao Bin's ego and because they were with the "wrong" coach, Luan Bo. At this point, I wish they could walk away and find a federation that values them.

 

[SarahSynchro]

Zhang has already been to four Olympics. Are Peng and Zhang even one of the top three pairs teams in China? If the Chinese fed thinks that switching up partners this late into the Olympic cycle will get him to his fifth Olympics I think they have way too unrealistic expectations. It typically takes longer than a season and a half for skaters to gel as a pair.

 

[Giselle]

Well it's hard to say. But if their focus is on creating the very best Olympic team, then perhaps Sui/Han, Yu/Zhang, and Wang/Wang is their best bet. Then after the Olympics Yu/Jin can get back together, if Peng is still failing her jumps and not going anywhere with Jin.

I don't know if you're trolling or not :shocked: Sui/Han, Yu/Zhang, and Wang/Wang a better Olympic team than Sui/Han, Yu/Jin, and Peng/Zhang? It takes time for a Pair team to gel, even if both are great and experienced (ie Volosozhar/Trankov).

Zhang has already been to four Olympics. Are Peng and Zhang even one of the top three pairs teams in China? If the Chinese fed thinks that switching up partners this late into the Olympic cycle will get him to his fifth Olympics I think they have way too unrealistic expectations. It typically takes longer than a season and a half for skaters to gel as a pair.

Zhang is aiming for 2022 as well so we are stuck with these puzzling decisions from the Chinese fed until then at least

 

[Blades of Passion]

How is breaking up a team that has been together for 7 years and has proven results to create an untested new team with less than 2 years to go to the Olympics "creating the best team"?

Yu/Jin don't have "proven results", in terms of being a team that can challenge for an Olympic medal.

Maybe Yu/Zhang would be a false hope, but I do find it very simple-minded how many people in this thread are calling Zhang "old", as some kind of "he can't do it" sort of reasoning. He remains one of the most consistent pairs skaters in the world and has lots of energy still. When have those qualities, then being "old" simply means you have more experience. Which is a bad thing how? Anyway, it would be great to see him have a partner who can live up to his abilities. I suppose none of us can know right now if Yu would be compatible with him.

It takes time for a Pair team to gel, even if both are great and experienced (ie Volosozhar/Trankov).

V/T were 2nd best in the World their first season together. How is that an example of how long it takes for a pair to gel?

 

[sarama]

CHN federation depresses me, thank god Sui\Han are left alone

I assume it's because he's too good to be left without a partner and Wenjing is the only one short enough for him:rofl2:! And this is great because they are just AWESOME

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I nearly said this earlier, but I held back. But after reading more in this thread, I can't any longer.

The lunatics have taken over the asylum!

I just don't know.

The Chinese Federation is going too far. This type of interference is not good for the sport, and not good for the skaters involved.

What I want to know is: how far up the chain this order is coming from? It has to be some pen pushers who are looking at the results and are not actively involved with the skaters. I cannot imagine that it is Zhao Hongbo or Yao Bin that are behind it. Like, they are former Pairs skaters themselves. So, they should know that this type of meddling isn't good.

I am particularly interested to know what Zhao Hongbo thinks about this. It was only a few years ago that he was half of one of the top Pairs partnerships in the world. His competitive career is still recent enough for him to know what the current couples have to do to be successful. And that chopping and changing partnerships is not the way to achieve that.

Like, how would Hongbo have reacted if the Federation had decided to split him and Shen Xue up?

Or, what if they had gone further and ordered them to swap partners with Pang Qing and Tong Jian? Given that both these partnerships ended up as couples off the ice, their whole lives could have been vastly different.

No, I do not agree with this sort of thing at all. Yes, it can make careers. But, more often than not, it can destroy them.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[yqs100]

YU just replied on WeiBo: " Thank you and thanks to all"

Is this sort of "yes it's happening"?

 

[Meoima]

YU just replied on WeiBo: " Thank you and thanks to all"
Is this sort of "yes it's happening"?

Please nOOOOOO :gaah: Yu/Jin if they continue they have the potential to win 2022. Please let them be!

 

[s_parks]

YU just replied on WeiBo: " Thank you and thanks to all"

Is this sort of "yes it's happening"?

Or maybe she's just thanking people for their support and concern? Call me overly optimistic, but just because the CSA is nuts, doesn't mean we should be, too. I wouldn't speculated too far on an unconfirmed rumor. People were saying Peng and Zhang were going to break up before worlds, and that didn't happen.

Maybe I missed it, but what exactly is the basis of this rumor? Did an insider in the skating camp post on the Chinese forums, or what?

 

[yqs100]

Well that piece of news seems crazy :shocked: I don't think the Chinese Fed is that crazy (then again, looking at what happened with the Worlds team, I wouldn't really put it past them).

I'm not really willing to believe this rumour until there is real proof though. Also, THIS Tumblr post shows that Y/J are in Toronto working on new programs with David Wilson, sooooooo... :think:

Or maybe she's just thanking people for their support and concern? Call me overly optimistic, but just because the CSA is nuts, doesn't mean we should be, too. I wouldn't speculated too far on an unconfirmed rumor. People were saying Peng and Zhang were going to break up before worlds, and that didn't happen.

Maybe I missed it, but what exactly is the basis of this rumor? Did an insider in the skating camp post on the Chinese forums, or what?

Probably there is some insider disagree with this arrangement. And posted on Chinese forum and see fans reaction...

 

[sylvie]

Probably there is some insider disagree with this arrangement. And posted on Chinese forum and see fans reaction...

I hope this is the case if it's true because the reaction has been overwhelmingly negative.

 

[yyyskate]

xiaoyu yu please stay FIRM!!!!!

 

[LRK]

This would be horrible if true... I mean, if Yu/Jin have been together for 7 years, just think of the relationship they must have built together. I'm not suggesting romantic - but a working relationship, a habit of thinking of themselves in their skating lives as a unit. How they've faced ups and downs together. That's not something that just happens overnight. I don't think the Chinese fed has the right to "play God" like that. If Xiaoyu is indeed resisting - just think how strongly she must feel about it to do so! What a nightmare!

This just gives me such a bad feeling... I hope that this isn't true - or, if it is, that the Chinese fed reconsider...

 

[Lota]

I'm also really hoping that there is a massive backlash to this news in China. I doubt that the international figure skating community will have much influence on the Chinese fed, but maybe they will at least listen to their own countrymen.

 

[uhh]

Yu/Jin don't have "proven results", in terms of being a team that can challenge for an Olympic medal.

5th in the GPF in their first senior season, 5th again this year, & a 4 continents medal means nothing, you're right. And it's not like they could have built on that with 2 more seasons to go to the Olympics. And meanwhile, Zhang has been lighting up the world by finishing 4th & 3rd on the GP, 6th at GPF behind Yu/Jin and a 12th place finish at Worlds, 50 points behind the leaders. Definitely he deserves the chance to wreck another partnership so he can go to another Olympics based on that record.

V/T were 2nd best in the World their first season together. How is that an example of how long it takes for a pair to gel?

False comparison. Look at what elements they needed to get that compared to what is required now. Do you really think it would be possible for a new team to learn 2 sets of sbs triples, a quad throw or twist, plus another difficult throw (has to be a flip or lutz) and lifts, plus build the rapport & presentation coomparable to the current top teams? Because that's what's required for a medal now.

 

[yyyskate]

BTW, like others posted, the rumor (whatever it is ) decision happened very very quick. they are already send to Canada to get new programs from David. whoever is calling the shots is really someone big...................

 

[SarahSynchro]

Zhang is aiming for 2022 as well so we are stuck with these puzzling decisions from the Chinese fed until then at least

I guess Zhang is trying to beat Plushy's record for most Olympic Games attended by a male figure skater... Of course he'll never match Plushy's other record of most Olympic medals won by a figure skater.

Edited to add: Sonja Henie also attended four Olympic Games, so I edited above to say "male figure skater".

 

[gravy]

I guess Zhang is trying to beat Plushy's record for most Olympic Games attended by a male figure skater... Of course he'll never match Plushy's other record of most Olympic medals won by a figure skater.

Edited to add: Sonja Henie also attended four Olympic Games, so I edited above to say "male figure skater".

Povilas Vanagas (with his partner Margarita Drobiazko) went to 5.

 

[daphenaxa]

that's a saddening news if true.
The fed should be really careful in breaking a partnership that works like Yu/Jin, especially against their will. It is recipe for disaster. Maybe Yu and Zhang are stronger individual skaters (i am not even sure it's proven) but it doesn't mean at all they are gonna work as a pair. Yu/Jin are already really good and even more promising, but most of all they do have a great connection. And more than the tech that was that connection that made them stronger than Peng/Zhang. I also think that finally Peng/Zhang were getting a better connection and better harmony at these WC. In the free program i really thought they were great in spite of the mistakes.
It sounds like a huge gamble in terms of skating and a complete disregard of the athletes if it goes through

 

[Hanmgse]

please let this be just a rumor...