My dream podium would be:
Yuzuru Hanyu
Javier Fernandez
Patrick Chan
In no particular order because I just wanted these three together on the podium and I don't want to curse them by fixing any medal to their name... :yay:
But the probability of that obviously quite low considering how strong Boyang, Shoma and Nathan is.
Shoma seems to have discovered the magical fountain of relieving nerves that Roger Federer has been drinking from because he now seems to have a good track of mental nerves management (He said he found himself calm when he don't think much of anything when he skate) So someone like him with the arsenal that he has is a major threat for GOLD. But it is his 1st Olympics who knows which way he will go but he would definitely not going to be too low than 4th.
Boyang might co-own that magical fountain with Federer because he seems to be strong mentally since he was born. He was so happy and keep pushing happily, people underestimate him or putting expectation on him... he just move along freaking happily and that is dangerous, his only loophole is artistry, he's there but not almost there as Shoma. But medals definitely within sight.
Nathan found the magical fountain of relieving nerves but then he forgot the address to get the supply

anyway~ his quads arsenal that used to be stapled on him was challenged-accepted quickly by Shoma and Boyang so he's kind of on par with instead of ahead of them. If he improves the quality of flow in his program, it would complete his package but like the other two, a medal is high probability.
So with these three very very serious threat, it really is a tough field and the most exciting field (for me of course).
Hanyu can get that Gold if he keep listening to Orser in terms of mental game instead of being his perfectionist self because that's what keep messing with his mind. But for the past four years with all the media/fans craze and expectation, he is at least I think prepared with the pressure that would come with being reigning Olympic champ and World champ. His enemy is himself.
I almost partially wish Patrick could get the Gold instead so that he and Hanyu can have the same set.

but his artistry is his weapon and he is capable of getting 100+, 200+=300+ score but as we can see at the last world, even a 300+ score is not enough to podium.
Javi definitely has to podium! He is waaaayy too polished and good to not get Olympic medals attached to his name alongside his other accomplishment. He has proven he can countless time so I really hope the stars aligned for him to get that.
I don't want to discuss the technical part of how these man can compete against each other and who can win based on their previous result because it has been discussed extensively and more also because IMO it's not valid at all. Using that as previous reference to prove the capability of them to compete at the top with each other and which one of them is in the loop for the medal, yes but to use it as a benchmark who would has a better chance this season, no. Nobody knows, the ice is slippery, anything can happen.
Finally, JULIAN YEE QUALIFIED YO! and his scores at Nebelhorn shows that he is able to go to the finals if he keeps improving at this pace. Aside from going to finals, I would also be happy if he place well decent enough.
All jokes aside though, I really hope that this competition will be a mark in history of how artistry and technical can be move forward together if any of those who won put together a clean skate both short and long and a skate to remember. It's a lot to ask but should we get that, all these men who has been pushing the limit would get the reward worth for their effort in accepting the challenge to push their sport despite being criticized for leaning heavily on quads. Whoever win with those two elements intact could squash the doubts.
Well that got long.
