Nathan Chen

[shine]

But there are also examples of past headcases known to have work extensively with sport psychologists and it never really changed much for them. I don’t think mental issues are straightforward nor is there one cure for all. Many factors can play into someone’s mental stability and ability to handle stress and pressure. Outside help may help to a certain extend, but some people are just naturally better competitors than others and its part of their talent as an athlete. Also, like others have said, other students of Raf’s have sought help from sport psychologists so I dont think he has been or is against it. I think what he’s saying here is that true mental strength still comes foremost from being well prepared - which I definitely agree.

 

[heyheyhey]

But there are also examples of past head cases known to have work extensively with sports psychologists and it never really changed much for them. I don’t think mental issues are straightforward nor are there’s no one magic cure. Many factors can play into someone’s mental stability and ability to handle stress and pressure. Just like all psychological problems. Also, like others have said, other students have Rafs have sought sport psychologists so I dont think he has been or is against it. I think what he’s saying here is that true mental strength still comes foremost from being well prepared - which I definitely agree.

Yup, agreed. It’s like how in school, how nervous you were for a big exam came mainly from how well you studied and prepared you felt. If you barely studied, you’re probably gonna be a nervous wreck hoping you make it through, if you studied adequately, your nerves will be more measured/calm.

 

[oatmella]

lurkz2 - thanks for the link to the article. And I was a little surprised to see that this is an article on Marin haha. Have only read the beginning, but Raf has some kind words to say about her - and I’m already intrigued and excited for her ‘very unique’ Lori program

Nathan wearing Mickey ears gifs from our favorite cozy0505 (thank you!!)

https://twitter.com/cozy0505/status/993825637285548032?s=21

https://twitter.com/cozy0505/status/993843253056172032s=21

https://twitter.com/cozy0505/status/993831050894688258?s=21

https://twitter.com/cozy0505/status/993805274531020806?s=21

 

[yyyskate]

just read the Japan Times article, did not read all the comments here yet
a few thought.
BTW Raf hater on this FF here lol

1. the thing about Adam, i think the reason why Adam is consistent in OG is because he lowered his difficulty, OG is his showbiz stage not like other athlete e.g.Nathan who are trying to challenge their most difficult programs to win a gold medal. still Adam is nervous and slow as a snail on OG ice. When at the event that really mattered and needed mental strength from Adam -- the Nationals, he bombed big time!

2. The way how Raf talk about Nathan and brag about himself is his usual way of talking (he is always the almighty one). No suprise here. I acctually voiced before (in my Chinese sm) that I wish Raf won't say something like "see, without me, he cannot do it" if Nathan's result is lackluster this season due to balancing college and skating. Now even before this happens, we already got similar comments from Raf in this article. I bet if somehow Nathan made it. he will have another set of comment. something like, we are like father and son, know each other so well, thus long distance worked etc. At this moments, sounded like Nathan seems is not his most beloved student like a couple of months ago. But again, NOT hating Raf anymore here, he is just being himself that I came to know about since started to stan Nathan.

3, it sounded (from Raf) as if, Nathan go to Yale is because, Yale is this prestigious school that accepted Nathan, that Nathan felt lucky that he even got accepted into Yale,that he has no other choice, so that he went for Yale with a beat of heart, thus did not evaluate things thouroughly. well, I kinda rolling my eyes about this here.

 

[alexaa]

But there are also examples of past headcases known to have work extensively with sport psychologists and it never really changed much for them. I don’t think mental issues are straightforward nor is there one cure for all. Many factors can play into someone’s mental stability and ability to handle stress and pressure. Outside help may help to a certain extend, but some people are just naturally better competitors than others and its part of their talent as an athlete. Also, like others have said, other students of Raf’s have sought help from sport psychologists so I dont think he has been or is against it. I think what he’s saying here is that true mental strength still comes foremost from being well prepared - which I definitely agree.

I agree with everything you are saying, especially the bold part, and that is why I don't agree with him saying "If you train well, and are physically strong, then sooner or later your mental strength will show up. Sometimes it happens late.” It sure is a big factor, or the most important factor, but that should not be the only thing to work on.

 

[yyyskate]

lurkz2 - thanks for the link to the article. And I was a little surprised to see that this is an article on Marin haha. Have only read the beginning, but Raf has some kind words to say about her - and I’m already intrigued and excited for her ‘very unique’ Lori program

Nathan wearing Mickey ears gifs from our favorite cozy0505 (thank you!!)

https://twitter.com/cozy0505/status/993825637285548032?s=21

https://twitter.com/cozy0505/status/993843253056172032s=21

https://twitter.com/cozy0505/status/993831050894688258?s=21

https://twitter.com/cozy0505/status/993805274531020806?s=21

yes the "very unique" program for Marin from Lori is the only part from that interview intrigued me as well. maybe Lori or Raf is lurking in Nathan FF as well..

I may have said something bad about Lori's choreo . but I do believe if Lori is inspired. like with Nathan. she can come up with some very unique, like Nathan's last dancer program. literally nobody has ever heard of it.

 

[oatmella]

I actually thought this was a good interview and Raf came off well - and a kind word for Brian Orser too - whom I do not think is a ‘magician’ - but honestly I have to admire him for how well he prepared Yuzu and Javi for OG.

Nathan made this decision on his own (or at least independent from Raf), and sounds like Raf wants to help him as much as he can - but he also has quite a few students in socal - that he can’t just ignore. That seems fair - and realistic.

Raf’s approach to mental strength - I’m sure not all would agree with it, that’s one approach and it’s more ‘old school’. As for Nathan at OG - preparation certainly could have been better - but I’m not convinced a lot would have really changed the end result by very much. And that’s ok.

 

[heyheyhey]

Adam getting 4th place at Nationals is hardly “bombing”. There’s other pressure moments where he stepped up and placed well. He’s been pretty consistent under Raf, way more than any of his other coaches before including Orser, that doesn’t mean he’s going to deliver every time though

One thing I’ll add, Yuzu, Javi, and Yuna all had breakdown or moments where they made it very clear they were mentally stressed and relayed that info to Orser/their team before. Yuna in particular really almost crumbled from the pressure before 2010 Olympics according to David Wilson and David was the one to calm her down because Orser couldn’t get through to her. The difference with Nathan, imo, is that he’s very stoic and does not show emotions readily. His mind could be reeling but you wouldn’t know it looking at him because he’s consistently calm demeanor (even after OG SP). It’s possible that he simply didn’t know or want to communicate the nerves he was feeling. Communication seems to have been a problem for him and that’s pretty key for a Coach to properly prepare you. I think that might have factored into the Olympics. If you don’t communicate to your coach exactly how you’re feeling and you’re someone who doesn’t show much emotion to begin with, it’d be hard for a coach to just magically know that’s an issue they have to work on no?

 

[besti loop]

if you studied adequately, your nerves will be more measured/calm.

Lol never worked for me, I was freaking out in both cases, seems Nathan is like me

 

[shine]

I’m getting pretty excited about Marin next season

Actually it was cool to hear Raf compliment her skating skills and flow. It shows it’s something at least he recognizes and values.

 

[alexaa]

I actually thought this was a good interview and Raf came off well - and a kind word for Brian Orser too - whom I do not think is a ‘magician’ - but honestly I have to admire him for how well he prepared Yuzu and Javi for OG.

Nathan made this decision on his own (or at least independent from Raf), and sounds like Raf wants to help him as much as he can - but he also has quite a few students in socal - that he can’t just ignore. That seems fair - and realistic.

Raf’s approach to mental strength - I’m sure not all would agree with it, that’s one approach and it’s more ‘old school’. As for Nathan at OG - preparation certainly could have been better - but I’m not convinced a lot would have really changed the end result by very much. And that’s ok.

I don't think BO is a magician at all, and I agree with the bold part, and I think he has done pretty good job to manage the TCC teams. But it seems there are quite some Orser admirers in GS. .

I changed the "ten times" from "hundred times" a couple of time when I posted last night about watching Nathan in Mickey ear hat. Criminally adorable!!!!

 

[yyyskate]

I mean, ofc he lacked experience but if he'd have a mental strength he'd cope with it... I don't like to mention other skaters but Yuzuru Hanyu didn't have the Oly experience back in 2014, though it didn't affect him because (I suppose) he was mentally strong, not as afraid of the Olys as Nathan.

I know it's useless to dicuss it now when everything already happened. It's just that I still can't get over it a bit, always wanted Nathan to be at the Oly podium (okay, who of those who are here didn't)...

yuzuru's first OG case is a little different from Nathan's. Yuzuru came into Sochi as the maybe a podium or gold co-contender, the pressure is mostly on Patrick as the OGM heavy favorite. thus yuzuru came into SP withe newbie mentality and had a great Short, when he realized that the OGM is reachable, he bombed but Patrick crumbled even more under the OGM fav pressure.

As for Nathan, he was hyped by US media as the heavy OGM fav and the only hope for USFS going into 2018 OG. And his rival Yuzuru is injured, thus give the US media even more reason to hype Nathan. and that played into Nathan's head, and that is exactly what happened. As for Yuzuru, injury is the blessing in diguise. he came in with the underdog mentality and "as long as I can skate I am happy" mentality, that is the best stress reliever , that eventually helped him and Team Brian Orscer is also very helpful to Yuzuru at the games.

as it tends out Nathan's "I have nothing to lose might as well just go all out" is his best ever decision in the games. and he made that decision himself.

ETA, thus to manage the mentality of OGM contender caliber athlete in the most stressful event OG is a complicated task. needs to evaluate all possible scenario and make the best mentality strategy/preparation for each specific scenarios and skaters.

 

[heyheyhey]

Lol never worked for me, I was freaking out in both cases, seems Nathan is like me

Lol just in general, that tends to be a theme. I was def way more nervous if I knew I didn’t study well and pulled an all nighter than if I studied weeks in advance.

 

[yyyskate]

I’m getting pretty excited about Marin next season

Actually it was cool to hear Raf compliment her skating skills and flow. It shows it’s something at least he recognizes and values.

Raf changes his words in different contexts. remember in the article about the fight with Marina "Components is not true intelligence".
if anything this is one character that I have learned about Raf as a person.

ETA, now Marin Honda is his next star student, of course, he will emphasize her strength which is SS etc.

 

[oatmella]

I think Nathan freaks out internally to some degree no matter the preparation - very relatable . But obviously OG on a completely different and overwhelming level.

As for Adam - I don’t think he really bombed Nationals - more like had his own freak out moment towards the end of his LP when he started panicking (I think). Have to give him credit though for strong results during the season which allowed him to have that Olympic spot - even had higher FS score than Nathan at Skate America. Ok we know that Nathan had issues there - but still have to give Adam some credit.

As for Raf’s comments on Yale - I didn’t read it like, Nathan was so lucky to get accepted at Yale? More like Nathan was very excited to be accepted - and that he really wants to go to college despite the obvious challenges it presents to his skating career. Raf surely knows how smart Nathan is!

Well let’s hope Raf truly appreciates what’s great about Marin and I thought the goals he expressed for her seem realistic for them to work towards.

 

[yyyskate]

I actually thought this was a good interview and Raf came off well - and a kind word for Brian Orser too - whom I do not think is a ‘magician’ - but honestly I have to admire him for how well he prepared Yuzu and Javi for OG.

Nathan made this decision on his own (or at least independent from Raf), and sounds like Raf wants to help him as much as he can - but he also has quite a few students in socal - that he can’t just ignore. That seems fair - and realistic.

Raf’s approach to mental strength - I’m sure not all would agree with it, that’s one approach and it’s more ‘old school’. As for Nathan at OG - preparation certainly could have been better - but I’m not convinced a lot would have really changed the end result by very much. And that’s ok.

I think Nathan should be a legit podium contender in this OG. but Javi really had the best performace of his season.
if Nathan did satisfictory performances to his ability, but somehoe still did not win the gold, I think Nathan will still be contend and happy, although it will be a different OG experience than this roller coaster one.

 

[oatmella]

I don't think BO is a magician at all, and I agree with the bold part, and I think he has done pretty good job to manage the TCC teams. But it seems there are quite some Orser admirers in GS. .

I changed the "ten times" from "hundred times" a couple of time when I posted last night about watching Nathan in Mickey ear hat. Criminally adorable!!!!

haha yes - 100x is more accurate I think though ... and Nathan so criminally adorable wearing Mickey ears!

 

[heyheyhey]

^ yea, Adam was actually doing really great in the first half of his LP but then missed an easy jump he didn’t typically miss and that seemed to have messed with him in the middle of the routine. It was atypical of him because usually he’ll mess up his quad as his first jump but skate an otherwise clean program where he can make up the points that way. He popped two easy jumps and that’s all that kept him from getting 2nd. Oh well, it all worked out in the end anyway.

That’s how I took the Yale comment too

 

[sheetz]

There's an interview in the upcoming Figure Skating Life magazine. Don't know when the publication date is but should be available on Amazon JP
https://twitter.com/fskating_Life/status/993827953308975104

 

[yyyskate]

@heyheyhey the miscommunication between coach and skater is always a bilateral issue. as what communication is. Please do not always blame on Nathan. if he is a student who is not good at communication then a coach who cannot successfully handle that is not a good coach for Nathan or for this coaching relationship as well.