Women's FS - 2022 Olympics: Thoughts?

[rain]

Some people in skating didn't buy it, but they were not in positions of power. For e.g., Tom Dickson (choreographer and former U.S. skater) said ahead of the 2018 Olympics that Osmond was the overall better skater vs Zagitova and Medvedeva.

I was actually baffled in the runup to the 2018 Olympics that so many people had bought into this 2-person-race narrative, when I didn't think it was nearly so clear-cut, what with Medvedeva's injury, Zagitova's big flaws and initial inconsistency (though they were more and more ignored as the season went on) and the simply superior skating of Osmond in virtually all aspects, if she could go relatively clean. But people talked about it like the Russians were the only ones in the running and it unfairly created a perception that this was the case. I'm ticked that people in the sport couldn't see that this particular emperor had no clothes.

I remember seeing The Skating Lesson's separate recaps of the women's event with Doug Haw and Dickson. You can claim Canadian bias for Haw declaring passionately that Osmond should have won, but I was surprised by the complete agreement of Dickson, who said it like it was totally obvious that Kaetlyn had the best overall performance. Fascinating.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I could have sworn the whole point of this was that the judging isn't fair. Then you rehash all the bogus calls and scores, that we obviously disagree about. The tech caller is a big part of the judging, and just as open to outside influence.As I said, the same thing happened to Kaori last World's. Sakamoto hasn't improved her lutz, she improved the way she tries to hide it. Im not arguing how they will be judged btw. Im arguing how they should be judged if it was fair.

Fairness is subjective too. Some people might think it’s only fair if Higuchi gets 75 PCS and only fair if Sakamoto gets 60.

Kaori’s lutz isn’t really hidden more but she holds the outside edge longer and ends up more on a flat, compared to say two seasons ago. I haven’t really even seen Higuchi try to hide her lip or change the entry - she kinda just accepts that it could get dinged.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

the complete agreement of Dickson, who said it like it was totally obvious that Kaetlyn had the best overall performance. Fascinating.

I believe Dickson was on TSL prior to the 2018 Olympics, and that's when he commented that Kaetlyn had all the attributes, including technical and artistry, plus power and presence. When asked his favorite for the Olympics, Dickson spoke about Kaetlyn and said she was his favorite. He was right, of course.

 

[Joekaz]

Fairness is subjective too. Some people might think it’s only fair if Higuchi gets 75 PCS and only fair if Sakamoto gets 60.

Kaori’s lutz isn’t really hidden more but she holds the outside edge longer and ends up more on a flat, compared to say two seasons ago. I haven’t really even seen Higuchi try to hide her lip or change the entry - she kinda just accepts that it could get dinged.

I agree on the edges. That's why I said she got better at hiding it. She flips after she exagerates the outside edge and after she taps. Which basically means Sakamoto has a well disguised wrong edge, and Higuchi an obvious flat edge. I also agree on the subjectivity, even if AI is used, subjectivity will always control the scoring.

 

[Joekaz]

I believe Dickson was on TSL prior to the 2018 Olympics, and that's when he commented that Kaetlyn had all the attributes, including technical and artistry, plus power and presence. When asked his favorite for the Olympics, Dickson spoke about Kaetlyn and said she was his favorite. He was right, of course.

Osmond reminds me of Sakamoto, but not as awkward, but not as consistent either.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Osmond reminds me of Sakamoto, but not as awkward, but not as consistent either.

Sakamoto hasn't always been consistent either. But granted, Sakamoto doesn't really suffer from nerves and inconsistency in the same way as Osmond did (which part of that for Osmond was related to injury). In any case, Osmond is head-and-shoulders above Sakamoto artistically. Their styles are very different. No disrespect to Sakamoto's talent.

 

[Joekaz]

Sakamoto hasn't always been consistent. Plus, Osmond is head-and-shoulders above Sakamoto artistically. Their styles are very different. No disrespect to Sakamoto's talent.

True, but Kaori has been much more consistent than Osmond. They both have a high speed powerful style.

 

[rain]

I believe Dickson was on TSL prior to the 2018 Olympics, and that's when he commented that Kaetlyn had all the attributes, including technical and artistry, plus power and presence. When asked his favorite for the Olympics, Dickson spoke about Kaetlyn and said she was his favorite. He was right, of course.

He may have been, but I'm specifically talking about this: This and That: 2018 Olympic Games - Ladies Artistic Recap with Tom Dickson.

 

[AvgeekJoe]

The whole Zagitova/Medvedeva narrative was unfortunately a highly successful deliberate propaganda campaign perpetuated on the skating world. Anyway, I will forever and always regard Osmond as the rightful and true winner of the 2018 Olympics. Especially with what we know now.

I have felt that way ever since the 2018 "Olympics". A long time, but then again HUGE Kaetlyn Osmond fan and not a big fan of having under-16 compete plus skeptical of Russian sport.