2026 Olympics: Men's Free Skate

[sunn1ly]

Gumennik can be glad he was allowed to compete at all and if they are surprised he wasn't as overscored as he probably is at home, then that's on them. He was decent, but nothing to write home about.

Omg you are from Germany and have the audacity to say that Gumennik should be glad he is allowed to compete. He has earned his right to compete and should be scored fairly as every other competitor.

 

[lariko]

Gumennik expressed his gratitude multiple times. He didn't put a toe out of the line. He said in the interview after the skate that he will continue working on his jumping entries with Arathunian to eliminate the issues noted in the scores. I just want to add this to emphasize that Gumennik didn't stir any controversy with his participation and expressed no negativity whatsoever.

 

[freedomlover]

Gumennik expressed his gratitude multiple times. He didn't put a toe out of the line. He said in the interview after the skate that he will continue working on his jumping entries with Arathunian to eliminate the issues noted in the scores. I just want to add this to emphasize that Gumennik didn't stir any controversy with his participation and expressed no negativity whatsoever.

He was fine to be honest, what annoyed me more was the Russian flags in the stands. I thought those things got checked?

 

[lariko]

He was fine to be honest, what annoyed me more was the Russian flags in the stands. I thought those things got checked?

This wasn't on him but on selfish idiots. Why would anyone endanger the bigger picture for the sake of a questionable instant gratification is beyond me. I respect those who found a creative way to express support via skaters' banners.

 

[lariko]

But, not to be missed, is the new reality is that the Japanese men camp is no longer an unassailable bastion blocking the important podiums either, soft knees or not.

 

[Artemisa]

I think this is unfair to say that he should be glad to be allowed to compete and as a result of this accept any score. Nevertheless, it doesn't matter what D.G. or anyone says in the aftermath. Traditionally, there is a lot of untruth and manipulation in what people say. Important is who gets what.

Are you kidding me? He is an athlete and deserves respect... and a fair score. I'm so glad that people are only outraged by Russian athletes... not by other countries that are at war or that ignore human rights... or by coaches, choreographers, russians or naturalized Russians... only by the athletes... great Olympic spirit... has anyone considered what would happen to Russian athletes if they protested?

 

[Artemisa]

Gumennik expressed his gratitude multiple times. He didn't put a toe out of the line. He said in the interview after the skate that he will continue working on his jumping entries with Arathunian to eliminate the issues noted in the scores. I just want to add this to emphasize that Gumennik didn't stir any controversy with his participation and expressed no negativity whatsoever.

I think russia got the best Public relations with Petr.. He was perfect in that field

 

[pesto]

...His physique has broadened considerably, especially shoulders and arms...

We've been saying this all season, he's looking more and more like the conventional shape for a very fit young man, less of the lean bean skater physique.

We were just discussing whether his current physique is where it ends, or if it's likely to continue in that direction, and how much it may affect his quads over the next, er, quad.

 

[elbkup]

With all understanding, this is a bizarre comment.
Why someone here wants to read that novel - because that novel is cool. You just have to read it in the language of original. There is way more life in it than in Childe Harold IMO. Closer to Schiller, I'd say. Lots of subtle sense of humour, multi-dimentional, very sharp. Classical, not romantic. In fact Pushkin compares Onegin with a bit of humour to Childe and calls romanticism "dark and sluggish" when he writes about the Lensky's last letter. The real heroine is actually Tatiana, the novel follows her path and ends with her keeping her purity in accordance to her self-ID while being completely honest about her feelings to Evgeny and mournful for lost happiness. Kinda like The Maid of Orleans follows Johanna's path and ends with her staying true to herself as a woman of her belief about her destiny and a person of her nation despite her romantic love for an enemy. But it's because Onegin happened to meet her, Pushkin "gets a chance" to write about her and we get a glimpse of her life and person, that's how it's realized. There is a lot about country life, its simple delights, which were also Pushkin's and Tatiana's delights, and about circular life of high society and its emptiness, but through the feelings and perception of an individual. Which brings us to the next point: he was the first to stop writing odes and start writing about normal people with normal feelings in normal language - about as much as Dante did if not more. That's why they read it. You probably read the plot of it on wiki, that's why you are wondering. I also understand the hard feelings.
Why western people cling so much to that "culture" - it's not "culture", it's culture. Western people don't. My experience most westerners only know works of Solzhenitsyn and Nabokov, but it's actually American culture. So they stick to their own culture.

I agree with your take that Onegin is a women’s story.. all women. However, you seem to adhere to cultural divisions, i.e. East vs West, as a divide; I prefer the position as a cultural sharing, an osmosis if you will. Purists will always exist but the divide has been breached whether purists like it or not. Cross culture is not a bad thing

 

[anonymoose_au]

I should probably go to bed as I might regret this come the morning.

But I certainly hope every single person trashing Ilia is the absolute EPITOME of grace in disappointment and has never not once in their entire lives had a disparaging thought or comment about someone who did better than them.

Because this was the biggest competition of his life and he had a disaster skate, he trained all his life for this. Less than a minute after having to come to terms with that, he congratulated Mikhail S on his win sincerely.

Judging by some of the comments made by people here, I have a hard time believing they could ever be as thoughtful in a time of huge disappointment as Ilia was.

 

[lariko]

Are you kidding me? He is an athlete and deserves respect... and a fair score. I'm so glad that people are only outraged by Russian athletes... not by other countries that are at war or that ignore human rights... or by coaches, choreographers, russians or naturalized Russians... only by the athletes... great Olympic spirit... has anyone considered what would happen to Russian athletes if they protested?

Eh, they picked on everyone, it least on Canadian broadcast. Berulava is probably still washing mud of his costume, lol. I would lead with gratitude more, and leave deservedness well enough alone if we are to ever have hope to see more than 4 AIN athletes in 4 years.

 

[elbkup]

We've been saying this all season, he's looking more and more like the conventional shape for a very fit young man, less of the lean bean skater physique.

We were just discussing whether his current physique is where it ends, or if it's likely to continue in that direction, and how much it may affect his quads over the next, er, quad.

My guess is this is nothing a seasoned coach like Raf A can’t work with easily but it will take time. He was brought in to band aid the issue now and attempts seem to have been made to alter Ilia’s technique at the late stage. Hopefully we will see changes solidify in weeks, months to come if Ilia decides to continue. Glad others noticed it too

 

[freedomlover]

But, not to be missed, is the new reality is that the Japanese men camp is no longer an unassailable bastion blocking the important podiums either, soft knees or not.

The Japanese skating federation has gotten away with more bullshit than not, at times- and I can say that while liking the skaters who are on that team.

A few things got taken for granted... they will have to go back to the drawing board soon.

 

[Warwick360]

I don't think so ... I think makes dream that everything is possible in men ...

Like I said, in terms of score, it was a step back. It's not a subjective opinion as the scores state what they state.

Was not arguing with what you said.

 

[DancingCactus]

Omg you are from Germany and have the audacity to say that Gumennik should be glad he is allowed to compete. He has earned his right to compete and should be scored fairly as every other competitor.

Huh? What does my nationality have to do with this? Genuinely curious.

 

[jenaj]

When you consider that Mikhail is the reigning World silver medalist, it's not that surprising that he won after Ilia faltered.

 

[jenaj]

I didnt catch what Ilia said, but if it's true that he said not going to Beijing was the reason why he failed? Nope. Not buying it. Many athletes have won gold in their first Olympics... and some, like Kurt Browning, didn't win after having gone previously. It's a reasonable excuse, but not guaranteed to be THE reason. Winning everything for years in between should season you, but the Olympics are different. Many world champions, across many disciplines, with loads of experience, have still faltered at the Olympics.

Michelle Kwan in 2002. It was her second Olympics--third if you count that she was there as an alternate in 1994. Also, Irina Slutskaya in 2006.

 

[brens78]

Mik up on YouTube that shows both his short and free in one and Australian commentary noice!

 

[reader3]

My guess is this is nothing a seasoned coach like Raf A can’t work with easily but it will take time. He was brought in to band aid the issue now and attempts seem to have been made to alter Ilia’s technique at the late stage. Hopefully we will see changes solidify in weeks, months to come if Ilia decides to continue. Glad others noticed it too

I think he should and will continue.

 

[Arriba627]

I *like* Kévin's red murder gloves. So there.

I don't know el. Those look like the red version of O J murder gloves.