Plushenko will honour us with his presence in 2010!

[Dee4707]

Dee and Ant: I officially announce you my co-cheerleaders, you ll be responsible when i m gone.

Where are you going??? I feel honored to be named a cheerleader for you!!!

 

[Buttercup]

You didn't see the Oksana/Kerrigan Oly skate, with Baiul two-footing every jump but smiling like Tara. But maybe you are ok with two-foot landings. The predominance of East European judges did rule in that contest. No?

I have only a hazy recollection of the 1994 Olympics and can't comment as to either skater. But really, I don't recall writing anything about Oksana, Nancy, or two-footed landings. So what does all that have to do with my post?

Article in NZZ: Plushenko expects Lambiel to be his biggest rival for the 2010 Olympic crown.

I think Mr. Plushenko is already playing mind games with the rest of the field. But by all means, let's see how the quadless brigade does against Plushy.

 

[Mathman]

As much as I love Lambiel, it is very unlikely that he will come back to competition. Wasn't there some article on icenetwork.com where Lambiel says how much he loves skating without the pressure of competition, and how he's glad that his injuries aren't aggravated by competition anymore?

I think there is avery good chance of Lambiel returning.

He has had knee problems in the past, but I think the main reason he sat out a year was just because he had had enough of the competition grind for a while. He may come back with renewed fire. :yes:

 

[seniorita]

Interesting to me how most assume that just because he's "back" he'll win.

Plush has spoiled his fans in the past but I dont think anyone-even his die-hard fans- says/believes he is a lock for winning the Olympic Gold. I think it is not a given he will win any medal color either.
Supposedly he is back on form, it is still the judges that who knows how they will react to his new programs and his competitors who have stepped forward in those years. History has not been good with comebacks and in that aspect the odds are against him. For me his main contenders are Joubert, if he skates good in sp he will be dead serious threat and Chan cause he has everything except the fixed 3axel and quad. Weir is my next fav but I dont think he is for Gold and then Ponsero and Thomas are capable for best or worst, a bit of headcases. Kozuka, Oda and Ten, this is their first Olympics, it is tricky. Takahashi and Lambiel of course will be Gold contenders if they come back and I will be equally happy if they are Olympic Champions. ( Plush supported his opinion that Lambiel will come back cause they were touring together and he saw his trainings and said this was not a training for a show, he was doing one quad after the other).
Lysacek, doesnt do much for me, he was the best in these Worlds and fully deserved the gold(and I liked how he reacted at the end of his Lp) , but I have the impression that he medals when everyone else messes it up, Mostly his 3axel annoys me and I dont like the eye of Tarasova on him, his moves seem like it is not him but well calculated moves,maybe i m wrong. He could be a contender but as I said a lot of men need to skate bad.
Speaking for myself, I have no clue what Plushy can do next season, but as a fan of his skating I think he is one of the athletes with strong determination to do the best. I hope he medals cause it is always a pay off for an athlete to be on podium, but even if not I will be just happy to see him step on ice again even if he is last, i think at the very end all fans want just that for their favorites' comeback. What I do believe though is that he will train and come back only if he is in contention for the gold, no matter where he ends up .
Saying all this I have to add that what I am sure of is that if he wins the Gold medal I will flip.

 

[Medusa]

Sometimes I don't get all the excitement over Tat.Of course she has a long record of winning (bloc voting never hurt her skaters

Do you want to keep mentioning the bloc voting thing in every thread, no matter how irrelevant?

Mao is the only skater I have seen anywhere near as light as Sasha was and I dont know if Tat will consider and accept what makes Mao special. Seems she wants to make Mao change and become a dramatic Russian Diva.

So Tarasova should turn Asada into a second Cohen? I actually think that Tarasova tried to give Asada some kind of personality - because that's what missing.

As to Evan, his LP actually seemed to show off his flaws rather than hiding them. Really, all that arm flapping is neither attractive or necessary.

And Lysacek had such balletic graceful arm movements before Tarasova came along! How could she try to change those elegant Kirov arms?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think there is avery good chance of Lambiel returning.

He has had knee problems in the past, but I think the main reason he sat out a year was just because he had had enough of the competition grind for a while. He may come back with renewed fire. :yes:

I'm with Medusa on this. He's a happy show skater and power to him. He's had knee surgery several times - not groin surgery. Groin surgery heals; knee sugery just takes pain away temporarily. I know, i've been through it.

Of course, like Sasha fans, I would love to see him skate again, but he makes the decisions, I don't.

The Zebra kicks the Lion in the jaw. hmm. I like that.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Why should we want figure skaters to be like ballerinos and ballerinas? It should not be important in figure skating. Best ballet dancers are on the stage. Movement to music is what is necessary. Arms will carry easily if that is accomplished. Look at Kwan who was not a ballerina but a beautiful figure skater.

 

[seniorita]

Although Stephan said in a recent interview that the reason he stopped it is not the knees but his hip problem, he has unbalanced right and left side and hurts when he jumps even doubles and especially axel, he said he his one side is extremely weak because of the jumps all these years and cannot have any therapy for it rather than time and caution, (I m sorry i write it simple cause I dont know exactly how to translate what he said, the interview was in french). But I wish he would come back, I missed him this year.
It never crossed my mind that Taras would want to turn Mao to new Sasha, now I think the possibility it looks wrong. I dont remember which Sasha programs are Tarasova's, Morozov 's or of both, I didnt like her Swan lake but I liked her 2006 programs. That were only Morozov's?
I must be the minority but I enjoy Mao more than Yuna cause for me she looks so much talented and more natural on ice and like a rough paper ready to absorb anything from coach, crowd , anything. This season's programs bored me a little but i guess it was trial and error this year. I guess I agree about giving her personality, but I think maybe it is her young age and she needs to find it on her own, not imposed by any Tarasova.

 

[evangeline]

Sometimes I don't get all the excitement over Tat.Of course she has a long record of winning (bloc voting never hurt her skaters but sometimes her choreo looks to be the same regardless of who is skating.

Um, I don't think TAT's coterie of champions needed bloc voting to help them win things....

In defense of TAT, she--like every other coach in the world--is not the magic bullet that would automatically make a skater Olympic and World champion. Obviously Lysacek wasn't a good fit. But all things considered, I think TAT knows what she's doing (given her record of producing deserving Olympic champions) and has a concerted plan for Mao, for better or for worse. Plus, she and Mao seem to get along well, which is always a plus. But I think the problem this year with Mao partly lies in the fact that TAT wasn't with her full time, which needs to be rectified.

ANYWAYS to get back to the topic of Plushenko, I agree with seniorita: nobody thinks he is a lock for Olympic gold a la 2006. But I can still say the same thing for all of the other competitiors in the men's division, who are not exactly the models of consistency. I think Plushenko knows what he is doing, however--I doubt he'd bother to come back if he wasn't at least close to his 2006 form and 'tarnish' his gold or whatever. Personally I think Plushenko's coming back because right now, he's seeing that skaters he used to so easily beat are winning World Championships.... without quads. Plushenko isn't stupid--even if we harp about how choreographically empty and boring his programs are I think he can see that PCS seems to go up as long as TES does. And Plushenko's TES (jump-wise, at least) is potentially very deadly.

 

[merrybari]

I think part of the reason he did beat the ones in the field now was due to experience as many of those in the current crop of contenders were newcomers while he was a veteran in 2006.

 

[szidon]

And Lysacek had such balletic graceful arm movements before Tarasova came along! How could she try to change those elegant Kirov arms?

What does it mean by 'Evan's elegant Kirov arms'? Was he trained at Kirov Ballet Academy???

 

[Medusa]

What does it mean by 'Evan's elegant Kirov arms'? Was he trained at Kirov Ballet Academy???

s a r c a s m​

 

[evangeline]

What does it mean by 'Evan's elegant Kirov arms'? Was he trained at Kirov Ballet Academy???

No offense, but this comment made me spew my peanut butter sandwich all over my laptop

 

[antmanb]

I think part of the reason he did beat the ones in the field now was due to experience as many of those in the current crop of contenders were newcomers while he was a veteran in 2006.

I wouldn't necessairly say that it was the inexperience of the other skaters. The following 11 skaters in Torino all competed in SLC (so had at least one Olympics under their belt):

Dambier
Davydov
Chiper
Toth
Dinev
Van de Perren
Joubert
Lambiel
Li
Murvanidze
Sandhu (withdrew but was competing at the time)

By 2003 worlds (the first worlds in the quadrennial) the following 5 skaters competed in addition to the ones who competed in SLC:

Buttle
Verner
Urbas
Zelenka
Berntsson

So more than half the skaters who competed in the mens event (17 including Plush) had at least four years experience the majority of which had already competed in an Olympic Games.

By 2004 the rest of the 2006 mens competitors went to worlds Including (Lindemann, Takahashi, Lysacek, Weir, Savoie, Klimkin) and therefore had at least two worlds under their belt and the best part of 3 seasons with world exposure prior to the Olympics).

Ant

 

[seniorita]

I m trying to remember the field of 2006..Who were the newcomers then that could beat a 2006 Plush now? Joubert and Lambiel were not newcomers in 2006, and if all the skaters skated now their best of the best, these are still the two who could beat the old Plushenko( i use it as reference since we havent seen him competing yet). I speak about their average marks they can score and not ability, because Ten can beat anyone now but his scores cannot..Verner and Kvdp could beat a 2006 plushenko? Only 2006 newbie with equal threat as Lambiel and Joubert is Takahashi in my opinion, is there anyone else from 2006 I forget?Biggest clean threat was Sandu, now gone, Chan came but about Chan i have two different impressions at the same time, they change by my mood when watching him.

Oh no! Female X-Men... Now the femininity/masculinity debate will come to haunt the Plushy thread! No! Nooooo! There are too many threads on that already.

LOL, i just saw this!No that was not what I had in mind..I was thinking exactly this:

No, no, no it's fine because mystique can turn into anything, man, woman or beast, so that would be the perfect power as a skater - show off all your sides. Even a crying baby in a pram
Ant

(i didnt make you assistant for no reason )
the baby show i pretend it never happened.

 

[merrybari]

I don't know the stats well enough to say who was where, so I stand corrected on the numbers. I guess experience didn't help very many of them, did it? But, did they have the ability to contend? that they were there does say something.

By 2004 the rest of the 2006 mens competitors went to worlds Including (Lindemann, Takahashi, Lysacek, Weir, Savoie, Klimkin)

This isn't entirely accurate as in 2004, Lysacek was still competing at the junior level in worlds, with a few senior events as well mixed in.

His full time senior career began in 2005, so by 2006 Olympics he didn't have three senior years of International exposure, and yet he still managed to finish a very respectable 4th.

Carrying it further, he had only the 2005 worlds under his belt by 2006 Olympics, and medaled there at his first appearance. (2006 Worlds that year was AFTER the Olympics - he medalled then, too.)

I'm sure there were a few others competing in Torino about whom something similar could be said, but again, I can't say who they may have been. So I'll retract the word "many" and replace with "some."

Still of those competing in 2006, is it safe to say Plush was one of the most experienced competitors of those with the "goods" to get the job done? From the list I saw, thanks for taking time to check it out, I'd answer "yes."

I recall that Plush withdrew from 2005 worlds and the question came up in ABC commentary ["could he contend in Torino after missing this competition?"] the answer given was "yes, because he's had the experience that would make it easy for him to come back.

After being gone so long, I'm sure his experience will factor in to what he's able to accomplish this time around. It does give him a bit of a jump start, imo.

 

[seniorita]

because it was asked, federation announced his future competitions
original here, http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/331840

by google translator (sorry i have no clue of russian language)

To start - two or three competitions in Russian scale - Samara and St. Petersburg. Most probably, he competes and at a tournament in Finland.... In October we call Plushenko at the Russian stage , series of «Grand Prix» in Moscow. In early December, Evgeni will compete at "Memorial Panina" in St. Petersburg. Then, - Championship of Russia and Europeans....

 

[antmanb]

I don't know the stats well enough to say who was where, so I stand corrected on the numbers. I guess experience didn't help very many of them, did it? But, did they have the ability to contend? that they were there does say something.

To be honest i'm not looking for excuses as to why 2006 Olympic men's competition was so disappointing. None of the skaters bar Pluschenko delivered. Even Pluschenko didn't deliver to the best of his ability, he nailed the high scoring elements and made sure he won. Whether it was lack of experience, ability, focus anything is moot. It simply was not a good year. 2010 is looking like it should be a good one!

This isn't entirely accurate as in 2004, Lysacek was still competing at the junior level in worlds, with a few senior events as well mixed in.

Sorry my mistake - i had that many windows open, checking names off I think i started running down 2006 Olympics thinking it was 2004 worlds!! You're right Lysacek was much more of a "newbie" in 2006.

Still of those competing in 2006, is it safe to say Plush was one of the most experienced competitors of those with the "goods" to get the job done? From the list I saw, thanks for taking time to check it out, I'd answer "yes."

Well he was the absolutel favourite. Every competition has a favourite but the 2006 Olympic mens competition was probably the most open and shut case. I doubt anyone would have bet against Plushcenko. That doesn't take anythig away from his win.

Ant

 

[jennylovskt]

His full time senior career began in 2005, so by 2006 Olympics he didn't have three senior years of International exposure, and yet he still managed to finish a very respectable 4th.

Carrying it further, he had only the 2005 worlds under his belt by 2006 Olympics, and medaled there at his first appearance. (2006 Worlds that year was AFTER the Olympics - he medalled then, too.)

Lysacek won 2005 Worlds bronze medal. He has never won anything in Olympics. In 2006 Oympics, Plushenko got gold, Lambiel got silver, and Jeffrey Buttle got bronze. Lysacek was fourth after all. Then in the 2006 Worlds, Plushenko did not go, Lambiel got gold, Joubert got silver, and Lysacek got bronze.

Oh, well, I read your post again. Maybe you did mean the same thing. Sorry.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Sorry but I have to correct this one:

Lysacek won 2005 Worlds bronze medal. He has never won anything in Olympics. In 2006 Oympics, Plushenko got gold, Lambiel got silver, and Jeffrey Buttle got bronze. Lysacek was fourth after all. Then in the 2006 Worlds, Plushenko did not go, Lambiel got gold, Joubert got silver, and Lysacek got bronze.

That's true. Lysacek is a twice holder of World bronze medals.. If he keeps on this current roll, he will easily be a contender for gold in Vancouver. We know Joubert falters more than we like to see. as does Jeremy Abbott. We know, too that Patrick Chank can do better. All others are not top competitors for gold, however we have not seen:

Evgeni Plushenko
Daisuke Takahashi
the ever popular Johnny Weir. These three plus Evan, Brian, Patrick, and Jeremy will be the ones we talk about before, during and after the contest.