2010 Olympic Preview to Men's Figure Skating

[julielai]

whole post

Thanks for explaining. I still think that the posters would have been less outraged had there been no speculation in your assessment (The US title ... or he would have won it.) The fact that he has medalled in every event in the last 3 years is enough to back up your general assessment about Evan without bringing in the what-ifs.

Now that I've gone back to Wiki to review Evan's past three years, I also think he'll probably medal, though again, trying a quad this late in the season... What if that's a bad plan?

Just my humble opinion, of course.

 

[plushyta]

.. but the men's preview wasn't up to the standard I'd expect from GS, for all the reasons others have noted: it was biased,.....

Yes, and I did not expect, especially for such an important event.

Wow is this guy working for Frank and Evan?

Briefly paraphrasing text :agree:

 

[Buttercup]

There is a 16 year old who contributes to this website and frankly I think that young writer is a better analyst than Mr. Walker and more objective.

Evan is the most focused and driven skater I have ever covered. He wants to win, sets the plan, and executes. Everything (and I mean everything) that he does has a purpose behind it, and that will stand him in good stead.

I appreciate your explaining your reasoning (which I still feel is subjective rather than objective) and dealing with all the criticism here. However, I don't buy that Evan is more driven or more focused than others. He is more consistent than most, but I don't think you can attribute this to better preparation or greater motivation, since at this level, everyone is motivated, hard working and well-prepared. I understand that you admire certain qualities you feel Evan has, but IMO, your admiration for Lysacek and Carroll got in the way of delivering the more objective preview most of us clearly expected.

Finally, while yelyoh certainly could have found a different way of expressing his/her opinion, I know which writer that's referring to - it's the same person who writes the blog Video Replay Artistry - and I agree that he does an excellent job when he has the time to write about skating.

 

[Trewyn]

I have a question about Lambiel; is there a chance that he will do a triple axel at the Olympics? Or is that jump definitely lost for him?

 

[seniorita]

Lambiel's coach said they maybe try it in post euros interview,but i dont know, i think Lambiel would prefer a clean short with lots of + GOE. He didnt look anywhere near landing a 3axel in practices in Tallinn.

He wants to win, sets the plan, and executes. Everything (and I mean everything) that he does has a purpose behind it, and that will stand him in good stead.
.

Hi

While Lysacek looks like he sticks to his plan and works too much for his fights, I thought Joubert have been also on the podium in all competitions since 2006 and even before, Evan is committed to his plan but it is not like he has won so many battles at the end of the day the last 6 years. I also think Plushenko is Mr Focuced and Executes for years in his amateur carreer.

To lighten up a little Mr Candeloro said it the other day Russians are programmed to win!

 

[Buttercup]

While Lysacek looks like he sticks to his plan and works too much for his fights, I thought Joubert have been also on the podium in all competitions since 2006 and even before, Evan is committed to his plan but it is not like he has won so many battles at the end of the day the last 6 years. I also think Plushenko is Mr Focuced and Executes for years in his amateur carreer

I agree that when it comes to executing the planned content on the ice, Plushenko is more consistent than anyone. Lysacek usually doesn't fall, but he does easier jump content than many guys, and also has other issues with his jumps.

As for podiums, I know the answer! Lysacek missed one podium in this Olympic cycle (2007 Worlds - 5th) while Joubert has missed two (4th at the last two TEBs). Joubert has generally had better results, though, with considerably more first place finishes, and the difference in PBs is mostly due to (very) generous judging in this year's GPF. Joubert is also the only skater in all four disciplines who has been on the podium at every Worlds since the last Olympics.

 

[museksk8r]

Takahashi and Abbott are better at everything that isn't a jump (doesn't mean that they can't jump).

I think Dai and Jeremy do everything better than Lysacek, including jumping. Their Axel technique is WAY BETTER than his! The only advantage Evan has over those two is that he has proven in the past to be a better competitor under pressure, even though Dai and Jeremy both have defeated Evan convincingly on more than one occasion. If all 3 were to go clean in both phases of a competition, you'd be hard pressed to find a majority of skating fans or judges who would go for Lysacek, I think.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I did. I spoke about Evan winning high visibiity events (though not specifically called out... Worlds, Skate America, and the GPF). If you want to know my reasoning, from an objective standpoint, here goes:

I have never seen a skater who has been more committed to 'the plan'. Evan has learned a lot in his years as a competitive skater, and he knows what his body and mind needs to compete in any given scenario. Given that he is often on podiums, I think that that makes him the most dangerous skater in the competition. Is he the most talented? Absolutely not. Plushenko and Joubert are better jumpers and Takahashi and Abbott are better at everything that isn't a jump (doesn't mean that they can't jump). But Evan has a certain indescribable quality that is bankable. I have covered skating for six years as a member of the media, and I have been involved in other ways for much longer. Evan is the most focused and driven skater I have ever covered. He wants to win, sets the plan, and executes. Everything (and I mean everything) that he does has a purpose behind it, and that will stand him in good stead.

I'm not going to go into my thought process for each skater that I wrote about, but I hope that this helps. I am sure by responding (again) that I am opening a whole new can of worms, but I wanted to help you understand my process.

On another topic, I do not address personal insults or jabs.

Very good post! Evan is decidedly focused to skate his best. He is not fearful of the event, and I believe he will give his "all" even if he skates his LP after Evgeni. I first noticed his determination in 2005 Moscow Worlds when he landed on the podium. I don't think Evan ever had the 'demons' in competition. He's not my favorite, and I am not one for rallying around American skaters, but I do notice a good competitor when I see one.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Bias comes in many forms. 1. Only skaters from my country can win a competition. 2. Skaters of a particular ethnic background will win a competition. 3. Particular Favorites for whatever reason and from whereever will win a competition . I'm in that 3rd grouping because I like the sport of figure skating. While it is nice for an American to win a comp, I would still prefer the best one who demonstrates the best skating that day.

 

[Bennett]

Oda's teammate Takahashi has the experience of competing at the Olympic Games that Oda does not as well as a World Championships medal. What the Japanese champion lacks this season is confidence. If you take away the jumps, Takahashi is arguably the most talented men's skater out there today, but he has allowed the big jumps to skate his confidence since returning to competition after injury this season. If the Takahashi of old shows up in Vancouver, he will be serious threat number two to Plushenko.

I've been thinking about this. I feel that Takahashi's challenge may not be just the confidence issue. That may be a part of a bigger picture of getting back to the competition form after a big injury and being away for an entire season.

The first issue that I thought about is his stamina in LP. It is not necessarily a new story for Dai to run out of stamina. But this season may have been more difficult. He has moved one of his 3As to the latter half of the program after nationals because he has come to feel more confident about his stamina.

Another thing is that he has needed to readjust to his renewed body. He has become more flexible after the injury. He has had difficulty controling that more flexible body, which is said to be leading to strange mistakes (e.g., fall in step seq).

Additionally, Dai's quad does not seem to be really back even in practice reports. His failed attempts of the quad at comps so far may not have been just a confidence issue. He might need to relearn it in oder to land it more consistently again.

He also needed to get back to the competition mode, which would be very different for him from the way he spent last year.

All in all, I have a feeling that he may peak next season rather than this season. Although it is a little sad for Dai if he misses an Oly medal, I am sure that he has good chances of eventually becoming a world champ.

 

[Tinymavy15]

I have a question about Lambiel; is there a chance that he will do a triple axel at the Olympics? Or is that jump definitely lost for him?

I think it is deffinetly lost. He did not have it when he was competing a few years ago, and probably dis not even train it in his break from competition. Even if he has been training it, I can't see him landing it clean under pressure. I think he will reley on the quads. If he can do them all clean and not make any other mistakes this should leave him a a good place. I guess his plan is like Mao's. Try the difficult jump that not many of your competition can do three times and hope for the best.

 

[silverlake22]

I'm thinking the men's event could be wide open. I wouldn't be surprised to see a podium of Plushenko, Joubert, and either Abbott or Verner. Chan, Lysacek, Oda may be at a disadvantage by not attempting quads, and they seem to have triple axel trouble quite frequently. I mean Abbott and especially Verner are big headcases but when they are clean, they are REALLY good, better than Chan, Lysacek, Oda IMHO. Takahashi has a shot, but I'm not a big fan of his programs this year. Lambiel will need the 3a in the short to have a shot. Anyone else see this the same way?

 

[Mathman]

Let's see if we can keep this men's thread ahead of all the other three combined! :yes:

 

[sigrid]

About Lambiel, he started training the triple axel again some months ago, but in a 3a attempt, he injured himself again, so he needed physiotherapy and rest. Maybe it's too risky for him considering his physical problems.

IMO With a 4-3 in the short (if he lands it as he was landing in Tallinn's trainings) he won't need the 3a for being in the last group. And for him, it's better a 2axel with +GOE than a fall, or a downgraded 3a

 

[Figure88]

I think Dai and Jeremy do everything better than Lysacek, including jumping. Their Axel technique is WAY BETTER than his! The only advantage Evan has over those two is that he has proven in the past to be a better competitor under pressure, even though Dai and Jeremy both have defeated Evan convincingly on more than one occasion. If all 3 were to go clean in both phases of a competition, you'd be hard pressed to find a majority of skating fans or judges who would go for Lysacek, I think.

Evan is like 6'2". Of course, Dai and Jeremy are going to higher jumps than him. They're like 5'6-8".

 

[museksk8r]

Evan is like 6'2". Of course, Dai and Jeremy are going to higher jumps than him. They're like 5'6-8".

Jeremy is actually 5'10''.

 

[seniorita]

Let's see if we can keep this men's thread ahead of all the other three combined! :yes:

We are working on that! Havent you said post often post long?

 

[jennylovskt]

Let's see if we can keep this men's thread ahead of all the other three combined! :yes:

We'll do our best.

While Mr. Walker certainly has an opinion written in the article and it's not popular among the skating fans, it does represent the majority of the media bodies' view. Therefore, this view has influenced the American publics. I think it's really a good thing for Jeremy Abbott. And it might released a little on Plushenko, Joubert, Lambiel, Takahashi, and Oda from North Americans which I believe would form the majority of the audiences. I don't know if the media is doing a favor to Lysacek or not. He seems to have been painted like a programmed robot, no nerves or anything. Sounds funny.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Let's see if we can keep this men's thread ahead of all the other three combined! :yes:

The time has come for the men to take Center Stage. Not that the Ladies will not be interesting. The Ladies are fighting for the bronze medal whereas the men are challenging for all three places.

 

[janetfan]

We'll do our best.

While Mr. Walker certainly has an opinion written in the article and it's not popular among the skating fans, it does represent the majority of the media bodies' view. Therefore, this view has influenced the American publics. I think it's really a good thing for Jeremy Abbott. And it might released a little on Plushenko, Joubert, Lambiel, Takahashi, and Oda from North Americans which I believe would form the majority of the audiences. I don't know if the media is doing a favor to Lysacek or not. He seems to have been painted like a programmed robot, no nerves or anything. Sounds funny.

I enjoyed the article and mostly it was fans of skaters other than Evan who objected to it.
As to the American public, most don't know who Evan is, they don't care much about skating and they don't read GS.

As to robots I think Evan skates with more passion than most, certainly more than Joubert, who at times appears to be little more than a mannequin on skates. Many of the others just look scared at big events and fail to rise to the occassion.

There is no guarantee than Plushy will win or that Evan will be his primary challenger. But it seems certain Plushy and Evan won't be overcome by nerves when it comes time to skate. They are very strong competitors.

I hope all the guys skate their best and let the chips fall where they will. As far as Joubert is concerned I would be happy to see him have the skate of his life.
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