- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
Hanyu has the talent, the drive, and the competitive nerves. He got 4th at the GPF and the only reason he didn't get 3rd (or higher) is because he didn't have the reputation. The judges have seen him more now and, if he skates his SP as he did at Cup of China, he will be in the mix going into the LP and will almost surely do well in that portion of the competition. Being the 3rd Japanese Man is a detriment but I think he is likely to put a SP and LP together with all of the big technical goods, something that most everyone else will struggle with.
Yes he is. Worlds is in France and he is a former World Champion. It all depends on whether or not he can get his act together.
Hanyu just turned 17, it is unfair to compare him with skaters 3years older than him, at this age at least. Who has landed the podium in their teen first years since Yag/Plu/Joub era? I had seen him in juniors worlds 2010 and it was clear he is a prodigy skater. He needs time to mature and will take the fs world by storm!
Chan was 18 when he podiumed in LA
Lysacek was 19 when he podiumed in Moscow (2005)
Gachisnki was 17 when he podiumed in Moscow (2011)
I'm not quite convinced about Hanyu - I suspect that BoP is gazing at him with stars in his eyes, but I'm also nonplussed about his programs this year, so the fault might be mine.