@jenaj: You wrote this,
I responded,
And your response is,
You are not being brief. You have no substance. If I can be so blunt, I tell you that you are doing a disservice to this board and to those who share your "opinion" by failing to engage in earnest debate. I replied to your post with a good faith, hoping to learn a thing or two from those whose opinions differ from mine, but what I receive is the same one-liner, a bare assertion, as if I spoke to a rock.
This is why I started adding people to the ignore list. Life is too short. There are people who disagree agreeably, and there are those who will disagree at any cost, including others' time. I am sorry if I come off rude but I think other grown-ups can understand. It is difficult to find a nicer response to such tone-deafness.
I have no idea what that is. In any case I will refer you to a much better analysis than what you and I can do -> Figure Skating Reference: Evaluating Step Sequences. It is sticked on this board and easy to find.
P.S. I will get out of this thread for it seems like I am going way off-topic. My apologies.
It was kind of passion-less. Yuna is not a very expressive skater to begin with but the combination of the music, the Russian audience, skating last and the Olympic stage seemed to take some life out of her. Regardless of her shortcomings, Adelina skated the heck out of that program. She raised her game and Yuna went with, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I wish Yuna had stepped out of her comfort zone more, even if it might not have been enough. (emphasis mine)
I responded,
So you have a double standard. I don't think you are alone in that. Many fans hold Yuna in higher regard and often expect her to outdo her past performances. If that is what you meant, I can relate to it. Although unlike you I was moved by her Olympic performance.
But when it comes to "getting you wrong," that is not my intention. To the contrary I want to get you right. That is why I am asking. You say Yuna stayed in her comfort zone. Well, the facts on the ground tell a different story. Had she wanted to ride easy, she could have recycled her 2013 programs which were already proven in WC 2013. That she and Wilson wanted something special for the farewell and the Olympics, with distinctively different programs than what Yuna had done prior to this year, is in itself a testament to her dedication. (as a matter of fact, there was a huge debate how well such different programs suit her on this board) There are many skaters who reused their previous season's programs for the Olympics. In Adelina's case, she used the same program that she used for her junior competition, I've heard. Yes, Yuna does the same jumps but who doesn't?
So I am left puzzled by statements such as "Yuna played it safe" (a la Weir) because I honestly don't know what that means. It's not like she skipped a planned element in her routine.
It would be easier for me to understand if someone simply stated Yuna's skating is not her/his cup of tea. But a lot of rationalization on Sochi results are bogus claims made in bad-faith or from ignorance.
Edit: Remember Johnny Weir in Vancouver? Many were moved by his performance and thought he had given it all. But that doesn't mean he was good enough for a medal.
Edit 2: I also strongly believe that those who think Yuna's skate was "tentative" are mistaken. It is clearly the double-standard effect that people have on Yuna. Yes, she no longer does frantic programs like Danse Macabre that's exciting at first sight. But if you go back and watch that program (2009 World version is considered the best), you can see rough edges around her skate. Those are all but gone now in "Send in the Clowns" and "Adios Nonino." Against Adelina, there is no comparison. Again, I suggest you watch the side-by-side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8NIHBJBAqU
Try to watch them as if you never saw them skate before. Forget Yuna's past performances. See who looks more comfortable and who looks more cautious on the ice. Ignore Adelina's half-open mouth smile throughout the program not just because it has nothing to do with skating but it's also unattractive.
And your response is,
No double standard. To be brief, Olympic gold medals go first to the bold who deliver. Yuna delivered but she wasn't bold. (emphasis mine)
You are not being brief. You have no substance. If I can be so blunt, I tell you that you are doing a disservice to this board and to those who share your "opinion" by failing to engage in earnest debate. I replied to your post with a good faith, hoping to learn a thing or two from those whose opinions differ from mine, but what I receive is the same one-liner, a bare assertion, as if I spoke to a rock.
This is why I started adding people to the ignore list. Life is too short. There are people who disagree agreeably, and there are those who will disagree at any cost, including others' time. I am sorry if I come off rude but I think other grown-ups can understand. It is difficult to find a nicer response to such tone-deafness.
ETA: And on that side-by-side video, what really stood out to me in comparison was Yuna's flexed foot.
I have no idea what that is. In any case I will refer you to a much better analysis than what you and I can do -> Figure Skating Reference: Evaluating Step Sequences. It is sticked on this board and easy to find.
P.S. I will get out of this thread for it seems like I am going way off-topic. My apologies.