What Olympic Pressure Will There Be for...... | Golden Skate

What Olympic Pressure Will There Be for......

Joined
Jul 11, 2003
From another thread I listed some Ladies and what I perceive will be their pressure for skating in the Olys.

Scenario: Think of yourself as a top skater in the Olympics. It's just been announced the (Men; Ladies, Pairs, Dance) take the ice for warm up; after the warm-up you wait around and then you hear; Next contestant __________ please take the ice. You are immediately aware of the thousands of eyes on you including the stares of the judges. You glide on; take you place; and wait for the music to begin. At that point what are you feeling?

Name two,three or more skaters and teams and tell us about the perceived pressure you see them facing.

Joe
 

SusanBeth

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
This is a hard one, because in that situation I would have trouble remembering my name, let alone how to skate.


Michelle: She has said that her biggest mistake was being too cautious. I can imagine her thinking, "Don't think too much Go for it!"

Sasha: Since she has that tendency to let up on concentration, I hope she's thinking, "One thing at a time. Just take it one thing at a time!"
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
I see Kwan thinking "this is it". I'm going all out to get a medal.- High pressure

I see Irina thinking "Russia needs me. I must win".- Very High Pressure

I see Johnny thinking about regaining his stature as the No. l American Male Skater, but he has another Oly to worry about a gold so the pressure is not great.

I see Tim also thinking about regaining his stature as No. l.American Male - very high pressure.

I see Plushenko - I've got this wrapped up. No mistakes. pressure but not high.

Joubert and Lambiel - Very high pressure to get Oly medals, and may be gold.

Buttle - I just have to take it easy and win the audience. pressure but not high.

S&Z - This is it. Injury or not. - very high pressure

T&M - We can't do anymore. this is it. - low pressure.

Den&Stav - We wont get what we deserve anyway - low pressure.

Nav&Kost - We should win this. Little pressure.

So what do you think the skaters are feeling at the 'moment of truth'? Name others, of courese.

Joe
 

Dee4707

Ice Is Slippery - Alexie Yagudin
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Country
United-States
Plushenko - Now where is I fell last Olympics, I can't do that in this one.

Dee
 

EricAba

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 27, 2003
Kostner... pressure to skate well in front of a home crowd
Slutskaya... pressure of being 'the favorite'
Cohen... pressure from within, of wanting to win 'too badly'
Kwan... pressure to live up to past results, and to up the technical ante
Japanese Ladies... pressure from their skating federation to fulfill expectations, and to start winning championships again

Weir, Buttle... pressure to try the quad if others skate cleanly
Lambiel... pressure to live up to expectations as reigning world champion
Plushenko... pressure to regain his place at the top of the sport after injury, to win the big prize that eluded him in the last Olympics
Joubert... pressure to land his jumps, his 'money maker' under COP, and to recover from his performance at Worlds 2005
 
Last edited:

Doggygirl

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 18, 2003
The winners...

IMO will be the ones who can take the ice, take a deep breath, and for the next few minutes put all those things out of their heads and just skate liked they've trained to. "Tunnel Vission" if you will. The skaters who are still thinking of these various pressures as they begin their programs will be at risk IMO for less than stellar performances.

DG
 

Ptichka

Forum translator
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Joesitz said:
I see Irina thinking "Russia needs me. I must win".- Very High Pressure
Really? You must be reading different interviews than I am. I'd think it's more of "I'll show all those who've written me off!".
 

attyfan

Custom Title
Medalist
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Ptichka said:
Really? You must be reading different interviews than I am. I'd think it's more of "I'll show all those who've written me off!".

What interviews have there been that indicate that Irina is being written off? Have any been after this year's Worlds? If anything, I would think that the "I'll show all those who've written me off" is Michelle's mantra.
 

brad640

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 8, 2004
Plushenko – pressure to make Mishin proud, pressure to comeback from disappointment in Moscow, pressure to validate Mishin’s training methods after driving Urmanov into early retirement due to over-training.
Klimkin – no pressure
Joubert – pressure to find inner strength to skate well without support from the evil French federation, pressure to wear decent costumes, pressure to skate to Riverdance without becoming a punch line
Lindemann – pressure to hold himself together, pressure to prove that he belongs in the company of world class skaters, pressure to solidify his potential to be an amazing show skater, looming specter of Dortmund bronze medal after disastrous showing in Moscow that caused most people to write him off
Honda – no pressure – no one expects him to be able to skate
Takahashi – pressure to prove he is more than just a place holder in the absence of Honda before Oda takes over the Japanese men’s scene
Oda – pressure to step outside the shadow of Mao Asada’s celebrity and assert himself as an athlete
Li – pressure to make a definitive statement about to how he will be remembered after finishing 5th,7th,5th,4th,10th, and 5th at worlds since 2000
Sandhu – no pressure because no one expects anything, but secret pressure because not everyone has *really* given up on him and still hold out hope that he is the only skater who can topple a clean Plushenko
Buttle – pressure to prove the world silver was no fluke and live up to his performance at nationals this year
Sawyer – minimal pressure to position himself as the next big thing among Canadian men and keep himself ahead of Chan and Mabee looking toward Vancouver 2010
Weir – self inflicted pressure to be a spokesperson for “opening minds,” media pressure to provide interesting sound bites, certain to be a punch line among late night comics during the Olympics for his stereotypical male figure skater flamboyance. Self-inflicted pressure to carry the torch of “Russian style.” Minimal pressure to skate clean.
Lysacek – self-inflicted pressure to make people love him, pressure to prove his world bronze was deserved, pressure to prove he is the next big thing in male figure skating, pressure of ghosts of Fratianne, Bowman and Kwan to finally win one for Frank.
Goebel – pressure to keep from burning microwave popcorn while watching Olympics from his apartment.
Savoie – pressure to stay in school and prove he is not another Sarah Hughes; pressure to suppress his artistic spirit while studying law
Lambiel – pressure to exorcise the demons of Ruh and Biellman and win one for Switzerland. Pressure to prove he is a worthy world champion, pressure to compete against Plushenko.
Othman – pressure to continue the momentum of Swiss men’s skating
KVDP - pressure to land his 3-3-3 and prove to the miserly Belgian federation that he is worthy of their precious euros
 

Ptichka

Forum translator
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
attyfan said:
What interviews have there been that indicate that Irina is being written off? Have any been after this year's Worlds? If anything, I would think that the "I'll show all those who've written me off" is Michelle's mantra.
Naturally, I do not mean this season. However, just about nobody thought last year that she'd be able to return. She also indicated in at least one interview that she was hurt by the federation not believing in her either. I think this whole season it has been her driver, and I expect it to continue into the next one as well.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
brad640 said:
Oda – pressure to step outside the shadow of Mao Asada’s celebrity and assert himself as an athlete.
I believe Japan has only two men's spots. Is this right? So I think Oda is in the same position as Kimme Meissner. The pressure he faces is just to skate well at the senior level and to make the team. He will not have anything to prove beyond that. IMHO.

I think Japan, like the U.S., is more into ladies than men. Mao Asada may turn out to be the next Midori Ito -- a national heroine.

Sandhu – no pressure because no one expects anything, but secret pressure because not everyone has *really* given up on him and still hold out hope that he is the only skater who can topple a clean Plushenko.
He could do it! Unfortuately, just the pressure of being Emanuel Sandhu seems to take its toll in every competion. There is a penetrating interview with Eman in International Figure Skating, in which he mentions his unhappy family situation and the burden that he feels of being judged (in life, not just in his skating) as never being quite good enough.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Ptichka said:
Really? You must be reading different interviews than I am. I'd think it's more of "I'll show all those who've written me off!".
Nothing to do with her great 'comeback'. That will always be a classic. What I meant by the remark was that 1.First Russian Lady to win an Olympics; and 2. Needed to complete the sweep of medals. I'm assuming Piseev is wanting this.

Joe
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Mathman said:
He could do it! Unfortuately, just the pressure of being Emanuel Sandhu seems to take its toll in every competion. There is a penetrating interview with Eman in International Figure Skating, in which he mentions his unhappy family situation and the burden that he feels of being judged (in life, not just in his skating) as never being quite good enough.
I didn't mention Sandhu because he is on my list of HIT AND MISSES. He's there with Nikidinov and Lindemann. They're all good skaters but........ expectation is not a certain.

Joe
 
S

SkateFan4Life

Guest
Michelle Kwan - "I've blown two opportunities to win Olympic gold, and here I am in the same position. If I win the long program, I win the gold medal, otherwise, it's another silver or bronze medal, or perhaps nothing. So-and-so has a triple axel, which I don't have, and my triple/triple is inconsistent. OK - enough mental games - just go out there and do it!"

Sasha Cohen - "I want to win the gold so badly! I know I can do it, but I'm worried about my triple lutz and my takeoff to my triple flip." (Cohen goes on and on with more worries about her technique). "OK - take a cleansing breath, skate to center ice, focus, and just skate."

Irina Slutskaya - "This is my moment. I'm the favorite, and the judges want me to win. If I skate my best, I will win, regardles of what anybody else does. Just skate and land everything."
 

soogar

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 18, 2003
Japan only has one spot and in translated interviews, Shirota (head of Japanese Fed) was pi$$ed that Honda couldn't skate well [he wasn't confident due to his injury yet assured the fed that he could skate]. I have a feeling he isn't going to be on the Japanese Olympic team. They will probably send Oda so Oda can get experience for the next games because it's highly unlikely that Honda is going to get a medal.
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Actually, I believe Irina (according to her official website) is doing or has done some training up in the Alps in Italy, so she is getting prepared alright- she seems pretty focused. I would not count her out at all next season.

SF- That's a good interpetation of Irina. ITA. She even talks like that, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what might be going through her head.
 

Vash01

Medalist
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
I think Irina and Sasha will have pressure on them as the favorites. Both will put pressure on themselves and experience pressure from fans to win the OGM. Michelle is not expected to win, so no pressure on her. If she can stop herself from thinking about that OGM she should skate fine.

Carolina may have 'positive' pressure at home. It will help her skate better.

There will be a lot of pressure on all 3 Japanese ladies from their federation to bring an Olympic medal home.

No pressure: All Canadian ladies, the #3 US lady, #2 Russian lady

Among men, there will be highest pressure on Plushenko, mostly self inflicted. He may still be viewed as the favorite- depends on how others perform during the GP series.

Lambiel- not much pressure, even though he is the reigning world champ. Plushenko's presence will remove the pressure on Lambiel and many others, including the US skaters. However, Joubert will feel some pressure after blowing his chances of winning in 2005.

Weir- not expected to win, hence no pressure
Lysacek- May put pressure on himself, after winning a medal at worlds in 2005
Buttle- Same as Lysacek

Chinese skaters- the only pressure will be to get a top 5 ranking, but it will be tough to even get that. The mens field is too competitive and the COP favors the North American skaters like Weir, Buttle, who are more complete skaters.

That's all I can think of.

Vash
 

attyfan

Custom Title
Medalist
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Vash -- ITA! Lambiel will have no pressure -- as the reigning world champ, he should not be favored to win, even if (G-d Forbid) Plush wasn't competing -- the last time the reigning men's champ won the OGM was 1984! Michelle also should have the pressure greatly reduced -- especially if she focuses on simply wiping Moscow out of the memory.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
I think only Joubert will feel the pressure of Plushenko. At his best, he comes closest to Evgeni. Failing the gold, Joubert will want an Oly medal. Everyone does. there still will be some jitters.

Stefane, I am fairly sure, understands the power of Plushenko. He will give it his best shot and just let the good times role with a medal but he will be around in 2010.

The order of skate always influences competitions (although some people don't seem to think so) and if the N.americans skate with quads before Lambiel skates, he may feel the pressure.

Joe

Joe
 

BronzeisGolden

Medalist
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Irina: She proved that she could handle enormous pressure at the 2005 Worlds (home town fav, Gold-medal fav, sentimental fav, etc.). But, there were other times where the pressure seemed to get to her (2002 Olympics, 2000 Worlds, etc.). So, I think it is a given that the pressure will be there. Irina will be the reigning World Champion entering these Games. The question is, will she answer the pressure with her newfound confidence from last season? Or, will nerves (or perhaps even sickness) from the past hinder her?

Sasha: She doesn't handle pressure or high expectations well, and that really hasn't changed. She was a co-favorite for the World title in 2003 and 2004. The pressure seemed too much. This year the pressure was not squarely on her. She missed most of the GP season and came to Moscow as one of many medal contenders. She performed a bit better that way, but still, it wasn't a superlative competition for her. I think the pressure will be immense for Sasha. She is generally known as COP's most favored skater, and that should be widely touted during these Games. She is just such a question mark. She could be brilliant and I hope that she is, but her past record clearly indicates that intense pressure and Sasha don't mix.

Michelle: The pressure will certainly be there. She is Michelle Kwan, the most successful figure skater of her era, and these are the Olympic Games. But, I do not think it will be quite as intense as Nagano or SLC. She isn't the frontrunner and she hasn't proven herself definitively under COP. I believe it will be more about how Michelle deals with the pressure. It will be there, but will she thrive off of it as she has in so many other competitions? Or, will her brilliance be diminished once again by the pressure those Olympic rings seem to create? Who knows! I just hope she comes with a program tailor made for COP and gives it her best shot. She is more than capable of bouncing back and coming on strong. She has proven it time and time again.

Carolina: She will be the hometown favorite, but I don't see there being far too much pressure on her. I do worry about her consistency, though. She has been up and down these past few seasons. Hopefully, her World bronze was a sign of better times to come.
 
Top