Caroline Zhang - Is She an Oly Contender? | Page 4 | Golden Skate

Caroline Zhang - Is She an Oly Contender?

ks777

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 15, 2003
I agree. But Kim has it the worst since she's her country's only dominant skater. Actually, I'll turn the tides around and say I like that they'll have immense pressure because it means that the final results may NOT be what people might be expecting. Of course, one or both could rise to the challenge, but more often than not nowadays, the favorites falter and an underdog sneaks in for the win.

The concern now should be the Olympic SP. Kim and/or Asada could rush out to an insurmountable lead :rolleye: and it wouldn't matter how they skated the FS, the competition would be over at that point.

Am I the only one thinks that Ando might just win at the Olympics?
Yuna will be under enormous pressure and Mao will be too. Rochette is from the host country, She might put too much pressure on herself.
Miki has nothing to lose. She knows if Yuna and Mao are perfect, she has no chance of beating them so she might have less pressure.
 

evangeline

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Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Am I the only one thinks that Ando might just win at the Olympics?
Yuna will be under enormous pressure and Mao will be too. Rochette is from the host country, She might put too much pressure on herself.
Miki has nothing to lose. She knows if Yuna and Mao are perfect, she has no chance of beating them so she might have less pressure.

I won't be terribly surprised, as there has been a precedent for this before--2007 Worlds, anyone?

Imagine the reaction from the ubers if this happens though...I have a feeling that teh Internets might explode from the combined weight of the trolling videos and comments that will proliferate if Miki does leapfrog over Mao and Yu-Na for gold.
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Am I the only one thinks that Ando might just win at the Olympics?
Yuna will be under enormous pressure and Mao will be too. Rochette is from the host country, She might put too much pressure on herself.
Miki has nothing to lose. She knows if Yuna and Mao are perfect, she has no chance of beating them so she might have less pressure.

There's something in what you just said. I never thought of Ando playing spoiler but if anyone is capable of beating both Kim and Asada (and has done it before) it is her. That leaves Rochette off the podium, though...oops :biggrin:

If YuNa shows up (healthy), she'll be on that podium SOMEWHERE, I'm sure of it. The ultimate shocker would be if SHE fails to medal, which I seriously would be shocked if that happened.
 

bekalc

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
I think Ando could win the Olympics too. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.

But I want one of Kim/Mao to win. I'd like to see a dominant skater pull it off and both girls are just soo amazing. I actually think one of them will pull it off too.

One thing I will say about is this too, I think that one thing that will help in the case of Mao and Yu-na is both girls have had so much pressure in the past to deal with....
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Imagine the reaction from the ubers if this happens though...I have a feeling that teh Internets might explode from the combined weight of the trolling videos and comments that will proliferate if Miki does leapfrog over Mao and Yu-Na for gold.

Don't...............Want......................To....................Think.....................About...............................It :banging:
 

Andalusia

Final Flight
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Imagine the reaction from the ubers if this happens though...I have a feeling that teh Internets might explode from the combined weight of the trolling videos and comments that will proliferate if Miki does leapfrog over Mao and Yu-Na for gold.

There will be foaming at the mouth even if Miki wins, because she's Japanese. I actually think if an European lady or a Canadian wins, the trolls would be more likely to shut up. Heck, if Joannie wins with Yu-Na bombing, the Yu-Na bots might be happy at least it didn't go to Mao, and the winner being from Yu-Na's 'adopted' country might lessen the pain a bit.

I'd say that Ando could take it from the top two if she weren't so darned inconsistent herself. Plus, her track record at the Olympics hasn't been too great. A shame, really, because personality-wise, she's one of my favourite ladies currently competing.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
No one is looking at the not expected factor.

Kerringan - Baiul
Slutskaya - Hughes
Slutskaya - Hughes

Asada/Kim - Zhang???
 

PolymerBob

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
As far as spirals, jumps and spins go, Caroline can do anything the Twin Goddesses can do, minus Mao's triple axel. ( And I read somewhere she was working on that. ) What Caroline lacks is refinement. She needs deeper edges, smoother take-off's, better foot-work. Basically, God ( as well as the devil ) is in the details. When she smoothes out her rough edges, raises her PSC scores, she will be competitive with anyone.

Caroline is a rough diamond. Somebody needs to polish her up.
 

Tinymavy15

Sinnerman for the win
Record Breaker
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Dec 28, 2006
If YuNa shows up (healthy), she'll be on that podium SOMEWHERE, I'm sure of it. The ultimate shocker would be if SHE fails to medal, which I seriously would be shocked if that happened.

I can't see her anywhere less than second. Once she hits that 3/3 in the SP the gold is almost hers. mao is not perfect, the gold is hers. Also Yu-na doesn't seem to have much of a problem with nerves, while mao always looks as if she is under a lot of pressure and sometimes looks scared to even begin her program.
 

Andalusia

Final Flight
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Caroline and Rachael may be lacking in some skills but they know how to maximize what they do well which bodes well for both of them.

This brings to mind Caroline's layback spin in the long at the WTT, which earned her the maximum amount of +GOE (3) from all the judges. I don't think any skater has managed this for a single element, and this is the second time Caroline has accomplished this, as the first was at SA in 2007. So, I'll say that what Caroline does well, she does extremely well. A problem with Caroline (and others have mentioned this, too) is that she does not always maximize the levels of her non-jumping elements due to negligence and what not. She can easily earn the maximum levels if not for these slip-ups. For example, at the WTT, she earned a Level 2 spin in the long and Level 2 footwork in the short. Her footwork is always graded a Level 3 in the long, and her FSS is usually a 4, so we know she can do better.

And I think it's utter rubbish that reputation doesn't play a huge role in PCS. How else to explain Rochette and Kostner's sky-high PCS for heavily flawed programs? It can happen nationally with Alissa, so I don't see why it can't happen internationally. Kostner's PCS in the LP at the latest Worlds was an absolute travesty, and don't give me that spiel about Kostner's basics being so wonderful, because in that particular LP, they were not.

Caroline could probably stick around for a few years, do about as well as she has been without significantly improving her basics, and she'd see a rise in her PCS due to the reputation factor. Or then again, she might not, as we never know why and when the judges will play favourites.
 

museksk8r

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Oct 31, 2006
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United-States
No one is looking at the not expected factor.

Kerringan - Baiul
Slutskaya - Hughes
Slutskaya - Hughes

Asada/Kim - Zhang???

Huge difference in these scenarios. Zhang has not once skated in a senior World Championships prior to an Olympic season. Hughes had skated in 3 of them (1999, 2000, 2001) prior to Salt Lake City, was the reigning World bronze medalist, and had beaten the Olympic favorites Slutskaya and Kwan both at the 2001 Skate Canada going in the Games. Baiul was reigning World Champion in 1994. They were both serious medal threats heading into their respective Olympics. Caroline doesn't have the resume, reputation, or favoritism at this point in her career to challenge for Olympic gold.
 
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bekalc

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Nov 1, 2006
And I think it's utter rubbish that reputation doesn't play a huge role in PCS. How else to explain Rochette and Kostner's sky-high PCS for heavily flawed programs?

Laura Lepisto debuted at the GP circuit the same year Zhang/Wagner did and she always gets way higher PCS than both. Even before her Euro win.

The reason for it, is the judges love Lepisto's skating even though she doesn't have the big jumps. Lepisto has amazing speed, ice coverage, edges, etc and Lepisto doesn't even have the jumps.

There is a marked difference between Zhang's basic skating and the basic skating of the top ladies. Rochette/Kostner included (although Kostners PCS at worlds were ridiculous high)...

And it YES matters. So yes Zhang either has to improve for her PCS to go up, or she has to hope for retirements for her Pcs to go up.

I'm not saying reputation doesn't factor into things it took Rochette awhile to get noticed by the judges mainly due to her own inconsistency. But Rochette always had great skating skills. It was only a matter for her of some consistent performances.

And I will say this if Nagasu could learn how to rotate her jumps and skate somewhat decently, there's no doubt that Nagasu with 7 triples would quickly be getting excellent PCS rival a lot of the top girls because of that Mirai skates with speed! has Ice coverage etc, great edges etc. These things matter. I don't know if Mirai will ever do so though. sigh.
 
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museksk8r

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Once again basics plays a role. Laura Lepisto debuted at the senior circuit it seems about a competition after Zhang, and Lepisto gets way higher PCS. It's not just because Lepisto is Euro Champion. It's because the judges love Lepisto's skating. Her basics speed, ice coverage, edges are amazing....

Sure reputation factors into things, but please don't make it seem like there isn't a marked difference between Zhang's/Flatt's skating quality and the top ladies.

Very true! Disregarding jumps and spins and just looking at everything in between those elements, all of Kim, Asada, Ando, Rochette, Kostner, and Lepisto have stronger basics than Flatt and Zhang. :agree:

I think Flatt is getting there in basics though, JMO. I noticed marked improvement in her at the World Team Trophy where the in-between skating is concerned compared to her earlier events in the season. Baby steps, people, it takes time. :)

(Waits for Andulasia to come in and trash Rochette and Kostner any second now.) ;)
 
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bekalc

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
I think Flatt is getting there in basics though, JMO. I noticed marked improvement in her at the World Team Trophy where the in-between skating is concerned compared to her earlier events in the season. Baby steps, people, it takes time.

I see it too. Rachael got higher PCS than Caroline. For the first time ever. I think though she'd help herself out if she would repeat the loop instead of the lutz.

I've heard people say that Rachael's edges were never bad, it was just well the speed factor.
 

Andalusia

Final Flight
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Once again basics plays a role. Laura Lepisto debuted at the senior circuit it seems about a competition after Zhang, and Lepisto gets way higher PCS. It's not just because Lepisto is Euro Champion. It's because the judges love Lepisto's skating. Her basics speed, ice coverage, edges are amazing....

Sure reputation factors into things, but please don't make it seem like there isn't a marked difference between Zhang's/Flatt's skating quality and the top ladies.

Does Lepisto get way higher PCS than Zhang? Proof please. I take your comments with a grain of salt, as you're fond of saying you heard this and that from here and there without any real evidence to back your claims up. I know that Lepisto had higher PCS at her first Worlds, but that was also probably because she was the very last skater to skate her LP. Plus, Lepisto had been European champion by that time. I think Zhang and Lepisto have competed at the same event once or twice - it would be interesting to see what their PCS were like at those events.

And I have never complained that Flatt and Zhang are being lowballed in PCS, so you can rest your "Mao, Yu-Na, et al. skate way faster, etc. than Caroline and Rachael" case along with all the other cases we know you feel so strongly about. It's convenient how you completely ignored my point about how Kostner was enormously gifted in PCS at 2009 Worlds for one of the worst LPs ever skated by someone of that stature in recent memory. And about how you think Alissa was totally gifted at Nats, but this same phenomenon somehow can't happen internationally.
 

museksk8r

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Oct 31, 2006
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I know that Lepisto had higher PCS at her first Worlds, but that was also probably because she was the very last skater to skate her LP. Plus, Lepisto had been European champion by that time.

Just pointing out a fact, Lepisto's 1st senior Worlds was 2008 where she finished 8th, and she wasn't the very last skater to skate her LP . . . if I recall, she was actually in the very 1st group of skaters to skate the LP because she had a disastrous SP there, which she followed up with a very nice LP. She was 6th this year at her 2nd senior Worlds. PCS are always higher for the final LP flight of skaters in a World Championship compared to the earlier groups of skaters.
 
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