- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
So, I come to my computer, figuring that if we're lucky, Cynthia would've eeked tenth. After all, we saw her skate a great short at 4CC 2009 only to lose it in the free, so I wanted to keep my expectations in check. I loaded the ISU page and went instantly to the bottom. I get to 12-10, and see Hecken, Suzuki and Helgelsson. I scan back down to make sure the Canadian flag I dismissed was indeed Samson's. Then I go to the very bottom and make sure Phaneuf didn't withdraw. But top five? Wow. Not only keeping two spots, but keeping it with a bullet. I'm glad she wasn't in a bronze medal position post-SP - her nerve might not have held, but what a way to re-announce yourself. If she never skates this well in the future, oh well, but she can be proud of her achievement. No judge gave her a negative GOE on any element! Remember, this is Phaneuf who I might hold the record for most falls in a senior this season after Skate Canada. The difficulty wasn't there (she had three level three elements, the most in the top fifteen, though Sebestyn had one level 1), but the quality was.