Joannie's sophisticated style I would rank above Mao. She skates with elegance, her SS are still among the best you will ever see. Joannie is not a natural beauty, but there is a glow around her when she performs-a true aura of great beauty. I do not see it with Yuna nor even mao when she competes. I think Rochette and Osmond are the most complete skaters in ladies Canada ever produced. I wish Joannie had the killer instinct that that yuna and mao have. What Joannie did, given the situation was amazing. I wish she had come back just to skate for herself. Mirai skated lights out and was fabulous, but no sophistication. Joannie was on the podium with two of the best ever. She was hardly a slouch. Yuna mao are back and I think Joannie could be top 5 had she skated for two years. I am sad joannie did not have the skate she dreamed of, but it was by far the most memorable performance of those games.
I didn't know she still had a problem with lipping
My take: if Joannie's genuinely got the itch, then she ought to scratch it . Life's too short. I have no idea why anyone would urge her not to. I mean, this isn't a Fumie Suguri situation, amirite?
If Rochette returned, she would have no shot at a medal. This time the Olympics are being held in Russia, not Canada, and CoP has changed again since she left. Most of the ladies are regularly doing 3/3s and 2a+3t; Joannie tried but never got her 3f+3t attempts ratified in international competition.
And the clock is ticking. Sochi is now 10.5 months away. It's tough to go from years of exhibition programs to two competitive programs, particularly a FS with 7 jumping passes. If Joannie was really contemplating a return, she would have at least been doing some serious training and maybe an International B (as Kim did) to put a toe in the water.
If Rochette returned, she would have no shot at a medal. This time the Olympics are being held in Russia, not Canada, and CoP has changed again since she left. Most of the ladies are regularly doing 3/3s and 2a+3t; Joannie tried but never got her 3f+3t attempts ratified in international competition.