- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
Or is Kovtun another Yan? We shall wait and see.
Or is Kovtun another Yan? We shall wait and see.
If Kovtun continues to skate at his current level sending Oldshenko to the Olympics would be a waste. He is not currently capable of skating at the level Kovtun did in the short program here.
If Kovtun continues to skate at his current level sending Oldshenko to the Olympics would be a waste. He is not currently capable of skating at the level Kovtun did in the short program here.
If you are referring to TEB, Yan was down with fever. Personally, I didn't expect him to skate well but am happy he did enough to get into GPF.Or is Kovtun another Yan? We shall wait and see.
He's not capable of skating to the technical ability, and his SP isn't as intricate as Kovtun's, but the judges would probably give him higher PCS than Kovtun for a clean skate with 4T-3T/3A/3Z. Bear in mind his PB is 91.30 points which is not too far off Kovtun's PCS-inflated personal best here.
When was that PB set though. Not anytime recently, unless it was in a Russian based B event with inflated scores I don't know of taking place (granted the scores here were inflated but Kovtun was the most sane and accurate score of all the Russian skaters here by far). I doubt Plushenko is even capable of skating at his Vancouver level (and even in Vancouver he was way past his prime) at this point.
I agree if he did a clean SP with all those jumps it would be close between them but I am hard pressed seeing him do that based on any of the sightings of him since the 2012 Europeans. Then the LP would be even harder for him to get through anything like that at this juncture, although we have to see how Kovtun skates in the LP here.
I am also not sure Plushenko would get super high PCS from international judges at this point. His programs are empty compared to what a lot of others are putting out these days, and he is much slower and skates with nowhere near the command and sharpness he did in his prime.
When was that PB set though. Not anytime recently, unless it was in a Russian based B event with inflated scores I don't know of taking place (granted the scores here were inflated but Kovtun was the most sane and accurate score of all the Russian skaters here by far). I doubt Plushenko is even capable of skating at his Vancouver level (and even in Vancouver he was way past his prime) at this point.
I agree if he did a clean SP with all those jumps it would be close between them but I am hard pressed seeing him do that based on any of the sightings of him since the 2012 Europeans. Then the LP would be even harder for him to get through anything like that at this juncture, although we have to see how Kovtun skates in the LP here.
I am also not sure Plushenko would get super high PCS from international judges at this point. His programs are empty compared to what a lot of others are putting out these days, and he is much slower and skates with nowhere near the command and sharpness he did in his prime.
The Christmas time will be very exciting.( Russian National Champs will be held at Christmas)He's not capable of skating to the technical ability, and his SP isn't as intricate as Kovtun's, but the judges would probably give him higher PCS than Kovtun for a clean skate with 4T-3T/3A/3Z. Bear in mind his PB is 91.30 points which is not too far off Kovtun's PCS-inflated personal best here.
I expect Kovtun to make mistakes in the FS, but not enough to blow his spot in the GPF. And based on today's PCS, I wouldn't be surprised if he clung to gold or silver ahead of Machida/Fernandez with home ice inflation. I would hope that he earns his victory, and that being said, this certainly throws his name into the hat over Plushenko. IMO, the other Russian guys - Menshov/Gachinski/etc. have no chance, having lost the SP by a whopping 20 points.
Others or non Russians are irrelevant. Kovtun programs are full? It's now kovtun vs plushenko. Unless you think kovtun would get superior pcs to plushenko.
I believe plushenko can absolutely not do the team and individual so it might be both anyway.
If I understand the rules correctly, it can only be both if the Olympic Entry (Kovtun or Plushenko) gets "injured" after the team event, and is replaced for the individual event. Based on the scoring shenanigans at COR, I wouldn't put it past the RSF to try this.
I know Plushy has said he will do both but his best chance at a medal is the team event. And probably gold at that. I can picture him winning team gold, "getting injured" and Kovtun being given the green light to compete individually. This way Plushenko gets to have his final performance and the "next generation" in Kovtun is showcased.
Funny enough that would be the ideal for me, and probably others, were it not bending the rules.
On paper it's pretty neck in neck... We will defeat them in dance by a bit, they will defeat is in pairs by a bit. In men's Chan will likely be a few placements above Kovtun/Plush and in ladies Sot/Lip (or Pogo/Tukt somehow) will be a few placements above Osmond. If Osmond skates well, Team Canada should win. If the Russian man/woman exceeds expectations or receives CoR generosity, team Russia will win. I think they will push for Team Gold more than anything (I mean they already have a lock in pairs).