Yuna kept the same attitude for a while after Vancouver. But in two years she changed her mind.
Why? I think she is really fed up with how the sport is run. When she came back this time in Sochi, I got the impression that she was no longer part of the problem, and that this was her own personal triumph and probably the best exist she could have made from the sport.
If she were to come back, she would again be made to be part of the problem, and even if she somehow miraculously weren't, she still wouldn't be able to outdo herself as an athlete.
What do you mean by "her being part ofthe problem"? I don't get it.
She consistently maintained that judging, corruption, or even medal weren't in her interest, not one bit. She took the "Queen's Road" through and through. I think that is what hurrah means.
I think Yuna is entitled to a normal life. She had sacrificed her entire life for the beauty of skating. She's now a legend, along with Katarina Witt and Michelle Kwan. As much as I will miss her dearly, I cannot wish to hold her hostage forever. The girl should be able to eat what she wants, date who she wants, fart when she wants.
^ This. Perfect.
IF she wants to come back, or the KSU says to her "go get that gold back for our country!", she better take two full years off and then ruthlessly slay the B-levels, 4CCs and worlds in 2016/17, then compete fully on GP circuit the year after and pack her program with technical elements. I think she should even go back to Orser and make up with him, and put herself in his hands again. That man teaches skaters not just how to jump but how to compete, with the drive, determination and bloodthirsty hunger of a true champion, there is a difference (see also: Carroll, Fassi, Moskvina, Tarasova, all of them champion-makers). She lost her motivation after Orser, her magical 2013 worlds FS aside.
Otherwise, she'll likely be the queen of 2018 Olys just for being there. She will cut ribbons, welcome dignitaries, sip champagne with celebrities (and suddenly be photographed with George Clooney and appear on Page Six of the New York Post the morning after), sit with the Olympic family at the opening and closing ceremonies, and be the one non-competing athlete who everyone in the entire universe wants to take a picture with. She will be mobbed, she does not need to compete. And she'll be sitting right behind the judges at the ladies' free skate next to Witt and Kwan, whispering gossip amongst themselves while Adelina nervously warms up ...
i think the latter lol.
And she'll be sitting right behind the judges at the ladies' free skate next to Witt and Kwan, whispering gossip amongst themselves while Adelina nervously warms up ...
Oh, that picture would make my day - or year. Haha.
I wouldn't rule it out, to be honest..
She posted this on her Facebook page today. Such an elegant interview, and great answers:
http://www.feverskating.com/fevers/64985230
I did note that going into Sochi, she didn't sound very motivated. I wonder if she knew she would not win this time. She sounds incredibly at peace, like she had accepted the result before she stepped onto the ice, and just wanted to put in a great skate. In the grand scheme of things, she probably realized she had accomplished so much and brought great honour to her country, that the result this time around didn't matter so much. It didn't count the way it did in Vancouver.
Yuna if you're reading this: thank you for everything you've done for the sport, for your country, for the fans and for yourself. Enjoy your retirement. We'll miss you. And we look forward to seeing you in 2018, we know you'll be there even if you're not competing.
You really find out a lot more about an athlete in defeat than you do in victory. Yuna has handled this really well. Great interview. Thanks for posting.