2014 Olympics Ladies Short Program | Page 104 | Golden Skate

2014 Olympics Ladies Short Program

UnChosen

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 12, 2006
In the past, jump is measured comprehensively; takeoff, air position, axis, rotations, landing and flow, speed, continuity, height. all these elements needs to be executed with qualitative merits, rightfully so. That's why Rachael Flatt didn't score much and almost always subject to penalized evaluation despite her consistency in landing. I wonder if Flatt is a Russian and competed today, how she could have scored.

Not really. Judges were extremely lenient about flutzes and under-rotations back then...which is what killed Asada's Olympics chances because she was conditioned that her slightly UR 3-3 and 3A was OK and her flutz was not a big deal. By the time the judges start getting stricter about jumps Asada was too old to correct her jumps.
 

tjskate

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Again, I haven't seen this yet, but with the discussion about Kim and Sotnikova, I thought I'd compare their technical elements, since Yuna did the harder jump combination. As it turns out, Yuna had higher jump scores (22.7 total to Sotnikova's 20.93); Sotnikova had higher spin scores (12.76 to Kim's 11.89; Kim's layback was a level 3) and higher footwork scores (again, Sotnikova's was graded level 4 while Kim's was graded level 3.)

It was so close! Will be curious to actually see it..
 

Zamboni

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 10, 2013
Wow 53 pages and over 2000 posts! :laugh: I read through most of them.

I was so proud of Polina, Gracie and Ashley. Gracie did look nervous, but she controlled it pretty well. I love that Polina seems like a tough competitor. Ashley did pretty well, too.

Julia reminds me a bit of Sasha (in a good way). She was overscored again (esp. with a fall), and you can tell she was very nervous before she went out there. She looked scared before she skated. I just had a feeling that she would falter. She’d been so strong in the team competition (even though wildly overscored). The pressure of being the new Russian queen probably rattled her, but she’ll probably be fierce in the long program.

Adelina skated well, a bit overscored. I do think she is a better overall skater than Julia is at this stage.

Yuna looked tentative, but if her legs were bothering her, that is impressive. The problem for Yuna is that there are far more good skaters around to challenge her than there were four years ago. No wonder she looked ferocious during warm-ups -- it was fear.

Carolina finally had a great Olympic skate. You can tell that she really loves and relates to the “Ava Maria” program! Good for her.

Mao – wow oh wow. I had a feeling her stubborn insistence on jumps would eventually come back to haunt her. She is so much more than her jumps. Did someone post a picture of Julia throwing shade at Mao? Perhaps she jinxed her!

Why is she still so obsessed with the triple axel! Didn’t she do three last Olympics, and still finish second? And what’s up with trying to set a new Guinness World Record for jumps – at the Olympics??? You could hear Tara gasp when she saw the score.

Oh, Mao, you and your coaches still don't get it, do you? So sad. :cry:

In the next quad I’m sure we’ll see some epic battles between Julia, Adelina, Gracie, Polina, etc. and some others we don’t even know yet.
 

HalfTriple

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Not really. Judges were extremely lenient about flutzes and under-rotations back then...which is what killed Asada's Olympics chances because she was conditioned that her slightly UR 3A was OK and her flutz was not a big deal. By the time the judges start getting stricter about jumps Asada was too old to correct her jumps.

They did because they were banking on Asada's rivalry with Kim, not necessarily they are lenient to that technical issue.
 

fadeevfan

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Wow, I think the judging today was remarkably spot on -- with the exception of the judges propping up Yulia, which continues to bewilder. She remains a very exciting future prospect, but still can look very junior.

I still think Yuna will do it, with even a 90 percent effort. And I think Gracie is in a good position should Caro or Adelina falter. Yulia is, too, but I just think the Energizer bunny seems to be winding down a bit. . .

Still. . . fingers crossed for Caro!
 

HalfTriple

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
In fact, there were many reasons why judges were favorable to Asada; Asada is a skater of the same caliber with Kim. Though Kim has further evolved quite impressively since, Asada was the only skater with maturity and comparable proficiency as Kim. Even today Asada still is next to Kim in many aspects. Kostner or others are still one level down compared to Asada in overall skating.
 

UnChosen

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 12, 2006
They did because they were banking on Asada's rivalry with Kim, not necessarily they are lenient to that technical issue.

I am actually talking about before 2008. You know, the era when Kimmie Meissner's 3-3 counts as fully rotated. Asada's 2010 Olympics programs were a bit of a miracle in that all her 3A were ratified. She already lost her 3z and 3-3 by that time because judges were cracking down on her jumps.
 

sk8in

Match Penalty
Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Sotnikova's jumps are better than Kim's. Everyone knew that, a long time ago that outside of the Lutz Sotnikova has an edge there. Sotnikova has a Loop, though, which KIM does not have so she will have a 1 triple advantage in the FS, meaning she can fall on a Triple Lutz and still have a BV advantage over Kim.

The Loop has a lower base value than Yuna's jumps. She doesn't do them because they're for amateurs. Also, Kim's jumping technique is by far the best in the field. The only one close to her technique and grace is Kostner. She is easily is one of the best, most consistent jumpers in the history of female figure skating. On a good day Mao would have been her only competition in this respect. That said, both Polina Edmunds and Gracie Gold have better jumping ability that Sotnikova. Sotnikova just jumps really high. She is not graceful. She does not get close to Yuna's coverage or speed. Her combinations are also easier than most of the other skaters' in the competition.
 

rollerblade

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
I think Mao is one of those skaters that unravels after a beginning mistake in the program. She implodes and can't fight through and patch herself together in time.

Nah, I rarely see her give up after bombing the first jump. She completely wiped out on the 3A in 2008 Worlds, didn't even take off. What happened next? Like the commentators mentioned, if you just watch the program from after the fall, you'd never know she fell. In 2013 Worlds, she 2 footed the 3A and didn't do the 2nd jump of the 3Z-combo that followed; but she went on and finished strong with a smile.

It must have been the Olympic nerves. Or she accidentally took a sip from Jeremy's bottle (jokes). We'll know soon enough, I'm sure the Japanese press will shove their mics in her face tomorrow.
 

Dutchie

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 18, 2014
I have to agree with the poster that said Yuna's programs have become predictable. I would have hoped that after winning the OGM in 2010, that she would have progressed or pushed the sport forward somehow. Meaning, this time around, I was expecting something fresh, innovative or dynamic. She's such a lovely skater but I haven't seen much growth over the past few years. She's beautiful to watch and rightfully deserving of her marks and placement however I think she is in jeopardy of becoming overshadowed but some up and coming skaters such as Lipnitskaya if she doesn't pull something out of her bag of tricks. I guess I can relate Yuna to being the Virtue and Moir of Ladies figure skating. Beautiful and breathtaking to watch, at the top of their sport in 2010, but haven't really done much since then to advance the sport. I know it must be hard to stay at the top for so long and she deserves all the credit in the world for doing so. I just wanted to see more fire and attack out of her to really throw down the gauntlet, and for me, the night belonged to Carolina. I hope Yuna comes out guns blazing tomorrow night, but I won't be surprised if either Carolina or Adelina come out on top.
 

HalfTriple

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
And I think Yu na needs some refinement to. Kim has great arms but I agree with Dick on the free leg.

If it is a terrible issue with you, I wonder how you bear with other skaters when your eyes witness the nudity of their quality. Refinement is not a right word with which you criticize Kim.
 

Becki

Medalist
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
In fact, there were many reasons why judges were favorable to Asada; Asada is a skater of the same caliber with Kim. Though Kim has further evolved quite impressively since, Asada was the only skater with maturity and comparable proficiency as Kim. Even today Asada still is next to Kim in many aspects. Kostner or others are still one level down compared to Asada in overall skating.

I think Mao Asada does not have the same mental strength as Yuna Kim. If she did, Mao Asada would've dominated easily. But she's still pretty awesome being a 2X World Champion, OSM, and superstar in Japan!
 

Blades of Passion

Skating is Art, if you let it be
Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Country
France
I guess I can relate Yuna to being the Virtue and Moir of Ladies figure skating. Beautiful and breathtaking to watch, at the top of their sport in 2010, but haven't really done much since then to advance the sport.

Uh, except V/M have done a lot to advance the sport. Not a good comparison.
 

KKonas

Medalist
Joined
Oct 31, 2009
Tracy Wilson (an actual EXPERT and Olympic medalist who unlike most of the judges actually skated at the highest level) doesnt feel they are experts. She said in an interview after the 2002 Worlds dance scandal that it is time for real experts with skating expertise and experience to become the judges and be hired and fired on their incompetence and impartiality, rather than just "common folk" who are more interested in pleasing their federations or following status quo than anything else. I would be happy to VHS tape she said exactly that 11 years ago if you wish.

Now a judge like Jan Hoffmann (a former Olympic medalist) or Jean Senft (who has family members involved in the sport and went through the courses and tests honestly right from the bottom) are rare judges who are indeed experts. Most judges, especialy from Eastern Europe and Asia whose process of getting to that stage is not even closely monitored by anyone outside their own country, much less so. There was a Russian judge for year who was only judging since she was the Russian federation leader's wife. She is still judging in fact. No other reason, just being a spouse of someone important.

Tracy Wilson is not currently listed as a technical specialist by the ISU. In order to be an ISU judge in any discipline, you must attend a certain amount of seminars, judge competitions, take and pass exams that are given routinely in order to keep your designation. So to say they are not experts is silly. Just this past year 2012 all tech controllers and tech specialists had to take ISU examinations to retain their designation.
 

HalfTriple

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
I think Mao Asada does not have the same mental strength as Yuna Kim. If she did, Mao Asada would've dominated easily. But she's still pretty awesome being a 2X World Champion, OSM, and superstar in Japan!
Pity that Asada couldn't make it, but it has been long predicted. Even Kim can be brushed off by judges, Asada who is infamous for her inconsistency stands no chance.
 

tokugawaice

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
I have to agree with the poster that said Yuna's programs have become predictable. I would have hoped that after winning the OGM in 2010, that she would have progressed or pushed the sport forward somehow. Meaning, this time around, I was expecting something fresh, innovative or dynamic. She's such a lovely skater but I haven't seen much growth over the past few years. She's beautiful to watch and rightfully deserving of her marks and placement however I think she is in jeopardy of becoming overshadowed but some up and coming skaters such as Lipnitskaya if she doesn't pull something out of her bag of tricks. I guess I can relate Yuna to being the Virtue and Moir of Ladies figure skating. Beautiful and breathtaking to watch, at the top of their sport in 2010, but haven't really done much since then to advance the sport. I know it must be hard to stay at the top for so long and she deserves all the credit in the world for doing so. I just wanted to see more fire and attack out of her to really throw down the gauntlet, and for me, the night belonged to Carolina. I hope Yuna comes out guns blazing tomorrow night, but I won't be surprised if either Carolina or Adelina come out on top.

I agree as well. I felt the same with Michelle Kwan. Every clean performance she had in isolation were breathtaking to watch, but I think a certain level of complacency was reached in the later stages of her career where she would recycle the same footwork, spins, and choreography and it just came off to me as a little stale and boring.
 

Becki

Medalist
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Pity that Asada couldn't make it, but it has been long predicted. Even Kim can be brushed off by judges, Asada who is infamous for her inconsistency stands no chance.

Well, Kostner is even more famous for her inconsistencies and look, she's in the running for a OGM. I am really proud of her, but at the same time, I know both Kostner and Asada has come a long, long way. No matter what the results are, I think I am happy that these two girls preserved when people wrote them off, and came back with a good fight.
 
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