I would love to study the psycology of a champion. In any sport, the top athletes who have the longevity at the top aren't human, so to speak. Their psyche is different. What separates them from the rest is not just talents but mental strength. In fact I have always thought generally, it's 50% mental and 50% talents to be truly great in any sport. Sasha has proven time and time again without the crucial ingredient, mental strength, you can't be a great champion no matter how ridiculously talented you are. This is not a diss at Sasha, I apologize if it sounds offensive.
For Michelle, it's not how she dealt with the 2 demoralizing incidents (poor qualifying round performance and the low marks for the sp) that struck me, afterall she did that before, think 2000 Worlds (coming from behind) and 2001 Worlds (the boot problem). What made me respect her more is how she dealt with the streaker incident especially when she thought he might have a gun! How many can actually still regroup their thoughts in that kind of incident. One would easily be shaken. I was amazed at how quick she was able to refocus. Well, that says a lot about the mind of a champion. Dissect the minds of those long staying champions like Navratilova, Evert, Graf, Sampras, Lendl, you would find exactly the same composition.
Ok, enough of the gushing. Now as for the sp, I was shocked. How could that happen? I mean the time deduction. I don't have any problem with her marks, I believe every elite skater has been held up and held down in one way or another. How could Michelle have taken such a risk? Michelle can only blame herself and her coach and no one else. Why didn't they make some allowance of at least 3-4 seconds within the time limit? I don't see any problem with the referee penalizing her, a rule is a rule, a rarely invoked rule notwithstanding. Anyhow it was a great performance and I liked her spins befor the ending pose. Usually I don't get excited by her spins.
As for the LP, did she make an improptu change in the movement before the footwork after she doubled the lutz? It looked so seamless. It reminded me of John on the latest American Idol country-themed round in which he improvized when he forgot the lyrics and many would have hardly noticed the screw up.
And finally, the 3/3s have finally arrived. In the past, as Rgirl put it, it was all talk but no action.
For Michelle, it's not how she dealt with the 2 demoralizing incidents (poor qualifying round performance and the low marks for the sp) that struck me, afterall she did that before, think 2000 Worlds (coming from behind) and 2001 Worlds (the boot problem). What made me respect her more is how she dealt with the streaker incident especially when she thought he might have a gun! How many can actually still regroup their thoughts in that kind of incident. One would easily be shaken. I was amazed at how quick she was able to refocus. Well, that says a lot about the mind of a champion. Dissect the minds of those long staying champions like Navratilova, Evert, Graf, Sampras, Lendl, you would find exactly the same composition.
Ok, enough of the gushing. Now as for the sp, I was shocked. How could that happen? I mean the time deduction. I don't have any problem with her marks, I believe every elite skater has been held up and held down in one way or another. How could Michelle have taken such a risk? Michelle can only blame herself and her coach and no one else. Why didn't they make some allowance of at least 3-4 seconds within the time limit? I don't see any problem with the referee penalizing her, a rule is a rule, a rarely invoked rule notwithstanding. Anyhow it was a great performance and I liked her spins befor the ending pose. Usually I don't get excited by her spins.
As for the LP, did she make an improptu change in the movement before the footwork after she doubled the lutz? It looked so seamless. It reminded me of John on the latest American Idol country-themed round in which he improvized when he forgot the lyrics and many would have hardly noticed the screw up.
And finally, the 3/3s have finally arrived. In the past, as Rgirl put it, it was all talk but no action.
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