Should Olympics be that special? Is someone who had 4, 8, more years of a very successful career but doesn't have an OGM less than the person who managed to hit it at the right time once during the Olympics? I don't think so. We can discuss that one for sure, and as I said, personally I think Olympics are over-rated but it is what it is currently. The pressures are immense to get those medals, and it's not only on the top that this is so, though perhaps arguably that is where it is the greatest.
Anyway, I'd prefer less of a splat-fest but a group of clean programs and if what it takes is repeating programs, go for it. It's still the same people skating, executing numerous very difficult, dangerous elements, we're still seeing their skill in steps, spins, presentation. I prefer seeing this to their maximum ability so if that is easier from their comfort zones, I'm all right with it.
Plus the general audience that tunes in once in four years may actually get to see amazing displays of skill this time, which perhaps might even help skating overall.
Fans need to remember that figure skating is a sport first and foremost. yes, music, costumes and choreography makes it entertaining but won't win an olympic gold alone. Teams sit down together and look at what vehicles could work out to get to the podium.
Then it becomes a question of personal taste. There are some programs I have seen enough, some programs I could watch forever... so that's why I leave my judgment private as it is subjective. But in the end, there's nothing wrong with a skater using the same program... it's like divers doing the same 5-6 dives in the same order for their entire career... or gymnasts doing the same tumbling passes year after year.
My opinion about Yuzu here is simple. He has been struggling with his Prince program... his Hope and Legacy is quite subdued and has also given him difficulty. He still did very well all season ranking wise and won worlds, but that won't suffice for him. He has already won everything he wanted to win.... he wants to win while skating clean.
So, if Prince isn't a great vehicle, if he is flirting with new jumps... what does he have left??? He probably is thinking he will need to recycle something.... the only program he felt great with must have been the Chopin then....
Is it unfortunate for fans? For those who want to be entertained? Yes... maybe....but for those who want to see a well skated program, I think it's great.
My issue is that I don't like his music cuts for the Chopin so for me, it has nothing to do with the repetition but just the program itself...
I think the difference for Yuzu here is that since Sochi we have seen very few new programs from him and the Chopin a 3rd time is a bit much : but again, please remind yourself that an athlete cannot do it all... if he wants to push the sport, include difficult jumps etc, that requires time and stamina as well.... perhaps it is too much and unsafe for him to try to do it all.... and perhaps fans need to accept that they cannot get what they want all the time....
Well, Maria Butyrskaya did it in reverse. She used Otonal for 2 seasons. First in 98 for the Olympics/Worlds/Europeans and then again in 1999 when she won her world title.
Johnny Weir, coincidentally, went back to his Otonal program in 2006. I don't have a problem if the skater doesn't have a problem. I'd worry about the program being stale, or not living up to its original thrill factor should it not be skated well, which is exactly what happened to Johnny in 06.
This seems like cherry-picking to say it's okay when certain skaters whom you happen to like do it but not okay when certain skaters you don't like do it.
Petrenko's Carmen was recycled several seasons but he kept improving the program - still possibly one of the greatest Carmens in the history of FS.
And I thought that was one of the most infamous examples of program overkill
CONS
- Not as much variety in programs in a skater's career (though this doesn't necessarily mean lack of versatility, IMHO);
And I thought that was one of the most infamous examples of program overkill
Practically speaking, I think it kind of does. Fewer programs means skaters display less versatility than they would with new and varied ones. But versatility isn't a primary goal for most skaters. Discovering one or even two styles they do well is hard enough.