2014 Olympics Mens Free Skate

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

http://sochi2014.nytimes.com/photos...40214-OLYPOD?slide=20140214-OLYPOD-slide-5FXB

Photo (really lovely photos) of Misha Ge and Jeremy Abbott were part of the New York Times photo of the day gallery.

Actually Misha Ge was another highlight. Sure he wasn't a contender, but he turned in a personal best performance with his usual flair. I'd suggest going back and watching that one.

Agreed! Hendrickx too - he actually had a very consistent competition!

 

[Ziggy]

Well bummer:

cbrennansports 12:39pm via TweetDeck
Jason Brown and Jeremy Abbott finish 9th and 12th, the worst U.S. men's showing at the Olympics since 1936. Really.

Poor Jason, now he will have to deal with the fact that he was part of the team that had the worst showing in 58 years.

That said, I'm not sure if it's a fair comparison. The competition internationally has gotten a lot more intense/deeper in the last 25 years or so. Japan wasn't even a factor a decade ago.

The level was actually really high this year. Lots of clean SPs and some mistakes but huge BVs in the FS.

He is done now and maybe our next National champion can go to worlds and medal and maybe even win.

And who would that be?

For those who care enough, the judging page of the USFSA (or other skating federation) website has lots of information.

The complete and up-to-date rules are on the ISU website but you have to work really hard in order to find them.

 

[meem]

How quickly you forget that Jeremy won a bronze medal in the Team event just a few days ago. And he finished this event one place higher than at his last Olympics.

The only reason Jeremy has a bronze medal is because his teammates skated well (D/W, AW and GG). Thank God he's retiring and not going to World's. Lots of skaters have problems with nerves and have disappointing skates but they don't babble on ad nauseum with excuses and inanities. His latest comment, describing an obscene gesture he extends to his critics, is so obnoxious since he's at the Olympics representing his country. As they say, don't let the door hit ya, Jeremy!

 

[Li'Kitsu]

It seems Yuzuru said after his skate that he was sorry and the performance was regretable. He even said he wasn't happy when Patrick didn't beat him, so it's not as if he liked winning like this. But I think SP and FS considered, he deserved to win and at least be 2nd, but of course, he's already the 2nd most help-up skater

I'm honestly sorry for Patrick. After Yuzu skate, I really wanted him to skate great and take it... hopefully both of them will redeem themselves at worlds and the media leaves them alone. They don't own anyone else to skate well besides themselves and aren't happy with this either. Hold your heads high, guys!

 

[Ziggy]

The only reason Jeremy has a bronze medal is because his teammates skated well (D/W, AW and GG). Thank God he's retiring and not going to World's. Lots of skaters have problems with nerves and have disappointing skates but they don't babble on ad nauseum with excuses and inanities. His latest comment, describing an obscene gesture he extends to his critics, is so obnoxious since he's at the Olympics representing his country. As they say, don't let the door hit ya, Jeremy!

Did Abbott confirm his retirement?

 

[Violet Bliss]

Jeremy reminds me of how Adam Rippon achieved one of his best performances and results. It was at a Skate Canada when he jumped and landed on Patrick during the warm up. According to Adam, he had been feeling sorry for himself that day with a cold and the collision knocked life and determination into him. It seems sometimes some hard knock can shake a person up in a way nothing else can.

Patrick beat himself. Joanie is right though it seems such public statement is sort of unkind at this point. However, she probably is one of a few who can make such a comment because she had brought it under extremely difficult situation. OTOH, I wonder if the grief also overtook competition jitter and wiped the Olympic anxiety out of her.

 

[Mrs. P]

Did Abbott confirm his retirement?

Phil Hersh wrote he was retiring from the Olympics but then had to correct himself and say that it was his last OLYMPICS and to standby for Worlds. Yuka said he's going, but Jeremy said he hadn't talked to her yet about it.

So the answer is = inconclusive.

ETA: From the quote sheet given by USFSA:

On whether he plans to compete in the world championships next month:
"I'm going to take the rest of the Games off and then we'll discuss our plan of action after that."

 

[Silvia451]

hopefully both of them will redeem themselves at worlds and the media leaves them alone. They don't own anyone else to skate well besides themselves and aren't happy with this either. Hold your heads high, guys!

Exactly. No one can blame Yuzuru and Patrick that they won the gold/silver with so many mistakes. There was no other skater to beat them, considering both the SP and the FS.

 

[IcyEdges]

The only reason Jeremy has a bronze medal is because his teammates skated well (D/W, AW and GG). Thank God he's retiring and not going to World's. Lots of skaters have problems with nerves and have disappointing skates but they don't babble on ad nauseum with excuses and inanities. His latest comment, describing an obscene gesture he extends to his critics, is so obnoxious since he's at the Olympics representing his country. As they say, don't let the door hit ya, Jeremy!

NO, Jeremy has a bronze from the team event because he outskates every other guy with artistry and linking transitions, etc. I'm so sick and tired of people like you bashing him. How about you get your *** out there and try it yourself. All he's ever done was go out there and bust his butt and be proud to rep his country. He is never anything other than courteous and nice. You need to get your head checked.

 

[NorthernLite]

What was wrong about what Rochette said? Hanyu opened the door and Chan didn't take it. That's what happened. She simply said it how it is and I don't think that she did it in some particularly mean way.

I like the vivid image of that saying. [And then there was the person who snarked at her, "What color medal did YOU win?" Really guy, you want to go THERE? OK, let's start comparing what she did in her circumstances to today. ]

[After having arranged to be home to watch the men's singles, if I take time out of an even busier next week I hope the ladies make it more worth it.]

 

[Dots]

Well bummer:

cbrennansports 12:39pm via TweetDeck
Jason Brown and Jeremy Abbott finish 9th and 12th, the worst U.S. men's showing at the Olympics since 1936. Really.
.

Ouch, oh well we might have a better shot in 2018 with all those incredible juniors coming up and of course Joshua Farris.

The big test for the US will be worlds. Hopefully Jason can step it up and help the men get 3 spots.

 

[NYscorp6]

The only reason Jeremy has a bronze medal is because his teammates skated well (D/W, AW and GG). Thank God he's retiring and not going to World's. Lots of skaters have problems with nerves and have disappointing skates but they don't babble on ad nauseum with excuses and inanities. His latest comment, describing an obscene gesture he extends to his critics, is so obnoxious since he's at the Olympics representing his country. As they say, don't let the door hit ya, Jeremy!

I also am tired of the Jeremy BS, I wish he would shut up already. It is time to move on.

 

[Mrs. P]

I like the vivid image of that saying. [And then there was the person who snarked at her, "What color medal did YOU win?" Really guy, you want to go THERE? OK, let's start comparing what she did in her circumstances to today. ]

[After having arranged to be home to watch the men's singles, if I take time out of an even busier next week I hope the ladies make it more worth it.]

I thought it was an play on words, not intending to be mean at all. And it was true. Yuzuru really opened the door, and Patrick shut it. It doesn't mean Patrick deserves to be chastised by any means, but no point in mincing facts.

 

[icedinn]

Thoughts:
Hanyu: never understood the appeal. Good jumping but...
P.Chan: nice looking guy with nice blade work
Ten: Had Fernandez stuck with Chaplin he would have won the bronze. SIGH

 

[Sabrina]

What a disastrous long program in men. It was like a curse. Nobody got clean. I hoped at least Jason could relax, but how could he as he knew that medal was in his grasp if he nailed all his jumps. He sure had some butterflies flying around...so he was not clean either. I hoped Chan would be calm enough and skate that program as clean as possible. He was not relaxed, so he failed the stupid 2A in the end. And the sort of miss Jason had is understandable, but not landing softly a 2A??? He must have been frozen thinking about winning or loosing that GOM. I did not like Hanyu's long program at all. The short is brilliant, but the long is boooring.
I am happy for Jeremy and Kevin. The both had problems in the short and managed to regroup in the long. Especially Jeremy was sublime.
Weird competition! Even the TV went nuts. I pay hundreds of $ for the stupid cable, and they showed the whole LP on TSN, but used advertising instead of many skaters. I had to switch to online CBC. Off, what a mad world!

 

[demarinis5]

A big Congratulations to Yuzu for winning the Olympic Gold!

I felt bad for Patrick. I can just imagine his disappointment.

Denis coming from 9th place to win Bronze pretty gutsy for him.

Highlight for me: Dai's smiling face in the K&C and his fans cheering for him! Priceless!

 

[text_skate]

Perhaps the ISU should ad some extra points for a clean skate

 

[KwanIsALegend]

Phil Hersh wrote he was retiring from the Olympics but then had to correct himself and say that it was his last OLYMPICS and to standby for Worlds. Yuka said he's going, but Jeremy said he hadn't talked to her yet about it.

So the answer is = inconclusive.

ETA: From the quote sheet given by USFSA:

On whether he plans to compete in the world championships next month:
"I'm going to take the rest of the Games off and then we'll discuss our plan of action after that."

Noooo! You're done Jeremy, face it. The sport needs to move on.

 

[Angryyew]

Much like Vancouver, the "stacked" men's field underwhelmed in the LP. Hoping history will repeat and the ladies will turn in some clean performances.

For me Hanyu/Chan LPs were pretty much a wash and they were both overscored on PCS, but given the overall performances in LP & SP, I think we got a correct, if not exactly satisfying result. Not exactly the first time the gold has been decided by the SP and went to a skater with a sub-par LP.

Very happy for Denis Ten. I hope this is the start of good things for him. Love his jumps and skating when he is on.

Enjoyed MCM & the Misha Ge in the early rounds. Not spectacular, but reasonably satisfying fair well performances from Abbott, Joubert & Daisuke.

Think nerves got to Jason, but it was a very respectable Olympic debut for him and I hope there are good things in his future. I'm not holding my breath, but if both Jason & Adam Rippon could get consistent on quads for 2018, I wouldn't complain.

Don't think I want to rewatch this one in HD lol. Congratulations to the medalists. I know this isn't how Yuzu or Chan wanted it to go down, but they threw down some impressive SPs at least.

 

[UnChosen]

I am having so much trouble explaining to a lady friend why Hanyu should win over Chan, why Fernandez does not have the gold medal ("But he did a 4 spin jump and didn't fall!"), why Han Yan is placed lower than skaters who "are horrible"...along with having to explain why S/S didn't rob P/T in pairs.

It's like teaching calculus to a grade schooler.