2014 Olympics Mens Free Skate

[Ziggy]

Why Joubert was so low?

Look at his Base Value. Also: general lack of quality, not a lot of speed or energy. It looked like his body is just refusing to comply now.

Why Fernandez was below Ten ?

Because he did a second 3salchow, already having had done three combinations. (But yeah, I don't think he should have been behind him if that's what you meant)

Except for two footed quad why Daisuke was below Fernandez and Ten? The most emotional skate of the night for me. And Abott deserved better.

He missed his second 3axel as well.

Making major mistakes in a program should have a mandatory deduction on PE and IN (and maybe CH). When a skater is falling all over the place then the performance and interpretation obviously takes a hit.

What if they don't take a hit? What if somebody gets up quickly and continues like nothing happened and moves in time with the music the vast majority of the time?

 

[Ziggy]

For me the saddest part of tonight's competition is some people's opinions about Yuzuru. I said before the program that there aren't many bad comments about him (compared to other skaters). Now the situation changed drastically. He's judges' pet and his scores are too high and so on. A performance does not define a skater. And this was his worst performance this season. Looking forward to see him at the WC.

'You fall so you're bad' constitutes a large part of skating forum discourse so I am surprised that you are surprised.

I mean you have people suddenly feeling sorry for Chan and wishing he'd have won even though he's 'the most overmarked skater in the history of the universe' and it's not like he didn't make mistakes either. But I guess since those mistakes weren't falls, it's cool.

 

[cjoanwilli]

I know I'm dating myself but I've seen plenty of winter Olympics and skates like tonight happen fairly frequently in one or more areas - the usual too much pressure and expectation. I think people feel let down for a couple of reasons, 1 being the unrealistic expectations about Plushenko (he withdrew from the Russian Grand Prix, he did not win the Russian championship, his age and injuries, what truly did people expect) and the let down when he didn't skate and 2. the winner is fairly new, he came on strong only at the end of the season, people didn't have a chance to see a skater they'd loved for years give them that satisfying win, and 3 the scoring at this Olympics is just weird, scores are way over inflated, and they get stuck with ridiculous gaps like with the men. Yes the right person won the short program, but his score was way too high, so then when Chan skated very well they had to give him a fairly close score or it could be challenged, and then they were stuck. I'm trying not be to conspiracy theory here, but there is just something hinky about the whole thing - the scoring, the rumour of cheating that made absolutely no sense (the American dance team would have to not show up to not get the win, it's a pretty sure bet, no one would risk cheating to help them), Plushenko on then off. I'm willing to bet front row seats at the next Olympics that once it's all over and all the skaters are home that we will hear some interesting stories.

 

[UnChosen]

What if they don't take a hit? What if somebody gets up quickly and continues like nothing happened and moves in time with the music the vast majority of the time?

Just the fall/pop/hands down already interrupted and affected the performance...in my opinion anyways.

On the other hand some skaters work their jump into the choreography perfectly (Landing jumps exactly on a beat, holding edges for slow sections, doing fast steps preceding jumps in fast sections)...and should be rewarded more in PCS.

 

[NorthernLite]

I disagree. It was deadly clear to everyone that Chan and Hanyu would be 1/2, in whatever order, unless they slashed their own throats with their blades during their programmes.

As always, no matter how strange the competition. at least we get interesting comments from fans, skaters, etc.

 

[onodian]

What if they don't take a hit? What if somebody gets up quickly and continues like nothing happened and moves in time with the music the vast majority of the time?

Ok let's ask this from a slightly different angle: do you think Hanyu deserved an 8.89 in Execution and a 9.36 in Interpretation timing? And Chan an 8.93 Execution and 9.39 Interpretation timing?

 

[Layfan]

The judges have been sending Joubert the message to retire for awhile now. Even when he skates lights out like the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Worlds LP and the overall skating is a mess, he cant ever come that close to the podium (well in 2012 he was 4th but nowhere near a bronze). His PCS and GOE have long plumetted to a mid pack skater, even if his programs arent COP friendly and smartly put together to compile a high base value either. He has plodded along anyway, probably with the motivation of another Olympics and a performance he could be proud of on a personal level after 2006 and 2010; but probably this is the end now for him too.

I do hope Abbott goes to Worlds. I would love to see him sneak out a surprise medal. Who knows, maybe he could. He will have no pressure at all if he goes, and as we were reminded again this is the weakest and most inconsistent mens field in history, so a skater as talented as Abbott popping off 2 good performances out of the blue would probably get enough help to medal.

You might be interested in this nice story about Joubert:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/his...t-finally-skating-himself?ctx=olympic-journey

He made clear he thought he had no chance of medaling because the other skaters have surpassed him and that he just wanted to have a good Olympics before calling it a career. And he says he is good and ready to retire and has plans to teach skating.

 

[UnChosen]

You might be interested in this nice story about Joubert:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/his...t-finally-skating-himself?ctx=olympic-journey

He made clear he thought he had no chance of medaling because the other skaters have surpassed him and that he just wanted to have a good Olympics before calling it a career. And he says he is good and ready to retire and has plans to teach skating.

"Ok little boy, this is how you act sexy on and off the ice (show off pelvic thrusts), master this before I teach you quadruple jumps."

 

[FlattFan]

Hanyu's BV is huge. He basically BVed himself onto the podium. So what if he makes 2-3 mistakes. No one else is doing 2 quads, 2 axels, 2 lutz (and 8 triples total)

Most of them either do 1 quad and 7 triples with a 2A here and there.

With his lead from the SP, there's no chance anyone can catch him.

Hanyu and Chan can fall 2 more times and still win, and that's because they are at least 3 falls better than the next guy. Hanyu's PCS were a bit too high, but I don't see him getting anything less than a gold. Chan's PCS were too high as well, but I don't see him dropping to bronze either. So there it is.

 

[Ophelia]

^Hanyu's stamina barely lasted through his LP. In his interviews post-performance, he sounded like he was on the brink of passing out. Poor guy. I think the back-to-back SP & LP really negatively impacted everyone's energy.

 

[amateur]

To be fair to Chan, I enjoyed Chan's skating in between the disastrous jumps more than I did Hanyu's performance. Hanyu was so much better yesterday, posture, expression, etc. even without counting the jumps, I was turning into a serious fan. Sadly, he seemed deflated after his first two mistakes today.

I'm not sure if it was him being deflated as much as it was struggling to have the energy for the whole thing. HE was breathing HARD when he finished. Kurt Browning remarked that his skating was getting slower in the last 1:30 or so. Hasn't he had major stamina issues (asthma or something?) in the past?

 

[Layfan]

^Hanyu's stamina barely lasted through his LP. In his interviews post-performance, he sounded like he was on the brink of passing out. Poor guy. I think the back-to-back SP & LP really negatively impacted everyone's energy.

Hanyu has always struggled a bit with stamina in the LP, no? and Chan with the triple axels. So in a way, their old demons got them today not just the Olympic nerves. Course, it all worked for Hanyu! A win is a win is a win, said his coach Brian Orser

the nytimes has a good story on the competition that leads with how Hanyu ran out of the skating rink in his skates during the earthquake. A story I'm sure most Japanese fans know very well by now but that is surely new to most American readers.

 

[aragray]

does anyone have a link to daisuke's FS with english [preferably BBC] commentary?

 

[Ziggy]

Ok let's ask this from a slightly different angle: do you think Hanyu deserved an 8.89 in Execution and a 9.36 in Interpretation timing? And Chan an 8.93 Execution and 9.39 Interpretation timing?

I don't think they did. But then Ten was near clean and I don't think he deserved his PCS scores either so *shrug.*

Just the fall/pop/hands down already interrupted and affected the performance...in my opinion anyways.

Do you think Takahashi's mistakes interrupted and affected his performance? If yes, to the same extent as Hanyu's/Chan's or differently?

^Hanyu's stamina barely lasted through his LP. In his interviews post-performance, he sounded like he was on the brink of passing out. Poor guy. I think the back-to-back SP & LP really negatively impacted everyone's energy.

He has asthma.

 

[Ophelia]

He has asthma.

I wasn't referring to the audio, but how he kept repeating, "I was so tired, I was so tired."

On a sidenote, congratulations to Brian Orser for consecutively coaching skaters to an OGM!

 

[Ziggy]

I wasn't referring to the audio, but how he kept repeating, "I was so tired, I was so tired."

Hanyu always looks like he's about to pass out at the end of his FS. And that's not surprising at all because he has asthma and it's some kind of miracle he is able to skate a FS with two quads, two triple axels and 6 other triples in the first place.

 

[Layfan]

He has asthma.

Oh, I didn't know that!

NBC had an online story about the Filipino skater who is the Philippines' only Olympian at these games. Apparently, he has asthma too, which is why he pursued figure skating instead of outdoor sports. I guess asthma is worse outside?

 

[FlattFan]

Abbott did a total of 7 triples in his LP.
Joubert did 2 quads, but with only 4 other triples, but only 2 out of 4 were clean. So he's right where he is.

Dai did a total of 7 clean triples + 1 downgraded 4T + 1 URed 3A. I can see a case for Dai to move up a little. Had he done 2As in place of the 4T and the URed 3A, he would get the bronze medal.
Javier did 2 quads + only 3 clean triples + 1 3A, which wasn't clean, 1 3S didn't count
Machida did 2 quads + 7 clean triples (1 fall on the quad)
Ten did 1 quad + 7 clean triples + 1 flawed triple flip
Patrick did 2 quads + 5 clean triples + 1 flawed 3A

 

[jace93]

Oh, I didn't know that!

NBC had an online story about the Filipino skater who is the Philippines' only Olympian at these games. Apparently, he has asthma too, which is why he pursued figure skating instead of outdoor sports. I guess asthma is worse outside?

it's easier to have a crisis because of pollen

 

[Ziggy]

Dai did a total of 7 clean triples + 1 downgraded 4T + 1 URed 3A. I can see a case for Dai to move up a little. Had he done 2As in place of the 4T and the URed 3A, he would get the bronze medal.

So we were right. He would have medalled with an easier jump set-up but he was too perfectionist/ambitious/proud* for it

*delete as appropriate