I apologize for bringing this back now. I just want it over with so I can enjoy all the other excitement going on with the men.
Or you know, I may know talent when I see it but it's hardly the first time, nor the last, that a Yuzuru Hanyu supporter must make up their mind somehow in connection to Yuzuru. Heaven forbid we may actually be able to form opinion regardless of what Yuzuru does, or his origin, or whatever. No, no, we are all one giant hive mind where all our opinions are connected to him. Absolutely. :sarcasm:
Yuzuru is my absolute favorite and I support him whole heartedly. So your "we" includes me.
Until the 2014-15 season I was a Yuzuru fan, more than a figure skating fan.
I believe it was during this same season (or maybe the next) that I saw a feature on Shun Sato which focused on his connection and admiration for Yuzuru and my interest was piqued.
I've been following his progress and anticipating his JGP debut since. Didn’t realize I was the only fan susceptible to J-media ploy.
And I am not downplaying anything. Russian ladies didn't become so powerful by being kind-hearted. This is a sport.
Agreed. This a sport. And IMO, champions are not built by being coddled.
Yet,
some international fans continue to question JSF's "poor" decision-making when majority of the time (as I see it) these decisions are made not for temporary gratification and glory
but to prepare their athletes to be strong, successful competitors into the future.
Yuma came in fourth. If he had at least medalled, that would have been something but he did not. He got his shot at JGP and it ended how it did. Did he skate well? Yes he did. But that is not the same as grabbing one of the top spots.
It was good enough to earn another chance. He'll try his best in Yerevan.
Could Shun have totally blown his JGP assignment? Absolutely. Could he have landed, as he just did (and it wasn't even an entirely clean free skate) both his 3As and the quad? He could have. We will never know, thanks to the great wisdom of JSF. With this score he would have medalled at every single JGP event so far. With those scores he could have won at two.
Shun was AMAZING at block. Now he can go do it again at Sectional, and Junior Nats, then Nats.
That way he’ll be sent to JW and have the opportunity to impress the international judges, and earn max JGP spots for next season. (Not being sarcastic, I really want this for him.)
And should this happen, we won’t need to revisit this conversation.
RusFed hasn't been trying their best to give Artur Danielian as much time as possible, and the best shot possible for nothing. If Shun were Russian, or from any other skating federation, he would have had two assignments without even having to think about it. Talent trumps all here because you push your young skaters into the international world of JGP which yes, is by miles more important than random, tiny nothing of competitions. But I mean if say Bavarian Open is so great, then you won't mind if Yuma/Yuto go there and Shun gets the JGP shot, right?
Don't mind at all. Bavarian Open, Coupe du Printemps, Asian Open, Torun Cup...I don't care where the boys are sent, as long as they're sent somewhere to gain valuable international experience.
IMO, too many junior men with potential stuck at home.
Had it been Shun instead of Yuma or Yuto, I would've supported and cheered for him just the same.
I never once said Shun didn't deserve a JGP. I only said shouldn't be assigned with Sena. I did mention in a previous post that I was surprised he wasn't being sent to Ostrava with Mitsuki.
The point is, right at the beginning, both Shun and Yuma should have had priority after Koshiro. Not Mistuki, not Sena, not Yuto.
That's it. Those three should have had 2 and over and done with. Instead, the most talented youngster, who needs to be getting as much experience at the highest levels possible right now, got left with nothing. Just fantastic behavior by JSF. But hardly unusual.
Please don't even try. The filthy BTS games of Japan Fed are hardly news.
Since his last injury, Mitsuki has struggled with confidence on the 3A and his consistency has suffered a bit.
However, he’s remains reliable enough, his skating skills and transitions are high quality and he’s able to garner decent GOEs and PCS to balance his lower BV.
Considering his ability and history, I feel that Mitsuki, more than anyone, deserved top priority for a JGP assignment and the opportunity to better his standings before his Senior debut.
You say Koshiro should've been first pick but his condition was uncertain until the selection event.
And regardless of performing well there he still needed to prove that he had recovered from injury and was fully able to compete again.
He knew this, which is why he apologizes in his bio for making everyone worry about him last season.
As asyuraniel touched upon in post #250
thank
, in Japan there is importance placed upon senpai-kouhai (hierarchical) relationship.
The skaters themselves may be lax about this when interacting with each other but it does seem to play a large part in decisions made by the federation. The skaters understand this. You don't hear them complaining.
You don't have to agree with JSF's methods but I personally find your attack on them unwarranted and offensive.
So until you or someone else can provide me with solid proof of “dirty politics”, I would appreciate if you stop with the bad mouthing and ugly conspiracy theories.
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