2022 Worlds: Men's FS - Thoughts?

[gsk8]

Japan's Shoma Uno wins gold in Montpellier

The Men's event at the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships concluded with the Free Skate on Saturday in Montpellier, France. Japan's Shoma Uno

www.goldenskate.com

So happy for Uno! He really places a lot of emphasis on making his coach, Lambiel proud. I've very much enjoyed watching him grow over the past two years.

Great free skate by Pulkinen!

Malinin has some growth, but there is so much potential!

“I think it was more pressure on myself, just wanting to skate good so badly and it kind of didn’t work out,” said Malinin, who stood in fourth after the Short. “I feel I was maybe a little bit too into the program. It was just a mess so it’s hard to explain what happened.”

 

[el henry]

Camden lives! For me, that is the story of this Worlds

Although I am thrilled for Shoma as World Champ, Yuma continues to impress, and Vincent, I hope this helps make him feel better. The correct podium.

Too many expectations for Ilia. Finished about where I thought he would (maybe a little lower). Let the kid alone and let him mature.

 

[Arigato]

Thrilled for Shoma's gold. But on a more serious note from the press conference:


Zhou: The COVID itself wasn't bad but the mental hell I went through after was infinitely worse. 11-12 days ago, I woke up in this bottomless pit - I called my agent, coaches and some important people, told them I thought my whole career was a failure & for nothing. I thought I couldn't do it. The one thing that got me here was the feeling inside that I didn't want to live with the regret that I didn't try. It was the only thing that kept me invested in my journey of getting on the plane, to the rink, and taking it day by day. This medal was very difficult for me to come by - it's one of the most meaningful and significant moments of my career.

After hearing him say that today on camera, I am so glad he got that medal for more reasons than I can say. Saved by Bronze . . .

 

[el henry]

Thrilled for Shoma's gold. But on a more serious note from the press conference:


Zhou: The COVID itself wasn't bad but the mental hell I went through after was infinitely worse. 11-12 days ago, I woke up in this bottomless pit - I called my agent, coaches and some important people, told them I thought my whole career was a failure & for nothing. I thought I couldn't do it. The one thing that got me here was the feeling inside that I didn't want to live with the regret that I didn't try. It was the only thing that kept me invested in my journey of getting on the plane, to the rink, and taking it day by day. This medal was very difficult for me to come by - it's one of the most meaningful and significant moments of my career.

After hearing him say that today on camera, I am so glad he got that medal for more reasons than I can say. Saved by Bronze . . .

Vincent has talked openly about his depression and coping with the aftermath of his Olympic experience since the Olys, and it is always heartbreaking to read and hear. His coaches said that he would call them crying, that he did not want to come to the rink.

I'm glad for his medal, but more so, I hope he gets the help he needs to enjoy what he has accomplished, and more importantly, enjoy his life.

 

[16Olympics]

I can't find the clip right now but after Vincent learned he earned bronze in the 'green room', he was kneeled down punching his fists letting all his anguish out and Camden the Great grabs his hand, pulls him up and hugs Vincent like his life depended on it. Besides Shoma winning in stellar fashion this was the moment of the finals for me.
Looking forward to what will happen next season for all of these skaters who choose to keep being the best of their sport.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Ilia shouldn't be terribly hard on himself. There are things to improve, but to come to his first Worlds at 17 and be in the top 10? That's fantastic! He can only go up from here. Even the greatest of skaters have rough outings. Yuzuru, Nathan, Javi....it's how he responds to it later on to fight through it that matters. I can't wait for junior worlds so he can end on a high note.

 

[Arigato]

I can't find the clip right now but after Vincent learned he earned bronze in the 'green room', he was kneeled down punching his fists letting all his anguish out and Camden the Great grabs his hand, pulls him up and hugs Vincent like his life depended on it. Besides Shoma winning in stellar fashion this was the moment of the finals for me.
Looking forward to what will happen next season for all of these skaters who choose to keep being the best of their sport.

Speaking of Camden, I missed his FS this morning and just saw it minutes ago on USA network. What a score. It's the best I have ever seen him skate. He has to keep going.

 

[YuBluByMe]

This was an overall amazing competition with a glorious finish. Nothing bad or ugly happened. Well, Messing definitely straddled the line, but I’m going to let that go.

Uno’s the World Champion and it was with a career-best skate. That makes the victory even sweeter. I didn’t think he would do it, but I’m very happy he did. Something like this was a long time coming.

I thought Kagiyama will take the gold, but he’s the silver medalist again. But this only solidifies his place as one of the top three men in the world. He just needs to get the 4Lo in order and stop popping his 3A for no reason.

Pulkinen had the second best skate of the night. Shockingly so. Not only did he skate clean in both programs and make the top 5, but one could make a sensible argument that he should have been fourth! Yup, this is precisely why I don’t do the contest predictions. I hope he continues to skate because that free was something else. By far, the best he’s ever skated and he did on a big stage.

Despite the odds, Zhou is a two-time Worlds bronze Medalist. His free wasn’t his best, but he gritted it out and won a hard-fought medal. Glad to see his season on end on a high note.

Although I’m sure Malinin’s disappointed and upset with himself, a top 10 placement with that total score while still in juniors is a great result. The podium was right there , but the nasty fall on the 4S was hard for him to physically recover from. (Not nerves. Those first jumps were chill ). On to Junior Worlds and on to next year!

Sadovsky redeemed himself in a big way. I get terribly frustrated while watching him just crack and fall apart and I was just waiting for another disappointment, but he ended with one of his best international performances. Two Canadian men will be at Worlds next year! Now he just needs to believe that he can do the damn thing. It doesn’t matter if other people do. He’s got to do it.

 

[nickp91]

The deep sighs of relief from Vincent Zhou just to be on the podium after having to withdraw from the Olympics

 

[Seven Sisters]

I can't find the clip right now but after Vincent learned he earned bronze in the 'green room', he was kneeled down punching his fists letting all his anguish out and Camden the Great grabs his hand, pulls him up and hugs Vincent like his life depended on it. Besides Shoma winning in stellar fashion this was the moment of the finals for me.
Looking forward to what will happen next season for all of these skaters who choose to keep being the best of their sport.

Here it is, and it’s extraordinary. Required viewing for all true skating fans! (JMHO, of course!)

Watch this story by ISU Figure Skating ⛸ on Instagram before it disappears.

instagram.com

Morisi—see what you miss by being so glued to your phone?

 

[labgoat]

Although I’m sure he’s disappointed and upset with himself, a top 10 placement with that total score while still in juniors is a great result. The podium was right there , but the nasty fall on the 4S was hard for him to physically recover from. (Not nerves. Those first jumps were chill ). On to Junior Worlds and on to next year!

Add Malinin's name here

 

[Colonel Green]

Uno spent the whole quadrennial on a rollercoaster with more downs than ups, so it's somehow fitting that it ended with him winning the World title.

 

[YuBluByMe]

Add Malinin's name here

Oh thanks! Wow, I can’t believe I did that. Good catch.

 

[16Olympics]

Here it is, and it’s extraordinary. Required viewing for all true skating fans! (JMHO, of course!)

Watch this story by ISU Figure Skating ⛸ on Instagram before it disappears.

instagram.com

Morisi—see what you miss by being so glued to your phone?

Thank you!

 

[labgoat]

Oh thanks! Wow, I can’t believe I did that. Good catch.

You're welcome

 

[chuckm]

I thought Morisi was horribly overscored in PCS, and IMO that was done to make sure he beat Pulkinen. Morisi has never been an expressive skater, and no way should he have been ahead of Pulkinen in PCS.

I am SO glad Vincent won the bronze.

 

[Arigato]

Boy this audience in France is great. Such passion.

 

[yelyoh]

Camden lives! For me, that is the story of this Worlds

Although I am thrilled for Shoma as World Champ, Yuma continues to impress, and Vincent, I hope this helps make him feel better. The correct podium.

Too many expectations for Ilia. Finished about where I thought he would (maybe a little lower). Let the kid alone and let him mature.

I thought Ilia would be about 5th tech but be dragged down a bit by PCS and wind up around 8th and then I was hoping Vincent would be at least 5th and US would be good for next year. So while after the SP I was surprised and hopeful for a medal for Ilia he wound up around where I initially thought he would. Funny I checked out his best scores this season and I thought since they were from a Jr GP they would shoot up at Worlds and in the SP that is what happened. But in the LP he was actually one point lower than his top Jr. score at 163. Here's to Jr Worlds. He's a smart, talented kid so I am keeping the faith. HOWEVER, to all those who said HE should have been on the Oly team based on one good comp (US Nats) this puts the nail in the wuz robbed coffin.

 

[Seven Sisters]

Thank you!

Now, if any of our Japanese friends find video of Daisuke congratulating Shoma, who cites Daisuke as his inspiration—please do post that here. I feel sure that this would have occurred, given how gracious Daisuke is.

 

[Dreamer57]

Although I’m sure Malinin’s disappointed and upset with himself, a top 10 placement with that total score while still in juniors is a great result. The podium was right there , but the nasty fall on the 4S was hard for him to physically recover from. (Not nerves. Those first jumps were chill ). On to Junior Worlds and on to next year!

I recall from 2016, there was a young talented male figure skater, also national silver medallist, who came 4th in the SP and was eager to make the podium at his first senior worlds. But in the free skate, he fell on his second 4T(combo turned into +REP) and he finished in 7th place overall. His face in the KnC looked so disappointed at that time. He ended up medalling at the next two worlds and the next two Olympics! In short, I think the next quad will be a big one for Ilia. He is already going for 4 quads in his free skate and his PCS will rise being the future leader of U.S. men. I guess he wants to win everything now, but I'm sure victories will arrive for him soon (starting next month)!

I am ecstatic for Shoma skating his career bests and winning his first worlds title!
And Kazuki winning best choreo sequence, just loved his joyful skating.