Any other word instead of Zayak?

[sorcerer]

Whenever I hear the term "Zayak Rule", I really feel sorry for the former champion Elaine Zayak.
I know that it's not an official term and so that ISU is not responsible for the matter, but I think something should be done to avoid everyone using her name so freely in such an dishonourable manner.

This is a sport and Elaine did not break any rules in her days. It must have been simply that many thought too much repetition of a certain jump would be esthetically regrettable.
The esthetical demerit was not only Elaine's fault but probably more of her coach or of her choreographer.

Young skaters, who were not even born when Elaine won the title, are not aware of the fact that talking like "I goofed and was caught in Zayak" can be a moral offence to her honor.

This five-letter spelling should not be used to indicate any esthetic shortage like this. It's a name, and a name of a champion. I can see that its phonetic impression is distinct, but the more it is easy to pronounce, the more it should be avoided.

Any other good word instead?

 

[GoldMedalist]

Any publicity is good publicity.

 

[Mafke]

Is there any evidence that the lady herself objects to this usage?

If not, then it's not an issue.

If yes, then let's talk.

But I want clear evidence that she dislikes the usage before considering any change.

Like some other skating jargon, Zayak is just fun to say. Zayak, Zayak, Zayak! Like flutz! like Chack!

Actually now that I think about it, it might be time to start writing it with a small letter, zayak, the zayak rule, he violated the zayak rule ... looks better somehow.

 

[dutchherder]

If it were me, I'd take it as a compliment, as in "I could do so many more jumps than all the other girls I skated against, they had to make a rule to keep me from beating them." :agree:

 

[Mathman]

I agree with Dutchherder. Elaine Zayak busted the system! It's like, when they had to start making golf courses longer because Tiger Woods could reach the green in two shots on any par five in the country.

I bet Katarina Witt is proud of being the catalyst for the "Witt Rule" -- your costume can't be too sexy. :yes:

 

[slutskayafan21]

On the note of that question here is an interesting read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Zayak

Zayak was the first woman to consistently land many triple jumps in her programs. At the 1982 World Championships, she landed 6 triple jumps to win the title, but 4 of them were triple toe loop jumps. While she also had triple salchow and loop jumps in her repertoire, they were less consistent. Zayak was not the only skater of her time who repeated the same jump multiple times to add technical content to her programs, nor was she the worst offender; Yugoslavia's Sanda Dubravcic, for example, often incorporated solely multiple triple toe loops and double axels in her 4-minute free programs, perhaps to cover up her deficiencies in other jumps.

Perhaps Mrs. Dubravcic a solid top 10-top 12 skater of that time period could also be credited with the "rule", but it makes for sense to either honor, pick on, make an example of, whatever you want to call it, a World Champion and World silver medalist, no?

 

[sorcerer]

If it were me, I'd take it as a compliment, as in "I could do so many more jumps than all the other girls I skated against, they had to make a rule to keep me from beating them." :agree:

Come to think of it, that's also true. There seems to be both sides to this. Maybe Elaine does take it as a compliment.

But the point is, "Zayak" is now applied to a mistake.
IMO it has become a punitive word.
It's an OUCH to a skater.
To the youngsters who don't know her, it seldom seems to imply respect to this heroine in the hall of fame.

What's written about Elaine Zayak in Wikipedia is not well known. (At least not in Japan, though there is an identical Japanese version of Wiki.)

Although "Zayak Rule" may be better than nothing to commemorate her accomplishments, adding something cheering, like a "Zayak Trophy" to a skater who made a splendid comeback like Elaine, would be more elegant and suited for this world of figure skating, I'd imagine.

 

[gsrossano]

Any other good word instead?

Only fans refer to a rule as the Zayak rule or Plushenko rule, or whoever rule. To officials (and coaches, etc.) it is the jump repetition rule, and that is how it is refered to. I don't recall ever hearing it called the Zayak rule other than by fans.

 

[Mafke]

I thought I've heard commentators use it too (I could be mistaken, of course).

 

[gsrossano]

I thought I've heard commentators use it too (I could be mistaken, of course).

Perhaps. I avoid watching skating on TV.

 

[Teresa Dawn]

I think that if it weren't for the Zayak rule, she would have become one of those forgotten skaters that only her biggest fans still remembered but no one else had heard of...

 

[hockeyfan228]

I think that if it weren't for the Zayak rule, she would have become one of those forgotten skaters that only her biggest fans still remembered but no one else had heard of...

I agree. Whether it is an unkind or unfair or back-handed reference, it has kept her name fresh in the skating public's mind.