1st off...I apologize if I seemed overly irritated last night, I had spent a few hours (and several drinks!) at a fundraiser for Leukemia/Lymphoma. Normally the idea Sasha's come back is this huge, impossible, out of the realm of any possibility just elicits an eye rolling reaction from me, so I was being over sensitive last night.
This just seems perverse to me. If it's such a snooze, name another skater who's made a comeback to Olympic-year competition after four years away from all competition!
Plushy? He had a serious injury and was off ice for a while there. Todd Elderedge is the only one I can think of off the top of my head who was in Sasha's shoes in 2002-he also left skating on his own accord for two seasons and came back for another chance at Olympic Glory. Just for the record, I never said this comeback was a snooze. I do believe that what Sasha has accomplished thus far is respectable, admirable and very inspirational.
Did you see Sasha in SOI the past few years? There's a big difference between show Sasha and competition Sasha. She can't get by on spirals, Charlottes and salchows at Nats (or the Olympics, for pete's sake)! Even her body is different (at least 15 pounds different, in my estimation!).
Yes, I saw her on SOI. I saw her improve on her edging, most especially her speed and presentation skills. It would've been nice for her to have worked on her consistency of jumps harder than a salchow, but we do not know what she worked on in the off-tour season or on the side. She and her cast mates spoke of pushing herself, working to improve on her tech side. We saw glimpses of it in Moonlight Sonata, and her footwork in the group numbers showed her improvement.
Sasha is a competitor at heart, IMHO. Not a killer champion in the sense of Kwan or Plushenko - but one who's more alive on the edge in that electric atmosphere than anywhere else. She's said (as quoted in other threads) that she's back for that thrill. Frankly, I think perhaps she also needed this attempt to keep her name and career alive.
I agree, being an elite skater is more than a full time job, it's their LIFE, and the sacrifices the athletes make to pursue their goals are huge. Look how often we hear of splitting up families/moving away from their families at a young age, life long injuries as result of training/competing, etc. There is a huge drive to succeed at this level, and I have no doubt that is a part of the allure of being an elite athlete: you must have that killer instinct and desire to be #1. But unless she wins a medal at the Games, I don't think it's going to change her career/popularity much. She may get a few red carpet event invites or guest spots on TV, but figure skating is in a lull right now, and few become household names like they did in the past.
You are in a very tiny group if you think Sasha is an obvious contender for the OGM against Yu Na....
I don't think Sasha will be considered a front runner for Gold as she was in 2006. I think she is a podium contender, will be considered as one in the running and you never know what may happen...thinking of Sarah Hughes, 2002...
Maybe for you that doesn't count as taking a risk. I disagree!!!...I don't mean to be grouchy, but when you shrink the challenge she's undertaken, you shrink both her and her competition, and that's not sporting.
I have no intent to downplay Sasha's comeback. I know she is taking on a big risk-both in her health and popularity. I truly believe she poured sweat, blood and tears into this. She herself has admitted she underestimated how hard it was to come back, but I think she has really put forth a huge effort and it is evident. I just feel she was hardly at a huge disadvantage: she was not injured or completely away from the sport/training. Statements from her castmates and other FS insiders had her practicing all her triples and 3/3s in 2008 to get ready for a potential comeback. There's no doubt that touring is not the same as training for competition, but there are benefits-even Sasha herself has stated she's been forced to work on her footwork for group numbers to keep up with the rest. Her spins/spirals have always been her forte, and she still included the same ones we saw Thursday in her exhibitions on tour. Her weakness has always been in the jumps, and yes, that is a HUGE part and she clearly had to work very hard to get back to where she is today, no downplaying that at all.
On the other hand, you look at Plushy-he had a serious injury and was off ice for a while. His comeback is HUGE for Russia since their singles skating has been in a lull, but I guess because he has always been a strong jumper, people aren't heralding is comeback as something miraculous, but as the King has returned to save Russian skating. So, it does happen, the lure of Olympic Gold is huge, no doubt!
As for the rest of the US Ladies...I have huge hopes for Rachael, Mirai and Ashley. I think they are all on the cusp of breaking through and this may not be their year. If Caroline can make some changes, and Christina progresses as she has, we have a very strong group heading into the next quad. I would NEVER downplay their talent and depth, I just feel they are a step below the top group of Yu-Na, Mao, Miki, Joannie, Sasha, even Akiko right now.
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