Fumie and 2006 Olympics

[fumie_fumie]

Looking back at Fumie Suguri's performance at 2006 Olympics, I think Fumie deserved a medal and she was grossly under-marked.

She did have a great SP. She didn't do as well in LP - choreography and her extension could have been better, nevertheless she showed a solid performance.

Sasha had two falls at the very beginning of the program and Slutskaya was not in her element either (I still couldn't believe she fell on 3loop). Fumie was rock solid.

I must admit that I didn't look at the protocols though.

Fumie, keep fighting!

 

[Wrlmy]

I still believe Fumie's weak spins cost her a medal. Otherwise, her sp score should've been in top3's range, and her lp should've been scored at least as high as Sasha who landed five triples two of which were in a sequence.

 

[hockeyfan228]

Suguri had few secure landings in the LP with flowout. I don't think her SP was comparable to the top three in line, technique, or clarity of movement. Her flutz is also as prominent as Cohen's.

 

[Tinymavy15]

I still believe Fumie's weak spins cost her a medal. Otherwise, her sp score should've been in top3's range, and her lp should've been scored at least as high as Sasha who landed five triples two of which were in a sequence.

True, Fumie does not have Sasha's beautiful spins or flexiblity, but woudl take her VERY fast spins over Irina's awkward belliman anyday. It is hard for me saying who should have placed where in Torino... nobody was perfect. I think that the standing after the SP should have been:

1. Sasha (by about 5 points)
2. Shizukia Arakawa
3.Fumie Suguri
4.Irina Slutskya (she did not do a 3/3... nothing special at all.)


Freeskate:

Shizuka
Sasha
Fumie
Irina


Athough a part of me still wants to say sasha in first. Her lead after the SP and the beautiful qualifty of the rest of the program might have been enough.

 

[skatergirl45]

Tinymavy, being another Sasha fan, I completely agree about the your final placements for 06. THat being said, Fumie was robbed. SHe skated a great program on a nitgh where many others faltered.

At least she got the silver at worlds. That was well deserved.

 

[krenseby]

Tinymavy, being another Sasha fan, I completely agree about the your final placements for 06. THat being said, Fumie was robbed. SHe skated a great program on a nitgh where many others faltered.

At least she got the silver at worlds. That was well deserved.

My concern with Fumie right now is that the fact that she was robbed in 2006 but rather with the way that she is hurting her reputation by skating well below her previous standards and placing poorly on the GP circuit.

It's actually kinda shocking and even deeply disturbing that a top skater who has multiple World medals has completely faded from everyone's attention.

She has lost any and all the luster that she had before. I certainly am still a fan, but where can she go with her skating now? Even if she were to turn pro now, everyone would look at her at the girl who dropped from bronze into the nether regions of the top 10 and never recovered. If she had quit after winning the silver in 2006, perhaps she would have had a chance to make something of herself, to become a celebrity show skater that could draw crowds with artistically sensitive skating. But, she lost the chance to retire as an Olympic hopeful and a World medalist, and will have to go out on a sad note as a skater worn out by the rigours of competition. Is that the kinda story that draws a crowd? I highly doubt it!

 

[skatergirl45]

Krenseby, said perfectly!

 

[ManyCairns]

Krenseby, sadly, I think you are probably spot on in your thinking, but I think it's a great shame. Because I think Fumie stayed in because she really loves skating. I'm guessing she felt she still had something to give to the sport and audiences, particularly in terms of artistry. I think she tried a lot of different things artistically in her last several seasons.

I doubt she thought she would place quite as low as she has at times, and missed getting named to the World team, etc. -- even with Mao et al. nipping at her heels, but still, I think she has a remarkable love for her sport.

If you retire at your apex, you never really know how long you could have kept it up. Maybe she wanted to test that, as well.

I liked Fumie better and better every time I saw her. But, as has been pointed out, she did have some "technical" issues, like the flutz, and jump landings becoming shaky.

Even so, I'm glad she cared enough to keep skating, even if she's negatively affected her marketability.

 

[fumie_fumie]

Well put previous posters.

I am so happy that there are still some Fumie supporters out there. I wouldn't be too concerned about Fumie's future, though.

She is natural with languages; her English is excellent - Mao said in an interview with Japanese TV that she wanted to learn English from her. As well, she's got a good education. She can probably work for JSF or other organizations, where she can utilise her language skills, if she so desires and is willing to give up on her skating career.

 

[GoldMedalist]

I believe all of the placements were fair.

Except for Elene Gedevanishvili. She should have been ahead of Kimmie Meissner in the SP. Such an amazing skate. It's too bad that growth and other problems have hindered her abilities. She would have been phenomenal.