Johnny and the quad

[jennylovskt]

I think Johnny was overwhelmed by the success he has gotten in 10 short years - from a beginner to an Olympian. Impressive, in deed, but he has never quite put his mind in winning other than US Nationals. He was over joying with Olympian status, three time US champions, and fans around the world. Had he really set his goal on the Worlds and Olympics, he would have won them. Now he is really losing his chances. Yes, he needs quad, period!

 

[Mafke]

I think Johnny was overwhelmed by the success he has gotten in 10 short years - from a beginner to an Olympian.

An excellent point! This makes me wonder (for the first time, I'm ebarassed to admit) if some of Weir's .... issues with high level international competition might be a result of his relatively late introduction to skating and rapid success. Now that I think of it, one of the main skills that skaters learn in lower level competitions is how to survive competition (how to deal with the stress, pace oneself, pay attention to audience, judges, remember one's routine etc etc etc).
Comparatively speaking, I think he's simply been in fewer competitions than most of the other top ten or so skaters and it shows when in the really high stakes competitions.

 

[Tinymavy15]

An excellent point! This makes me wonder (for the first time, I'm ebarassed to admit) if some of Weir's .... issues with high level international competition might be a result of his relatively late introduction to skating and rapid success. Now that I think of it, one of the main skills that skaters learn in lower level competitions is how to survive competition (how to deal with the stress, pace oneself, pay attention to audience, judges, remember one's routine etc etc etc).
Comparatively speaking, I think he's simply been in fewer competitions than most of the other top ten or so skaters and it shows when in the really high stakes competitions.

good point. I never thought of that before. Looking back at Johnny's fast ride to the top, I assume that he diedicated much of his teen years practcing and passing the tests, not nessiracly competing. Many of his opponents have been on the ice since they were about 6.... johnny didn't start until he was 13 or 14..... about 10 years ago. some of the guys he competes against have been landing quads that long.

 

[Hsuhs]

He was 12 when he started.

 

[seafoam]

He was 12 when he started.

Yes, and 4 years later was World Junior Champion. Pretty remarkable. I think he said once that he and his pairs partner went to Nationals a couple of times, too. I don't know what level.

That was a good point about lower level competitions being the place to learn the basics of competition and how to deal with it. Johnny probably had very little of that due to his precocity.

For what it's worth, he's been laying pretty low--besides the journal & Q&A about a month ago, there's been not a peep out of him, nor any news that I'm aware of. I hope that means he's got tunnel vision re: his training He's scheduled to perform in Kimmie's show on the 25th, I believe. I'm curious to see what he'll do for an exhibition program.

 

[Hsuhs]

I hope that means he's got tunnel vision

I'm in a different phase, I'm afraid.