Kim to skate at 2011 Worlds: Press release

[Mathman]

I dont know whom you are referring to.

I think Kwanfordwife was referring to herself.

 

[Nadine]

Lol, Tonichelle, you have a point. But I tend to think that was thee Olympics!, whereas this is just the Worlds. Totally different mentality and panel of judges; totally different sphere all together.

But more importantly, we're talking about a young in her prime! 20 yr. old with many years still left in her versus an old-timer 27 yr. old veteran whom had been through many surgeries, and took 3 years off before coming back for the Olympic season alone. On the contraire, Yuna has only taken 1 season off *not* 3, hasn't had any major surgeries on her knees/legs/hips/feet/et al, and is only coming back for Worlds, not the Olympics, therefore she could afford not to do any competitions leading up to Worlds, whereas Evgeni had to do three competitions before leading up to the Big One Olympics (i.e. Rostelecom Cup, Nationals, Euros).

Anyhow, that's just my humble opinion. Now it is up to Yuna to fulfill her destiny..., or not.

 

[prettykeys]

So 1st place is already taken imho, whereas the real battle will be for 2nd & 3rd.

sounds an awful lot like the Men's Event in Vancouver... and that didn't turn out like everyone thought either.

Thankfully, the Ladies' Event in Vancouver did. :agree:

But, seriously. Skating is too unpredictable.

 

[cooper]

Thankfully, the Ladies' Event in Vancouver did. :agree:

But, seriously. Skating is too unpredictable.

True. And I :sheesh: @ posters who are claiming that Yuna will win next year so easily and I'm a fan of Yuna.

All I can say is...don't jinx her!

 

[Nadine]

I don't see anybody jinxing her, but rather going by *facts*. And the fact is that Yuna Kim is better than everybody else out there, has been for the past two seasons. She could even afford to fall once or even twice, like the rest of the ladies have been doing, and still come out on top, as she holds the world record for both the SP & LP, and overall point total for both by an astronomical amount, and deservedly so!

This actually reminds me of my favorite male skater, Evgeni Plushenko, and how he dominated from 2002-2010, practically winning every Worlds he entered, as well as the 2006 Olympics by an equally astronomical amount! They are both that great. I can honestly even see Yuna taking off 3 seasons and only coming back for the next Olympics, if she wants to, and at least winning Olympic Silver, but most likely Gold once again. However, if she follows Zhenya's track record, I think she will realize that it is to her advantage to actually compete a few seasons before coming back for the next Olympics. This is where Evgeni went wrong, and I doubt Yuna will make the same mistake. In fact she hasn't, already she will compete in the 2011 Worlds. Smart lady, smart lady.

This is coming from a huge Mao fan, but Mao even at her best could not defeat Yuna, and that says a lot because Mao was Yuna's only serious competition, which I think all f.s. fans can agree on. I'm definitely not a Yuna fan by any means of the imagination, but that doesn't make me blind to greatness when I see it (ala Witt & Kwan). I still prefer, and will always prefer, Mao over Yuna. But I recognize Yuna for what she is ~ one of the greatest female skaters in history ~ and right now the very best! That is self-evident. Therefore, she can easily win another Worlds, just another notch on her proverbial belt. If the Olympics didn't get to her, I doubt another Worlds will. Jmho, of course.

 

[Tinymavy15]

If yu-na can win a silver after bombing the SP last year and skating a less than spectacular free she will be fine this year. Mao dosen't look like much of a threat and yu-na PCS will knock everyone else out of the water. She can afford to get a few low levels and stuff as long as she is reasonably clean. there is really no reason why she would'nt be. she's not injured, she seems happy, the pressure is mostly off...

 

[Nadine]

P.S. and her mentor appears to be Michelle Kwan, one of the very best, and I'm sure Michelle has advised her to save on her body by only appearing at Worlds once a year, just as Michelle used to do (plus Nationals to be precise, but Yuna doesn't have to worry about that; she has no competition in Korea).

She already has the aura of invincibility, and is an Olympic & World Champion, which should serve her well. She earned that distinction, which doesn't go unnoticed by the judges, and rightfully so, therefore like past great champions like herself, she will be given a cushion; the only chance anybody has is to knock her out, and come on, lol, nobody in the world has what it takes! If the 3axel gal couldn't do it, then nobody else can as well. Fact.

GOOOOOOOOOOO YUNA KIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! arty:

 

[Nadine]

My very last word on this subject, I'm so confident in Yuna Kim's ability, and mental toughness to boot, that I will with 200% certainty say that SHE *WILL* WIN. There's no doubt about it in my mind, I only have to look at past great champions such as she. In fact it's laughable to think otherwise. And I actually relish the thought of coming back to this thread after Worlds and saying "I told you so", lol.

 

[brianjyw]

Poor Nadine! I think he is undergoing a psychological breakdown after Mao failed to get into GPF this year.

 

[Krislite]

My very last word on this subject, I'm so confident in Yuna Kim's ability, and mental toughness to boot, that I will with 200% certainty say that SHE *WILL* WIN. There's no doubt about it in my mind, I only have to look at past great champions such as she. In fact it's laughable to think otherwise. And I actually relish the thought of coming back to this thread after Worlds and saying "I told you so", lol.

You're really tempting the skating gods, Nadine! Alas, they've always been favorable towards Yuna, never allowing her to finish off the podium since her novice years. I doubt you can change their minds now.

In all seriousness, Yuna will certainly finish on the Worlds podium, barring any withdrawal due to injury. And since her long program "Arirang" has a strong personal meaning for her, not to mention the pressure of performing it for herself and for Korea in Tokyo, I expect an emotional, if not absolutely clean, performance from her.

If there's one thing we can say about her, it's that she handles pressure well, never letting it get to her so badly that she doesn't medal at all. She won OGM under the most oppressive levels of pressure and expectations since Midori Ito, and did it with the performance of her life. If that's not nerves of steel, then what is?

 

[GiuliaPlum]

True. And I :sheesh: @ posters who are claiming that Yuna will win next year so easily and I'm a fan of Yuna.

All I can say is...don't jinx her!

yeah. i'm starting to get uncomfortable too, lol

 

[miki88]

lol. 200%? Nadine, are you trying to jinx her?

 

[Kwanford Wife]

I dont know whom you are referring to. I always predicted Kwan to finish somewhere from 3rd to 5th at the 2005 Worlds and most likely 4th. I knew she had absolutely zero chance to win even if she skated her best since Irina was on fire around then, was skating on home ice, had experience under COP, and since Kwan's Bolero was her worst program ever and she hadnt even landed 7 triples in years by then. Yes if anyone was predicting Kwan to win 2005 Worlds I would agree that was blind fandom indeed. Since I am not a fan of either Asada or Ando I thankfully have no such problem in this case.

Who said otherwise. I never said Ando didnt deserve to win the 2007 Worlds did I. I just pointed out what obviously has to happen for her to beat Mao and Kim is for her to skate two lights out programs the likes of which she never duplicated again, and Mao and Kim to both make major mistakes. And all this in Miki's peak point of her own skating which she is far beyond now, and while Kim wasnt even in her prime yet either. So the likelihood of just a scenario repeating is unlikely, and near impossible considering Miki isnt even as good a skater as she was in 2007 or capable of producing the same level of perforamance to even take advantage of an off Kim for instance. Just like Butyrskaya deserved to win the 1999 Worlds, but she was never likely to win a second one, granted Maria could have won a 2nd a year later if she had skated a cleaner LP, but that is only one year later and a far cry from a full 4 years later for these second tierish already weaker 1 time winners.

Awesome talent for doing jumps and nothing else really. And she isnt even doing great jumping anymore which 5 triples a program and the downgraded cheated triple-triple does not qualify as.

When others are actually on the ice and performing decently she is no longer one of the big girls. Vancouver showed that. It is sad the womens field has fallen apart so far this year with absences and injuries allowing a past her prime skater to be winning events with just ok skating. If the big girls show up in decent form though Miki's fun is over, there is nothing she is doing so far this season anyway that would suggest otherwise.

As Mathman pointed out, I was referring to myself and to a certain extent my fellow posters who've all fallen down the rabbit hole of "This skater has a lock, the others are skating for silver & bronze." You simply cannot say who will win what - if fans picked winners based on past records vs. competition ice -the world would look a lot different. But to each their own. Let the skaters skate and the winners will emerge.

If I were to put money on Worlds, I'd go with either Miki or MiRai. One is dominating this year and one is due for a breakout performance that puts them on the winner's step. Yuna presenting two new programs at Worlds with significant changes to CoP coupled with her weird world experiences just don't make me as confident as you that she will win. In reference to another post, if Michelle is indeed a mentor to Yuna, I would assume that Kwan would advise her that 2005 is an example of what happens when you only compete only for Worlds and that her decision was based on health concerns vs. assumption that she didn't need to compete in order to win.


I will say this: I was simply trying to be helpful by adding my perspective to a newer poster from my own experience when I moved from fansites to a general forum. You didn't appreciate the advice and that's cool. But please don't bother me with your whole "I know more than you do" thing because you can't win that battle with me because you don't. Silly rabbit. (Yes, Toni - I've reformed, but not that much)

sounds an awful lot like the Men's Event in Vancouver... and that didn't turn out like everyone thought either.


ETA: KW if you need something for that headache that is sure to come, I have a pharmacy all packed up for my move, what's your poison?

Totally agree Toni - and that's my point. At least Nadine is being cute about it - its the firm fandom of: my fav is better than your fav that bugs me. (unless we are speaking of the Kween of course, then I'm all about it!) And thanks for the head's up on medicine cabinet, I think I will ask Santa for that this year and FYI - I prefer the strong stuff with warnings

I think Kwanfordwife was referring to herself.

Thank you for stating the obvious Math - you are so much more mature than I...

 

[OS]

Giuliaaaahh... where art thou giuliaaahhh... Don't get uncomfortable by yourself sweet layddeee. Hey you want my original Jeremy pix? I took some when I was at ATS LA, bumped into him at the hall. He was so sweet and patient with all the fans!

 

[Tonichelle]

Totally agree Toni - and that's my point. At least Nadine is being cute about it - its the firm fandom of: my fav is better than your fav that bugs me. (unless we are speaking of the Kween of course, then I'm all about it!) And thanks for the head's up on medicine cabinet, I think I will ask Santa for that this year and FYI - I prefer the strong stuff with warnings

I have some of that!

and I refuse to believe that you are, in any way, reformed.

 

[yangjie]

so she will try a 3loop in her FS or only one +3T combo ??

 

[Blades of Passion]

She doesn't need a 3Loop to win this year. If I was her coach, I would have her train this layout:

3Flip-3Toe
2Axel
3Lutz-2Toe
----------
2Axel-2Toe-2Loop
3Sal
3Lutz
3Toe

 

[burntBREAD]

She doesn't need a 3Loop to win this year. If I was her coach, I would have her train this layout:

3Flip-3Toe
2Axel
3Lutz-2Toe
----------
2Axel-2Toe-2Loop
3Sal
3Lutz
3Toe

I think that's realistic, except maybe the 3F-3T will be 3Lz-3T and the flip would go with the 2T.

 

[Blades of Passion]

I'd prefer it if she did 3F-3T. The way she flies into that combo is amazing. She got undeserved edge calls on her Flip in 2009, causing her to change it to a 3Lz-3Toe (still very strong, but it doesn't cover as much ice as her 3F-3T did).

After not receiving any edge calls last season, though, and only showing up at 2010 Worlds this season, I don't believe she would receive any edge calls. The judges won't be looking for that with Yu-Na.

 

[MKFSfan]

P.S. and her mentor appears to be Michelle Kwan, one of the very best, and I'm sure Michelle has advised her to save on her body by only appearing at Worlds once a year, just as Michelle used to do (plus Nationals to be precise, but Yuna doesn't have to worry about that; she has no competition in Korea).

To nitpick, Michelle did skate in a couple of Cheesefests before Nationals/Worlds, so it's not quite the same thing as only appearing at Worlds. Granted, her schedule allowed for much less stress and missed training time as flying to other countries for GP events, but it's hardly the same as staying home and training for just 1-2 events a year. Between the 2002-03 to 2004-05 season (3 skating seasons), Michelle did one GP event and 5 Cheesefest competitions, in addition to Nats and Worlds. So she was able to get some mileage and feedback on her programs before Nats and Worlds.

Just saying!

I think YuNa will be GREAT at Worlds this year. I really hope Mao is able to straighten things out and put up a formidable fight and I also would love to see a US lady (preferably Mirai!!) in the mix!