Off-Season Debate, Question 1: Can Kimmie Keep Up The Momentum?

[Vash01]

Now that Kimmie has won the world title, she will suddenly have pressure on her that she hasn't had before. And THAT, folks, will be the real test. This is purely a speculation thread:

She had the performance of her life in Calgary (in case you didn't know ) But do you think she can keep it up?

Does she really have to worry about the Japanese and other Asians supposedly making a threat?

Can she win the US title next year?

Can she successfully defend her World Championship in 07?

Is she going to be a one-hit wonder?


MY THOUGHTS

It's too soon to tell, but fun to speculate. Personally, I don't like her skating enough to become a fan of hers, but she seems like a nice kid. But that aside, I think she has a lot of potential. The Technical Elements are certainly there. Now, she just needs some PERSONALITY. If she can develop that, she will be a true force to be reckoned with. I figure she just got lucky in Calgary since those supposedly "better" than her couldn't deliver that night. But she went all out and deserved that win. Now, she seems pretty consistent and I think if she can continue to grow and develop, there could be several US titles and maybe even another world title in her future. She could be a top contender for Vancouver.

Or, is she simply a one-hit wonder and maybe will just either fizzle next year, or get injured or something? Will she fade next year and bounce back in 08, ala Shizuka or Irina? Let the talk begin...

Every skater goes through ups and downs, so I expect to see it happen in Kimmie's case. Even Michelle has had a few poor performances and even she lost the US title (and world title) to Tara. Kimmie strikes me as someone who will persevere through the down times. She will be challenged by others and there could be more pressure on her next time. It is a part of her learning- her development as a championship caliber skater- to go through perhaps some hard experiences to make it to the next level.

Vash

 

[R.D.]

I think you're right. And yes, even the best go through hard times. But the real champions are those who can persevere, rise up from those hard times and bounce back to the top. I have almost no doubt that Kimmie will have some rough skates ahead of her. That's just the way the Skate Gods work...no one has a perfect (or a great) performance all the time. But the real question is does she have multiple US and World titles in her future? Can she be the next MK? (I mean this title-wise, not fan-wise) Or will she be the next Tara- come out, have a strong season and then fizzle to heaven-knows-where?

 

[Vash01]

Red Dog,

My intuition says that Kimmie is not a one hit wonder and that she has more championships in her future. It's hard to tell how many, but she is not going to fade away, barring injury of course. I hope she will be healthy in the years to come.

Vash

 

[R.D.]

Let's hope so. if she was 18 or 19, I wouldn't be worried, but at 16 she may still have some more growing to do. She could be in for a rough transition (not unlike Miki Ando and Carolina Kostner, who IIRC were ALSO hailed as future champions when they burst on the scene). The real champion bounces back. Let's see if the Skate Gods will build another Champion in Kimmie.

 

[euterpe]

Carolina Kostner has always been inconsistent, right from the get-go. Carolina has always had specific jump problems as well. While she has done well with the flip and the loop, her toe loop and double axel barely clear the ice and her lutz has always been a 50% proposition.

With Miki Ando, yes, I believe her change from a slim girl-like figure to a womanly body has kept her from making it to the top. But it seems to me Miki has always had a bit of a problem with nerves. It took her 3 tries to win Junior Worlds, and she finally won the title at 16 over 14-year-olds Meissner and Taylor.

Kimmie has long arms and legs like Carolina, but on a much smaller frame. I think she will be more like Sasha than Miki, and won't "bloom" excessively.

 

[R.D.]

But it seems to me Miki has always had a bit of a problem with nerves. It took her 3 tries to win Junior Worlds, and she finally won the title at 16 over 14-year-olds Meissner and Taylor.

but you see, she still managed to WIN the title. Can't be said for certain other skaters

How tall is Kimmie? Does anyone know? I think that will be telling as to how much or whether she will grow more in the next few years.

 

[Vash01]

Kimmie's height is not listed in the media guide. That is strange. Emily's height is not listed either. Sasha is listed at 145 cm. Kimmie looks like she may be at least 2 inches taller than Sasha.

Vash

 

[R.D.]

Kimmie looks like she may be at least 2 inches taller than Sasha.

Do you have a pic of the two standing side by side? I posted podium pics but they are standing on platforms of different height.

Or Kimmie next to anyone else whose height is known?

 

[Jasper]

There are better skaters than Kimmie out there, especially young girls coming up from Asia. I expect Meissner to struggle with the pressure and find herself with rivals in Asada and Kim.

 

[Lonewolf]

Kimmie's height is not listed in the media guide. That is strange. Emily's height is not listed either. Sasha is listed at 145 cm. Kimmie looks like she may be at least 2 inches taller than Sasha.Vash

According to U.S. Figure Skating, Kimmie is 5'3" and Sasha is 5'2".

For Kimmie: http://www.usfsa.org/AthleteBio.asp?id=2308

For Sasha: http://www.usfsa.org/AthleteBio.asp?id=2265

 

[R.D.]

Thanks. So she may or may not have some more growing to do. But at this stage, I think most girls tend to stay relatively the same height. She only has to be concerned about filling out IMO

 

[bronxgirl]

I think it's the "filling out" that might pose the most danger to her wonderful jumps. Arakawa and Sarah Hughes are both relatively tall for skaters, but once the hips and bosom develop, physics rears it's ugly head (Sorry MM, - I took physics for bio majors, not quite physics for poets, but still not my favorite subject)

 

[Mafke]

Do you have a pic of the two (Meissner and Cohen: mafke) standing side by side? I posted podium pics but they are standing on platforms of different height.
Or Kimmie next to anyone else whose height is known?

I've seen podium pictures where they all get up on the top step and Meissner is definitely taller than Cohen or Suguri (I'd say at least 2 inches tallen than Cohen though some official source lists her as 1 inch taller).

I think Meissner has a skater's build more than Cohen (who has more of a gymnyst's build to me), I'd say as long as she keeps training all the time she mght be okay, but if she stops training for any length of time she might fill out (like Hughes though maybe not so much) and that could cause problems.

 

[Mathman]

I think it's the "filling out" that might pose the most danger to her wonderful jumps. Arakawa and Sarah Hughes are both relatively tall for skaters, but once the hips and bosom develop, physics rears it's ugly head (Sorry MM, - I took physics for bio majors, not quite physics for poets, but still not my favorite subject)

Hi, Bronxgirl, great to have you back. :agree: :yes:

Well, back in my college days I did spend quite a bit of time studying hips and bosoms in my physics class.

MM

 

[jsteam4501s]

Just curious - Why is it so important to some of you to predict things? Do you get some kind of kick saying " I think so and so ..............." and then having it proven right? And if you are proven wrong, you just say "So what - it's fun to predict, even if I am wrong".??

Personally, I think it's MORE fun to "Wait and See" .

 

[jsteam4501s]

Oh, never mind - I know I asked a stupid question - sorry. Predicting IS fun - I know that. There just sometimes seems to be SO MUCH of it.

 

[R.D.]

Just curious - Why is it so important to some of you to predict things? Do you get some kind of kick saying " I think so and so ..............." and then having it proven right? And if you are proven wrong, you just say "So what - it's fun to predict, even if I am wrong".??

Personally, I think it's MORE fun to "Wait and See" .

You know what- I thought this SAME EXACT THING a while back, I remember. But what speculation and prediction does do is pass the time. I have more fun with the former, though. I've learned that predictions are nearly impossible- at least for the major ones.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think predicting gets convoluted with favorites. It has some fun value if one can predict that skater will be very good some day, i.e. you see more than the top contestants.

As for predicting winners, I think most just pick their favorites and when they lose, you don't hear anyone say, 'I was wrong'. I think they should try to be a little more realistic regardless of their favorite.

Bottom line on Ladies was that Kimmie was a Shocker but deserved her win.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

And (I've said this many times before) people confuse predictions with their own hopes. But lately I've been seeing more posters making that distinction by emphasizing that their choices are their hopes and not actual predictions.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Hoodathunkit

2002 Olys Favorites: Slutskaya, Kwan, Cohen - Winner: Hughes

2006 Olys Favorites: Sluskaya, Cohen, Kostner - Winner: Arakawa

2006 Worlds Favorites: Cohen, Suguri, Rochette - Winner: Meissner.

Ooooh, Those Spoilers.

Joe