Remarkable Demonstrations of Mental Strength

[jenm]

^Vancouver, yes. But Sochi stands out more to me because 1) she was still injured, 2) in the SP she had very shaky warm-up where she was popping all her t-t attempts, and yet managed to control her nerves to the extent that she executed a clean SP minutes later (you could see how visibly relieved she was when she finished) and 3) skating the FS last and in a not-the-most-welcoming environment, and pulling through.

This. So much. I remember when she was constantly massaging her left leg in the practices because she was using it too much to compensate for the injury in her right foot. And also, I noticed her face was a little bloated/chubby and I read in her forum that it was because of so many pain killers she was taking back then. Her warm up during the SP event was painful to watch. So much anguish in her face. She was really struggling. But then she delivered one of the most beautiful programs I've seen minutes later. Amazing.

 

[Tutto]

Irina Rodnina, as a 3 times Olympic, 10 times World and 11 Euro champion she sure had some mental strength, one of examples - 1973 Worlds when music stopped during their LP but they continued as nothing happened with huge support from the audience.

Sasha Cohen not particularly known for mental strength nevertheless demonstrated it in Torino when after 2 mistakes she managed to give probably the best skate of her life and win a silver medal

 

[Junstella]

TBH, I didn't expect Yuna to have clean LP in Sochi. Not because I didn't trust her. She's a human being. That's the only reason.
Who the hell could keep one's composure while the crowds are keep yelling 'fall, fall, fall' and disturbing the routine?

But...God saved the queen, or herself.....

 

[skatedreamer]

Hi All,

Two others come to mind:
1. Paul Wylie's 1992 Olympic short program skated after reporters in a press conference asked him "why are you here?"
2. Todd Eldredge at Skate America in Detroit (year?) skating nearly flawlessly after dislocating a shoulder on the warmup. I was sitting right in front and wathced it pop out and back in again.

Yikes, you joined in 2007 and waited until now to post? Welcome...and IMO, you need to make up for some lost time!

Thanks for the story about Paul W. His 1992 LP was one of the all-time greats but I didn't remember the SP at all. Here’s a link; the opening 3A is beautiful and there’s some great footwork just past the 1:30 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfEF_0GeDwc

 

[Franklin99]

TBH, I didn't expect Yuna to have clean LP in Sochi. Not because I didn't trust her. She's a human being. That's the only reason.
Who the hell could keep one's composure while the crowds are keep yelling 'fall, fall, fall' and disturbing the routine?

But...God saved the queen, or herself.....

People were really yelling that during her performance? That's awful and unforgivable. While I don't much like this particular program (I really wish she would've done Homage instead) I'm glad she was able to stay focus and skate relatively clean (aside from the slight mistake on her 2nd 3Lz).

 

[jenaj]

TBH, I didn't expect Yuna to have clean LP in Sochi. Not because I didn't trust her. She's a human being. That's the only reason.
Who the hell could keep one's composure while the crowds are keep yelling 'fall, fall, fall' and disturbing the routine?

But...God saved the queen, or herself.....

How do you say "fall" in Russian? And does Yuna understand Russian?

 

[jenm]

I think they were chanting Ros-si-yah Ros-si-yah. But I can feel they were literally waiting/wishing for her to fall on her butt. There was a loud cheer when she almost did. It was awful. I never liked that particular crowd.

 

[figureskateobasan]

I think they were chanting Ros-si-yah Ros-si-yah. But I can feel they were literally waiting/wishing for her to fall on her butt. There was a loud cheer when she almost did. It was awful. I never liked that particular crowd.

To be fair, they were doing it to all non-Russian skaters though. I think Yuna isn't the type who will let those silly acts affects her performance.

 

[Junstella]

To be fair, they were doing it to all non-Russian skaters though. I think Yuna isn't the type who will let those silly acts affects her performance.

Not only that...I saw couple of fancams and some of them were holding mirrors to reflect the light to her, and few screamed when she attempted second 3L.

 

[uhh]

This revisionist history...I wanna see the receipts.

 

[jenaj]

I think they were chanting Ros-si-yah Ros-si-yah. But I can feel they were literally waiting/wishing for her to fall on her butt. There was a loud cheer when she almost did. It was awful. I never liked that particular crowd.

I thought they were applauding her for landing the jump.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

No way. That crowd was awful. Listen to when Russian skaters executed jumps and skaters like Kostner and Kim landed clean jumps. And the reaction at the end. Mao, Asada, Kim and Sotnikova all deserved standing ovations, but only 1 of them got one.

Not to mention the cheers when S/S fell in pairs. (Or in curling when the crowd unequvocably cheered when they thought opponents made mistakes but were simply blanking ends).

Next Olympics in Japan please. Or Spain.

 

[Interspectator]

Murakami Daisuke at NHK. --The last time he skated at NHK he dislocated his shoulder and had to withdraw..so he had bad memories of the competition. But this year he did 2 perfect programs and won! He's not been the most consistent skater in the past and he may never do it again, but for those 2 programs he was calm and collected. It was pretty amazing.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Murakami Daisuke at NHK. --The last time he skated at NHK he dislocated his shoulder and had to withdraw..so he had bad memories of the competition. But this year he did 2 perfect programs and won! He's not been the most consistent skater in the past and he may never do it again, but for those 2 programs he was calm and collected. It was pretty amazing.

I always love moments like that. Even if Murakami doesn't win anything more, you always hope every skater has a moment like he had at NHK where he skated his best.

 

[chasingpolaris]

Mao Asada's epic Sochi FS.

An amazing comeback just a day after a heartbreaking performance. After watching a TV special that focused on those hours leading up to her FS made me appreciate Mao even more.

 

[gotoschool]

How do you say "fall" in Russian? And does Yuna understand Russian?

I didn't hear anyone yell, "Fall." But, PAdut is the infinitive and I think paDAI pronounced paDI is the command form. But, I'm not sure.

Edit: To make the post more relevant to the thread topic, overtime I have become really impressed with Carolina Kostner's Bolero FS at Sochi and her strength to go out clean after so many disappointments in the Olympics.

 

[cruzceleste]

I have never read that people yelled "fall", they do keep yelling "Russia" to other skaters.

Also these accounts of people using mirrows are from people that where in the Arena, or just hearsay?

 

[jenaj]

No way. That crowd was awful. Listen to when Russian skaters executed jumps and skaters like Kostner and Kim landed clean jumps. And the reaction at the end. Mao, Asada, Kim and Sotnikova all deserved standing ovations, but only 1 of them got one.

Not to mention the cheers when S/S fell in pairs. (Or in curling when the crowd unequvocably cheered when they thought opponents made mistakes but were simply blanking ends).

Next Olympics in Japan please. Or Spain.

Yuna got a standing ovation, according to the commentators. I watched the video again and she was
applauded for landing the 3 lutz.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Omg....this thread

 

[plushyfan]

Not only that...I saw couple of fancams and some of them were holding mirrors to reflect the light to her, and few screamed when she attempted second 3L.

I don't believe!