Shen and Zhao plan to compete in Vancouver

[heyang]

I also don't want her to come back like Katerina Witt did-a pale reflection of what she once was. I would just as soon treasure the wonderful memories of the greatest figure skater of all time.

Katerina knew that she was unlikely to win a medal in 1994. She really just wanted to go for fun if she could make the team. I think she just wanted to go to an Olympics where she wasn't going in with the weight of her country on her shoulders.

Personally, I preferred her Robin Hood and Schindler's List programs of 1994 over her That's Entertainment and Carmen program in 1988. Also, coming in 7th place is pretty darn good.

 

[Big Deal]

Great news!!!
I think they are one of the greatest pair ever, doesn't matter are they winning or not.

I want to see them again. BUT I don't want to see them lose because of some boring Russian pair again.... Politics are not necesserily on their side, I'm affraid.

I never won't forget (and forgive) what happened with Torvill-Dean in 1994... It was heartbreaking.

SO, come and show us again, pair skating is not a Cirque Soleil, it is an art of beauty. This couple is able to remind us !!

 

[slutskayafan21]

BUT I don't want to see them lose because of some boring Russian pair again.... Politics are not necesserily on their side, I'm affraid.

I am afraid your comments in this particular case are lost on me. I dont recall Shen/Zhou ever losing an event due to politics. They lost to Berezhnaya/ Sikharulidze and Sale/Pelletier repeatedly from 2000-2002 since they just were not the complete package neccessary yet. They won the 2002 and 2003 Worlds as they deserved to. They lost the 2004 Worlds to Totmianina/Marinin not due to judges but due to a fall in the short program, the judges gave them the long program in style with a cascade of 6.0s and his fall in the short program cost them the title. They withdrew from the 2005 and 2006 Worlds due to injury. Totmianina/Marinin won the Olympics and not Shen/Zhou since Shen/Zhou did not skate nearly as well as Totmianina/Marinin at the Olympics, and made alot of mistakes in their performances at the Olympics, understandable given the horrible bad luck of coming back from a serious off season injury. Totmianina/Marinin may indeed be one of those boring Russian teams you refer to, but everytime they won a major event it had absolutely nothing to do with the judges robbing Shen/Zhou.

Shen/Zhou are a wonderful pair but they have not been hurt by politics, and they have failed to win the Olympic Gold medal since they did not skate the best at any of the Olympics they were in.

 

[sillylionlove]

Are there even any Russian pairs teams out there there that even have the chance of winning a gold medal?

 

[discoduck]

Are there even any Russian pairs teams out there there that even have the chance of winning a gold medal?

There really isn't a dominant Russian pair out there right now. Some think that K/S will be the ones but I don't see it personally and she has citizenship issues and can't skate for Russia in the Olympics unless she gives up her Japanese citizenship.

Murkatova and Trankov are the current Russian national champs but they're not known for being consistent. They skate for the first time on the GP this week in Paris. I really like them but unless they improve by leaps and bounds over the next three years (and who knows? They very well could) I don't see them being contenders for gold.

The team that won bronze at SA is still very young and they have a lot of potential. They might be the ones that will be the next big Russian pair. I hesitate to say that because things can change but for now, I think they have the most potential.

I'm hopelessly biased where Shen and Zhao are concerned but I really think they would have a shot at gold if they stay healthy. Right now their biggest competition is Team Ingo but a lot can happy between now and Vancouver.

 

[Big Deal]

Slutskayafan!
You are right. They've never really been a victim by politics, because they never had a chance to win an Olympic Gold because of their actual performance was subpar in those events, and Russians could win fair and square.
Watch out, when they will have a perfect program in an OLYMPIC Games!!!
And some Russian pair will be there with a technically challanging, otherwise boring program. We all will be shocked. Look at Domnina/Shabalin over 8,0 scores last weekend with a faulty, sloppy, boring free dance (even if it was not a pair skating)....

 

[slutskayafan21]

Slutskayafan!
You are right. They've never really been a victim by politics, because they never had a chance to win an Olympic Gold because of their actual performance was subpar in those events, and Russians could win fair and square.
Watch out, when they will have a perfect program in an OLYMPIC Games!!!
And some Russian pair will be there with a technically challanging, otherwise boring program. We all will be shocked. Look at Domnina/Shabalin over 8,0 scores last weekend with a faulty, sloppy, boring free dance (even if it was not a pair skating)....

OK I get what you are saying now. You could be wrong but I sincerely hope you are wrong. I would hate them to finally have that magical performance at the Olympics they have had so often elsewhere and not win, particularly to some "boring" pair or performance.

The Russians really dont have a big threat in pairs at the moment though. At the top you have multiple chinese teams (with or without Shen/Zhou), a German pair, and maybe and up and coming Canadian pair. So that is one thing to keep in mind although that can always change, and not neccessarily just due to on the ice either as you suggested.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Have they really skated in three Olympics? Wow (2006, 2002, 1998?). That's longevity.

With respect to deserving anOG, I can't remember them in 98 but thought the pair who won OG deserved it.:

i dodn't mean that they deserved the Olympic Gold in 1998, or in 2002 or for that matter in 2006. 2002 was IMO thier best olympic performnace, but they did not deserve to win. What I am saying however, is that they are one of the best pair teams ever and a team that good should get an oylmpic medal. a gold one. they already have the 2 bronzes.

 

[kyla2]

Heyang

I was never a fan of Katerina Witt's skating, so I will tell you that right up front. I cringed through both comeback skates. I think she should have left on a high note and those skates weren't high notes. I never understood the point. Just as I wouldn't understand the point for Michelle (or anyone else for that matter) to comeback unless she was in top shape/form.

 

[slutskayafan21]

I was never a fan of Katerina Witt's skating, so I will tell you that right up front. I cringed through both comeback skates. I think she should have left on a high note and those skates weren't high notes. I never understood the point. Just as I wouldn't understand the point for Michelle (or anyone else for that matter) to comeback unless she was in top shape/form.

Witt's comeback was the silliest of all since when she left a top lady had a chance of winning with only a triple toe, triple salchow, and maybe triple loop (and she didnt even do that in winning the 88 Olympics). By 94 atleast 15 women could do a triple lutz, triple fliip, triple loop, triple salchow, and triple toe.

 

[Winnipeg]

Witt's comeback was the silliest of all since when she left a top lady had a chance of winning with only a triple toe, triple salchow, and maybe triple loop (and she didnt even do that in winning the 88 Olympics). By 94 atleast 15 women could do a triple lutz, triple fliip, triple loop, triple salchow, and triple toe.

I did not like the come back skates either..................especially the Robin Hood. She likely knew she would end up low in the results but wanted to participate for fun, publicity, and money - can't really argue the reasons, they make sense.

 

[Winnipeg]

I don't see a problem travelling from Bel Aire (where the moguls are) to Staples Center. (I used Hollywood, as a generic thing)

Joe

Why the interest in 2009 Worlds - I think there will be a lot NOT because of the location................but because of establishing themselves for 2010. Most have likely already been to LA and Hollywood and unless you are a movie star...........who'd want to go back.