Who can succcessfully defend their world champion title

[iloveaxel]

It will be such a weird world championships, all defending world champions are going to compete, but none of them appears to be the stand-out favourite to defend their title(s).

Kimmie Meissner has been eclipsed by Mao Asada, Yu-Na Kim, or maybe even Miki Ando.

Pang & Tong have been defeated by Shen & Zhao three times this season, and they are not even the medal favourites. Most fans and the so-called experts have put put Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy from Germany and Zhang & Zhang before them on the prediction list.

In men's competition, Brian Joubert is generally considered to have a slight edge, and defending world champion Stéphane Lambiel is truly a wild card in a very deep field including 2 Japanese, 1 American, 1 Canadian, 1 French and more.

The only exception may lie in the ice dancing competition, Reigning World Champions Albena Denkova/Maxim Staviski were doing pretty well in the early season. However, their unpexpected loss to both the Russian and French teams at Euros does not bode well for their outlook at the upcoming world championships.


The field is really wide open. So my question to you is who will successfully defend their titles in the upcoming world championships?

 

[CzarinaAnya]

I don't have a strong enough sense about Kimmie winning again to vote for her. But I do feel stephane could blow it out of the park with his flamenco LP.
D&S win almost everything, so that's why I voted for them.

 

[laurenjm]

Howdy!

There are 3 very strong Japanese ladies in this event. It is always very hard to skate in front of your "home" audience, I think there is more pressure.

I also believe that this a defining worlds for Kimmie, Mao, Miki! Kimmie must prove that last year was not a "gimmie", Mao must live up to her hype,, Miki must slience the critics that she folds under pressure. Tall order, and may the best and luckiest skater win!

I feel the same for the men, Stephane must get past the 3x to win, if he lands his he has a shot. Brian has been trying to redeem himself for 2 years, the Japanese fellas have the pressure of skating at home. Eman and Jeffery have to get past thier nerves! Tall order here too! May the best and lukiest skater win.

Pairs and Dance--I really do not follow much, and I really do not care who wins!!
I just enjoy watching all the tricks and the over the top facial expressions on the dancers. I do however, wish Davis and White all the best, I really like them. They may be the dance pair that will give me more reason to watch! That is exciting!

 

[Eddie Lee]

Wow! With those results, we're certainly sending Kimmie to Tokyo with a huge vote of no-confidence!:disapp:

 

[Spun Silver]

It's true, but at least it lessens the pressure on her, and that's a good thing. She may surprise us again, and then she will RULE!

 

[Mathman]

Hi, Laurenjm, welcome to the forum and thanks for posting!

Mathman

 

[RDiva]

Looks like only Denkova Staviski did it. Great job guys:agree: