2010 Olympics Ladies Singles Discussion *Spoilers*

[Isk8NYC]

2/23 - Short Program
2/25 - Free Skate

[rlichtefeld]

The time schedule for the Short Program is up:
http://www.isuresults.com/results/owg2010/owg10_Ladies_SP_TimeSchedule.pdf

Rachael is skating in the last group!

Rob

[Isk8NYC]

It's Ladies Night and I need a nap. lol SP order is as follows:


Warm-Up Group 1
1 LAFUENTE Sonia ESP
2 REITMAYEROVA Ivana SVK
3 ZIEGLER Miriam AUT
4 JURKIEWICZ Anna POL
5 LEE Cheltzie AUS

Warm-Up Group 2
6 LIU Yan CHN
7 KARADEMIR Tugba TUR
8 MAKAROVA Ksenia RUS
9 KWAK Min-Jung KOR
10 McCORKELL Jenna GBR

Warm-Up Group 3
11 NAGASU Mirai USA
12 PIEMAN Isabelle BEL
13 POSTIC Teodora SLO
14 GIMAZETDINOVA Anastasia UZB
15 PHANEUF Cynthia CAN

Warm-Up Group 4
16 GEDEVANISHVILI Elene GEO
17 MEIER Sarah SUI
18 GLEBOVA Elena EST
19 KORPI Kiira FIN
20 HECKEN Sarah GER

Warm-Up Group 5
21 LEPISTO Laura FIN
22 ASADA Mao JPN
23 KIM Yu-Na KOR
24 SUZUKI Akiko JPN
25 LEONOVA Alena RUS

Warm-Up Group 6
26 ROCHETTE Joannie CAN
27 SEBESTYEN Julia HUN
28 FLATT Rachael USA
29 KOSTNER Carolina ITA
30 ANDO Miki JPN


NBC says it's covering the event live from 8pm - midnight. There's an analysis from 12:30-2:00am *yawns*

VANCOUVER - February 22, 2010 - NBC's Tuesday primetime coverage of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games begins tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The ladies' figure skating competition kicks off, live, with the short program and South Korea's Kim Yu-Na and Japan's Mao Asada are strong medal contenders. Competing for Team USA are current national champion Rachael Flatt (Del Mar, Calif.) and the 2008 national champion Mirai Nagasu (Arcadia, Calif.).

Source: NBC Universal Press Release - https://www.nbcumv.com/mv/#1266937181816

[MQSeries]

Nagasu will go for a 3ltz-3toe tonight.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100222&content_id=8114714&vkey=ice_news

"She wants to do it, so she's going to do it," he said. "I think it's great that she's gutsy and she wants to do it."

Of course, doing it -- and getting credit for it from the technical panel -- are two very different things. Nagasu has never successfully completed a triple-triple in senior international competition, and her scores are often hurt by downgrades.

"They'll take issue with it, because they'll examine it with a magnifying glass, front end, back end and every other end," Carroll said. "But if the top girls can do it, why can't she do it?

"It looks great to me when she nails it; she just nailed it [in practice]. We'll see. This [Olympics] is, for her, a learning experience, in my eyes. So whether it comes out to be a perfect result doesn't matter. She'll be around for the next Olympics, God willing."



Go Nagasu !!!!

[Artemis]

I'm holding my breath for Joannie. She's been so focussed in practice, but when she comes onto the ice to skate tonight she's going to be met with an outpouring of emotion from the audience. It takes a very stong person indeed to not be affected by that.

[dbny]

I'm holding my breath for Joannie. She's been so focussed in practice, but when she comes onto the ice to skate tonight she's going to be met with an outpouring of emotion from the audience. It takes a very stong person indeed to not be affected by that.

I'm hoping it affects her in a positive way and that she draws additional strength from it.

[jazzpants]

I just watched her and well... I won't spoil it for those watching on the West Coast who doesn't have a fast enough network to watch it LIVE like I did...

[Schmeck]

Rochette's SP is available (as are some others) on the NBC website this morning.

Man, now I'm going to be going to work with red eyes.

[Isk8NYC]

I'm on my second cup of coffee - I added some chocolate syrup to this one. I'm so tired!

I loved the Turkish skater's dress and program. We had a lovely college senior/coach at our rink who was Turkish.
Absolutely beautiful, on and off the ice.

Rochette skated beautifully. Very moving. I'm glad she rose to the occasion - it's a beautiful tribute to her mother.
Hopefully, she'll do well in the LP as well.

I was watching Rachael Flatt (who I adore) and I think that the observation from yesterday about her having a short neck is correct. She doesn't look like she hunches her shoulders up; maybe the critics mean "forward." That's probably true and I'm sure she'll work on it next season.

I went to a coaches' conference where they talked about which costume styles are better for skaters with various bodytypes. They pointed out that a balletic skater (like Czisny) look beautiful in open-back or seemingly strapless dresses, but not everyone can pull that off. I wonder if a different costume style would help make Rachael's appearance different?

[Isk8NYC]

SP Results / LP Skate Order (Thursday night)

StN. Name Nation Rank Points

Warm-Up Group 1
1 KARADEMIR Tugba TUR 21 50.74
2 LAFUENTE Sonia ESP 22 49.74
3 LIU Yan CHN 19 51.74
4 GLEBOVA Elena EST 20 50.80
5 GIMAZETDINOVA Anastasia UZB 24 49.02
6 HECKEN Sarah GER 23 49.04

Warm-Up Group 2
7 PHANEUF Cynthia CAN 14 57.16
8 KORPI Kiira FIN 17 52.96
9 LEE Cheltzie AUS 18 52.16
10 MEIER Sarah SUI 15 56.70
11 SEBESTYEN Julia HUN 13 57.46
12 KWAK Min-Jung KOR 16 53.16

Warm-Up Group 3
13 LEONOVA Alena RUS 8 62.14
14 SUZUKI Akiko JPN 11 61.02
15 KOSTNER Carolina ITA 7 63.02
16 LEPISTO Laura FIN 10 61.36
17 MAKAROVA Ksenia RUS 12 59.22
18 GEDEVANISHVILI Elene GEO 9 61.92

Warm-Up Group 4
19 FLATT Rachael USA 5 64.64
20 ANDO Miki JPN 4 64.76
21 KIM Yu-Na KOR 1 78.50
22 ASADA Mao JPN 2 73.78
23 ROCHETTE Joannie CAN 3 71.36
24 NAGASU Mirai USA 6 63.76

http://www.isuresults.com/results/owg2010/SEG004.HTM

[MQSeries]

The gap between Yu-Na and Mao's marks should've been much smaller. Both girls are very close in skating qualities. I'm hoping Mao can pull off a clean program in the LP, eventhough she's skating to that bombastic Bell of Moscow music.

[Isk8NYC]

Ladies SP Results / Top Finishers' Video Links (NBC Olympics)


Yu-Na Kim http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=15df53a1-ff1e-44f6-a96b-c49ec9e3cc7e.html#kim+yu+na+leads+after+short
Mao Asada: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=1077f8b5-bd9c-4180-b67a-79aa76dcfe1e.html#ladies+sp+mao+asada
Joannie Rochette http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=c7605327-2d06-47f3-996a-22ae5bc51bbf.html#emotional+rochette+third
Miki Ando: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=1b308030-50ad-43ce-9cfd-5eaf9a6aa181.html#ladies+sp+miki+ando
Rachael Flatt: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=0eebe9d3-9bcf-4377-8f8c-749f7eb64aee.html#ladies+sp+rachael+flatt
Mirai Nagasu: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=aa86a501-a91f-4787-8827-cb82525f8bcf.html#ladies+sp+mirai+nagasu
Carolina Kostner: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=f10f1349-2461-4bfb-af03-f0caaa994617.html#ladies+sp+carolina+kostner
Full Replay here: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=78a53343-ca48-498a-94ef-1c71ae45ac0c.html#ladies+short+program

[Artemis]

The gap between Yu-Na and Mao's marks should've been much smaller. Both girls are very close in skating qualities. I'm hoping Mao can pull off a clean program in the LP, eventhough she's skating to that bombastic Bell of Moscow music.

There's actually a bigger difference in their elements scores than in their components scores. Yu-Na got higher GOE on pretty much all of here elements because of her incredible flow in and out of the jumps. In the components it's only a small difference for each category, but then the 5 categories add up.

[Schmeck]

I was watching Rachael Flatt (who I adore) and I think that the observation from yesterday about her having a short neck is correct. She doesn't look like she hunches her shoulders up; maybe the critics mean "forward." That's probably true and I'm sure she'll work on it next season.

I went to a coaches' conference where they talked about which costume styles are better for skaters with various bodytypes. They pointed out that a balletic skater (like Czisny) look beautiful in open-back or seemingly strapless dresses, but not everyone can pull that off. I wonder if a different costume style would help make Rachael's appearance different?

I tend to think she 'turtles' - but it's hard to describe, as she also tends to skate nose first while she's doing it. And the shoulders come forward, that we agree on! But someone mentioned that she has a bad/injured back - that would explain a lot of the poor posture! Or the poor posture explains the back injury?

She would benefit from a modest v neckline - it would create the illusion of a neck. Definitely nothing cut straight across or boxy.


Hoping to have time to watch more video online today - thanks for the links!

[MQSeries]

Go Mao and Mirai !!!!

[Mel On Ice]

go top 6 - what a fine group of ladies to watch.

[AgnesNitt]

I loved the Turkish skater's dress and program.


Yes, it was charming in a rather old fashioned way--the extended spirals and so on. I liked the use of turkish music . Watching her made me realize what a gap there is between the top 6 and the rest.

[MQSeries]

Mao :( Well, it's great that she got both 3A ratified, but she really needs to put back the 3lutz and 3toe in her program.

Yu-Na, I haven't seen her skate yet, but her scores always seem so high to me. I mean the judges are giving her scores like she's the best thing that has ever happened to women figure skating. I just don't see it.

Mirai in 4th. Great job. Both American teenagers did a good job, finishing in the top 10.

[CreativeSkater]

I was so sad for Mao Asada when she missed her triple toe and then had a little mis-hap on her flip-loop-loop. I was really happy that she got the triple axels though! But she is a perfectionist and could have done better, so she didn't look happy with her performance afterward and it just broke my heart :( I really wanted Mao to win, but who could ever beat the ridiculously high scores of Yuna Kim...her scores keep going up, but really she seems to skate each program just the same quality as the last one... I feel like her popularity is causing people to think more of her, not only based on her skating, but also on how famous she's become. She did do amazing, though. And I was really impressed with Mirai :) Wonderful olympic skating this year!! :) I just wish Mao could have been happier with her performance...she worked so hard :(

[Isk8NYC]

The commentators were SO yappy last night. Scott Hamilton had me really confused with his counting of Mao's triple axels. At some point, he counted a "third triple axel." I said to DH, "I only counted two - what is he babbling about." Hamilton was counting the one from the short program. C'mon - if you have nothing intelligent to say, don't say anything at all. Grrr!

I HATED NBC's coverage, and not just Scott's squealing. I know we all want to watch it live, but I fell asleep watching whatever skiing competition in between the scattered skaters they felt like teasing us with. Right up until Rachael's scores, DH pointed out that NBC told us she was in second, but not WHO was the leader. Duh! It was Lepisto, a skater they missed showing us because we just HAD to see the medals ceremony for Nordic. Awful coverage. It would be better to watch the skating on delay.

Need coffee...much coffee...

Rachael and Mirai skated really well, what a great experience for both of them. I was surprised that Mirai pulled ahead, but Rachael got dinged on her jumps. Fair is fair. I'm sorry we won't get to see Rachael in the Gala, but both ladies did really well for being such young skaters in such a tough competition. They'll continue to develop and come back for a real fight in four years.

Plus, now Rachael has time to work on her posture and flexibility. ;)

Rochette skated her heart out and definitely earned that bronze medal. I'm sure her mother would be proud. They showed a grey-haired man in the audience a few times, but didn't identify him - was that her father? He looked different on Tuesday night. Maybe he had a bit more rest. God bless that whole family - to go from the joy of Joannie's success to the sadness of Mrs. Rochette's funeral is bittersweet.

I don't feel sorry for Mao- she was out of the running a year ago and she WON a silver medal in the Olympics! That's awesome. I know her Japanese Icon status is in jeopardy, but she's young and talented. She can make it to the next Olumpics for another shot.

Yu-Na was totally "on" last night. I can see why people critique her skating as "robotic" though - she doesn't the same audience connection and showmanship of The Kween, Johnny or Bradley. She does the flirty eyes and movements, but it's as if she's doing it in front of a mirror, not a live audience.

Loved, loved, loved the Australian skater, Cheltzie Lee. I didn't realize that she was the beneficiary of Israel's not sending a skater. The kid got the call three weeks ago to "skate up" for the Olympics - her program had to be lengthened and more difficult elements added. Bravo for her rising to the occasion - 20th out of 30 is a proud achievement!

Also loving Tugba Karademir from Turkey. She skated really well, with such joy. Her parents were so cute and proud in the stands. Hope to see her again in competititons.

[kayskate]

I was impressed with Australian Cheltzie Lee. She has very nice technique. I hope she gets the other triples.

Joannie: What can anyone say. She was wonderful. What a beautiful tribute to her mother. She is a class act all the way.

Congrats to Yu-Na. Textbook skating.

Mao: Loved your triple axels. Congrats on the silver. Very exciting to watch.

Rachel Flatt: great performance. Her posture leaves something to be desired. I could not believe she has some assignment for school due tomorrow. How ridiculous! Sorry, folks. I am a firm believer in education, but that assignment can wait until after the Olys. I cannot believe any teacher would impose such a deadline on an Oly athlete. And I doubt the teacher did. Sounds like a little hype from the broadcasting booth to me to reinforce what a great student she is.

Kay

[phoenix]

Re. Scott's talking about the 3 triple axels: he was saying it's the first time a lady did 3 triple axels *in a competition*--she did one in the short and two in the long. That's why he kept saying three.

[Isk8NYC]

Re. Scott's talking about the 3 triple axels: he was saying it's the first time a lady did 3 triple axels *in a competition*--she did one in the short and two in the long. That's why he kept saying three.I figured that out on the second one (by his count, #3!). It was just unnecessary babble on his part that distracted me from actually WATCHING the program. He could have said it at the end of the program while we were waiting for scores instead of interrupting to count. Scott had his squeals in check for the prior events, but started talking over everything during the Ladies. I guess he, like most of us watching, got tired and forget to zip his lip.

On the Today show this morning, Rachael Flatt said that she's staying in for Sochi. I hope she trains well with no injuries and works on the posture/flexibility issues.

[TreSk8sAZ]

I HATED NBC's coverage, and not just Scott's squealing. I know we all want to watch it live, but I fell asleep watching whatever skiing competition in between the scattered skaters they felt like teasing us with. Right up until Rachael's scores, DH pointed out that NBC told us she was in second, but not WHO was the leader. Duh! It was Lepisto, a skater they missed showing us because we just HAD to see the medals ceremony for Nordic. Awful coverage. It would be better to watch the skating on delay.

My time zone gets it on tape delay and they show the skiing and such in between. I get why they do it, because if they didn't in the live time zones, you wouldn't see anything else. But I was completely the same way on Rachael's scores - it took me 5 minutes to figure out who was ahead of her, then I had to jump online to see Lepisto's skate. It is annoying!



Rochette skated her heart out and definitely earned that bronze medal. I'm sure her mother would be proud. They showed a grey-haired man in the audience a few times, but didn't identify him - was that her father? He looked different on Tuesday night. Maybe he had a bit more rest. God bless that whole family - to go from the joy of Joannie's success to the sadness of Mrs. Rochette's funeral is bittersweet.

That's because the man Tuesday night was incorrectly identified as her father (someone official told them it was, then later told them it wasn't). It was actually "a grieving family friend", but they didn't tell you that until Mary Carilo said it in late night. Last night it actually was her father, but they probably didn't want to say anything in case they were wrong again.

[NDsk8]

I HATED NBC's coverage, and not just Scott's squealing. I know we all want to watch it live, but I fell asleep watching whatever skiing competition in between the scattered skaters they felt like teasing us with. Right up until Rachael's scores, DH pointed out that NBC told us she was in second, but not WHO was the leader.

As compared to what? Peggy Fleming's elitism? I don't mind Scott at all, in fact, I think someone got to him and informed him he blabbed too much. He seemed more subdued to me, I could do without the groans when someone finishes a jump tho.


I don't feel sorry for Mao- she was out of the running a year ago and she WON a silver medal in the Olympics! That's awesome. I know her Japanese Icon status is in jeopardy, but she's young and talented. She can make it to the next Olumpics for another shot.

I strongly prefer Mao, she put together an awesome technical program, too bad she baubbled a bit. I think she is a superior skater to Kim YN.

But technical difficulty doesn't seem to score as well as it should, imo. Though it is another discipline, there is no way that the guy who did the "Helicopter" aerial was 2nd to the man who won the gold. Yes, his landing was not as perfect, but they get punished way too much for those imperfections, especially when no one else at all even has the jump in their repertoire at all. In skating, I think that a 2 foot landing should be maybe -½ and under rotated -1, something along those lines.

Don't just take credit away completely when someone goes out and risks the harder jumps. It is heartbreaking for the skater, as well as the fans. We want to see skaters take risks. They should not lose credit for it completely, imo.

But the system is vastly superior to the totally subjective one that preceded it, so I guess we'll have to live with it.

I hope Mao wins worlds and the 2 Americans can climb on the podium.

SD

[znachki]

I HATED NBC's coverage, and not just Scott's squealing. It would be better to watch the skating on delay.

Which of course is how all of us on the West Coast are getting it. If you live in Seattle, you can actually see it twice. Once live in Vancouver, and then after you get home, when the NBC coverage starts!

I found a link to a streaming video Eurosport feed in the middle of the comp - which I was "watching" via a live blog. Made me very happy - wish I had known about it earlier.

Plus, now Rachael has time to work on her posture and flexibility. ;)

Just what I thought!

They showed a grey-haired man in the audience a few times, but didn't identify him - was that her father? He looked different on Tuesday night.

From what I understand, NBC misidentified the man they showed on Tuseday as her father - it was her uncle, so that probaby was her father last night.

[Isk8NYC]

As compared to what? Peggy Fleming's elitism? I don't mind Scott at all, in fact, I think someone got to him and informed him he blabbed too much. He seemed more subdued to me, I could do without the groans when someone finishes a jump tho.
I'm an equal-opportunity hater: I prefer to watch without any announcers during the skating. As I said, Scott was fine for the first few events, but much more vocal and squeeeing last night.

I watched a YouTube video of skating the other day. It was originally from a Russian TV site. The announcers only spoke before and after the skating. I was in hog heaven.

[RachelSk8er]

Rachel Flatt: great performance. Her posture leaves something to be desired. I could not believe she has some assignment for school due tomorrow. How ridiculous! Sorry, folks. I am a firm believer in education, but that assignment can wait until after the Olys. I cannot believe any teacher would impose such a deadline on an Oly athlete. And I doubt the teacher did. Sounds like a little hype from the broadcasting booth to me to reinforce what a great student she is.

Kay

I'm sure she could have gotten an extension, it's just high school. I think the doing homework thing was just part of who she is, and she'd be doing it whether or not she had an assignment due. She comes from an extremely educated family and she's the definition of disciplined. (My boyfriend used that as an opportunity to make fun of me, because that totally would have been me doing homework at the Olympics.)

I wish Miki Ando would look like she actually wants to be there and enjoys what she's doing. Makes me wonder if she really wants to skate. She's so good but she just goes through the motions.

The ladies events were incredible, for just about every skater in the top 7 to put out personal best scores and clean skates. I was almost expecting a splatfest after the short being so clean.

[Isk8NYC]

Maybe Rachael uses schoolwork to cope with skating stress, and skating to cope with school stress? Things that make me go hmmmm....

The paper would have taken her mind off of the LP that night.

She's definitely an achiever.

[MQSeries]

I strongly prefer Mao, she put together an awesome technical program, too bad she baubbled a bit. I think she is a superior skater to Kim YN.


I generally prefer watching Mao skate also, but Bell Of Moscow was such a bad choice for her. The music is so bombastic and headache-inducing that there's no way I can sit through multiple viewing of Mao's LP. She really should work on putting back the 3lutz and 3sal in her programs if she plans to continue competing. Two 3A and two 3F feel like too much of the same thing.

Kim's 3ltz and 3f are really some of the most beautiful triples ever done by a lady. The delay in them is gorgeous. The other parts of her skating, however, is only good for me. They're good, but not so exceptional that would explain the gigantic scores she keeps getting from the judges. He overall LP last night was not memorable. The flirtateous moves choreographed in the program were not done with any conviction, IMO. At any rate, she seems unbeatable as long as she doesn't fall. She can theoritically win every Worlds from now until 2014 and then win a 2nd gold at Sochi.

[Artemis]

I too wish Mao had chosen different music. Heck, I wish Mao had chosen a different coach. I don't think TT and the Russian style is a good fit for her. Not sure who I'd suggest though.

BTW, here's Kristi Yamaguchi's review of the event:

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/2010wintergames/Yamaguchi+lauds+Rochette+courage+talent/2616663/story.html

[kayskate]

I watched a YouTube video of skating the other day. It was originally from a Russian TV site. The announcers only spoke before and after the skating. I was in hog heaven.

Will you post a link? I have searched and cannot find it.
Also, I am unable to make the video at the NBC site work. I download the software then cannot access the part where I have to verify cable service. Any hints?

Kay

[RachelSk8er]

Maybe Rachael uses schoolwork to cope with skating stress, and skating to cope with school stress? Things that make me go hmmmm....

I wouldn't be surprised. (This coming from the nerd who always has her nose buried in law books at competitions...:lol:)

The flirtateous moves choreographed in the program were not done with any conviction, IMO. At any rate, she seems unbeatable as long as she doesn't fall. She can theoritically win every Worlds from now until 2014 and then win a 2nd gold at Sochi.

Her jumps are gorgeous and she's got speed like no other. I'd really love to see her work out some of the awkwardness to her skating, like the flexed feet I notice quite often, the horrid catch foot spiral position, some of her arm movements, etc. (Things like that do make me wonder why her scores were so ridiculously high...she deserved to win, but by that much?) I don't mind the dorky attempts at flirtatiousness as much as the flexed feet. I don't think they were without conviction, I just think she doesn't know how to really be flirtatious so she looked kind of shy doing them.

[Skittl1321]

The announcers said Rachel didn't ask for an extension, not that she wasn't given one.

I cannot imagine any teacher anywhere not allowing an extension for "but I have to compete in the Olympics"


Of course, she'd still have to do schoolwork the whole time she was gone, catching up 2 weeks of the kind of courses she takes is almost impossible.

[Schmeck]

Finally got to see the ladies free online today - Flatt's 3flip and 3lutz look the same to me - expected to see them marked down for entry edge, not under-rotation.

Nagasu had such joy on the ice - but she seems like a very young 16 year old.

Asada's 3axels were amazing to see, as were Kim's triple/triple.

Rochette had the most grace and poise and skating "oomph" though - I bet the spectators in the last rows could feel her emotions.

[sk8ergalgal]

The announcers said Rachel didn't ask for an extension, not that she wasn't given one.

I cannot imagine any teacher anywhere not allowing an extension for "but I have to compete in the Olympics"


Of course, she'd still have to do schoolwork the whole time she was gone, catching up 2 weeks of the kind of courses she takes is almost impossible.

Rachael didn't miss two weeks of school because of the Olympics. She went to the opening ceremonies, flew back to Colorado on the Monday Feb 15th. Went to school on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then flew back to Vancouver on the Friday before her competition.. Read this in an article somewhere..

[let`s talk]

Yu-Na, I haven't seen her skate yet, but her scores always seem so high to me. I mean the judges are giving her scores like she's the best thing that has ever happened to women figure skating. I just don't see it.


Me neither. Have no idea why judges give her so big GOE. Moreover, when she cheats on jumps, she is free to go.

[Schmeck]

Well, you could go to the ISU website, search for the IJS rulebook and read it. Kim must meet many of the criteria for proper jumping (height of jump, distance covered while in the air, she even has some 'hang time' in there) to get high GOE.

[NDsk8]

I generally prefer watching Mao skate also, but Bell Of Moscow was such a bad choice for her. The music is so bombastic and headache-inducing that there's no way I can sit through multiple viewing of Mao's LP. She really should work on putting back the 3lutz and 3sal in her programs if she plans to continue competing. Two 3A and two 3F feel like too much of the same thing.

I agree, that music is so heavy, you feel like you should be watching military tanks instead of a dainty lady skater.

I too wonder what in the world the judges are seeing that makes them go crazy marking Kim so high. Agreed, she should have won the Olympic gold, but if all you saw were scores, you wouldn't even think it had been close.

[rlichtefeld]

Will you post a link? I have searched and cannot find it.
Also, I am unable to make the video at the NBC site work. I download the software then cannot access the part where I have to verify cable service. Any hints?

Kay

I can only get the NBC videos to work with Internet Explorer. Even though my FireFox has the Silverlight extensions, they will only play with IE.

Rob

[colleen10]

Me neither. Have no idea why judges give her so big GOE. Moreover, when she cheats on jumps, she is free to go.

She cheats on jumps??? WTF?? :roll:

Sorry, can you explain it? :roll: Her jumps are gorgeous to watch. Not to mention her speed. You should go and watch her skate LIVE. You can see the difference rather than ******** about it.

[colleen10]

As compared to what? Peggy Fleming's elitism? I don't mind Scott at all, in fact, I think someone got to him and informed him he blabbed too much. He seemed more subdued to me, I could do without the groans when someone finishes a jump tho.



I strongly prefer Mao, she put together an awesome technical program, too bad she baubbled a bit. I think she is a superior skater to Kim YN.

But technical difficulty doesn't seem to score as well as it should, imo. Though it is another discipline, there is no way that the guy who did the "Helicopter" aerial was 2nd to the man who won the gold. Yes, his landing was not as perfect, but they get punished way too much for those imperfections, especially when no one else at all even has the jump in their repertoire at all. In skating, I think that a 2 foot landing should be maybe -½ and under rotated -1, something along those lines.

Don't just take credit away completely when someone goes out and risks the harder jumps. It is heartbreaking for the skater, as well as the fans. We want to see skaters take risks. They should not lose credit for it completely, imo.

But the system is vastly superior to the totally subjective one that preceded it, so I guess we'll have to live with it.

I hope Mao wins worlds and the 2 Americans can climb on the podium.

SD

Mao was better 2 years ago. But Yuna worked her way to the top.

It's funny how people say that Yuna's LP was nothing and there wasn't any technical difficulty. One of the British commentators mentioned how Yuna was soooo effortless/flawless on her free skate and then said the Flatt was trying to put an effort and you can see the difference.

You just can't judge someone based on 1 jump! Mao made 2 crucial mistakes. She even said that on her interview, accepted the fact that Yuna is better technically because she had to put more emphasis on other jumps than the triple axle.

[let`s talk]

She cheats on jumps??? WTF?? :roll:

Sorry, can you explain it? :roll: Her jumps are gorgeous to watch. Not to mention her speed. You should go and watch her skate LIVE. You can see the difference rather than ******** about it.

She is pretty popular on youtube with this stuff.

[Schmeck]

Oh yes, and you believe everything posted on youtube????

[let`s talk]

Oh yes, and you believe everything posted on youtube????

No, I don't. But when somebody has been so popular for years with the same problem, I don't think it is just a coincidence. Who knows.

[colleen10]

No, I don't. But when somebody has been so popular for years with the same problem, I don't think it is just a coincidence. Who knows.

Same problem? You can't even give some legit proof. You're calling someone a cheater, and yet you're clueless about her jumps and figure skating in general. :lol: Yuna worked her way to the top.

Typical crab mentality. Enjoy some crying. :lol:

[let`s talk]

Same problem? You can't even give some legit proof. You're calling someone a cheater, and yet you're clueless about her jumps and figure skating in general. :lol: Yuna worked her way to the top.

Typical crab mentality. Enjoy some crying. :lol:

Nobody said that she was worse than other skaters in Vacouver. But during her career she did have underrotated jumps that were not downgraded.

[colleen10]

Nobody said that she was worse than other skaters in Vacouver. But during her career she did have underrotated jumps that were not downgraded.

My problem is that, you call her a cheater because of her jumps, which is unfair and unfounded. Yuna is always known for her speed, and the quality of her jumps. She worked hard to achieve that. And then here you are, and other bitter fans of Mao accusing Yuna for cheating. Sounds like sour graping to me.

And by the way none of Mao's jumps that she currently does even when fully rotated have "that" look. The "3 axel" is a coup d'oeil...please slow mo it over and over again....it looks nothing like a properly completed 3 axel like a Midori, Harding (when she hit it), Boitano etc. The take off edge is in question....the deep squat with her buttom slumped as far back as it can go to pre-load the jump so to speak does not make for a beautiful jump nor does it make for a jump that should garner any GOE yet alone be given full credit for a proper technically completed 3 axel. And yet no one even accusing Mao for CHEATING.

[let`s talk]

And yet no one even accusing Mao for CHEATING.

Because when she underrotated her 3axel, it was downgraded.

[colleen10]

Because when she underrotated her 3axel, it was downgraded.


And that's Yuna's fault becauseeeeee???? :roll: You should blame the judges. You shouldn't accused anyone of cheating. :roll:

As if you know what underrorated means anyway. :lol:

[let`s talk]

You should blame the judges.

Couldn't agree more.

[Isk8NYC]

I think we're done here.