If you were judging, how would you have placed the skaters last year for each discipline?
Ladies:
Gold -
Silver -
Bronze -
4th -
5th -
Men:
Gold -
Silver -
Bronze -
4th -
5th -
Pairs:
Gold -
Silver -
Bronze -
4th -
5th -
Ice Dancing:
Gold -
Silver -
Bronze -
4th -
5th -
- - -
Not because I speak with an accent,
doesn't mean I think with an accent.
~ A Walk In the Clouds
Well, first of all, I'd say that there were many impressive and creative programs at Turin/Torino, and secondly that I cannot believe than nearly an entire year has gone by since.
Thirdly, I wish that there were a way to appreciate the many great contributions of figure skaters without the constant and inevitable judgment for each and every motion. Skaters inspire us as much as they entertain us.
Fourthly, many gentlemen do not relate well to female soloists and remember those "media darlings" of whom much is made in replays and promotions. Hence, I shall have to pass on this category except to comment that the young lady from Japan deserves her recognition, as well as the numerous others.
Pairs and Ice Dancing, I tend to combine in reflection. Maybe next time around, I shall have to differentiate between events a little more readily. Combining these, I think that the three teams from China did remarkably well and also the Russian team which placed at Gold, the Canadian/American pair, and the Bulgarian set with the same hairstyle.
Who could forget Italy's Maurizio Margaglio and his malady with his partner or Canada's Patrice Lauzon and his partner's unfortuate accident? There were, of course, many mishaps during the XX Olympics, unfortunately. I wish that we would have seen more of these and, even more so, a second chance to be afforded them.
Male figure skaters would also face tough competition. I tend to relate well to many of them except maybe Johnny Weir and, subsequently, remember them well, even Johnny Weir.
I believe that a year ago, on this board's Figure Skating poll, I felt particularly impressed with the deliveries of Stephane Lambiel, Jeffrey Buttle and Brian Joubert, so I shall have to go with them again this time around, as well as Evan Lysacek and Matt Savoie.
How about giving them all a nice round of applause: Stephane Lambiel, Jeffrey Buttle, Brian Joubert, Evan Lysacek, Matt Savoie and everyone else whom we recall for their outstanding programs?
What can I say, I'm too positive a person to quabble over such fantastic results! So I'm not going to bother commenting on who should have placed where. As far as I'm concerned the only questionable placement was Zhang & Zhang. As much as I admire their performance, and her courage and strength and determination... that wasn't a quad, it was a triple, and should have been given the points worthy of a triple.
I was so sad for Xue and Hongbo, but at least they got there, that's all that matters. And I am overjoyed that they are kicking butt this season and are well on their way to winning that long-awaited third World Championship!!!!!
I wish Lambiel had better luck this year!!! Is he going to Worlds? I didn't see him placed at Europeans, that breaks my heart because he was so talented. Joubert is FINALLY starting to impress me, but that's probably because of Kurt's choreography. His free skate this year is awesome. Short program... *cringe*
No matter how well Evan skated at Nationals I STILL don't like his skating... I gotta admire his persona though, and I respect what he does on the ice. He FINALLY has that quad! I'm SO proud of him for that, at least the US has ONE guy who can do one. Johnny... Johnny, Johnny, Johnny. This coming from one of his Angels. Simply put, I don't like his "new image" this year at least with regards to his free skate. I miss the elegance of Otonal.
I can't wait for Plushenko's return next year. He earned some much-needed R&R, even though he didn't get much of it anyway haha. He brings such exhuberence and excitement to skating. I had waited for that Olympic LP for 4 years. I wish he had skated with the power and intensity that he showed later in the exhibition, the Plushenko I was used to seeing, the Plushenko I had loved for almost 10 years, had disappeared. But upon learning about his mother's condition that night, I was able to excuse the lack of intensity.
I was very sad for Irina. I hope that she will come back next year. But I'm still glad that Sasha crumbled under pressure like she always did. It's so refreshing NOT to see another fluke. It would have been really annoying if Sasha had the "skate of her life" at that competition, and nowhere else. And to go to Shizuka! It was like 2004 Worlds all over again, I was ecstatic!
Ice dance... I wasn't really interested, sadly. I haven't been interested since Anissina & Peizerat left. *cry* But I have to say this year is VERY nice! I look forward to seeing how Dobreil/Lauzan's At Last and Belbin & Agosto's Amelie stand up to Denkova & Stavisky's 7 Deadly Sins and Gregory & Petukhov's Adam & Eve. Not to mention the other D & S.
You know I think I will use those blank placements, and predict the World Championships in a few weeks!
Ladies:
Gold: Mao Asada OR Yu Na Kim
Silver: Mao Asada OR Yu Na Kim (whoever gets gold, the other will most likely get silver)
Bronze: Fumie Suguri
4th: Miki Ando
5th: I'll go out on a limb and say Joannie Rochette
Men:
Gold: Brian Joubert
Silver: Jeff Buttle
Bronze: Evan Lysacek (once again)
4th: Nobinari Oda
5th: Daishke Takahashi
Pairs:
Gold: SHEN & ZHAO!
Silver: Pang & Tong
Bronze: Zhang & Zhang
4th: Petrova & Tikhonov
5th: Inoue & Baldwin
Dance:
Gold: Denkova & Stavisky
Silver: Belbin & Agosto
Bronze: Gregory & Petukhov
4th: Dobreil & Lauzan
5th: D & S (the other one, the names are hard to remember at this moment lol)
DeVito Park: Writing RPG
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I wish I knew how to quit you!
If I had been making preditions a few months ago, I would have put Yu-na at the top of the podium. However, her back injury looks so serious that I wouldn't be surprised if she withdrew(I really hope this doesn't happen,she's my favorite skater now). Even if she stays in the competition, she's not in top form.
Don't count out Kimmie. She may have arms issues and a few so-so performances this season but she is definately capable of a 130+ performance.
I'm surprised not to see Savchenko and Szolkowy on your list, they have been terrific this season. Delobel and Shoenfelder too.
Delobel & Shoenfelder!!! THAT'S the other team I was talking about! *grin* Thanks for reminding me. I forgot all about S&S haha.
Yeah, I forgot about YuNa's back injury.
Kimmie's 3-3s are impressive, I wouldn't be surprised if she pulls out all the stops for this year's competition.
DeVito Park: Writing RPG
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I wish I knew how to quit you!