The Men’s competition was shown live in NBC broadcast on Sunday evening.
…..
And it started from Johnny’s Free skate , and seeing his face right before he skated , I immediately felt , oh, no ! he is not on, no fire that was usually there before he skate in the past, and it’s not coming from only the nerve, but physically , something wrong with him. He looked so thin and not healthy.
I often saw his tiger fire eyes in the past, and I was hoping he gets those eyes again.
Looked like he was putting on fake tan to cover his face color, but even with it, it was clear to see he was not healthy enough.
I also felt that when I saw the photo of his Short Program in his fan’s message board.
But I tried to think he was just disappointed for his mistakes, and wanted to think he is okay.
When the Free skate started, Ray immediately went to the kitchen from the TV after set up to record it, and I went away to my office, but we could hear what
commentators were saying for his performance .
We just could not watch and handle our nerve to watch Johnny’s live skating then.
But since I heard that his first jumps became single axel,
I felt like
“ what !!! “
and rushed to the TV, but could not calmly watch sitting at the couch , so I was kept shouting “ Go Johnny, Go Go Go !! “
But Johnny’s fire passion didn’t appear.
After hearing the 1A , he did 3A+2T, it was beautiful, 2A ( I believe this was planned 2A ) then 3 loop became 2 loop, and fell on his final triple jump, but he did three combination jumps including 3+3+2. ( first time ?) and his artistry was beautiful and elegant as usual.
To me, it’s not about choreography and transition what he did, but HOW he moved.
I really dislike too much COP friendly structure program like Jeremy Abbot, Patrick Chan and Evan Lysacek are doing.
Johnny made three mistakes. And major mistake was his 3A which is usually his signature jump, and fell on 3F.
I was getting really heartbroken seeing his painful skating. This sad music might be influenced my feeling even more.
His health condition was even worse than I thought.
But I could see he tried his best he could and fought through it.
Scott Hamilton or Sandra were saying that Johnny’s coach Galina was trying to help his recover from his illness and build up his strength , but it was not enough time for full recovery by then.
Before the event, I was a little bit worried about his health condition after reading one of his interviews, but tried to remove all the negative thought. Also he lost 8 lb one day. He had to alter his costume for it.
He said that “ his condition is not the best , but not the worst “. at this time he might already know that he was not sure whether his body can handle it or not but wanted to try his best.
I was very heartbroken and when I went to bed on Sunday night , it was getting worse, I got stomachaches whole night and had sleepless night.
In the Kiss & Cry, Galina was holding his hand tightly Johnny almost cry. It’s nice to see Galina’s warm support for him when he was depressed.
I suppose his stomach virus he got during the Korean Christmas show trip must have been really bad.
I have never experienced that illness, so I can not imagine how his situation was, but I’ve heard that viral infection usually takes at least 2 weeks to full recover.
Besides, with Johnny’s tough schedule during GPS plus having flu, jet lag, it can take longer than that.
Lost 8 lb , non full recovery from the illness , not enough time for training, with this tough condition, I really think he did great.
He should compliment what he did himself.
I suppose not many people can handle this situation. People are often insensitive for other people’s health conditions and making their scenario from their imagination in wrong way.
Only Johnny knows the fact, how his condition was.
While I was watching it several times, in different ways, I thought it was not so bad performance.
While watching the live, I was more pay attention for his jumps and mistakes. But his major mistakes were only two.
3A and 3F. 3 loop became 2 loop is not so big deal.
He did combination jumps three times. 3A+2T, 3+3+2 and 3+2.
His quality elegant, graceful movements were there as usual.
Also, his thinner body made more look effortless, light, delicate movements.
I like it.
While many other men’s skaters are doing aggressive skating, this performance looked somehow more unique.
Actually Jeremy Abbot also made some mistakes, a triple jump became single ( but not 3A), and also hand down on one of combo jumps, and one unstable landing, straight line step sequence was little slower than he did at GPF and it was not clean.
Evan Lysacek also fell on UR quad and made some mistakes, Brandon made minor mistakes.
So no one actually skated clean in this event for both programs.
Even though Brandon is not my taste of skater, he skated the best in FP IMO.
Johnny’s score ? I don’t think he was gifted any elements and also PCS.
Just surprised to see his straight line step sequence received level 1. And level 2 in his SP. Maybe it was more simple and not much power than he did in NHK, GPF ?
Even Daisuke Takahashi’s swan lake have received level 1 for it in Skate America 2007, so even small part of steps may be influenced from the level.
But what I could see is that Jeremy Abbot got the most advantage for this event, because of his record for this season. GPF title was big.
Honestly, I thought his score was way too high. Highest SP scores ever in Nationals ?
And his PCS 80 in his FP showed the most. PCS is actually very subjective.
I was already guessing that this event will be Jeremy’s win, they will try to push him to win unless he completely lose balance and fell on jumps many times. but was trying to avoid to think about that before the event.
His programs are COP friendly structure.
It’s very smart. To win, skaters may need to make that kind of structure. I didn’t like his movements especially in transition part, he is constantly moving and he sometimes lost music balance , legs and arms during the time, so it looks unpolished, and also unnatural.
But judges are not looking at those parts which I really care. His movements improved a lot though, some parts are good.
Brandon was good, but also not so a quality skater.
Ray was saying that he looks like he is trying to be like Lambiel ??
He is still young, so he may improve a lot in the future. But not quite yet. Not so original and his movements are also unnatural, just doing many choreography with busy movements.
He has speed, power. And landed single quad. One minor mistake, but almost clean. Good job.
Evan Lysacek, I was wondering his 3A in his SP was full rotated ??
It was counted as full. But …. Who knows. He looked fine in his SP, but in his FP, his whole body looked so stiff and not so much energy in his straight line step sequence.
Looked nervous, and made a couple of mistakes.
Thank you Evan for changing the costume away from penguin tuxedo.
Right now, I’m very sensitive for every words about Johnny. So I don’t read any of media articles ( except for positive article about Johnny ), and also skating forums where there are variety fans for many skaters.
Being a huge fan of someone is sometimes so tough and stressful when the person is having problem and feel like one of my family.
Why am I so sensitive about Johnny ? But not for any other skaters ?
I have no idea why.
I do have bias for Johnny, and my feeling is out of control whether I shows it or
not.
Maybe that the proof of love.
USFSA selected world team for Jeremy, Brandon and Evan because they were on the podium this season.
Since I don’t watch skating by skater’s nationalities, I don’t care for country, team USA, Team Japan, Team Canada…
It’s my free time, I don’t think there are any rule for my free time, and I don’t make any rule by myself.
And if Johnny won’t be there, then it means I have no reason to watch.
I just want to watch Johnny and his skating ! Nothing against Jeremy, Brandon and Evan. It’s just they are not Johnny. There is no replacement for Johnny to me.
But without Johnny, then maybe I will root for Brian Joubert. My second interest Lambiel is not there, Daisuke is not there, so Not so passionate for this competition but I think Joubert is higher quality skater in those contenders.
1. Joubert
2. Oda
3. Chan
I will surely miss Johnny so much if I watch it, and every time Jeremy or Evan or Brandon get on the ice, I will even more miss Johnny.. so I may not watch it.
I'm already guessing that One of American skaters will be on the podium becasue of the Location, LA,USA.
and it's Evan's hometown. He may get nervous though surely will ge advantage.
What I care is all about anything related to Johnny. How many spot American team will get for next Worlds and Olympics is important.
He must be disappointed for the result, and for could not make the world team.
What’s the best way to solve his health issue ?
Right now, of course he just needs rest.
He won two silver medals at GPS events and bronze medal in GPF this season. Also he was the only US medallist last Worlds and made a big help to get three American spot for this worlds.
Then he can not go to Worlds this season because he was not healthy enough, was not train enough and skated poorly in National’s one event ?
This is so sad.
I’m trying to move on my feeling, but my heart is still up and down, sometimes.
I’m usually fast to move on if the issue is for only myself , but this is not about myself and until knowing Johnny feels better and fine, this feeling may be continue.
Johnny has experienced tough situations many times in his life, so I’m sure he will handle it again, he is a strong person.
But realistically, when I imagine about his next season, his income for next season, financial support from USFSA,
He can afford for all the figure skating fee such as coaching fee, including choreographer, costumes, etc..?
Since no medal at this Nationals, and not going to worlds, I suppose it may be influenced a lot.
Many people expecting him to change his Choreographer next season, but I guess there is a reason why he chose Nina as choreographer this season.
It would be interesting if he would work with Platov as his choreographer again.
Johnny’s Otonal and Rondo were choreographed by combination of Tarasova and Platov’s , plus Johnny.
I also wonder that Shanette Folee who also worked with them for Johnny’s the swan.
Tarasova ‘s choreography for couple of seasons including her recent work were not so impressive , but Platov alone’s choreography was.
Hope everything will be okay for Johnny very soon.
Very nice article about Johnny here,
Johnny related article.