Skip to main content

My review - Men’s skating events at Vancouver Olympics


I felt complicated for the result of men‘s skating competition and we both could not sleep well that night.


The actual result was 

1. Evan Lysacek SP: 90.30, FP:167.37 Total : 257.67
2. Evgeny Plushenko SP: 90.85, FP: 165.51, Total : 256.36
3. Daisuke Takahashi SP: 90.25, FP: 156.98, Total : 247.23
4. Stephane Lambiel SP: 84.63, FP: 162.09, Total : 246.72
5. Patrick Chan SP: 81.12, FP: 160.30, Total : 241.42
6. Johnny Weir SP: 82.10, FP: 156.77, Total : 238.877. Nobunari Oda SP: 84.85, FP: 153.69, Total : 238.54
8. Takahiko Kozuka SP: 79.59, FP: 151.60, Total : 231.19
9. Jeremy Abbott SP: 69.40, FP: 149.56, Total : 218.96
10. Michal Brezina SP: 78.80, FP: 137.93, Total : 216.73
11. Denis Ten SP: 76.24, FP: 135.01, Total : 211.25
12. Florent Amodio SP: 75.35, FP:134.95, Total : 210.30
13. Artem Borodulin SP: 72.24, FP: 137.92, Total : 210.16
14. Javier Fernandez SP: 68.69, FP: 137.99, Total : 206.68
15. Adrian Schultheiss SP: 63.13, FP: 137.31, Total : 200.44
16. Brian Joubert SP: 68.00, FP: 132.22, Total : 200.22
17. Kevin van der Perren SP: 72.90, FP: 116.94, Total : 189.84
18. Samuel Contesti SP: 70.60, FP:116.90, Total : 187.50
19. Tomas Verner SP: 65.32, FP: 119.42, Total : 184.74
20. Paolo Bacchini SP: 64.42, FP: 112.79, Total: 177.21
　

And 


My favorite performances　
1. Johnny Weir ( both SP & FP)
2. Daisuke Takahashi ( both SP & FP)

 
Johnny Weir

I do have bias for Johnny since he is my favorite skater, but seeing many reviews, I found so many people felt similar to me and my husband Ray.

I thought Johnny did his best of both programs this season. His SP was fun with all well-balanced beautiful movements, every detail beautifully. 

I loved his new expression he did during straight line step sequence, doing something funny. Every time he performs, he always does different expression, maybe depending on his feeling. 

He skated clean, but got deduction from his triple flip jump as wrong edge. But -2 is harsh. Performance was powerful and expressive. I really loved it very much.

 For his FP, this was breathtaking performance. It touched my heart and made me cry. 

So beautiful.

 I was not so crazy for the music and the choreography itself until Nationals, but this performance was different. 

With his performance and creativity, this music became really impressive and I saw his own world, it was very imaginative and emotional. 

He was truly feeling with the music and became fallen angel, it really touched my heart.

Johnny’s jumps including three combination jumps were all well-done and flawless. 

Only at one of his spins , he lost balance but it didn’t ruin the performance. It was true art and pure beauty on ice. It had power and drama besides beauty.

I was really glad he showed us such a wonderful performance in the biggest event, Olympics, handled his pressure and nerve from many things. I don’t agree with his placement he received. But it’s out of control.

 I know it’s a sport, but I think I’m free to watch figure skating in my own view. If figure skating is only sport, they don’t need to have component scores. 

And I love skaters who care for artistry, not only scoring points and see it as only sport.

　
Daisuke Takahashi was also great. 

Both of his programs were fun and entertaining. Even though his SP was not speedy as he was at GPF, I liked his movements for this more than he did at GPF. 

For his Free program, he made some mistakes , fell in quad and error from his triple jump, and his spins were not balanced, but performance execution was really fun, expressive, and was very musical with his awesome footwork.


Evan Lysacek ’s SP was great, especially his jumps. 

It was all smooth with good landing. I thought he did his best in this season. But that scores he received was too high. His PCS also no higher than 39 with those performance. ( My impression ) 

However his FP was not so impressive to me. I didn’t see any artistry in his FP rather than just all wild arm flailing, nothing memorable except twizzle and no impressive expression, movements. Because I didn’t think he was feeling with music. 

His SP was better for his movements and also all the other elements as well. 


Evgeny Plushenko’s SP was kind of boring, because nothing special, rather than just doing his job. 

The commentator said he landed clean for all the jumps including his quad combination 4+3, but I thought his landing was not smooth.

However, I liked his FP. Because it was fun and there was a story with interesting choreography and fun. 

Also his movements and expression were good with some humor. 

His jumps were not really well-balanced air position even though he landed all of them. 

Actually I thought it was amazing how he could land from such a unbalanced air positions. 

Scott Hamilton was saying that this guy is a cat. I agree with that. He always lands no matter the air position.

Ray was saying that he noticed that unlike many other skaters, when Plushenko is doing jumps, he seems to know when to land, and he controls his jump.

While many other skaters looks like once they took off, it’s out of their hands, and up to the skating gods, it’s out of control.

I’m not a skater, so I have no idea, how he could control but I’m sure it’s not easy, because if it were, many skaters would be doing it.

I thought Plushy deserved to win with those jumps structure and how he performed.

I’m not a quad fan but he skated clean both programs with the most difficult jump, not only depending on the quad. His 4+3 at FP was great, it was very powerful. His 3A looked unbalanced landing but it was not stepped out. 

Evan’s one of his triple jumps was also unbalanced, also one of his triple axel jumps looked underrotated to me. Both of them had power and energy for their footwork. Spins were Evan was better even though it doesn’t look artistic. 

Artistically, I thought Plushenko’s performance was more fun and his movements with the choreography was more interesting plus his expression was better while Lysacek was just arm flailing his long arms wildly and maturing with his twizzle. 

I didn’t see any art in his program. 

Lysacek may be performing based on the point of judging system, and my impression of this judging system COP, if you move your body and arms wildly constantly, with speed and power, you can get high component scores.

When Evan found out that he won, he even said “ no way” with laugh when he saw Plushy’s scores were below him. 

For credit to Evan, he did handle well such a big pressure mentally, especially after SP, when he placed 2nd after Plushenko with almost same scores, and everyone in the USA started expecting him to win. 

He was strong. In Nationals event , he often looked extremely nervous and looked stiff for his movements but in big events he often looked more strong.

But for mental toughness, Plushenko is the king of mental toughness, always impressed me. 

And this time is no difference. I read from someone who was at the arena, they said that most of the audience at the arena were hating him, and staring at him, besides his country pressure, comeback skater but he skated clean, and landed everything, both programs. 

It’s very respectful. Not so many people can handle the situation. And doing clean program with quad combination jumps. I know many people don’t like him. 

But I like him. I like his personality more than Evan Lysacek who doesn’t look real to himself. 

Johnny was saying about Plushenko that many people consider him arrogant and jerk , but in backstage, he is always friendly and nice to him.

I guess Plushenko is not a superficial person, and may not be friendly to everyone but for people who he loves he is loyal and nice. 

Johnny was very strong mentally as well in this biggest event. He had received many threats and death threats from animal protestors for his costume he was wearing at Nationals, and he must have fear from it during Olympics besides his haters even though he is also loved by so many people world wide. 

I suppose he may be the most popular skater in the world. He doesn’t have big title like Plushenko, Yagudin, Lambiel, Joubert, Lysacek, so just like me, there are many people who were attracted by his skating, and his unique sweet personality besides his beautiful looking. 


But I’m very happy Johnny nailed both programs at Olympics safely. Yes, in such a biggest event, handling his pressure and nerves from many things.
As for performances, in my mind, Johnny was the most memorable and heartfelt in this competition.

 For other skaters, I was also impressed with Florent Amodio (from France) ‘s skating. Even though he is not polished yet, he has his original unique style and has full of potential in the future. 

Ray was saying Michal Brezina is dangerous as a contender. Not so crazy for his skating though he is also one of COP skaters similar to Takahiko Kozuka.
I have a good impression with Kozuka as a person. I’m not a fan of his skating but his respectful attitude to other skaters and his honest personality by himself. He skate his own way, not trying to be an artist. His skating fits him.


Stephane Lambiel

I usually loved Lambiel’s artistic skating in the past. However, his programs and the performances for this was not really inspired. Nothing outstanding. He has great moves which are well-balanced and natural, and he is one of the skaters I think as an artist. 

However, I felt Lambiel was kind of boring for this program, besides some wonkey landings on his quads and triple jump. I thought his headless spins were faster in the past. And his spins were much more artistic and attractive in the past. I loved some of his past programs but not so much now. 


Patrick Chan
 
I have no word for Patrick’s high scores with those performances ( both his SP & FP? ). Many mistakes, but still received such high scores ? 

I don’t see any art from his skating at all, rather than mechanical moves which are unbalanced without real emotion and natural expression. 

It’s all calculation moves. He is a hometown hero, so I was already guessing he will of course get great gift scores from judges. He has been appealing his transition and criticizing Plushenko and Brian Joubert , even Yagudin who all have quad jumps.

How he could be considered that he skated better than Johnny Weir who skated clean with full content besides the artistry ??

　
Brian Joubert

Oh, boy.. I felt very bad for him not skating well at Olympics again. It sounded like coming from mentally. 

I don’t know what has been going on with his personal life, but he also has been working hard, fight through his injury for the Olympics. And he was one of the skaters who everyone thought will be on the podium. 

From his outspokenness, I know he might have bad image in Canada since 2008 Worlds, when he criticized about quad less world champion. I’ve heard that one of the judges gave him -4 deduction for one of his mistakes. 

It’s kind of similar to Johnny received -2 deduction for his wrong edge and it actually sounds worse than Johnny’s case. Was that the judge’s bias, and did it on purpose ?? 
Who knows ?

I feel if Johnny retired now, I’m okay. This under COP plus political connection for the judges, plus judges personal bias, Figure skating now is all about calculation math, so cold. 

It doesn’t matter you skated clean or not, but all about points. 

Johnny also looked more happy to perform in ice shows where he can truly express himself without worry about points and strict mathematical rules which also often changes.
I sometimes thought they make those rules based on which country’s skater they want to promote.
　
I’m getting tired of them always underscoring him and seeing the threads Johnny was robbed everywhere. 

They should judge fairly and then people would not react and be upset that way. 

As a Johnny fan, it hurts because I felt he was underscored even though he said he was satisfied.

In the interview, he was saying that he did his programs for his fans. 

Seeing his reaction at K&C, I could see scores are not important for him anymore but how he performed made him satisfaction. 

Overall, my impression for this competition,

1. Evgeny Plushenko
2. Johnny Weir
3. Daisuke Takahashi / Evan Lysacek

Johnny did awesome job at Olympics ! In my mind he is a legend forever !
　
　
　
　
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Who was The Mysterious Masked Messenger who visited Mozart ?

Perhaps the most mysterious legend about Mozart is that of the " Masked Messenger ". This mysterious masked messenger is also known historically as the "Man in Gray" , "The Mysterious Messenger" , "The Gray Messenger". The story of the masked messenger was featured prominently in the movie “ Amadeus ".           Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart How much of this story is true ? When Mozart died in the early morning hours of December 5, 1791, he left his final masterpiece, the Requiem , unfinished. A few months later, a completed score of the Requiem was delivered to its anonymous commissioner. How was the Requiem completed and how would Mozart have completed it had he lived? These mysteries have tantalized musicians for over two centuries. Mozart received the commission to compose the Requiem from the “ Mysterious Messenger" in the summer of 1791.  The Messenger paid half the commission in advance, ...
Read more

Health tips from an extra-terrestrial named Bashar - from a planet called Essassani

photo credit: skyseeker Mt. Fuji via photopin (license)    Today,  I would like to write about health tips from an extra-terrestrial being named Bashar who is from the Essassani Planet .     He is channeled by Darryl Anka. Planet earth used to have beautiful clear air, but since a long time ago the air has been polluted everywhere.    and the cause of most illnesses comes from the poison in the environment we are in, with the polluted air. Nowadays, it's hard to find places where there is beautiful clean air. and in this unfavorable environment, he is suggesting how to live healthy.   Health tips 1.  Clear Oxygen  According to Bashar,  the air after storms and typhoons have gone away, is the most clean ( purified ) and is good for our bodies. However when there is an overdose of artificial oxygen by using tools such as oxygen tanks , this can cause a lack of water, and will weaken cells. ...
Read more

Sweet Food which does not get fat - Warabi mochi

I recently love eating this sweet food that Japanese call " Warabi mochi " which is made of 0 calories food psyllium in my coffee break time.   It's sweet food but I use Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener instead of sugar when I make it. Lakanto Monk Fruit sweetener is 0 calorie s and 0 glycemic and very similar taste as normal sugar. It is said it's derived from monk fruit, which looks like a small green gourd native to regions of China and Thailand.  It's not artificial so it is not bad for health so I feel comfortable eating it. Warabi mochi is a food which is normally made of Kinako ( soybean flour) & sugar & warabi powder and it's one of my favorite foods. However it's high calorie foods so if I eat a lot, it's easy to gain weight.   Because Warabi mochi flour is Starch and has sugar in it and is high calorie.  So I was not eating it. and then recently I found the recipe of diet Warabi Mochi which is made of Psyllium...
Read more

Beauty skin care, Ninon de L'Enclos ‘s Secret of her young skin

Besides extra virgin olive oil, I’ve been doing a mixture of another great natural formula since two weeks ago. This information came from Ray who happened to find about Ninon de L’Enclos ’s amazing story concerning her youthful skin. According to the article, Ninon de L’ Enclos is known as a famous French beauty from the late 1600s. She kept her youthful skin until 85 years old when she passed away. Even in to her 80’s she was attracting many young men who fell hopelessly in love with her. She never published her secret of her youthful skin until the end , only telling her special friends about her secret formula. There is no photo of her, but seeing her painting in other websites, she looks in her 30’s when she was 85. According to the article, her face was as smooth and free of winkles in her 80’S as it had been at 20. She hated wrinkles and successfully kept her skin youthful , using her special secret formula. This information blew me away, and immediately ...
Read more

Franz Liszt’s dangerous love

  Franz Liszt was quite tall in his generation, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall , long blonde hair , piercing sharp eyes, pianist' long narrow and delicate hands and fingers. His body build was very slender. People who knew him described his personality as full of charm, charisma, and very knowledgeable.  And he loved brainy women. He was the consummate artist. It seems that Liszt loved dangerous love , which thrilled him and gave him excitement rather than a stable, peaceful , safe love. Franz Liszt While reading about his biography, I was wondering why he fell in love with two princesses who were already married. Marie D’Agoult He seems to have had a lot of love affairs in his life, someone found out that he had at least 26 serious relationships in his life ( besides countless other affairs ) but the only ladies he thought about marriage was with these two princesses , Marie D’Agoult and Carolyne Sayn Wittgenstein ? Charlotte Von Hagn ...
Read more

Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin’s friendship Part 1

Frederyk Chopin   I’m a long time fan of Chopin’s music since when I was a teenager. Started loving his music from hearing his Polonaise , then Noctunes , Etudes … Frederyk Chopin I was using one of Chopin’s Nocturnes as my background music for my answering machine when I was in my 20s. In Japan, many of his music is famous and used in many TV dramas, commercials, movies, and mostly wealthy bourgeois family scenes. My image of many of Chopin ’s music that I’ve listened to is of a cozy, bourgeois world. From almost all his music I’ve ever heard, I often pictured an elegant, wealthy family’s world or a story about a family who are living in a luxury antique style house. Many of Mozart ’s music reminds me of a social life in an older generation, a story about bourgeois world in a gorgeous luxury palace. For Liszt ’s music, his music is very variety, ranging from an image of a sweet passionate love story for couples, all the way to nightmare horror story type o...
Read more

My favorite ways of Law of Attraction Part 3 - Successful Wishing - Pierre Franckh

Pierre Franckh’s books “ Successful Wishing “ are another of my favorite books.     There are series, 1 to 6 , and are not published in English , but I did find them in a Japanese book store,  translated by a Japanese translator.   Pierre Franckh is a German actor ( Movies & TV) from 1959 – 2003, and is also a movie director and a writer.  Since 1996, he published many books and became a best selling author.  Franckh wrote based on his personal experiences from when he was a child . I love the way how he writes , it’s very easy to read and direct to the point, very clear how to do it with step by step instruction. Also importance of finding what you truly want.    Many people are actually not realizing what they really want and then when they get what they wanted,  still not feeling satisfied. Pierre said that before making your wishes and order to universe, it’s important to clear ...
Read more

Organic foods and healthy living “ You are what you eat ? “

We‘ve been enjoying organic foods since a month ago.   Because we care for our health and also organic foods taste more delicious than normal vegetables.   Recently, I really feel the famous quote  “ You are what you eat . “   is true.   Although healthy life comes from balance between mind, body, skin care, good night sleep and activities besides food life .   Health is a treasure.   Also I realized that “ good blood circulation ” is one of the most important key to keep healthy and look young skin.   After being amazed to see Styx’s ageless Tommy Shaw on TV, I started searching about “ secret of youth “.  He looks so much younger than his age.  Also, there was an interview with Styx on CNN in the morning about a week ago and they talked about what they think are the keys to longevity and a healthy life. http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/04/23/ex...
Read more

”The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”　- Albert Einstein　

Originally we were all creative because all children are creative. While growing up, many children lose their creativity by seeing, reading, hearing what many grown ups do and teach. According to a book called " Goal " by Brian Tracy, "Fully 95% of children tested between the ages of three and five are rated as highly creative. Of the same children tested again as teenagers, only about 5% rated  as highly creative. What happened to them in the interim ?   As they went through school, they were taught that if you want to get along, you follow the crowd. They learned not to question or challenge the teacher or to suggest unusual ideas. In their attempts to be liked and accepted by their peers, they allowed their creativity to die down, like a fire without fuel.  " "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grows up." 　－ 　Pablo Picasso But if we don't use creativity, we lose it. It means that the more we use cre...
Read more

Charm of Kenichi Hagiwara - Shoken

From Japanese Movie " Ame no Amsterdam (Rain in Amsterdam)" I've been into the late 1960s to 1970s generation since several years ago. I don't know why but I'm very interested in older generation's people, trends, lifestyle, scenery, habit, TV drama, music, films, etc..   and not so interested in new things much.  There are many new discoveries through checking out old stuff while reading and watching it, which I didn't know before. and about several months ago, I happened to find a youtube video of  a famous Japanese actor called Kenichi Hagiwara who was my favorite actor in 1970s when I was a kid. His nickname is Shoken and he is also a singer of Rock/blues music.                      Shoken( 18 years old) singing ”Legend of Emerald” Shoken was one of the super stars in Japan mainly from the late 60s generation to early 80s. When he was 15 years old,   he joined an amateu...
Read more