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1:13:00 AM EST
Plushenko Pummels competition
February 17, 2006
Consistant from start to finish-Evgeny Plushenko showed his dominance in men's figure skating, by skating away with an unchallenged Gold Medal performance.
But as for the rest of the field....Wow, what a disappointment. I was anticipating fireworks in a dramatic battle for the medals....and it was a dud. It looked to me like no one could put it ALL together.
What a difference four years makes! In the men’s long program in the 2002 Olympics….there were 17 clean quads…. In 2006—3 clean quads! And for those who saw 2002...no shortage of standing ovations to show artistic appreciation.
Now I know skating is cyclical, and the last group of skaters in Salt Lake City all skated their hearts out. Last night, I guess we were on a down swing in the cycle.
This new system sure produces some strange results. Jeffrey Buttle as an example. I can respect his fluidity and musicality. But…since when does a fall in the short program AND a fall in the long program along with many other mistakes--get you a medal? I guess…last night. If this was the old system, 4 years ago…he’d be lucky to crack the top 12.
I love to see good, competitive skating, but that just didn’t happen this Olympics.
I do have to give Matt Savoie props! He skated what I thought was the most complete program of the night. If the judges are truly judging on content…where were his component scores for transitions from element to element? He destroyed the field in that category ! A difficult entrance and exit of EVERY jump and spin!
Evan…great guy…classy and a great role model for younger skaters. So glad he came back and skated a personal best! If only he had that short program back…he’d be coming home with a donut…I mean a medal. (Okay they look like donuts, don’t they?)
Johnny just wasn’t able to hold it together on a night when the door was WIDE open. I can empathize with the disappointment of dropping from 2nd to off the podium. It’s a big blow to his confidence. I hope he can recover.
And of course, their was Evgeny…who very business-like...jump drilled” his way to Gold. Clearly the class of the field…he has NEVER given up a lead after the short program in his career…and he continued that streak. He has won every competition this sport has to offer…and now he has an Olympic Gold! Congratulations.
Now…
To Sasha, Emily, Kimmie, Ben Agusto and Tanith Belbin…Please don’t let Russia SWEEP this Olympics !!!
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Go to this site, and scroll down. You can watch the video of John Curry's FP from 1976 in Innsbruck. This is what figure skating needs to get back to - artistry and athleticism equally important and beautifully combined.
http://www.olympic.org/uk/utilities/multimedia/gallery/resu lts_uk.asp?entid=77&MediaType=vid -
I have loved watching the winter olympics mainly to watch the ice skating. I couldn't agree more with what you said. Even my thirtenn year old son said the same thing. No one even came close to skating an Olympic skating performance in the Men's competition. Yes Plushenko waw awesome! But the ohter......Oh my gosh. I was so looing forward to the French guy and our outspolen American.
Oh well. total disappointment. this Olypics showed littel artistry of the sport of ice skating. I was at our CIF high school boys basketball game last night and the talk amongst us mom's was this years Olympic mens skating and the total lack of enjoyment. We were all like where is Kurt Browning (tho he didn't do se well in the Olympics did he), where is Brian Boitano, Victor (Yes I saw him as a judge) The french guy oh what was his name??? Handsome and athletic.Sorry. ... Can't remember. I sure hope the women do better. -
Just for the record since some of our bloggers aren't aware of Michael's history...
Weiss has been skating for 18 years. During those 18 years he has won over 50 medals - of which 22 were GOLD. Those Gold include 3 National Championships. He has made 7 out of 10 World Teams where he won his two bronze medals or has been consistently in the top 6. If he goes to Worlds this year (his is currently an alternate) then it will be 8 of 10 World teams. TECHNICALLY in terms of jumps - Michael's last Olympic long program in 2002 was the same as Plushenko's in 2006...doubling only one jump in the long program with all his other triples and a clean Quad - triple - double. Michael Weiss was the first skater ever to land a quad-triple-double jump combination at an Olympic Games. He also landed a quad in the short (with a double toe at the end) skating a clean short program. -
Michael,
You are missed....I am a big fan of your exceptional athleticism. I very much enjoy perusing your comments. Matt Savioe was very special, a real poet. I hope he continues participating in the sport.
Keep up the good work.
2/18/06 4:19 PM
Oh well--- not a strong overall event in the scheme of things, but very interesting!