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3:13:00 AM EST
NEW QUEEN OF THE ICE!
In an event where we thought medals would be decided by triple-triple combinations separating each other by hundredths of a point...it ended up being a contest of the last woman standing. Literally.
I was hoping Sasha Cohen would seize this opportunity and shine...and complete her Happily Ever After. But, it was not to be on this night.
After a disastrous warmup--that obviously shook her confidence-- she took her starting position with the look of panic on her face. And 30 seconds into the program, it was over. She fought back late in the program, but it wasn't nearly enough. She knew she had let her opportunity slip away. After her performance, I thought for sure she would drop to 4th or 5th. But, and it's a big but....her choke was followed up by another....a Russian choke.
Irina Slutskaya opened up strong and I thought for sure she was going to breeze to a win. But an uncharacteristic miss on the triple flip and a fall on a triple loop (her best jump), would put her chance of any medal in doubt. But, on a night of under achieving performances....Irina and Sasha were fortunate to stumble their way to the podium.
If you would have told Sasha a few weeks ago that she would fall on her TWO biggest elements, and STILL win the silver medal....she would have said...Yea Right! But, once again skating proves to be as unpredictable as the weather.
Let me take nothing away from the uncontested Gold medal performance of Shizuka Awakara of Japan. She skated with a fluidity and ease that brought the audience to its feet. Cool, confident, and technically superior on this night, she really rose to the occasion and easily skated away with Gold--Japan's first in figure skating!
The biggest ROBBERY of the night belongs to Fumie Suguri ! How she got passed by Sasha AND Irina...is beyond me. She was clean from start to finish. After 6 clean triple jumps....A triple flip changed to a double, is not a big enough mistake to offset the falls of the medalists. ...and I don't buy the "she's not as artistic or graceful as the others" crap. Yes, Sasha is better artistically....but two falls better? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out...fall=bad, land=good. Great skate Fumie!
Our young Americans showed the depth we have in the U.S. Kimmie Meissner and Emily Hughes finished 6th and 7th respectively.
Kimmie was unable to land either of her planned triple-triple combinations. It is too bad, because the door opened up to move into medal contention. I would have loved to see her nail those triple-triples and shock the world with a medal. But, not here in Torino. She DID gain so much experience performing in the final group of skaters in the Olympics. Watch out in 4 years!
Emily started off solid with her three jump combination. But a late fall on her triple loop, eliminated any chance of making a jump to the medals. She is such a joy to watch for me. She really looks like she is having a blast out there... A great magnetism that makes you want to watch!
With the past 3 Olympic Champions--NOT the favorite going in...Tara Lapinski, Sarah Hughes, Oksana Baiul...I pose this question.... Is the pressure we placed on Nancy Kerrigan in '94, Michelle Kwan in '98 and '02, and now Sasha Cohen in '06....Is it too much for anyone to live up to? Is this why an UNEXPECTED Lady continues to snatch the Gold from the hands of the favorites?
I think the expectations just aren't weighing the underdogs down. So they calmly skate in and walk with the crown.
Let me also say...Good for Sasha for NOT saying her groin injury contributed to her mistakes. When an athlete comes up short, it is instinct to point the finger. It is a temptation she resisted. I know she is disappointed, but my favorite saying is "That which does not kill us, only makes us stronger." Toput things in perspective...If getting a Silver medal at the Olympics is the worst thing that ever happens to you....you're in for a great life!
Interested in hearing Michael's recap of the Ladies Long? Hear it at http://us.video.aol.com/audio.full.adp?pmmsid=1470306
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I have to acknowledge a sentiment: The Olympics has been an issue of falcity and politics.
Maybe her name is Sasha Cohen that's why?
Maybe she's talented (I doubt)? With all the hype forced by the media, Sasha Cohen can't do one thing and that's to skate properly, on time and in sequence.
Her showcase of talents have left people wandering- what were the Olympics thinking? Well NBC added a short explanation, which I and many others didn't buy.
NBC set your record straight- Sasha Cohen is not a star, you cannot manipulate naysayers into buying your travesty. And yes it was a travesty of a country- we placed ourselves in a position to be laughed at by others. We and they know she didn't deserve the silver, not even a bronze and all the stimulated confusion about a new scoring system will not change that, SHE DID NOT DESERVE A MEDAL.
I am not a Sasha Cohen fan, but neither a hater. A true observer that's wondering what did America, NBC and the rest of the Olympic judges and specialist feel that night when they robed Irana from the gold in 2002 and the silver this year for a girl so mindless who will not be able to even differentiate the differences.
I apologize NBC for your lack of heart in covering the Olympics, a function meant to examplify olympians not your athletes, Sasha Cohen.
Good luck in brainwashing America and losing your souls, you'll need it. -
The only REAL Juliet on the ice was Marina Anissina. Anissina and Peizerat's Romeo and Juliet program was the most beautiful ever done. Unfortunately, Cohen's aloof behavior and her treatment of Michelle Kwan as a rival all the time instead of a peer has caused people to think less of her and not support her as much as they do Kwan, who has always been gracious no matter what. Cohen has all of the elegant moves, but she needs to add grace to her behavior, and then she will have the full support of all figure skating fans. Congrats to Arakawa on winning the gold, but I don't think she is as graceful on the ice as Cohen, and I don't think she is as technically skilled as Slutskaya, who was just having a really bad night. However, Arakawa is pleasant to watch and she won the most points, so kudos to her and to Japan (including Fumie Sugurie, who also skated beautifully).
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I'm amazed by the criticism and judgment of Sasha Cohen! So many people seem to see her need to focus and ready herself for the Olympics as self-centeredness or conceit. Michelle Kwan is an amazing skater but SHE made the decision to withdraw. If she can live with that decision then her fans should accept her decision as well. Michelle is an Olympic champion but her time is past and it is time to let go. As for Sasha Cohen, she has worked hard to get to this point. It has been the media who named her as the favorite to win the gold for the United States; can you even begin to IMAGINE the PRESSURE?? Sasha won silver because she recovered after her falls and gave it her all. As one announcer commented, "Some skaters skate to 'Romeo & Juliet', but Sasha IS Juliet". Her artistry and the difficulty of her program was awesome! Of course, there is no question that Arakawa was the clear winner but I always route for the USA team. What's wrong with everyone? What did Sasha Cohen do to you?
11/1/06 12:59 AM