Figure Skating Chat!- Page 16

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:45pm

I didn't see a press conference, but I guess I will later today and probably more than once!

This is sad and very sudden. And for her sake, now that she's withdrawn I hope she doesn't get better any time before the Olympics are over, just so she has no regrets about the whole situation. That sounds stupid, but I do think that.

I really commend her for doing this in time for Emily Hughes to go over and adjust to everything and get to practice in the rink. This has just kinda sprung up on her, so maybe she'll just go over and skate and not have time to worry about other stuff!
On the bright side, now Emily is going to the Olympics just like her sister did 4 years ago. So for her Personally, she's doing what her sister did so there shouldn't be any feeling of being undershadowed because she's made it to the Olympics too! Now her sister won the gold! And that may not happen for Emily(right now)! But this is really just the beginning of her career.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:48pm

I don't see it as very sudden at all. She knew even before she went to Italy that she may not be able to compete. Since then it's been a question.

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:51pm

I was surprised to find out that Emily wasn't already in Italy. When Michelle was the back up for the Nancy/Tonya year, they set her just in case. With Michelle being so iffy, it was interesting to hear that Emily was still in New York. (And now covered in snow!)

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:54pm

Emily is still planning on going to school next week and arrive in Torino on the weekend before the week of her competition according to ESPN.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:55pm

I don't see it as very sudden at all. She knew even before she went to Italy that she may not be able to compete. Since then it's been a question.

It's sorta sudden because the games started already, and Kwan was oked to go by her physician. She was also able to demonstrate the ability to do all of the different triple jumps, save for loop, and the double axel, and level 3 and 4 elements in her program.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:56pm

This year, the USFSA decided not to send the alternate to the Olynpic host country, until someone withdrew. Michelle was in Norway in 94 but not in the Olympic village. If I remember she was in Oslo.

In a million depressions for Michelle right now... The press conference was depressing.

I hope she comes back next year to win Nationals for the 10th time. Beating Maribel's win streak always seemed important to her.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:57pm

I just don't see it as sudden since she knew she may have to pull out for a long time before the games.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 12:59pm

Yeah but the fact that she didn't withdraw until AFTER the games started took us by surprise. Many of us thought she would be able to do it.

Just because it was expected doesn't make it hurt any less.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:03pm

No one's judging how badly she and you are hurting hon.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:04pm

I know, I'm not saying you are. I'm just not in the best mood. Sorry if I'm bitchy.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:04pm

Well it just seemed sudden to me, because it was just the one practice.

I feel bad for her because if the opening ceremonies had anything to do with it(which I doubt it had too much), but she was criticized for not going in the past, and she went here. I would just expect her to give it a day or two.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:07pm

Guys, have a great Olympics-I'm not as emotionally invested in all this as you are. I'm going to have a good time watching the entire thing.

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:10pm

One of the articles I read said that she was examined by a doctor at 2:15am. So I don't think this is just "oh I ache, I should drop out." I doubt she'd see a dr in the middle of the night unless it was really bad.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:12pm

Emily going to school next week?

Hmmmm, the only reason I can think that she would want to do this is because she thinks she can train better at home. The weekend before is kind of late for me. There is a saying something like "He who arrives last, skates worst". Hopefully not the case!


BTW, doesn't Rena and John remind you of the 2002 big US pair of Kiyoko Ina and John Zimmerman? They are very similar in their size, both feature a Japanese skater, a guy named John with blonde hair. Anyways that's what I thought last night!

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:13pm

yeah. I miss them. I have enjoyed seeing John on Skating with Celebrities.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:37pm

Well now lets access the Ladies Singles! If all goes right(and I hope it does!) Sasha and Irina will be on the podium in the top two places......the order may vary.

One medal left!

Sports Illustrated pick 2004 WC Shizuka A. Not so sure if it will be her, but she's a contender, but I'm not sure how she's jumping. I actually think Fumie Sugri of Japan has a better shot. And then there is Miki Ando. She's bumped her artistic level up, but maybe lost some of those jumps(not for sure on that though). But really all 3 of them could contend.

Carolina Kostner. I hear she had a really good Europeans. She usually skates good and gets tired. I wouldn't think she would score high in the spin dept. though.

Elena Sokolova. She was 2nd at Europeans and landed about 6 triples and did 3-3 in practice, so she may be the 2003 Elena! If so, then she's the dark horse!

Kimmie and Emily! Kimmie has 3-3 and she'll need them. Not sure if Emily has them, but she's a beautiful spinner(just like her sister).

Joannie Rochette of Canada. She's mainly a jumping machine, but also has a soft touch!

I think they all have a chance for that bronze medal!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 1:57pm

Oh! Another Question!

What is the deal with some gossip show, I think it's called The Insider and Tonya Harding?

I mean I know it probably has something to do with the Olympics and all. Plus ET has her "rival" Nancy Kerrigan, so maybe that has something to do with it. I mean I saw them asking Tonya for Grammy Predictions earlier this week! And then they just talked about her weight and showed her on a thread mill and talked about the documentary on GSN(which I will watch). I just thought that was just weird.
Is ET doing something with Nancy? From what I understood Nancy is just the "host" to the Olympics and such and not necessarily telling her story and that seems to be what they are doing with Tonya.

Anyways, what is up with that?

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 2/12/06 at 6:03pm

Don't forget that the skating show is still on USA tonight from 6-7 even though there's no skating competition today. They're showing Kwan stuff at the moment.

She mentioned the 2:15am doctor appointment, then said she had to "make a decision at 3am." I'm guessing that might mean that she had to take medicine or something and therefore withdraw??

[cturtle]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 6:24am

i agree that Z&Z should not have gotten 2nd place. granted their performance was a study in courage, but many of their moves were incomplete. and the new scoring system, for some idiotic reason, doesn't seem to account for a major break in the program, which completely disrupts the presentation and should receive a major mark down. another case in point: when the OBUNARI crashed at 4 continents and LEFT OUT at least 1/5 of his program and STILL WON. absurd.

glad to see S&Z get a medal. theirs was by far the most passionate and interesting of the competition.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 8:43am

Yeah, I am annoyed at the lack of the split triple twists, too! But, the new system doesn't reward you at all for it. In fact, doing a clean double gets you more points that slight fumbles on the triple. It is lame.

Is it just me, or can you see the Canadians winning the Olympics in four years? They were impressive to me, and with some training, they'll be all set to win. Plus, Canada is developing quite a name as the country to train pairs skaters.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 10:24am

I'm glad most of the pairs skated well, but the evening on the whole seemed to lack the kind of spark that makes this event really exciting.

Touchme - I totally agree with you about that Canadian couple. They were really nice to watch.

I also think the guy from German pair was very cute in a pocket pal sort of way.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 10:33am

The whole pairs free skate was kind of dull except for when Z&Z completed their entire program after that fall on the quad throw.

After it was over, I got out my tape of the 1994 Ladies Free Skate and it was HILARIOUS!!! Tonya Harding singled her triple lutz, stopped and showed her skate to the ref. Then three people started working on fixing her skate lace...I couldn't stop laughing. I forgot how funny that was. Nancy Kerrigan was incredible. I really think she deserved to win that year. Oh well. So glad I have this stuff on tape!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 10:36am

I remember Tonya's program vividly. Who skates to Jurassic Park? Why, Tonya of course!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 10:43am

Yeah the Canadians and the Germans are waves of the future I agree.

At first I thought you were talking about Jamie and David for years from now! But while we're on that subject, I think they could have won gold at THIS Olympics.

Another comment about the new judging system. Since it is giving credit for everything, I think they should give credit for one of the pairs if they do a good jump and the other one doubles or falls. Obviously not as much credit as those pairs that both do triples, but if one does a triple and one does a double, it should score higher than those who both do doubles.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 10:46am

Tonya's program is one of my earliest skating memories. I was 8 years old during the Lilihammer olympics and was glued to my television set (except I had to go to bed before Oksana Baiul's long program).

However, watching the pairs long made me wish for the Russian teams from days gone by. They were nice enough to watch, but they lacked the passion and chemistry of the greats like Gordeeva & Grinkov and Mishkutienok & Dmitriev. I found Zhang & Zhang to be far more compelling.

As far as Emily Hughes not being sent to Torino, I seem to remember that Michelle Kwan wasn't sent by the USFSA either. Didn't she have to pay for her own ticket?