It was like watching a train crash in slow motion.  You could almost she her "will" and "strength" deflate the longer the program went on. So very sad that her Olympic career maybe over. (I kind of hope she moves to a different country, where it is not "one and done".)  Anyway, she is one of the best Ladies skaters that I have ever seen and I hope that this is not the last we see of her.

 

I have not followed skating as closely the past few years, but I don't like the way women's figure skating is going. I grew up with the politics of the Eastern Block judging, and the new judging system did away with some of that subjectivity and opportunity for cheating. But the emphasis on the component scores has taken so much away from the beauty and individuality of the sport. A Bielman spin used to be unique. Now, you pretty much have to do one. Which means you have to be insanely flexible. Imagine the back problems these skaters will all have when they are older! Since the Russians can't cheat with judging, now they are cheating with doping. They have also produced a system that thrusts skaters into learning quads at a young age and not even using proper technique. They girls are chewed up and spit out as teenagers. The mature skating of a Kristi Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle Kwon, or Mariah Bell would never be seen there. We will probably never know the extent of the doping program going on. Doping aside, these girls are physically harmed by pushing their bodies too hard and mentally harmed by harsh coaching. Whatever-her-name-is makes Abby Lee Miller look nice. Abby at least cared about her dancers not injuring themselves. She created competition and division among her dancers. I have seen some upset silver medalists (cough cough, Nancy Kerrigan), but I have never seen a melt-down like what we just saw. Think of the class of Michelle Kwon losing out to Tara Lipinski. I honestly thought she was upset for Kamila until Johnny Weir started translating for us. She did win the long program, but it's hard to get gold when you are 4th in the short program. Plus, quads aren't everything.

Anyway, like many I have been bummed to see the American women not reaching the podium in recent Olympics. But what would be the cost? Look at what happened to our gymnasts. I would rather see the graciousness and friendship shown by our US team than the meltdown we witnessed from the Russian girls. Oh, and the joy from Kaori, Mariah, and Alyssa were highlights of the event!

It really was. She wasn't robbed in the least. Winning the long program is usually not enough to win if you were 4th in the short program, unless the scores were really close. I can't figure out if she would have won under the old system because the order was so jumbled.

vmmmomof3girls wrote:

I have not followed skating as closely the past few years, but I don't like the way women's figure skating is going. I grew up with the politics of the Eastern Block judging, and the new judging system did away with some of that subjectivity and opportunity for cheating. But the emphasis on the component scores has taken so much away from the beauty and individuality of the sport. A Bielman spin used to be unique. Now, you pretty much have to do one. Which means you have to be insanely flexible. Imagine the back problems these skaters will all have when they are older! Since the Russians can't cheat with judging, now they are cheating with doping. They have also produced a system that thrusts skaters into learning quads at a young age and not even using proper technique. They girls are chewed up and spit out as teenagers. The mature skating of a Kristi Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle Kwon, or Mariah Bell would never be seen there. We will probably never know the extent of the doping program going on. Doping aside, these girls are physically harmed by pushing their bodies too hard and mentally harmed by harsh coaching. Whatever-her-name-is makes Abby Lee Miller look nice. Abby at least cared about her dancers not injuring themselves. She created competition and division among her dancers. I have seen some upset silver medalists (cough cough, Nancy Kerrigan), but I have never seen a melt-down like what we just saw. Think of the class of Michelle Kwon losing out to Tara Lipinski. I honestly thought she was upset for Kamila until Johnny Weir started translating for us. She did win the long program, but it's hard to get gold when you are 4th in the short program. Plus, quads aren't everything.

Anyway, like many I have been bummed to see the American women not reaching the podium in recent Olympics. But what would be the cost? Look at what happened to our gymnasts. I would rather see the graciousness and friendship shown by our US team than the meltdown we witnessed from the Russian girls. Oh, and the joy from Kaori, Mariah, and Alyssa were highlights of the event!

I really enjoyed Nancy's skating where she won Silver, but her attitude ruined it later for me.  


 

Yes, more grace and beauty and less emphasis on the quad jumps is exactly what’s needed!

I too enjoyed Nancy Kerrigan’s skating but was completely turned off by her attitude towards Oksana on the podium. I was later glad it was Oksana who won gold.