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Olympic potential
Sometimes, you know. You can see it. You get that tingle at the back of your neck and think, "That was magic! This kid could go far." Maybe you mention it to the person sitting in the rink with you. Maybe you don't. But you make a mental note and you watch. You think you've seen an Olympic champion figure skater.
The first time I can remember that feeling was at the Bright Arena at Harvard in the Fall of 1993. There was a tiny girl from California in a plain Pepto-Bismol pink costume, with a story of having gone out while her coach was away, against his wishes, and taken her senior skating test. She had that spark, that speed, that confidence...that something. We all mentioned it that night. And for years afterwards. Her name was Michelle Kwan. Everyone knows her name now.
I got the same feeling in the Fall of 2004. There was this gangly boy - way too tall to be a contender. We'd seen him before, but there was something different this year. He had moved to California, started training with Frank Carroll, one of the greatest coaches in the sport.
Here's the report from local skating sage Sandra Loosemore
http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/reports/2004-ewc/
"Paul introduced Evan Lysacek by telling us that it's his goal to get a Harvard MBA, which is always a sure way to get the audience at Harvard on his side. But Evan's skating alone would have done that; it was one of the highlights of the show. He skated to a Latin pop song (sounded vaguely Barry Manilow-ish to me), and really *danced* to the music. The choreography had a lot of footwork and really seemed to capture the character of the dance, Evan did a great job of interpreting it, and technically his skating was really sharp as well. Lots of speed, "attack", and clean jumps including a 3z and 3f."
We went to U.S. Nationals in Portland, OR in January 2005, and I have a clear memory of walking down the big hill to the arena after dinner, and telling the fans from California and Iowa about Evan. They had either never heard of him, or had written him off as a non-contender on the Senior level, even though he'd won the gold medal at the juvenile, novice and junior levels. But I said I'd seen him in person, and he had the potential to be on the podium. He "came out of nowhere" to win the bronze medal! And he did an amazing exhibition program to Michael Buble's "Sway."
He went on to the Olympics the next year, but he was sick and only finished 10th in the short program. His free skate was much better, and he ended up 4th. But no Olympic medal. But he kept working at it...picking up U.S. National titles and finally the gold medal at the World Championships in 2009. But it had been a long time since the reining World Champion from the U.S. had won the Olympic gold medal - almost 30 years since Scotty Hamilton did it in Sarajevo. He couldn't even win the U.S. title in 2010, with the younger Jeremy Abbott taking that.
So it's on the Olympics. To face the reigning Olympic champion from Russia, back after not skating for 3 years...Plushenko. And the Japanese champion, Takahashi. And the Swiss spinner, Stephan Lambiel. And the Canadian champion Chan, looking for a medal on home ice. And two competitors from the U.S. in Abbott and Weir.
Finally, it's time to compete. The short program, focusing on technical skills. He doesn't have a quad jump, but he'd really good. Still, in second place to the Russian with the quad and the attitude.
Then the long program. He skates first in the final group...a bad spot to be in, the commentator says. But he has the skate of his life! and then he waits, watches 4 other skaters make mistakes. And strange judging that puts the flawless Weir at the bottom of the pile.
Plushy is the last skater. He jumps and jumps...wonky, but he makes them. Front-loaded, not much between the jumps, slow spins. Everyone waits...thinks that is probably good enough to give the Russian the first repeat gold since Dick Button. The score comes up....and with the new scoring system it's a big number...trying to add in my head...and suddenly the camera focuses on Evan backstage. He tilts his head back and HE HAS WON IT! He hugs his choreographer, Lori Nichol, who also worked with the Pairs gold medalists from China, and he hugs Frank Carroll, and I am so happy! I KNEW IT! I saw it, all those years ago, and I said it out loud on the hill in Portland...there is the guy to watch. Woot!
It feels like the end of an era to me. There probably won't be another champion that I've seen in person. I don't make it to many skating events these days. Traveling is much harder, the tickets are much more expensive, and my rink mates have moved on. And the new scoring system has made it harder and harder to see original programs and understand the judging so I could know what would make a champion. And watching it on TV is excruciating with all the fluff and commercials and selective coverage. So I probably won't get that tingle again...but It sure was fun to see that potential realized last night!
The first time I can remember that feeling was at the Bright Arena at Harvard in the Fall of 1993. There was a tiny girl from California in a plain Pepto-Bismol pink costume, with a story of having gone out while her coach was away, against his wishes, and taken her senior skating test. She had that spark, that speed, that confidence...that something. We all mentioned it that night. And for years afterwards. Her name was Michelle Kwan. Everyone knows her name now.
I got the same feeling in the Fall of 2004. There was this gangly boy - way too tall to be a contender. We'd seen him before, but there was something different this year. He had moved to California, started training with Frank Carroll, one of the greatest coaches in the sport.
Here's the report from local skating sage Sandra Loosemore
http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/reports/2004-ewc/
"Paul introduced Evan Lysacek by telling us that it's his goal to get a Harvard MBA, which is always a sure way to get the audience at Harvard on his side. But Evan's skating alone would have done that; it was one of the highlights of the show. He skated to a Latin pop song (sounded vaguely Barry Manilow-ish to me), and really *danced* to the music. The choreography had a lot of footwork and really seemed to capture the character of the dance, Evan did a great job of interpreting it, and technically his skating was really sharp as well. Lots of speed, "attack", and clean jumps including a 3z and 3f."
We went to U.S. Nationals in Portland, OR in January 2005, and I have a clear memory of walking down the big hill to the arena after dinner, and telling the fans from California and Iowa about Evan. They had either never heard of him, or had written him off as a non-contender on the Senior level, even though he'd won the gold medal at the juvenile, novice and junior levels. But I said I'd seen him in person, and he had the potential to be on the podium. He "came out of nowhere" to win the bronze medal! And he did an amazing exhibition program to Michael Buble's "Sway."
He went on to the Olympics the next year, but he was sick and only finished 10th in the short program. His free skate was much better, and he ended up 4th. But no Olympic medal. But he kept working at it...picking up U.S. National titles and finally the gold medal at the World Championships in 2009. But it had been a long time since the reining World Champion from the U.S. had won the Olympic gold medal - almost 30 years since Scotty Hamilton did it in Sarajevo. He couldn't even win the U.S. title in 2010, with the younger Jeremy Abbott taking that.
So it's on the Olympics. To face the reigning Olympic champion from Russia, back after not skating for 3 years...Plushenko. And the Japanese champion, Takahashi. And the Swiss spinner, Stephan Lambiel. And the Canadian champion Chan, looking for a medal on home ice. And two competitors from the U.S. in Abbott and Weir.
Finally, it's time to compete. The short program, focusing on technical skills. He doesn't have a quad jump, but he'd really good. Still, in second place to the Russian with the quad and the attitude.
Then the long program. He skates first in the final group...a bad spot to be in, the commentator says. But he has the skate of his life! and then he waits, watches 4 other skaters make mistakes. And strange judging that puts the flawless Weir at the bottom of the pile.
Plushy is the last skater. He jumps and jumps...wonky, but he makes them. Front-loaded, not much between the jumps, slow spins. Everyone waits...thinks that is probably good enough to give the Russian the first repeat gold since Dick Button. The score comes up....and with the new scoring system it's a big number...trying to add in my head...and suddenly the camera focuses on Evan backstage. He tilts his head back and HE HAS WON IT! He hugs his choreographer, Lori Nichol, who also worked with the Pairs gold medalists from China, and he hugs Frank Carroll, and I am so happy! I KNEW IT! I saw it, all those years ago, and I said it out loud on the hill in Portland...there is the guy to watch. Woot!
It feels like the end of an era to me. There probably won't be another champion that I've seen in person. I don't make it to many skating events these days. Traveling is much harder, the tickets are much more expensive, and my rink mates have moved on. And the new scoring system has made it harder and harder to see original programs and understand the judging so I could know what would make a champion. And watching it on TV is excruciating with all the fluff and commercials and selective coverage. So I probably won't get that tingle again...but It sure was fun to see that potential realized last night!
no subject
I enjoyed last night's competition immensely and I think they did a fair job of judging. I did think Johnny Weir was phenomenal and it's too bad he didn't place higher, but they said his program just wasn't as difficult. And I couldn't believe that poor Japanese skater with the broken lace! He was doing amazing, too! He should have placed higher just for sheer grace under the most difficult of circumstances!
no subject
I'll have to go back and see the routine!