Well. The Men's Olympic competition is officially over. And apparently, in the deepest field I have ever known, Evan Lysacek is the best of the best.
I have to say, as much as I dislike Evan as a person, he deserved the win on the night, because the others all slipped up - even Plushenko (shock horror, the guy is human!), and I can't help but think that if I didn't dislike him so much, I think I would enjoy his skating. I was also delighted for Takahashi's bronze medal. I like how all three of the major continents, and all three of the figure skating 'powerhouses', were represented on the podium. I just wish that the European representative could have been somebody else, e.g Stéphane. Or Joubert.
Before this turns into an aimless ramble, here are my thoughts are the men, in chronological order:
- It was just unnatural to have Tomas Verner kicking things off. He started so well with a gorgeous quad (although according to his elements sheet, it was supposed to be a combination) and then, typically, it all fell apart. He didn't even really perform like he usually does. He still doesn't look healthy. He faceplanted in the steps and for a moment I didn't even think he was going to carry on. That poor, poor guy. As much as I would like to see him achieve redemption at Worlds this year, I don't think that it would be possible for him to at this point. He should skip it, rest, rest, rest, and come back next season like the brilliant Tomas Verner of old.
- I love Bacchini's program. I like how his costume is kind of similar to his SP; he obviously likes black, dark red, and sequins. I don't know how I had never seen him before Euros; has he been around? It doesn't look like he has a consistent 3A, which is probably why he hasn't made much of a splash. I loved the way his sit spin went with the music. He was definitely looking tired by the end, though, and appeared to be really just squeezing the jumps out all the way through. He pulled up two places (granted, more because those above him messed up than because he skated particularly well) and ended up 20th, which is not bad at all, especially when you consider that immediately above him were the likes of Verner, Contesti and KvdP.
-Viktor went down on his quad. He had nice combinations (2A-3T, 3S-3T), but then a hand-down on the lutz; he didn't really look very over his skates. Seemed much better in the second half, though. He really is quite terrifying-looking. I loved him and Priscilla both head-bobbing away to the music in the KnC as if they didn't even realise they were at the Olympics. Overall, not too bad for him.
- Vaughn looked positively terrified. Love his oh-so-Canadian jazzy program and plain shirt-black trousers costume, but he didn't start well with an enormous popped axel. He was still faster and more energetic than at TEB though. REALLY squeezed out the 3L-2T-2T. Definitely a lot more energy than we've seen before. I need to watch his performances from Worlds last year, because I can't see how he ever placed eleventh or wherever he ended up. Honestly I think Kevin Reynolds or Shawn Sawyer would have placed higher.
- Kovalevski was very, very dull. I was sure he was out there for at least an hour. He fell three times and didn't seem to perform at all, which was a shame because he was much better than I expected him to be in the SP. Got to feel sorry for him, really. I wish the North Korean had qualified.
- I live for Schultheiss' program. The music is inspired. He was definitely back on tonight, with a gorgeous quad and 3A, and nice fast spins. I thought his steps could have had a little more energy given how clean he was being, but it's a minor point. It was a great program for him, nice to see him land everything, and he had a great score to reflect that. Pulling up from 22nd after the short to 15th overall and 13th in the free is definitely something for him to be proud of, especially when there were no less than 15 possible medal contenders in the first place.- Stefan Lindemann was not looking so on it, at all. Apparently he didn't practise this morning due to back pain, which is probably why. He's such a cute little elfin thing, I was really hoping he could skate like he did in the short, but I guess at least his last SP ever was basically perfect. Apparently he's going off to become a coach now. He has great technique and seems like a lovely guy, so hopefully he will see great success.
- I felt really sorry for Voronov not getting to go to Vancouver, but wow, good shout on sending Borodulin. I have definitely become a fan of his. He had to really cling onto a couple of his landings but otherwise he was great. Barring injury/other disaster, definitely one to be looking out for in his home nation in 2014.
- Usually, Jeremy is either spectacularly good or spectacularly bad. When he fell on his quad and then popped the flip, I was sure that it was all over for poor Jeremy, but to his credit, he kept fighting and had a strong recovery, with a very nice 3A-3T and then 3A-2T. His steps are absolutely gorgeous, but he only got level 3s for both - not sure why, I assume they are generally 4s. In the KnC he seemed in pretty good spirits (isn't he always? He's such a sweetie), and he was like, "If I end up 11th I'll be so mad." For a while I thought he would end up 11th, but he managed to pull up (or rather, slid up there on the back of others' mistakes, but hey, top ten finish for my Jeremy) to ninth place, which is definitely not so bad for the first Olympic appearance of one of the biggest headcases around right now. It's a shame he was kind of a late bloomer, because he'll probably have to retire before 2014. Still, if he can pull it together in Turin, that title could be his; I'm assuming that neither Evan or Plush will be there, but even if they are, I think a clean Jeremy could beat both of them.- I don't know what was going down with everybody's triple axels. I love Contesti's program and his music but it was not a great skate for him, with errors on both his 3As and a doubled loop. He'll probably be disappointed with his 18th place finish.
- Javier's quad looked like it was going to be beautiful but he *just* didn't make the landing and fell, which was a shame. Still, he's only 18, good on him for trying it at the Olys. Nice 3A to recover. His drunken step sequence is probably my favourite of all the LPs. He had a few little mistakes but considering the field, his age, and relative inexperience, 14th place is pretty damn good. I'll definitely be looking out for him over the next few years.
- Devastated for Joubert :(. He looked very confident at the beginning, flashing that fantastic smile of his as he took centre ice, and I really thought that with no pressure, he might go lights out, but then he fell on the quad and turned the second into a triple, and proceeded to make almost too many small errors to count. Seeing his name under the likes of Fernandez and Schultheiss, much as I like those guys, is just not right. Apparently he wants to stay in till 2012 to skate Worlds in Nice; I kind of wouldn't be surprised to see him doing a bit of a Stéphane and taking 2012/2013 out and then coming back for Sochi. He's 25 already though, so it would be a push. Hopefully he will absolutely storm Worlds this year (I already have at least three guys that I want to take the World title. Something tells me I'm going to be disappointed.)- Kozuka has absolutely won me over this Olys. He had a lovely 4T - which evidently wasn't that lovely in the judge's eyes as he got -1.4 for it, was it double footed? - followed by an equally gorgeous 3A-3T. I loved his spreadeagle into his 3S-2T-2L, and I was just thinking, wow, he could spoil for a medal if the others slip up when he splatted on his second 3A. Still, a fantastic couple of programs from him and he's only eighteen so he'll be another one to add to my list of Ones-to-Watch, which is getting longer by the second. I'm actually going to make a separate post about that.
- Denis Ten's 3Lz was so light and easy I thought it was a double. He had a hand down on the first 3A right at the beginning but recovered right away for the second one. Step out on 3F. Pretty spins. I LOVED his straight line step sequence at the end but apart from that, I preferred Kozuka's performance.
- KvdP had serious bitchface on in his starting position. Both 3As had the exact same landing with a hand down. Love his music though. He had a huge pop on what should have been 3S-3T but then did it perfectly pretty much straight after. Slightly laboured, but less so than he has been before. He didn't look at all happy though, poor guy. That was likely his last competition, which is a shame. It just doesn't look like he has the stamina anymore. I will miss him and his hilarious costumes.
- I love, love, love Amodio's choreography. He has gorgeous spins. In fact, he is just generally gorgeous. He wasn't perfect jump-wise but lovely nonetheless. His techno-Amelie was...interesting. He worked it though. Loved his little dance before giving his bows. I also kind of have to thank him for giving Abbott his top-ten placing.
- I don't like Chan but his 3A was beautiful. He had a couple of step-outs. I found myself drifting off and imagining that it was Meryl and Charlie out there. I have to admit that I was kind of glad when he fell on the 3A, just to make sure that the judges couldn't hold him up too much and give him a medal - as it was, they gave him a ridiculous score that he did not deserve, in my eyes. I was also surprised that, given how nice his edges and general skating are, his spreadeagle is not that pretty. His 2A and steps were lovely, though. But yeah, I definitely didn't think his skate was worth nine points more than Kozuka's.
- I have never seen Brezina mess up as much as he did last night. He started off just as beautifully as ever, with an absolute beauty of a 3A and a gorgeous 3F. I am going to go ahead and call it - Brezina has my favourite jumps of anyone around right now. They are just gorgeous. I love his program, and I loved his spreadeagle into his sit spin, and then I was just stunned when he popped the second half of his combination, fell, and popped the 2A. Still, tenth place is pretty damn good. If he'd skated clean, he could have been right up there, but never mind. I love this guy.
- In the group 4 warmup, the irritating BBC commentator announced that Johnny Weir is the 'one that everyone's here for'. Um, no. I love Johnny as much as the next person - actually more - but I don't think that everybody had come to see him. That woman was supremely irritating throughout, actually. She seemed to think that Plush had the best and most intricate steps and choreography of anyone in the SP. Speaking of dear Plushy, he did a strange gorilla-dance when his name was announced. I kind of love Plush. I will miss him.
- Gahhh Evan was near perfect and I really didn't want him to be. Got to hand it to him though, he brought it. I do generally want all skaters to skate their best but I have to admit that I was wiling him to fall on one of his 3As, which was the only legitimate place he was going to mess up, if he was going to. But he didn't, and he won, and yes, he deserved it on the night. Hopefully he will retire now and stop forcing me to look at his orange face and greasy hair every month or so.
- Oda had the most dramatic program of the night. He fell on his 3L and didn't continue, at which point I thought he'd injured himself and was going to have to quit or something, but luckily (?) it was a snapped lace, which he was able to fix and carry on, and did so perfectly. Unfortunately he couldn't repeat the missed 3L, obviously, so that hurt his score. Still, I love his cute choreography, and he has the most gorgeous jump landings, such nice knees. He looks like such a little boy out there. Good on him for carrying on so well.
- I literally could not breathe as Stéphane started. It was full on heart-pounding-hands-shaking. He didn't fall, at least, and although he didn't get a medal, that program is absolutely, stunningly beautiful and I love him. I really do believe that he is in a class of his own. I can't see him going to Worlds, to be honest, which means that this was likely the last time he will ever skate competitively. Although, this is Stéphane, and I wouldn't put it past him to carry on if he decided that he wanted to.
- Takahashi didn't even feature in my dream podium but, like Kozuka, I now love him, and am genuinely delighted that he got the bronze, as much as I wanted Stéphane to have it. I really would have loved him to steal gold. If he hadn't fallen on the 4T, I think he could have. At this point, I wrote in my notes - 'I really would like them to give out a medal to everybody in this whole group' and that sentiment still stands.
- Johnny absolutely KILLED it. Oh, Johnny. I love him. He aborted a spin but that program was fabulous. I think he was robbed of the bronze. At any rate, he definitely did not deserve to be below Chan. I'm just so glad that he skated clean (spin excepted). He didn't miss a jump this whole competition, and sixth place is pretty damn respectable given that he came very close to missing out on an Olympic spot to Ryan Bradley.
- Oh, Plush. That is the least clean I have ever seen him, I think. His choreography and his blowing-kisses-at-the-judges just cracks me up big time. I was surprised by how tense he looked out there. For all his bravado, he wasn't sure of himself at all, and many of his landings were way off, and I think that allowed me to enjoy the hilarious tackiness of his program. It was patently clear in his face at the end of his skate that he knew that he probably hadn't done enough, which, actually, was kind of sad. Still, a silver Olympic medal in a field this deep, after four years off, is quite a feat. The crowd screaming 'four more years! Four more years!' after he finished was way too funny. And I had to laugh at his comments afterwards, which apparently included such gems as 'Evan needs it more than me'.
And so the gold goes to Evan Lysacek. I find it kind of hilariously ironic that, after everything that's been said this season, the Olympic Champion didn't have a quad. It may not have been the result that I wanted, but it has been one hell of a competition, as expected. If the guys had all brought it like they did on Tuesday, it would have been one for the ages. I think this competition has also been just a preview of what Sochi is going to be. Places 10, 11 and 12 (Brezina, Ten, Amodio) here in Vancouver could easily become 1, 2, 3 in Sochi - but there's also the likes of Borodulin, Rippon, Kozuka, possibly Takahashi, and who knows, maybe even Plushy will pop up again ;). Like I said, I'm going to do a whole post on this, but wow, am I excited for the next four years of men's competition.
I'm not going to bother staying up all night to watch the Compulsory Dance tonight, because there is no way I will make it through however many teams doing the same program over and over. I think that Evan's gold basically rules out Charlie & Meryl getting theirs, so I'm pinning my hopes on Virtue/Moir in gold and D/W in silver, and of course, also sending good vibes to the Kerrs, Pechalat/Bourzat, and DelSchoes, who I am so interested to see skate.
xxx
- KvdP had serious bitchface on in his starting position. Both 3As had the exact same landing with a hand down. Love his music though. He had a huge pop on what should have been 3S-3T but then did it perfectly pretty much straight after. Slightly laboured, but less so than he has been before. He didn't look at all happy though, poor guy. That was likely his last competition, which is a shame. It just doesn't look like he has the stamina anymore. I will miss him and his hilarious costumes.
- I love, love, love Amodio's choreography. He has gorgeous spins. In fact, he is just generally gorgeous. He wasn't perfect jump-wise but lovely nonetheless. His techno-Amelie was...interesting. He worked it though. Loved his little dance before giving his bows. I also kind of have to thank him for giving Abbott his top-ten placing.
- I don't like Chan but his 3A was beautiful. He had a couple of step-outs. I found myself drifting off and imagining that it was Meryl and Charlie out there. I have to admit that I was kind of glad when he fell on the 3A, just to make sure that the judges couldn't hold him up too much and give him a medal - as it was, they gave him a ridiculous score that he did not deserve, in my eyes. I was also surprised that, given how nice his edges and general skating are, his spreadeagle is not that pretty. His 2A and steps were lovely, though. But yeah, I definitely didn't think his skate was worth nine points more than Kozuka's.
- I have never seen Brezina mess up as much as he did last night. He started off just as beautifully as ever, with an absolute beauty of a 3A and a gorgeous 3F. I am going to go ahead and call it - Brezina has my favourite jumps of anyone around right now. They are just gorgeous. I love his program, and I loved his spreadeagle into his sit spin, and then I was just stunned when he popped the second half of his combination, fell, and popped the 2A. Still, tenth place is pretty damn good. If he'd skated clean, he could have been right up there, but never mind. I love this guy.
- In the group 4 warmup, the irritating BBC commentator announced that Johnny Weir is the 'one that everyone's here for'. Um, no. I love Johnny as much as the next person - actually more - but I don't think that everybody had come to see him. That woman was supremely irritating throughout, actually. She seemed to think that Plush had the best and most intricate steps and choreography of anyone in the SP. Speaking of dear Plushy, he did a strange gorilla-dance when his name was announced. I kind of love Plush. I will miss him.
- Gahhh Evan was near perfect and I really didn't want him to be. Got to hand it to him though, he brought it. I do generally want all skaters to skate their best but I have to admit that I was wiling him to fall on one of his 3As, which was the only legitimate place he was going to mess up, if he was going to. But he didn't, and he won, and yes, he deserved it on the night. Hopefully he will retire now and stop forcing me to look at his orange face and greasy hair every month or so.
- Oda had the most dramatic program of the night. He fell on his 3L and didn't continue, at which point I thought he'd injured himself and was going to have to quit or something, but luckily (?) it was a snapped lace, which he was able to fix and carry on, and did so perfectly. Unfortunately he couldn't repeat the missed 3L, obviously, so that hurt his score. Still, I love his cute choreography, and he has the most gorgeous jump landings, such nice knees. He looks like such a little boy out there. Good on him for carrying on so well.
- I literally could not breathe as Stéphane started. It was full on heart-pounding-hands-shaking. He didn't fall, at least, and although he didn't get a medal, that program is absolutely, stunningly beautiful and I love him. I really do believe that he is in a class of his own. I can't see him going to Worlds, to be honest, which means that this was likely the last time he will ever skate competitively. Although, this is Stéphane, and I wouldn't put it past him to carry on if he decided that he wanted to.- Takahashi didn't even feature in my dream podium but, like Kozuka, I now love him, and am genuinely delighted that he got the bronze, as much as I wanted Stéphane to have it. I really would have loved him to steal gold. If he hadn't fallen on the 4T, I think he could have. At this point, I wrote in my notes - 'I really would like them to give out a medal to everybody in this whole group' and that sentiment still stands.
- Johnny absolutely KILLED it. Oh, Johnny. I love him. He aborted a spin but that program was fabulous. I think he was robbed of the bronze. At any rate, he definitely did not deserve to be below Chan. I'm just so glad that he skated clean (spin excepted). He didn't miss a jump this whole competition, and sixth place is pretty damn respectable given that he came very close to missing out on an Olympic spot to Ryan Bradley.- Oh, Plush. That is the least clean I have ever seen him, I think. His choreography and his blowing-kisses-at-the-judges just cracks me up big time. I was surprised by how tense he looked out there. For all his bravado, he wasn't sure of himself at all, and many of his landings were way off, and I think that allowed me to enjoy the hilarious tackiness of his program. It was patently clear in his face at the end of his skate that he knew that he probably hadn't done enough, which, actually, was kind of sad. Still, a silver Olympic medal in a field this deep, after four years off, is quite a feat. The crowd screaming 'four more years! Four more years!' after he finished was way too funny. And I had to laugh at his comments afterwards, which apparently included such gems as 'Evan needs it more than me'.
And so the gold goes to Evan Lysacek. I find it kind of hilariously ironic that, after everything that's been said this season, the Olympic Champion didn't have a quad. It may not have been the result that I wanted, but it has been one hell of a competition, as expected. If the guys had all brought it like they did on Tuesday, it would have been one for the ages. I think this competition has also been just a preview of what Sochi is going to be. Places 10, 11 and 12 (Brezina, Ten, Amodio) here in Vancouver could easily become 1, 2, 3 in Sochi - but there's also the likes of Borodulin, Rippon, Kozuka, possibly Takahashi, and who knows, maybe even Plushy will pop up again ;). Like I said, I'm going to do a whole post on this, but wow, am I excited for the next four years of men's competition.
I'm not going to bother staying up all night to watch the Compulsory Dance tonight, because there is no way I will make it through however many teams doing the same program over and over. I think that Evan's gold basically rules out Charlie & Meryl getting theirs, so I'm pinning my hopes on Virtue/Moir in gold and D/W in silver, and of course, also sending good vibes to the Kerrs, Pechalat/Bourzat, and DelSchoes, who I am so interested to see skate.
xxx
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