Yu Na Kim is great skater but not even in same league as much greater Michelle Kwan

[kittyjake5]

Red Sox losing in the 10th inning.

[RumbleFish]

I just have two questions to the thread starter.
1. Are Zhangs still your favorite pair team?
2. Which league does Mao Asada belong to after her lackluster showing in Moscow?

[judgejudy27]

And Zhangs are your favorite pair team, correct?

If you are talking to me I have a soft spot for the Zhangs of late only since I feel like they are getting dumped by everyone, and everything is going against them. Plus I feel they have worked their asses of to try and improve their artistry, even if they arent the naturals some others are. I havent really been a big fan of their skating in the past, and I still am not as much as some of the others. However I would like to see them have won a World title before going out, but that is pretty much impossible now after seeing the World Pairs event this year.

[Aussie Willy]

Name one!

Hmmmm tough one. Did Lady Gaga rip off Madonna with Born this Way? Discuss.

[a56]

I don't know if depression is the right word for it, but I'm sure she's going through a letdown coupled with a loss of purpose and the pressure of all those fans she doesn't want to disappoint. Her whole life was focused on winning the Olympics, and now that she's done it - what next? It must be wierd.

This seems to happen all the time to Olympic Champions. She has achieved the ultimate goal, so what does she do next, other than go for multiples of the titles she already has? She's at a crossroads in her life and her career. People who don't have the Olympic gold have a true sense of motivation in going to the next Olympics.

I'd personally advise her to call it a career and move on. Three years from now at the Sochi Olympics, it's the next generation of skaters that will be on top of the podium. I doubt that any of the world champions of the last 5 years will be the 2014 Olympic Champion. No sense in training if she is not 100% into it, and if she's not willing to do multiple competitions in the lead up to worlds/Olympics. She seems to have so much fun performing exhibition programs, so she should now focus on that. Perhaps go to college, travel as she's mentioned, and be a coach or technical specialist or skating official if she wants to stay connected to the sport.

[Aussie Willy]

This seems to happen all the time to Olympic Champions. She has achieved the ultimate goal, so what does she do next, other than go for multiples of the titles she already has? She's at a crossroads in her life and her career. People who don't have the Olympic gold have a true sense of motivation in going to the next Olympics.

I'd personally advise her to call it a career and move on. Three years from now at the Sochi Olympics, it's the next generation of skaters that will be on top of the podium. I doubt that any of the world champions of the last 5 years will be the 2014 Olympic Champion. No sense in training if she is not 100% into it, and if she's not willing to do multiple competitions in the lead up to worlds/Olympics. She seems to have so much fun performing exhibition programs, so she should now focus on that. Perhaps go to college, travel as she's mentioned, and be a coach or technical specialist or skating official if she wants to stay connected to the sport.

Hmmmm so why doesn't she just go and sit in the corner and die? Life isn't worth living is it?

[brightphoton]

Hmmmm so why doesn't she just go and sit in the corner and die? Life isn't worth living is it?

You're a cheerful one.

There are chapters in life. For normal people, it's grade school, college, career, doing something meaningful that you enjoy, making an impact on the world, maybe some offspring, THEN sitting in a corner and dying. For Yuna, her competitive figure skating chapter is over. She can now pursue something else.

[hanca]

Your basic reading comprehension has not improved in even a 14 month span I see however, congratulations.

Well, not everyone can have English as their native language. Unfortunately I don't. But I am taking on board your concerns about my basic reading comprehension and hopefully in another 14 months you will be pleased with my progress!

[briancoogaert]

The definitive ranking is:
4. Butyrskaya

The end.

You mean this video of Maria

[antmanb]

Michelle always said she wanted to compete in more than 1 Olympics no matter what happened in Nagano and she said many times after she would have continued as well. Michelle is wired differently than people like Lipinski and Baiul. She loves to compete and she never was that interested in pro skating anyway. Which is why even after she finally was forced to retire with injury she never did any pro skating.

I always said I wanted to be a doctor. To make conclusions today about my profession based on that statement would lead you to be incorrect.

[ks777]

Well, not everyone can have English as their native language. Unfortunately I don't. But I am taking on board your concerns about my basic reading comprehension and hopefully in another 14 months you will be pleased with my progress!

Don't worry, English isn't my first language either. The OP insulted me before(yes I don't have good basic reading comprehension skills) and called me names because I didn't agree with him(I still believe it's him).

[hanca]

Don't worry, English isn't my first language either. The OP insulted me before(yes I don't have good basic reading comprehension skills) and called me names because I didn't agree with him(I still believe it's him).

Thank you, ks777. I am not sure since when it is acceptable on an international forum to comment on other people's language skills, because anyone must be able to realise that we are not all from English speaking countries, but judgejudy27 appears to have such low self-esteem and therefore she has a need to prove to other people how stupid they are (and how clever he/she is). Whatever!

[Jaana]

It´s rather impossible to compare skaters from different eras... Anyway, Kim is an Olympic and World champion, Kwan failed in the Olympics, twice. Of course Kwan has gotten 5 World gold medals, but other skaters have better achievements, e.g.:

- Henie 3 Olympic gold medals PLUS 10 World gold medal
- Witt 2 Olympic gold medals PLUS 4 World gold medals
- Peggy Fleming, Olympic gold medalist and three-time World champion
- Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist and a two-time World champion

[skfan]

did you just start this thread to hear people bash michelle and yeonah because you don't like either of them?

[Copper]

did you just start this thread to hear people bash michelle and yeonah because you don't like either of them?

I think you're absolutely right. Some people are just waiting for (or creating) any opportunity to bash their targets. When this thread dies, I'm sure a new one will arise to serve the same purpose.

[Sylvia]

You're a cheerful one.

I'm pretty sure Aussie Willy was being sarcastic. See this post earlier in this thread:

I don't get the venom of this thread. Surely there are more important things in life to get upset about and direct anger at. Both are great skaters and have the positives and negatives.

[Jenny81]

did you just start this thread to hear people bash michelle and yeonah because you don't like either of them?

You're right.

[kittyjake5]

I hope the Red Sox win tonight. (I know my post has nothing do to with this thread but since it is such a silly thread, I thought I would say it anyway) of course JMO.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

It´s rather impossible to compare skaters from different eras... Anyway, Kim is an Olympic and World champion, Kwan failed in the Olympics, twice. Of course Kwan has gotten 5 World gold medals, but other skaters have better achievements, e.g.:

- Henie 3 Olympic gold medals PLUS 10 World gold medal
- Witt 2 Olympic gold medals PLUS 4 World gold medals
- Peggy Fleming, Olympic gold medalist and three-time World champion
- Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist and a two-time World champion

Of course, compare Kwan's failed performance in 1998 to that of Fleming's, Witt's, and Yamaguchi's. And, that's even controlling for what were the technical standards were for each skater. I'm sure Kwan would have loved to perform under her standards the way Witt and Yamaguchi and Fleming (in the LP) did under theirs and walk away with gold (who knows maybe not). Hell, Kwan's bad skate in SLC still consisted of 5 triples, including two Triple Lutzes. Not saying she didn't fail to win gold, but I think one should also look at context.

Anyway, this thread in general is just ridiculous and just asking for endless debate and fighting (one that I am aware I just participated in).

[bardtoob]

This tread is so bad it's bad.