Late Bloomer skaters?

[Seerek]

Most of the examples here refer to skaters who were top juniors, but perhaps had to wait a little longer for success in seniors.

To me, a late bloomer is somebody who achieved considerable success competing as a senior despite limited success competing as a junior or novice. Anybody fall under this category?

[gkelly]

How do you define "considerable success"?

I think Caryn Kadavy would fit that mold, since she didn't qualify for US Nationals as a novice or junior and she did win a world medal, although she wasn't that old at the time.

[Sylvia]

To me, a late bloomer is somebody who achieved considerable success competing as a senior despite limited success competing as a junior or novice. Anybody fall under this category?

Jeremy Abbott never competed as a junior internationally (he turned 19 about five months after he won the 2005 US junior title).

Joelle Forte competed at 2000 US Nationals at the Novice level and only made it back to Nationals at the age of 22 in 2009 (12th in Senior) and 2011 (9th). She competed in her first international earlier this year at Gardena Spring Trophy (4th).

[Jenna]

^ Yes! Joelle is the perfect example of a "late bloomer." She tried for many years to advance out of Eastern Sectionals but never did; now she has worked her way into the top ten ladies in the US. Fantastic achievement there.

[blue_idealist]

Most of the examples here refer to skaters who were top juniors, but perhaps had to wait a little longer for success in seniors.

To me, a late bloomer is somebody who achieved considerable success competing as a senior despite limited success competing as a junior or novice. Anybody fall under this category?

I mentioned Tatiana Malinina.. I don't think she was a Jr. World medalist.. in fact, skimming some old jr. world results from the 80s and 90s, I don't see her at all.

[screech]

Jeff Buttle. Won his first (and only ) world title at 25.

He was a late one, but he had relatively quick success after his major international debut (2001 NHK where he won silver) at the age of 19, winning world silver at 22 and Olys bronze at 23.

[Marco]

Sokolova might have won a few GPs in 1999, but it wasn't until 2003 that she started winning World / Euro medals and Russian titles.

With Butyrskaya and Sawyer, it isn't just about peaking competitively but also bringing in / perfecting harder elements at older age. Butyrskaya introduced the 3toe half loop 3sal after she became world champion, and the next season she introduced a 2nd 3lutz. Sawyer finally perfected the lutz in the past 2 seasons and the 3axel this season.

[Autumn_girl]

Leonova is one of the late bloomers as well I guess. Even though she is a Junior Worlds champion, this girl didn't even have a double axel at the age of 14, and with the selection system in Russian sports schools it's almost a miracle she didn't quit skating. And her 3-3 became pretty consistent only now, when she is 20

[just wondering]

Very neat about Leonova. No wonder she is so happy to be out there!!!! What a success.

[Erin]

I would consider Kurt Browning to be a relatively late bloomer - while he did move up quite quickly once he made it to Worlds, he never competed at junior Worlds and was 19 by the time he won his junior Canadian title. He didn't really start creating any buzz until the 1987-88 season when he was 21. Compared to the other men who stood on the podium with him -- Chris Bowman, Victor Petrenko, Gregorz Filipowski (who landed his first triple-triple at 12 or 13), Todd Eldredge, Elvis Stojko, and Alexei Urmanov -- Kurt was a late bloomer.

I thought of Jeff Buttle when this topic came up as well...he only made it to one junior Worlds at age 18 (the last year he was age-eligible) and finished 7th. Had you asked me after that season, I would have pegged him as a skater that would hang around that 5th-7th spot at Canadians, get a couple of GP events throughout his career, and maybe make a 4CC team if he was lucky. He really broke out that next season because he finally had some success with the triple axel, but you would never have predicted the kind of senior success he had based on his junior resuls.

[Vagabond]

To me, a late bloomer is somebody who achieved considerable success competing as a senior despite limited success competing as a junior or novice. Anybody fall under this category?

Oksana Baiul.

[TheIronLady]

Anne-Sophie had a beautiful toe.

I like her music here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dj1kt4tI3k

[kukkura]

I know it's hard to consider Stefan Lindemann a late bloomer because he looks so young, but he was almost 24 when he won his first major championship medal. He looked so boyish and excited on that Worlds podium that I couldn't believe he's actually older than Plushenko.

Two people I want to be late bloomers: Yannick Ponsero, come back and show us your true potential! Kiira Korpi, one clean LP in a major competition is not too much to ask!

[briancoogaert]

I know it's hard to consider Stefan Lindemann a late bloomer because he looks so young, but he was almost 24 when he won his first major championship medal. He looked so boyish and excited on that Worlds podium that I couldn't believe he's actually older than Plushenko.

Two people I want to be late bloomers: Yannick Ponsero, come back and show us your true potential! Kiira Korpi, one clean LP in a major competition is not too much to ask!

LOL
Stephane Lambiel was 4th at Euros in 2002, at the age of 16. How can he be considered as late bloomer ?
Same for Ponsero, even if he comes back and wins a World medal, he has already won a Silver and bronze at Junior Worlds when he was young, IIRC.
They are inconsistent, not late bloomers.

[Seerek]

I would consider Kurt Browning to be a relatively late bloomer - while he did move up quite quickly once he made it to Worlds, he never competed at junior Worlds and was 19 by the time he won his junior Canadian title. He didn't really start creating any buzz until the 1987-88 season when he was 21. Compared to the other men who stood on the podium with him -- Chris Bowman, Victor Petrenko, Gregorz Filipowski (who landed his first triple-triple at 12 or 13), Todd Eldredge, Elvis Stojko, and Alexei Urmanov -- Kurt was a late bloomer.

I thought of Jeff Buttle when this topic came up as well...he only made it to one junior Worlds at age 18 (the last year he was age-eligible) and finished 7th. Had you asked me after that season, I would have pegged him as a skater that would hang around that 5th-7th spot at Canadians, get a couple of GP events throughout his career, and maybe make a 4CC team if he was lucky. He really broke out that next season because he finally had some success with the triple axel, but you would never have predicted the kind of senior success he had based on his junior resuls.

Out of the past World/Olympic champions, these two probably are the best examples...

Compare the Best World Junior result....

Kurt Browning - never went to Junior Worlds
Viktor Petrenko - 1st
Alexei Urmanov - 2nd
Elvis Stojko - 6th
Todd Eldredge - 1st
Ilia Kulik - 1st
Alexei Yagudin - 1st
Evgeni Plushenko - 1st
Stephane Lambiel - 5th
Brian Joubert - 15th
Jeff Buttle - 7th
Evan Lysacek - 2nd
Daisuke Takahashi - 1st
Patrick Chan - 2nd

[sadc]

LOL
Stephane Lambiel was 4th at Euros in 2002, at the age of 16. How can he be considered as late bloomer ?

Which is why Stephane Lambiel was not mentioned in that post. I don't think anyone would consider him a late bloomer.

[gkelly]

already won a Silver and bronze at Junior Worlds when he was young, IIRC.
They are inconsistent, not late bloomers.

Compare the Best World Junior result....

So would that mean that skates like Paul Wylie or Rudy Galindo, who won Junior Worlds and then never had any notable senior (singles) success at the international level for another decade, were not late bloomers . . . just inconsistent for a really long time?

[smartblade]

Dubreuil and Lauzon are my favourite late bloomers!

[Vash01]

So would that mean that skates like Paul Wylie or Rudy Galindo, who won Junior Worlds and then never had any notable senior (singles) success at the international level for another decade, were not late bloomers . . . just inconsistent for a really long time?

Galindo won the junior worlds as a pairs skater, not singles. You can't compare that with his struggles as a senior singles skater.

[gkelly]

Galindo won the junior worlds as a pairs skater, not singles. You can't compare that with his struggles as a senior singles skater.

He won the 1987 junior world title in singles and the 1988 title in pairs.