Rochette pondering return to Olympics

[DaiKozOda]

In Vancouver there was so much drama going on that I believe Rochette deserves to have an olympic moment of pure joy! Off course the result she may achieve is important for Canada but wouldn't it be lovely to see Rochette in Sochi focused on the competition and also having a good time?

[essence_of_soy]

At her best had she stayed in competition, Rochette could have won Worlds in 2010, 2011 and this year against the current crop.

Joannie has such as masterful, subtle blend of presentation and technique, I would love to see her come back.

[Lacey]

Wow, good for her for even contemplating this.

[Mevrouw]

Kaetlyn Osmond is likely to be the 2nd lady this year.

[Skate Talker]

There is no second lady this year. Only 1 spot for 2013 Worlds

[Mevrouw]

I didn't mean for Worlds, I meant at nationals.

[carriecmu0503]

So she said she doesn't plan to compete at 2013 worlds but will train 'intensely' this summer. My guess is no matter what we won't see her on the GP but I'll pray for a last minute decision to go to nationals and maybe we'll get lucky.

If I'm her I'm not just reviewing ISU eligibility rules, but I'm also negotiating terms to be selected to the Team Event. I assume this is her focus. Canada will likely only have one lady at Sochi and it will be the national champion, which may or may not be her. If I'm her I'd want some sort of assurance that I get the 2nd ladies spot in the team event so as not to waste my comeback. Something like "if I finish top 3 at nationals and score at least 150 points in a comp prior to Olympics you'll put me on".
That's the kind of conversation I expect will happen.

There is ONE spot for ladies in the team event. One man, one woman, one pair, one dance team. If she does not qualify to the Canadian team (likely to only be on spot, unless next year's lady does well and qualifies two spots at next year's worlds), she cannot be a part of the team. Team members must be already qualified to compete in their individual event to be a part of the team.

[arakwafan2006]

The only thing that I have a slight issue with is that Joannie will be waiting until the last minute to begin competing again at a super high level. I think that philosophy is what costed Sasha a spot on the 2010 olympic team. Granted Sasha waited until nationals to compete Joannie might want to reconsider. Her talent and skill set are not in question but rather her nerves in big The only thing that I have a slight issue with is that Joannie will be waiting until the last minute to begin competing again at a super high level. I think that philosophy is what cost Sasha a spot on the 2010 Olympic team. Granted Sasha waited until nationals to compete Joannie might want to reconsider. Her talent and skill set are not in question but rather her nerves in big events. With the exception of G&G, there are not too many ex Olympic medalists who have toured for 3 years and came back to the top of their game. Also, Joannie medaled in Vancouver but was not without fault. We shall see though

Either way i would like to see her back another year but i think she owes it to herself not to wait until the Olympic season to enter competition again.
events.

[maharbabackward]

Joannie has competed in the Japan Open every year since the Olympics. She has placed at or near the top at all times. She didn't have her lutz or triple-triple sequence but I don't think both are far from her arsenal as they were always fairly consistent. I've always thought it was unfortunate that Joannie stepped out of the competitive limelight because the new rules (the triple toe half loop triple salchow counting as a three jump combination) really work for her. Plus, look at the technical deficiencies of Kostner and Asada now and how she has the same tech content as Ando but IMO much better PCS, and she really could have been world champ the last two worlds. Canada's chance at gold in the team competition is bleak, unless she is on it. With her on it we have two gold medal potentials (V&M, Chan), Joannie (not definite medalist even if she regains her tech d/t upcoming Russians, but potential) and a solid top five-ten pairs team.

[blue_idealist]

The only thing that I have a slight issue with is that Joannie will be waiting until the last minute to begin competing again at a super high level. I think that philosophy is what costed Sasha a spot on the 2010 olympic team. Granted Sasha waited until nationals to compete Joannie might want to reconsider. Her talent and skill set are not in question but rather her nerves in big The only thing that I have a slight issue with is that Joannie will be waiting until the last minute to begin competing again at a super high level. I think that philosophy is what cost Sasha a spot on the 2010 Olympic team. Granted Sasha waited until nationals to compete Joannie might want to reconsider. Her talent and skill set are not in question but rather her nerves in big events. With the exception of G&G, there are not too many ex Olympic medalists who have toured for 3 years and came back to the top of their game. Also, Joannie medaled in Vancouver but was not without fault. We shall see though

Either way i would like to see her back another year but i think she owes it to herself not to wait until the Olympic season to enter competition again.
events.

If nothing else, I think she should at least do the GP in Fall 2013, not start at Nationals 2014 hoping to qualify for the Olympics. I know that the current Canadian ladies aren't so hot but it almost seems unfair to them for her to 'waltz' in after being out of competition and grab the spot, if there is still only one spot (although I know Yu-Na has bumped Min-Jeong Kwak like this before).

[euterpe]

Joannie has competed in the Japan Open every year since the Olympics. She has placed at or near the top at all times. She didn't have her lutz or triple-triple sequence but I don't think both are far from her arsenal as they were always fairly consistent. I've always thought it was unfortunate that Joannie stepped out of the competitive limelight because the new rules (the triple toe half loop triple salchow counting as a three jump combination) really work for her. Plus, look at the technical deficiencies of Kostner and Asada now and how she has the same tech content as Ando but IMO much better PCS, and she really could have been world champ the last two worlds. Canada's chance at gold in the team competition is bleak, unless she is on it. With her on it we have two gold medal potentials (V&M, Chan), Joannie (not definite medalist even if she regains her tech d/t upcoming Russians, but potential) and a solid top five-ten pairs team.

There is a BIG, BIG difference between skating a FS in the Japanese Open and doing TWO SPs and TWO FSs at the Olympics.

[Jammers]

The only thing that I have a slight issue with is that Joannie will be waiting until the last minute to begin competing again at a super high level. I think that philosophy is what costed Sasha a spot on the 2010 olympic team. Granted Sasha waited until nationals to compete Joannie might want to reconsider. Her talent and skill set are not in question but rather her nerves in big The only thing that I have a slight issue with is that Joannie will be waiting until the last minute to begin competing again at a super high level. I think that philosophy is what cost Sasha a spot on the 2010 Olympic team. Granted Sasha waited until nationals to compete Joannie might want to reconsider. Her talent and skill set are not in question but rather her nerves in big events. With the exception of G&G, there are not too many ex Olympic medalists who have toured for 3 years and came back to the top of their game. Also, Joannie medaled in Vancouver but was not without fault. We shall see though

Either way i would like to see her back another year but i think she owes it to herself not to wait until the Olympic season to enter competition again.
events.

Joannie has the advantage of not facing nearly as tough competition as Sasha did at US Nats 2010 even without the US having dominate skaters.

[MR-FAN]

I LOOOVVEEE Joannie and would love the excitement her return would bring to the ladies field!!!!

I'm sure this has been posted somewhere, but here is a recent video interview with Joannie and PJ Kwong re. Her possible return and the state of ladies skating in Canada (boy is she gorgeous! Like fine wine )

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lEDs6BtugGY

[victorskid]

This might be a better link for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEDs6BtugGY

[Really]

I would love to see Joannie come back to competitive skating, but only if that's what she really wants to do.

[RumbleFish]

I don't know whether she will medal in Sochi, but one thing for sure, she will be more competitive than Asada and Kostner.

[seabm7]

(although I know Yu-Na has bumped Min-Jeong Kwak like this before).

Are you talking about the championship title at the Korean national or a spot in the World championships? It's true that Yu-Na didn't compete at the Korean Nationals for several years. However, her placement at the World brought two spots to Korea for the 2008-2012 seasons. IIRC, Min-Jeong Kwak never missed a senior-level ISU championships so far.

[npavel]

I don't know whether she will medal in Sochi, but one thing for sure, she will be more competitive than Asada and Kostner.

I'm not so sure. I always enjoyed Rochette, I think she is in the same league as Kostner and Asada. On each day every one can defeat the other one, so it is which one has better nerves in the moment. Kostner has defeated her many times, and while Rochette had her best years in 2009 and 2010, and that is were Kostners worst years, now Kostner has turned consistent and Rochette hasn't competed since. No idea where she would be now.

[RumbleFish]

I'm not so sure. I always enjoyed Rochette, I think she is in the same league as Kostner and Asada. On each day every one can defeat the other one, so it is which one has better nerves in the moment. Kostner has defeated her many times, and while Rochette had her best years in 2009 and 2010, and that is were Kostners worst years, now Kostner has turned consistent and Rochette hasn't competed since. No idea where she would be now.

Like others have posted above, Rochette has competed in Japan Open. AFAIK, she has skated pretty well in those events and has shown that she has kept in shape.

Kostner, on the otherhand, has watered down her technical content considerably these couple of years.

If Rochette can bring her strengths, i.e. rare ability to land all 5 types of triples and her 3T-half loop-3S combo, she will have the edge over Kostner with out the lutz.

As for PCS, I would have them evenly matched. They both have excellent skating skills and capable of performing to music.

[Proustable]

1. Canada has one spot next year at Worlds.

2. The Olympic spots are given first to the nations with two or three spots, and then the remainder are decided at a designated senior B, right? I believe it was Nebelhorn before Vancouver.

3. So if the Canadian lady at Worlds 2013 is outside the top ten, Canada doesn't have a guaranteed spot at the Olympics. However, one of the rules with regards to the team event is that a qualifying nation is allowed to submit one entry should they not qualify in singles, if I understand it.

Should be interesting next season.