Yuna Kim announces her comeback to competitive skating

[Carolla5501]

Are you some kind of Idiot? Then What is your opinion? Tell me.

Don't be mean, or elusive. Just tell your high opinion.

Stop stabbing someone's back in the shade. Just tell your opinions. I don't think you are sharp or smart. always thought you are a stupid snob.

Just out of curiosity are you still in elementary school? Because it sounds like you think you are the playground bully!

However, you actually resemble the comments you posted.

[clara00]

Wow, its a great news!

good luck Yuna !!

[l'etoile]

Just out of curiosity are you still in elementary school? Because it sounds like you think you are the playground bully!

However, you actually resemble the comments you posted.

Just ignore those posts and if you feel like it, report them (well I did)

[Carolla5501]

Just ignore those posts and if you feel like it, report them (well I did)

I kind of found it amusing. I assume the poster is in 4th grade (at least mentally) Reminds me of why I don't miss school...

[AxelAnnie]

I would love to be wrong in my opinion....cause I think Yu-Na is one of the most beautiful skaters to ever grace the ice......however, I can't imagine she can (or would) go back to the life she had where she was totally and single-mindedly focused on one goal...,.,that OGM.

After two years of "freedom" and an actual life, I can't imagine that she (or anyone) could find the inner strength to go back to the kind of regimen she would have to put herself back into, to come back at a level with which she would be satisfied.

[Iceman]

Was Michelle ever labelled "arrogant" when she decided to go coach less at the Olympics? I don't recall that she was. And how many competitions was she in prior to her last Olympic bid? Only one cheesfest at which only her short was skated, I believe.

[Prancer]

Was Michelle ever labelled "arrogant" when she decided to go coach less at the Olympics?

The word "insane" was used more often, but yes, I remember Michelle being labeled "arrogant."

[milanessa]

The word "insane" was used more often, but yes, I remember Michelle being labeled "arrogant."

I think I used the word "nuts".

[Ziggy]

She stated that she will train in Korea, but I don't think there is a coach capable of handling skater of her caliber.

It's Korean coaches who gave her her basics and it's Korean coaches who coached her to her first international titles.

Why wouldn't they be capable of handling her?

She can always consult with other coaches.

I mean for example, she could have her jumps recorded and then the videos sent to a foreign specialist who would analyse them on Dartfish and give tips.

Oh, a comeback that starts with a press conference . . . never a good sign.

Kim is a superstar in Korea, obviously her decision to return to competition is major news there.

Also, she surely wants endorsement and sponsorship deals out of this. Hence, she needs to keep her profile as high as possible.

[bardtoob]

Oh, a comeback that starts with a press conference . . . never a good sign.

Kim is a superstar in Korea, obviously her decision to return to competition is major news there.

Also, she surely wants endorsement and sponsorship deals out of this. Hence, she needs to keep her profile as high as possible.

I was thinking of the Evan Lysacek and Shawn Johnson celebrity type of comeback when I wrote that, which has not really yielded much in athletic results

I was hoping Yu Na would do it more the athlete way rather than the celebrity way, that is register to compete, train, compete, and collect platinum medals. I like to think of skating as a sport rather than a pageant.

I'm certain Yu Na wants endorsement deals and sponsorship, but I'm certain she has more than enough money to cover the cost of competing, so any new deals would not exactly be to support her training.

Somebody mentioned Midori Ito earlier in the thread. Her comeback in 1996 just made her miserable and also did not yield much except a bleeding ulcer.

[RumbleFish]

It's Korean coaches who gave her her basics and it's Korean coaches who coached her to her first international titles.

Why wouldn't they be capable of handling her?

She can always consult with other coaches.

I mean for example, she could have her jumps recorded and then the videos sent to a foreign specialist who would analyse them on Dartfish and give tips.

For technical stuff, I agree with what you are saying.
But I think there are more to coaching an elite athlete at the highest level, i.e. things like inspring, motivating, and even politiking in some cases.

Would her former coaches be able to keep their nerves under control at the biggest stages such as olympics and not freak out?
Perhaps, but I wouldn't be so certain.

[magnolia]

Watching Yuna skate this year, it occured to me that the only jump technique that is sound for her is the axel. I'm guessing Brian coached that jump for her but it seems he didn't try and change any of the other jumps.

[Ziggy]

RumbleFish, I get your point. I guess a high profile skater like this wants a coach who experienced it all.

I like to think of skating as a sport rather than a pageant.

Well it is both. And not just skating, all other sports too.

Whether you're keen on celebrity stuff or not, I think that whatever brings more attention to skating is good.

I'm certain Yu Na wants endorsement deals and sponsorship, but I'm certain she has more than enough money to cover the cost of competing, so any new deals would not exactly be to support her training.

Why shouldn't she make money out of being an athlete?

Watching Yuna skate this year, it occured to me that the only jump technique that is sound for her is the axel. I'm guessing Brian coached that jump for her but it seems he didn't try and change any of the other jumps.

What's wrong with her other jumps?

[bardtoob]

Whether you're keen on celebrity stuff or not, I think that whatever brings more attention to skating is good.

Why shouldn't she make money out of being an athlete?

I don't think Yu Na would be hurting for endorsements if she just focused on skating since her skating is what earned her celebrity in the first place, especially since she can probably still skate very well.

And I don't like celebrities that are celebrities for being celebrities, and it is particularly strange that an athlete, somebody that is suppose to yield results, would participate in the media that way . . . and I am not just talking about Yu Na, but also Weir, Cohen, etc.

[magnolia]

I was referring to her toe jumps. The way she picks the ice was not ideal and would cause under-rotation in anyone with less entry speed. Yuna's entry speed used to be spectacular. For her to be able to do 3-3 with the same technique might now be difficult. (The ideal textbook toe pick, for comparison, would be Elizaveta's.)

[TripleWallie]

Watching Yuna skate this year, it occured to me that the only jump technique that is sound for her is the axel. I'm guessing Brian coached that jump for her but it seems he didn't try and change any of the other jumps.

Yuna's always had a great Axel technique and besides it's the easiest jump. Of course she can still do it well without very rigorous training. Even Midori Ito at 42 years old can still do a great double Axel.

Now that she's been on break for a while, her triples need some work. The double Axel is probably what she practices the most at the Taereung rink, where she "trained" in the last year.

[Ziggy]

I don't think Yu Na would be hurting for endorsements if she just focused on skating since her skating is what earned her celebrity in the first place, especially since she can probably still skate very well.

And I don't like celebrities that are celebrities for being celebrities, and it is particularly strange that an athlete, somebody that is suppose to yield results, would participate in the media that way . . . and I am not just talking about Yu Na, but also Weir, Cohen, etc.

But athletes aren't celebrities for being celebrities. They are celebrities for being athletes.

And if somebody sponsors/endorses you, then they expect you to keep as high as profile as possible given you are representing them.

[magnolia]

If the technique's sound and as long as there's no injury, you can usually expect the skater to keep the triples for at least the first few years after retirement. Look at Shizuka.

[TripleWallie]

If the technique's sound and as long as there's no injury, you can usually expect the skater to keep the triples for at least the first few years after retirement. Look at Shizuka.

I think Shizuka worked and trained a lot harder than Yuna to maintain her triples. Yuna on the other hand allowed herself to take on many other non-skating activities, and she only does two shows a year. Shizuka really embraced her pro career after her Olympic gold and did many shows, and still does many shows.

In any case, we won't have to wait too long to see the state of Yuna's triples. Apparently she's going to skate in October in Korea's ranking competitions. (A qualifier for the nationals, I believe.)

[l'etoile]

Yuna's strengths are toe jumps like lutz, flip, and toe-loop. I'm not sure how her toe picking is not ideal but it does give her a rare quality of delayed rotations and zero pre-rotation.