If You Had to Choose - Oly Silver/Bronze vs. World Gold

[ilovepaydays]

Olympic medalist. I think the Olympics vs. worlds medals comparison works in every other sport as well. For example, I can't think of anyone who knows or really cares about the 33 world medals that Michael Phelps had won. But they definitely know that he won 28 Olympic medals.

Same goes for Usain Bolt. It's not looking good for him to win the 100m gold at Worlds next month. But most people won't remember or care. They just remember what he did in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

 

[emason]

I picked World Gold for the reason that I would be on top of the podium hearing my national anthem played for me. Olympic Bronze or Silver would mean I would hear someone else's anthem and know I came up short. Again, though, it does depend on expectations. If you were, for example, Carruthers and Carruthers and widely thought of to have a shot at Bronze and you exceeded all expectations by getting Silver, I would think you would be mighty thrilled with the outcome.

 

[Bellanca]

it does depend on expectations. If you were, for example, Carruthers and Carruthers and widely thought of to have a shot at Bronze and you exceeded all expectations by getting Silver, I would think you would be mighty thrilled with the outcome.

And they were!! It was a beautiful moment!!

 

[chapis]

Olympic medalist. I think the Olympics vs. worlds medals comparison works in every other sport as well. For example, I can't think of anyone who knows or really cares about the 33 world medals that Michael Phelps had won. But they definitely know that he won 28 Olympic medals.

Same goes for Usain Bolt. It's not looking good for him to win the 100m gold at Worlds next month. But most people won't remember or care. They just remember what he did in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

Yes, but I dont know and I dont care who won the olympic silver or bronze. They are famous because their records and they are olympic gold medalist.

 

[Bellanca]

Winning among the best, so winning the World Championship. The Olympics is really only about as good as a World Championship, and the rest in just marketing.

The thing is, this poll will never shake out fairly, a lot of Asada and Kwan fans here. So, of course, the world championship title is more relevant, important and desired!

 

[bardtoob]

The thing is, this poll will never shake out fairly, a lot of Asada and Kwan fans here. So, of course, the world championship title is more relevant, important and desired!

Michelle has every medal mentioned on the poll ... As does Irina

 

[chapis]

The thing is, this poll will never shake out fairly, a lot of Asada and Kwan fans here. So, of course, the world championship title is more relevant, important and desired!

But both are olympic silver medalist .

 

[Bellanca]

But both are olympic silver medalist .

Yes, they are. I'm thread-drifting a little and talking about the Olympic GOLD medal, and for that my sincere apologies to @danibellerika.

 

[Bellanca]

Michelle has every medal mentioned on the poll ... As does Irina

Yup! On the poll ... not on the books.

 

[bardtoob]

Yup! On the poll ... not on the books.

Yeah . . . The Olympic Gold Medal is only reserved for a select few, like Sarah Hughes

 

[Bellanca]

Yeah . . . The Olympic Gold Medal is only reserved for a select few, like Sarah Hughes

Predictably, here come the Sarah Hughes potshots.

If Irina and Michelle had delivered that day... but they didn't. So, who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?

This thread has officially Talk about old, dead, topics. Sheesh!

 

[giselle23]

Kwan wanted that Olympic gold medal so badly that in fact, she stayed in the sport a little too long chasing after it. I don’t care how many World titles a skater can rack up, if they were favored for gold (and even if they weren’t) and they didn’t win it, they still want it.

Kurt Browning did say that he would exchange his World titles for one Olympic gold medal, and then (not quoting verbatim) he said, ‘ok, maybe I’ll keep one World title.’

The athletes want both, but if they could choose one, and only one, between the two, it’s Olympic gold, and for most, any Olympic medal is desired.

This is about Olympic silver and bronze, not Olympic gold.

 

[giselle23]

Some skaters, like Irina Slutskaya, are disappointed with their Olympic silver and bronze medals. I think she values her World gold medals more. I actually think most skaters would rather stand on top of the podium at Worlds rather than just on the podium at the Olympics.

 

[bardtoob]

Predictably, here come the Sarah Hughes potshots.

Why do you think it is a potshot?

If Irina and Michelle had delivered that day... but they didn't. So, who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?

I said the same thinking about Michelle, Irina, and Cohen recently, so this makes no sense.

This thread has officially Talk about old, dead, topics. Sheesh!

You brought up Kwan and Asada. Why did you do that?

Why did you bring up medals that are not on the poll?

You derailed the thread. Are you happy?

 

[bardtoob]

Predictably, here come the Sarah Hughes potshots.

Why do you think it is a potshot?

If Irina and Michelle had delivered that day... but they didn't. So, who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?

I said the same thinking about Michelle, Irina, and Cohen recently, so this makes no sense.

This thread has officially Talk about old, dead, topics. Sheesh!

You brought up Kwan and Asada. Why did you do that?

Why did you bring up medals that are not on the poll?

You derailed the thread. Are you happy?

 

[bardtoob]

My philosophy, as a former athlete in a different sport, is that it feels better to be the winner on any podium than second or third on any podium.

... Its the hate to lose philosophy that athletes like Phelps and Lipinski talk about.

 

[tylersf]

Tough choice AND a good thread topic.

I'll pick Olympic medal. From a post-Olympic financial standpoint, depending on how good my agent was, I would probably get more mileage out of the Olympic medal. The case in point is Nancy Kerrigan. She was the heiress apparent post 1992 after Yamaguchi's gold medal. Nancy had tons of potential to win the World and Olympic gold medal. Nerves seemed to get the best of her at the big events. However, she did do a nice job in the 1994 Olympics, but not nearly even to win in the eyes of the judges. Her agent and later husband, Jerry Solomon did a masterful job at getting her endorsements in the 2 years leading up to the Olympics.

Her 1992 Olympic Bronze and 1994 Olympic Silver Medal got her a $10 million deal with Disney and a host of other endorsements. She manages to keep herself in the spotlight with special appearances on TV and elsewhere.

I don't think Yamaguchi's 1991 World Gold and 1992 Olympic Gold earned as much. This could actually be another thread on a different topic.

Michelle Kwan is similar to Nancy in Olympic medals, but she has 9 US National Championships and 5 World Championship Gold Medals. She also has a lot of traction in the skating world, great endorsements, high public appeal, lots of public service and a good education.

Okay so an interesting convo came up between a friend and me and so I'd like some other skating people to weigh in. Would you rather have a World title or an Olympic medal that isn't gold? For this poll they are mutually exclusive.

Personally I think I side with winning a world title because at least it's something where I won the gold. And for the Olympics it's a question of if you won silver or bronze vs. lost the gold. Might be more of a bitter sweet moment. Of course down the line in life someone might feel great about it because there is a lot of prestige that comes from standing on an Olympic podium.

 

[el henry]

If you don't know or care who the Men's Oly Bronze medalist was in 1976, that is your misfortune.

And if you can tell me who won men's Worlds gold in 73, 74 and 75 (76 being way too easy) without Google, you're smarter than me. And I will bet mucho dollars that no one outside these Boards can.

I'm sticking with the Oly bronze over Worlds gold

 

[Bellanca]

This is about Olympic silver and bronze, not Olympic gold.

Yes, I know @giselle23, it was an unintentional thread drift.

You know who loved her Olympic bronze?! Nancy K. That was probably a better memory for her than the silver was, considering the circumstances. IMO.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I know what my answer is (World gold). But it would be interesting to know what actual athletes think.

For example, what does Patrick Chan value more--his Olympic silver or his World titles?

Totes.

Id rather be called to the ice as World Champion than Olympic Silver Medalist, but thats just me.

 

[Bellanca]

Why do you think it is a potshot?



I said the same thinking about Michelle, Irina, and Cohen recently, so this makes no sense.



You brought up Kwan and Asada. Why did you do that?

Why did you bring up medals that are not on the poll?

You derailed the thread. Are you happy?

Come on! Relax. I clearly used certain emoticons to show I was having some fun w/ it all. It's a forum, not life or death.

There is a desire for many to take away the accomplishments of those who win Olympic medals, and were not suppose to, especially if it is gold. Suddenly, being a World champion becomes the ultimate title to have when favorites do not come away with the Olympic win, or they 'settle' for silver or bronze.

So many athletes feel blessed to have earned a silver or a bronze. I think it is fantastic!

I am not trying to water down a World title, but Olympic medals are special, no matter what color they happen to be. There is no shame if you get the silver or the bronze. Gold is the crown jewel, for sure. That is understood. Also, being an Olympian in sports ... It doesn't get any better than that!

 

[julieann]

Winning among the best, so winning the World Championship. The Olympics is really only about as good as a World Championship, and the rest in just marketing.

The Olympics have the best marketing in the business but it seems fleeting and I doubt they'll last much longer, countries don't seem interested in hosting. I really don't get the pomp and circumstance of the Olympics. It's really just for TV audiences. Although some of those Olympic medals are impressive, the ISU world medals...not so much.

 

[DimaToe]

Everyone makes a good point but being able to call yourself a world champion is a nice thing to have. The Olympic medals probably do open more opportunities like sponsorships and more exposure in general. Although I'd pick being a figure skating world champion.

 

[attyfan]

IMO, it is a question of scarcity that gives the medals their value. Oly medals are available only every four years, while World medals are available every year -- that there are fewer Oly medals available means that one Oly medal (even if silver or bronze) outweighs one world medal (even if gold). This, IMO, is why certain skaters are valued even without an OGM (or even without an Oly medal of any color). There are fewer four (or more) time world champs than there are Oly medalists so Kurt Browning and Michelle Kwan have a competitive record that is scarcer -- and so more valuable -- than an Oly medal.

 

[VGThuy]

I think it's a very individualistic question that no one here can answer as no one who posted here has any of the medals mentioned in this poll, so all the supposition of what the athletes prefer is just one projecting their own feelings and/or using it to undermine the accomplishments of certain skaters due to their own hang-ups and issues against certain skaters. It really depends on that skater's expectations, feelings of the medal received (at the time and in retrospect), and how that skater performed.

All the talk about which medals leads to success and endorsements is also being used selectively to make points. Kerrigan became a successful silver medalist but she also received a certain celebrity before those games. Kwan's 1998 silver medal helped her no doubt but it was her continued dominance in-between 1998 and 2002 and even to 2006 that made her an established name in the sport and the go-to name for the American public with all those endorsements and specials she did. I think it was a combination of her Olympic success and journey (she committing to 2002 already helped her sign up endorsements) plus her success at Worlds and Nationals worked together. It's far from an either/or answer.

 

[Dobre]

I think, in the end, most want the great skate. A performance to be proud of. I've heard from Olympic gold medalists who have regrets because the performance wasn't up to their own standard, and have heard from athletes who missed the podium and considered the performance to be the best moment of their career. A great skate. Be it at Worlds or the Olympics. But a great skate.

 

[Vash01]

Same for Yuzuru. And for someone like him I think he actually would want the Gold no matter what or where. I feel like he probably covets his GPF victories more than his non-world golds for instance.

Yuzuru won the world championship in the same year he won the OGM, and he won worlds in 2017. So I don't understand your comment.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Even as a young child I sensed that there was something magical about the Olympics that a Worlds could not quite duplicate (as awesome it would be to win World gold!!!). It is an awesome festival of sport and has over 2000 years of history behind it (it's even referenced in the Bible!). So an Olympic medal of any color for me. It comes around just once every four years thus far more elusive than a World championships that comes around every year. I also remember many years ago watching an interview with a U.S. track athlete (I can't remember her name but she was a sprinter). She said something along the lines of 'you can win 10 World Championships and no one may remember you. Win an Olympic medal and people may remember you forever'. It helps that the Games have a huge, much bigger audience than a World Championships (as far as being remembered by those once every four years fans). I think this may be true to an extent but if you're extra special, like a Michelle Kwan or a Janet Lynn, people will remember you always even if you don't win the Olympics or even a World title (like Lynn).

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

LOL, a World championship is now "a dime a dozen"? I doubt very much that Sui/Han and Duhamel/Radford would see it that way--in both cases, their World golds were the hard-fought result of 10+ years in pairs skating. Would be very surprised if they felt anything but total joy and respect at winning those titles ... of course Olympic medals are what any athlete hopes for, but let's be real here. Who do people remember-- Michelle Kwan, or Petr Barna? Kurt Browning, or Philippe Candeloro?

I think a LOT of people who watched Candeloro remember his unique programs in his
Olympic years.

 

[briancoogaert]

Who do people remember-- Michelle Kwan, or Petr Barna? Kurt Browning, or Philippe Candeloro?

Not fair comparisons, Michelle Kwan and Kurt Browning were iconic before the Olympics because of their mulitples World titles
Anyway, being remembered is not the only goal. For example, in France everybody knows Philippe Candeloro, he is more famous than Brian Joubert. But it's not just about their skating career.