Meoima
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Morozombie has written a new blog entry about men event at Shanghai:
http://morozombie.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-worlds-recap-men.html#more
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Despite this season undoubtedly being his annus horribilis, Yuzuru Hanyu placed second overall at Worlds, winning the short program but falling to third in the long. In most other circumstances, a silver medal at Worlds would be disappointing to a reigning World and Olympic champion, but in the context of Mr. Hanyu's bizarrely extensive litany of illnesses and injuries he has suffered this season, it's difficult to see the World silver as anything but a triumph. I was most impressed by Mr. Hanyu's sheer determination in the long program--after catastrophically blowing his first two jumping passes, Mr. Hanyu pulled himself together and nailed the rest of the program. Somehow he managed to remain upright despite his jumps not being anywhere near his best (some of them tilted, tight, landed with little flow). It was sheer force of will landing those jumps, and it reminded me of Elena Radionova's tenacious and equally admirable performance just a few hours prior.
As for the short program--I can think of no higher compliment to give but to say that I do not think that Mr. Hanyu would've been capable of adequately skating his Chopin short program as little as two or even one year ago. It really speaks to his development as a skater--despite my common use of that epithet in the past, I would not call Mr. Hanyu a wet noodle given how he skates now. It's extremely impressive how Mr. Orser was able to excise the ragged gangliness from Mr. Hanyu's skating, as well as increase the quality of his skating skills and stamina. Had Mr. Hanyu been healthy (or even just slightly less banged-up this season), I have little doubt that Mr. Hanyu would be the 2015 World Champion. Even skating nowhere near his best, Mr. Hanyu lost the world title by under three points. For next season, then, I hope Mr. Hanyu will be able to remain healthy as well as bring back the beautiful original choreography of his Chopin short program.
http://morozombie.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-worlds-recap-men.html#more
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Despite this season undoubtedly being his annus horribilis, Yuzuru Hanyu placed second overall at Worlds, winning the short program but falling to third in the long. In most other circumstances, a silver medal at Worlds would be disappointing to a reigning World and Olympic champion, but in the context of Mr. Hanyu's bizarrely extensive litany of illnesses and injuries he has suffered this season, it's difficult to see the World silver as anything but a triumph. I was most impressed by Mr. Hanyu's sheer determination in the long program--after catastrophically blowing his first two jumping passes, Mr. Hanyu pulled himself together and nailed the rest of the program. Somehow he managed to remain upright despite his jumps not being anywhere near his best (some of them tilted, tight, landed with little flow). It was sheer force of will landing those jumps, and it reminded me of Elena Radionova's tenacious and equally admirable performance just a few hours prior.
As for the short program--I can think of no higher compliment to give but to say that I do not think that Mr. Hanyu would've been capable of adequately skating his Chopin short program as little as two or even one year ago. It really speaks to his development as a skater--despite my common use of that epithet in the past, I would not call Mr. Hanyu a wet noodle given how he skates now. It's extremely impressive how Mr. Orser was able to excise the ragged gangliness from Mr. Hanyu's skating, as well as increase the quality of his skating skills and stamina. Had Mr. Hanyu been healthy (or even just slightly less banged-up this season), I have little doubt that Mr. Hanyu would be the 2015 World Champion. Even skating nowhere near his best, Mr. Hanyu lost the world title by under three points. For next season, then, I hope Mr. Hanyu will be able to remain healthy as well as bring back the beautiful original choreography of his Chopin short program.
