Unrealistic expectations

[TLynn]

I'm a fairly new poster, although I have read the comments on this board for 6 months or so. I like this forum because I adore Michelle Kwan and appreciate the typically thoughtful and positive remarks made by all of you. That said, there has been an awful lot of doom and gloom lately, and I think we need to put things in perspective. First of all, I personally think her year as a full-time student and real teenager has been wonderful for her. I am a university music prof and a performing pianist, and I have seen so many upcoming musicians who basically had no childhood because of the hours and hours of daily practice from the age of four or so. Many of these folks grew up bitter, burned out, injured, and/or very one-sided as human beings. Many didn't even succeed as professional musicians. The point I am making is that Michelle deserves some time to be "normal"--in the long run, these new experiences can only help her. I think she will then approach the crucial pre-Olympic years with the knowledge that she did something for herself in 1999-2000, not just to please her coach, her fans, and the judges. I'm glad she took the freedom to make this choice. And if she elects to continue on a more typical college student's path and retire tomorrow (which I seriously doubt), the skating world will feel a VERY large void, but she will be doing what is right for her. Do I think her skating has shown the effects of the overwhelming demands for her time? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Her schedule has probably prevented her from "upping the technical ante" as has been discussed so many times, but we have no reason to believe that this will not change when her college load lightens. After all, she did start out as a "jumping bean." The main problem just seems to be that of exhaustion. If she does a competition one weekend, goes back to school the next, and is back competing the following weekend, it is going to be very difficult for her to show her top form at the latter event. All performers experience this--when I am ill or tired, my playing reflects it. Considering the circumstances, I think Michelle has done admirably. I loved her Skate America and Japan Open performances, for instance. She can't be perfect all the time! And speaking of being perfect, can you think of any other recent female skater who has done so consistently well (top 1 or 2) in every competition for so long? Absolutely not. Butyrskaya, Slutskaya, and Hubert have all been around for a while, but none have even approached Kwan's track record. The last two female gold medalists, with all due respect, never had to stand the test of time--both had significant eligible success over the course of about a year, and then went into the pro world where the technical requirements and overall expectations are much less stringent. And both Baiul and Lipinski had their share of less-than-inspired performances in the Olympic year. Michelle has an unbelievable record, including many well-deserved titles (as well as a few other titles/medals that I feel she deserved too, but I won't go there!). She may not win everything in this, her "experimental" year. But then again she may do very well at Nats and Worlds--if you are concerned about the lack of triple-triples, consider those instances when a highly-touted, technically ambitious program was not performed particularly well ('88 and '92 Olympics, Ladies, for instance.) And 3-3 combos or no 3-3 combos, NOBODY can compare to Michelle in carriage, polish, beauty of jumps and landings, interpretation of music, and the ability to emotionally move the spectator. So, to summarize a very long post (sorry!), let Michelle enjoy her year. Appreciate the many qualities she has to offer, know that she constantly strives to improve, and realize that she and Frank have probably carefully thought out their game plan. Don't count her out--she has more to give. Think good thoughts!

[Brian]

TLynn I agree with everything you said. There has been so much negative energy around these boards. Everyone worried MK will loose, will be overshadowed by Sarah, etc. Also in MK's recent press conference that I posted she says she is taking a lighter load this semester.

[kwanette]

Great post....ITA....

[mano]

ITA with all you said. I'm guilty of being a doom and gloom person. However, your post as well as posts by sw10025, Lavender, armchairskater, and a whole slew of others (Thanks folks) has helped soothe the jitters. That plus the article on MK on USA today and her press conference have done plenty to assure me. So now, I'm just going to enjoy the Nationals and am supremely happy that we get to see MK this weekend, yey!!!

[Beth2000]

Tlynn, wow you have put into words that many of us have been wanting to say and just couldn't get it out. ITA with everything you said. Brian I read your article and it was great! I have only felt a few people have negative thoughts but have been trying to get them to think positive. Do you know how hard that is? LOL! We should all keep thinking positive and let MK enjoy her year as a "real" teenager, b/c next year she will be working really hard on her skating.

[Beth2000]

Oh yeah Tlynn, forgot one other thing, Welcome to the Kwan forum.

[lavender]

I'm glad I was able to help someone feel better. Oh, don't forget deetlebug and kwanette.

[dreamr]

You guys really make a person feel better. I am also a person who should be accused of Doom and Gloom! I am at a point where my mind set is that Michelle is going to lose! :( Just to prepare myself if it does happen. I read all of the articles on the other girls and what they are attemption and I think "Oh NO!!" Then I read Michelle's articles and she is just so uplifting. Then I come read here and Deetlbug among others just continue to lift my spirits and make me think that maybe it is possible. Thanks....

[Beth2000]

dreamr you just have to believe! You like Mano will be back on the internet screaming and yelling "Wow did you see the great programs that MK did?!" I will tell you like I told Mano, just keep telling yourself, Michelle will win the Nationals, Michelle will win the Nationals, Michelle will win the Nationals, and maybe all of us doing that will send Michelle the message and she will shine! Michelle is going to do good no matter what.

[sw10025]

TLynn, we all aren't doom and gloom naysayers, just a couple of us are a little more prone to worrying and fretting than they really should be. :-) The mood on this board really switches back and forth, particularly with the important competitions, where people get excited and confident one minute, and then a rumor starts on another board that so-and-so is practicing a quad and all heck breaks loose. Then the rest of us point out the realities and logic of the situation, and the nervous one(s) calm down until the next half-baked rumor or alleged jump combo. We Kwanatics have had a few ups and downs and disappointments along with our skater, so we do tend to get a little more concerned than perhaps is merited. I personally agree that college can and will be a wonderful experience for Michelle -- not only in her personal growth as a human being, in making new friends, learning, expanding her horizons, etc., but as a skater as well. I'm sure that college is making skating seem comparatively easy and fun. It also gives her something to focus and direct her perfectionist tendencies on, so that she isn't thinking about skating 24 hours a day. She's had to focus more during training, to get as much out of her limited training time as possible, she's probably had to become more efficient, more I also believe that learning and building her analytical skills will assist, as well as enhancing her overall sense of self and self-assurance. And the good news is she's only taking one class this semester, so more time for practicing!

[april]

Great post TLynn! I agree with what you are saying. I have to admit I'm guilty of having high expectations of MK although win or lose, she's still numero uno in my book!

[Rene]

I'm sorta in the middle. I do think school has affected her skating...OTOH, I DON'T think she should quit. I am glad that she's only taking one class next year. Pure selfishness on my part. I want her to get better at skating each year, tech and artistically and I think that would be difficult with a full load at school...OTOH, I'm not one of the worried. Just normal before comp worries.

[icesktfn]

As a teacher, I am so proud of Michelle's attitude that there is more to life than skating. This shows that Michelle has everything in perspective. She loves to skate, but wants to enjoy her young adult years. She knows what she needs to do, and deserves to have some fun mixed in with her serious work. When it's all said and done Michelle will go down, as one of the most revered and respected skaters of all time. She was consistent over the course of her entire career. She handled her dispointments with grace and courage. She showed the world the true definition of sportsmanship. She showed the young people of this century that education is also important. Give her time...she'll catch up! And if she takes the silver this year(at world's)...it'll just give her a little more incentive to come back and earn the gold next year. Hmmm, National Champion, World Champion, Olympic Champion, a degree...not bad, not bad at all! icesktfn

[mano]

Can't forget Deetles and Kwanette. SJB can be added to that list to thank. Just to prepare everybody, next mood in MKF maybe either elation or depression or somewhere in between depending on what happens on Nationals. The down times are when the perspective forumers have to work the hardest to keep us out of our doldrums, heehee.

[IzzyS]

Am I the only one who thinks Michelle seems happier than ever these days? I can't really say what it is exactly--I want to say it's her new life at UCLA--but it's made me less worried about how she performs. Like at GPF, she seemed genuinely happy with her performance and happy for Irina, too. I can only think that it's going to enhance her performance on the ice. BTW, since UCLA is on the quarter system, if Michelle is only taking one class this quarter (3 is a full load on this system), the quarter is only ten weeks long, and a new quarter will start in late March/early April. So she can lighten her course load during the Winter Quarter (early January to late March) when the most important competitions take place, then go back to school full time in the Spring Quarter. I think UCLA might have two condensed terms during the summer, if I'm not mistaken, so she can make up lost time then. Not that I'm mapping her life out, of course, but just an explanation. The quarter system can be difficult because it moves so fast, but for someone in Michelle's situation, it's perfect.

[GinnySmith]

Thanks for a much needed, very refreshing post. ITA--I'm very proud of her and happy that she is getting a chance to "be one of the kids on campus." You said it all, very equisitely. And, IzzyS, Michelle does seem happier these days. ; ) !!!

[ML]

WOWwwwwwwwwwww --- great wisdom :) ITA :) Nice to have you on board Tlynn :D Hope you'll share your thoughts with us more often :)

[Rene]

we pretty much all agree on the fact that Michelle seems happier. I haven't heard any disagreement on that one yet.

[lindy3]

Great post, and welcome! :) Please post more often, what a great addition to the family....LOL

[SJB]

Tlynn, you are right on the mark. And thanks mano, I didn't know that what I posted might lift someone's spirits! You have just lifted mine.

[TLynn]

Thanks for the kind words, folks!