Michelle and the Olympics

[JoBoKwanAddict]

I'm excited for Michelle and the Olympics this upcoming year. I have some thoughts, and the first is that I hope she skates well, and wins a medal. Gold would be amazing, but quite simply, it would be amazing to see a FIGURE SKATER especially a SINGLES skater win three medals at three seperate Olympics. I don't know of a singles skater who has done that? Anyway, i think Michelle definitely must do the Grand Prix...honestly, anything could happen in Turino...and even if she was penalized through her marks, the others could all fall down, and the ISU doens't want a controversy. But, if Michelle truly goes out there competes GP, nationals, etc...and lays down a BIG ONE..I mean BIG..there is no way they won't give it to her. They are not going to rob the icon of the sport...when the whole world is watching. I think michelle must do the grand prix , because she isn't so COP friendly at this point. With practice and experience comes confidence. I always felt Michelle held back in every competition (although still beautiful) until 2000 Worlds. I think she just said...what the heck, here goes nothing...and boom a 3/3. I truly believe that if Michelle does a 7 triple performance with no triple triple...and the other ladies make one small error, Michelle is going to win. Lots of factors...skate order, etc. I predict Michelle to win the Olympic Gold Medal. While she is a huge and amazing athlete, she still lacks that wow moment. For us ordinary skating fans, we've seen it time and again. But the world will see this woman who has lost it twice (gold) and I think in her scariest moment she will triumph. They will call for her head before it starts...and praising her name...for the record books.

[attyfan]

"it would be amazing to see a FIGURE SKATER especially a SINGLES skater win three medals at three seperate Olympics. I don't know of a singles skater who has done that?"

The only ladies singles skater to win three medals is Sonia Henie (all gold). During the 1920's, Gillis Grafstrom (sp?) won 3 gold in men's. I don't know of any others. What is amazing, though, about Michelle's longevity is that Gillis and Sonia skated during the era of single jumps (for men, too, I think) and compulsory figures -- which is probably much easier on the body than the 5 to 7 triple free skates expected of the ladies today. Also, when Gillis was skating, there were only two annual events (Nats & Worlds) with Olys every four years; Euros were added in 1930, so Sonia had two years where she would have four events -- maximum. Michelle is expected to do from 5 to 8 events annually, depending on the balance of GPs and cheesefests, plus an Olys every four years.

[Eldredgefan2001]

Tracing figures might be easier on the body that doing multiple triple jump programs, but learning to trace figures properly, will always be harder than learning to land a jump, triple or otherwise.

[kwanluv]

Good thing Michelle was brought up and trained in school figures, tracing, etc... It shows in her superior edging and overall technique, and also in the edging of the "older" skaters in their mid 20's. Irina, Sebestyen, Arakawa, etc...