Plushenko Returns!!

Hi Leodo and DTFF members:

Thank you for You tube site. I am located in US, so I truly appreciate DTFF's members' effort in providing the latest video of Dai.

Those words below that he said at the end of this video:
"For me, the gold medal is not only just to win, but also for more priceless thing in recognition of my performance."
made me believe that he is already a winner of the Olympic.
And I cried again.!!

He has grown so much. The bitter experience of Torino and 2008 worlds must have been greatest lessons for him.

Anyway, I heard that Prushenko got 93 or something on his short at some local comp.
Does anybody know anything more about this?

Hi Genki!

Reg Evgeny Plushenko's scoring at the St.Petersburg's Cup:
(I wasn't there myself, I'll only translate what I read on the Russian figure skating board)


SP: jumps included - a solid 4T+3T, an excellent 3A and a very nice 3Lz.

FS: 4T+3T+2L (fall on the double loop), 4T (with a touch down, possibly UR), 2A, 3L, solid 3A and 3Lz, 3S, 3F+2T, 2A

The scores & final standings:

http://fsevents.narod.ru/event/FstLapSpb2009/index.htm

As you see, Evgeny got 95.05 for his SP, but it's because they gave him a 2-points bonus for the clean quad (this bonus-thing is used in Russian domestic competitions).

OT: Personally, I think neither "I want to win Olympic gold", nor "I want to beat skater X" is the right/ best motivation/ inspiration. But I'm not a top figure skater. I know nothing

Hi, DTFF members!
You're always welcome.

Genki wrote:

He has grown so much. The bitter experience of Torino and 2008 worlds must have been greatest lessons for him.

After the men overcome some hard experiences, he will grow so much. It's the same thing to Daisuke.

Thank you for the information about Evgeny Plushenko, hsuhs! I'm very impressed that he always never give up to do more effort for his skating life. I found his latest news!
http://www.1tv.ru/news/sport/151436

It's very clean 4T-3T and 3A!!

Hi everyone!

Genki wrote:

He has grown so much. The bitter experience of Torino and 2008 worlds must have been greatest lessons for him.

True!!
I watched a TV documentary about Ichiro (Japanese baseball player who has achieved a new record in U.S.) on Monday.
It was a very nice TV program. He said he felt no fear anymore after a very very tough experience under huge pressure.
Dai-chan would be the same and I hope so.
(Of course they are not the same. Ichiro is a more experienced person because he is much older than him. )

hsuhs wrote:

SP: jumps included - a solid 4T+3T, an excellent 3A and a very nice 3Lz.
FS: 4T+3T+2L (fall on the double loop), 4T (with a touch down, possibly UR), 2A, 3L, solid 3A and 3Lz, 3S, 3F+2T, 2A

Leode wrote:

I found his latest news!
http://www.1tv.ru/news/sport/151436

Thank you for those info, hsuhs and Leode!!
Gee, now I have to believe his comeback is real.
That 4T-3T is superb. I didn't expect such a qulity jump from him at this early time of the season. He must have worked really hard even if he is a genius.

Genki wrote:

Do not misunderstand me, I do respect Plushenko tremendously as a champion skater, but I hope that judges would reward artistic sides of this sports as seriously as athletic sides.

Don't worry, Genki. We know you respect Mr. Plushenko. I don't think there is any person who doesn't respect him among the real figure skating fans.
To tell the truth, I don't like his skating, just same as hsuhs. But I don't have any complaints over the placements in Turin Olympics. Yes, his score might have been a bit too high. (a bit? )But there are the people who think Dai-chan's score in 08 4CC were too high, aren't there?
Anyway I love the diversity of figure skating as a sport.
As for artistic sides and athletic sides, I still believe athletic sides is very important in amatuer figure skating competition, even though I love artistic skaters such as Dai-chan and Stephane. It's a sport, not a show. Being honest, I hope we will have a champion who has a quad/quads in coming Olympics.




BTW I found Midori Ito posted a blog entry about Dai-chan's TV documentary which was aired on 6th Sep.

http://ameblo.jp/triple-axel/entry-10341052500.html

Here is the tranlation of Dai-chan's part.

The other day I watched a special program of Daisuke Takahashi on TV.
Injury is unavoidable, as he is a great skater.
He has worked hard to overcome it. It looked very tough but he shined brightly in my eyes.
His heart was filled with the power to overcome. It's because the goal ahead is shining.
He is Takahashi-senshu, whoes ability and talent everyone recognizes,
so please don't rush and keep working on each day with questioning yourself "What should I do now?". Then the answer will emerge.
I hope he will keep working and have a satisfying season.


Thank you very much, Midori!

Hi, DTFF members!!
Here is Daisuke's latest interview and practice at Kansai University.

20090918 ns Daisuke Takahashi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65D_JAkfnKE

Daisuke said "I'm getting back my performance what I used to be before my injury."

I like both styles, Daisuke and Plushenko. They are very special figure skaters for me, off course, especially Daisuke. I think Plushenko has honestly wanted to perform his free program "Tosca" like an exhibition's way he showed us.

I think, the part of this therad (the part about Plushenko and his programs) belongs in the General Skating News. Leode, feel free to move my posts.

If someone's interested, here's a video of Zhenya Plushenko's new SP:
http://kp.ru/video/408261/

Hi, hsuhs!
Thank you for linking a vid.
I made a separate topic for Plushenko.

BTW, Congratulation on your wedding, Plushenko and Rudkovskaya!!
It must be nice wedding party!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bRNqjHjWYg

Here's a part of a recent interview with Plushenko. I have only translated his words reg his rivals.

The full text of the interview (in Russian) is posted here:
http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=32122

Q: Who are your main rivals in Vancouver Olympics?

EP: About 10 guys. Canadians and Americans, also Swiss Stephane Lambiel is now back, and the Japanese guys are quite good. What's more important, is for the judges to be objective.

Take for instance the last World Championships. Brian Joubert made an obvious mistake in his 4+3 combo in the short program, he underrotated the quad, still he was first. I find it suspicious.

Q: All those who medaled in those World Championships, could do so without a quad.

EP: I think, my comeback will make it harder for them to continue in that mode (he smiles). I know Joubert's been trying to do 3 quads in his free skate, the 2 of those three are solid.

Not so long ago I met American Evan Lysacek in an exhibition. He's been doing 4+3 combo's easily, in the practices. They all will, they have no choice! But, (when they do), it becomes a mental matter. Japanese Takahashi, for example, shows miracles in the practices, it's scary to watch, but it all disappears in competition.

Thank you so much for the translation, hsuhs!
It's very interesting interview.

hsuhs wrote:

Not so long ago I met American Evan Lysacek in an exhibition. He's been doing 4+3 combo's easily, in the practices.

Wow, I didn't know that Evan's been doing 4+3 combo's!!

hsuhs wrote:

Japanese Takahashi, for example, shows miracles in the practices, it's scary to watch, but it all disappears in competition.

Well, it has been said that Daisuke has got a glass of heart before Torin, however, after he overcame his injury and weaknesses, it made him stronger than he used to be. I also didn't know Plushenko checked Daisuke's latest vids.

Yeah, I don't know how Evgeny gets all that fresh information about his rivals, and what they do (or do not) in practices

It's interesting he's paying attention to other people's quads and combo's. I mean, why bother?

Thank you for the video & translation, hsuhs!!

hsuhs wrote:

If someone's interested, here's a video of Zhenya Plushenko's new SP:
http://kp.ru/video/408261/

Wow. He is in very good shape.
Actually I'm afraid those step sequence were too fast for judges to count each step and turn. (And it seems he forgot to listen to the music especially in the last slst. )

Leode wrote:

I also didn't know Plushenko checked Daisuke's latest vids.

I think he meant 08 Worlds or something like that kind of competition.

Evgeny Plushenko's SP from Cup of Russia, Perm (is a domestic competition, that's why a +3 point bonus for that clean quad-combo)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWL1A-Bi8KA

97.35

not at the level he was in 2002 and 2006. Program boring. Spins not exceptional. But after 4 years, it is very good

I found a recent interview with Plushenko from FSU.(by Ximena)
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showpost.php?p=2531258&postcount=624

- Who are your main competitors?
- Takahashi is the King of footwork, but after his surgery he has had difficulties with the quad jump. Even today in Japan, he won natioanals without it. I remember I skated with him in some exhibitions and he was great, nine shows and nine times he skated clean! But in competition, Daisuke often makes mistakes.

I'm very glad that Evgeny thinks Daisuke is the king of footwork!! Sooner or later, he will see Daisuke is getting his condition back as he used to be.
And I hope his injury gets well soon.