Posted on 02/25/2010 11:04:43 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Posted: Feb 26, 12:01a ET | Updated: Feb 26, 1:44a ET
Kim wins ladies' figure skating gold medal
VANCOUVER (AP) All that pressure, all those expectations. Kim Yu-na could feel the weight on her dainty shoulders.
The "Queen" took it all on and delivered royally.
A women's figure skating performance that likely will be remembered as one of the best of all time.
The South Korean soared to the Olympic gold medal Thursday night, scoring a world-record 228.56 points and shattering her previous mark by more than 18 points. It is South Korea's first medal at the Winter Olympics in a sport other than speedskating, and it's sure to set off wild celebrations from Seoul to Pyongchang.
Even Kim seemed to be dazzled by the show she put on, gasping when she saw the monstrous score. Coach Brian Orser gave a Rocky-like victory pump, shaking his clasped fists over each shoulder.
"I can't believe this day has finally come for me," Kim said.
The 19-year-old grinned as she hopped up to the top spot on the podium, tugging at the bottom of her dress. When the gold medal was slipped over her head, she kissed both sides and held it up. Her lip quivered when the South Korean anthem began, and then came the tears.
"Today was the first time I cried like that, right after skating," Kim said. "I don't know exactly why I cried, but I was very, very happy."
She made a beeline for someone holding the South Korean flag as she set off on her victory lap, and carried it triumphantly as fans serenaded her with cheers and applause.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcolympics.com ...
The eventual winner of the bronze had a leg-up because she was skating on home ice and her mother died a few days ago. Based upon merit alone, Murai should have won that bronze.
The “Korean’s” name is Yuna Kim. Rachel Flatt did not executive her routine with as much precision and is just not technically at the level of the two two skaters: Kim and Sada. Nor did she skate as well as her FELLOW American skater, Mirai Nagasu, who cam in 4th place. Joannie Rochette of Canada won the Bronze.
Yeah you are probably right on that point. Not surprised. And I've heard some people say that the discrepancy between Rochette and Mao Asada was far too close--that Asada (Silver medalist from Japan) was deserving of much higher points for her triple axels and overall performance.
I was telling Dave that Rachel Flatt wasn't the top American in the competition, Mirai Nagasu was. And no pun intended, but Flatt's performances have been "flat" overall (not just at the Olympics) and this just wasn't her moment to shine. Maybe next Olympics! I'm sure there are blossoming American legends somewhere out there.
I've already explained how the judging score system has been changed to be much fairer and objective: focusing more on athletic difficulty, precision, and skill, over style. And while I've been hearing Bronze medalist Joannie Rochette might have gotten sympathy points in light of her mother's death--the two best skaters in the world earned the Gold and Silver. THEY DESERVED IT. THEY *WORKED HARD* and *COMPETED* to get it. It was capitalism at work.
I honestly don't understand all this "no fair." It sounds socialist in spirit.
Even the tv commentators said on the late show Flatt was underscored — she’s definitely the best US skater.
ok, well I’m not saying she is a bad skater, but our team in general was not of the high caliber as have been in the past with skaters like Kwan, Cohen, Lipinski, and Hughes etc...
She lost some points because of pudginess, IMHO. A dark corner of this sport is the sensuality of young women, and she still did not have that “look” that the judges expect, however well she skated.
She was exquisite: lovely demeanor, expressive and technically perfect. It was mesmerizing watching her. She definitely deserved it.
Nice to have a scenario and a performer where all the inside information, bent judges and incessant NBC jingoism aren’t required. Oh, and no unpaid PR shilling by Christine Brennan (usually involving Michelle Kwan) required.
Kim was different class last night.
They have been going full bore Oprah on Rochette up here in Canada so that is probably true. Sentiment is worth a few points I guess.
Hmm?
Nagai was outskated in the short program by Rochette.
62/68 vs 65/60.
I agree that Nagai should have been ranked higher. Let’s have artistic match the technical: 62/62/ vs 65/65. That bumps Nagai up 6 points. She was down by 8. Still not enough.
Nagai was simply too far back to take the Bronze.
Obviously, Mao Asada was very unhappy with her score. She hardly smiled during the medal ceremony. But, all the athletes go into their respective arts or sports knowing the power of judges. They accept it, so should the spectators and armchair commentators.
The pimping for Michelle Kwan always used to disgust me, especially after her pouty performance when Tara Lipinski creamed her.
The pimping was regularly of "The sun has finally come out ! There it is shining from Michelle Kwan's posterior !" level of gushing sycophancy.
In fact she was NOT as good as her competitors. Fortunately the judges didn't fall for it.
snark....
This dopey argument about what constitutes a sport crops every so often. Who really cares? A close boxing match is a “subjective” sport and mogul skiing has “style” points as well. How about the ridiculously small time fractions that separate the winners from the losers these days in a lot of racing sports. That’s more about advances in clock-making than anything that matters in the real world. All sports are made up activities that extract worth only from the fact that people like to participate in and watch them. If you don’t like a particular one, there’s always surfing the web.
Nagasu was better than Rochette...she got shafted by the “sympathy”vote ...not saying anything about the gold...
but the bronze medal is a medal afterall....and it really should have gone to Nagasu..
I followed on a blog with Yamaguchi and others describing what they saw and they definately gave the most attributes to the American and not Rochette....
well, that's the way it is...
what do you expect when you have a billion dollar "own the podium" campaign...you expect a few favors..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.