- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
As for the other comments on "hero" image, it is not that. If Plushenko cannot pull out triples, why he should consider continuing and falls all over the places in LP? It is not strategy anymore, it is simply mission impossible. People with logic can deduce that fact. And yes, Plushenko is afraid of embarrassing himself by performing a routine with only doubles (he said it back in 2012 I think). And probably doubles were the only things he could pull out if he continues, BECAUSE HE IS TOO INJURED.
He said himself though that his mistakes were not due to injury, and admitted that the 3A should have been executed and he made an error, and he was clearly capable of executing a 3-3. Whether something changed right after the SP that was injury-based, who knows. Plushenko's competed for years with injuries, but the only times he's withdrawn is when he's been 5th or 6th after the SP (he's never pulled out due to injury while in winning/podium position).
As for giving Zhurankov the benefit of the doubt, just as we can't read his mind as to whether his comments were meant to be off-handed and silly gossip, we can't determine if his sources really are what led to his assertion or not. I agree with you, Mathman, that Zhurankov should really just apologize and admit he got his facts wrong, people should get over it (including Plushenko, unless he's out for money and more than just an apology), and then we just continue on to Sochi.