Skaters/Results/Performances You've Changed Your Mind About

[Blades of Passion]

Sarah Hughes- I still go back and forth with her. I didn't really care for her when I was a kid because I was rooting for Michelle Kwan, but after watching her 2002 Olympics long program over and over I had to admit that it was a great skate, but then I was watching her jumps in slo mo on VHS and noticed the URs, wondered if that was even a thing, and ignored it until it became a biiiig deal in the new judging system and now I don't see that performance or some of her other programs the same way I did before.

Hughes' jumps at the Olympics were the best they've ever been, sufficiently rotated enough to not deserve a deduction. I'd hope non-perfect rotation on jumps wouldn't detract from being able to enjoy the performance anyway, given how clean they were otherwise. The performance was magical and skating just doesn't exist like that anymore. We don't get to see the delicate, lilting shapes she created out there. Now people are too busy cramming in rockers and counters and position changes and random steps everywhere.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

Joannie Rochette getting the Olympic bronze. Comparing the two programs Mirai did and the two Joannie did, Mirai should have gotten the bronze.

 

[Eclair]

Kozuka! At first I found him a little awkward on ice, but then I saw this EX:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9uEmPH-_hE
and since then I'm seeing him more as a dancer with natural musicality. It's just those terrible shirts he used to wear, that prevented him from showing it
Over the years I almost gave up on him, but then this year's nationals FP just blew me away and I fell in love with his skating all over again - with his SS, he really is a dancer on ice.

Yuna Kim - I was more into Sasha cohen at that time (around 2008-2009) and was really unimpressed by Yuna's spiral, but then I saw her 2007 tango de roxane and it was her exceptional musicality that drew me into her skating and ever ever since then, I see her performances with different eyes.

Akiko - Her 'O' programm was so creative and expressive. From then on, I saw her as an artist.

Ashley Wagner - For me it was actually the spartacus program, that got me interested in her. I liked, how a ladies skated to spartacus and her fire and drive. Then I saw her interview with TSL and ever since then I have a soft spot for her. She was the underdog, but had that grit and at the same time seemed genuine and nice. There was no way I was not going to love her.

 

[beabstress]

In 2009, I was poised to become the biggest Davis/White fan on the planet. I was so disappointed to see them finish fourth at the 2009 Worlds--to my eye, they had the best programs of the top couples, and they performed better than any of those top couples did. Davis and White had the technical goods, and the picture they painted on the ice was just beautiful. After 2009, my feelings changed. While I still appreciated their skill, their programs all fell flat for me from that point forward. (Still, their "Samson and Delilah" and that adorable "Happy Feet" Charleston are two of my favorite programs ever, from any couple. And I still think they should have been 2009 World Champions!)

 

[Skater Boy]

Joannie Rochette getting the Olympic bronze. Comparing the two


Joannie skated a much more mature program and sold it appropriately; Mirai didn't skate or interpret the music. It just wasn't in her. Mirai was cleaner; Joannie still had better elements (more GOE's). I do agree I liked Mirai's cleaner performance but she just didn't understand or wasn't able to communicate Carmen - though I adored her smile that isn't being artistic or interpretative in Mirai's Carmen. Besides Joannie had too big of a lead anyways. If anything Joannie was closer to silver.

 

[solani]

Joannie Rochette getting the Olympic bronze. Comparing the two programs Mirai did and the two Joannie did, Mirai should have gotten the bronze.

And you've changed your mind about that? :dance:
I fully agree, Joannie was (and is) a delightful, complete skater and I'm still happy that she got that well deserved bronze!

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I'd say Sui/Han. I mean, I've always liked them, but I didn't think they were capable of the level of maturity they showed this season.

The same goes for Asada's artistry throughout her career -- I always thought she was more of a technical skater, but her recent years (especially her lovely SP at 2014 Worlds) convinced me that she's really grown to be become much more than a 3A.

 

[anyanka]

Radionova. Thought she was talented in 2013/14 but had not yet developed. Her FS in the last season to Rach 3 showcased what a great entertainer she was on top of being a great technician. Plus, her personality on and off ice is endearing. She was absolutely adorable giving interviews in English to CBC. As Kurt Browning said, "get that girl an agent!" She's easily my fave of the current crop of ladies (Mao where are you???). Looking forward to next season!

 

[anyanka]

I change my mind on the 2002 OG pairs FS frequently. To this day I cannot decide who I would rather give the gold to: the more polished, technically proficient Canadians, or the artistically mature, but slightly less polished (at that event) Russians.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

And you've changed your mind about that? :dance:
I fully agree, Joannie was (and is) a delightful, complete skater and I'm still happy that she got that well deserved bronze!

I did change my mind about that. Looking back, Joannie's really doesn't have a timeless quality to it. It was just too messy. And overscored.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

Baiul and Kerrigan.

Baiul Wagnered too many of those jumps.

I like to call a jump with two-footed landings, possible underrotation and possible swing on landing a "Wagner"

 

[Mathman]

About the 2010 Olympic ladies free skate, the skater who was unlucky was Rachael Flatt. Because she was the first to skate in the final group the tech specialists had no choice but to lay a couple of phantom URs on her, to guard against the possibility that Joannie (or even Mao) might mess up. By the time Mirai skated (last), the top three already had fine programs in the bank and there was no necessity to hold Mirai back, score-wise.

 

[mrrice]

Like others, I'm going to go with Rachael Flatt. She was always consistent but what a snooze to watch. I respect her for finally letting herself go during her SP to East of Eden. I realize it wasn't everybody's favorite but it was very "Un Rachael" and I have to give her props for that.

 

[Sandpiper]

Baiul and Kerrigan.

Baiul Wagnered too many of those jumps.

I like to call a jump with two-footed landings, possible underrotation and possible swing on landing a "Wagner"

What a bizarre comment. Baiul skated long before Wagner did. You're speaking like Wagner invented two-foot jumps, or that the two of them are the only people who ever two-footed/UR'ed anything. Even more ironic is how your favourite skater is far from exempt from those mistakes... (And I like her a lot, btw, but by that logic she too should have a new unfortunate things named after her.)

 

[iluvtodd]

At the time, I felt Oksana deserved Olympic gold in 1994. In retrospect I felt Nancy should have won gold.

Philippe Candeloro - I liked many of his Olympic eligible programs, but I am extremely disappointed with most of his pro programs (especially for "George of the Jungle").

 

[Sophie-Anna]

I change my mind on the 2002 OG pairs FS frequently. To this day I cannot decide who I would rather give the gold to: the more polished, technically proficient Canadians, or the artistically mature, but slightly less polished (at that event) Russians.

I have the same feeling about 2014 Olympics ladies event. After Yuna finished her FP I thought: here we are, Yuna will win. I was sure that when she will skate clean she will win, because she is Yuna Kim after all. When Adelina won I thought that it is OK. She also skated clean, with just one little mistakes but she was great as well. My personal feeling about them is that I like Yuna's style more but Adelina is also OK for me. They're not my favorites. After Olympics I didn't see the videos of the competition again I rewatched it in October or September 2014. And my feeling was that Yuna should definitely win. She has much more grace and more beautiful lines. Maybe she did less difficult combinations and spins but the execution of the jumps and spins, her skating and everything was just much better. But then I rewatched it again in March or April and I noticed another factor. I think Adelina wanted to win more. Her program was very energic, while Yuna already had an Olympic gold. She was beautiful but it was a little bit like she just skated through the whole program and that was it. And now I can't decide who should be a winner.

 

[solani]

I have the same feeling about 2014 Olympics ladies event. After Yuna finished her FP I thought: here we are, Yuna will win. I was sure that when she will skate clean she will win, because she is Yuna Kim after all. When Adelina won I thought that it is OK. She also skated clean, with just one little mistakes but she was great as well. My personal feeling about them is that I like Yuna's style more but Adelina is also OK for me. They're not my favorites. After Olympics I didn't see the videos of the competition again I rewatched it in October or September 2014. And my feeling was that Yuna should definitely win. She has much more grace and more beautiful lines. Maybe she did less difficult combinations and spins but the execution of the jumps and spins, her skating and everything was just much better. But then I rewatched it again in March or April and I noticed another factor. I think Adelina wanted to win more. Her program was very energic, while Yuna already had an Olympic gold. She was beautiful but it was a little bit like she just skated through the whole program and that was it. And now I can't decide who should be a winner.

At first I thought that Yuna should have won. After rewatching it I think that Carolina should have won. So I would suggest that you should rewatch Carolina's performances.

 

[WhateverHime]

I have the same feeling about 2014 Olympics ladies event. After Yuna finished her FP I thought: here we are, Yuna will win. I was sure that when she will skate clean she will win, because she is Yuna Kim after all. When Adelina won I thought that it is OK. She also skated clean, with just one little mistakes but she was great as well. My personal feeling about them is that I like Yuna's style more but Adelina is also OK for me. They're not my favorites. After Olympics I didn't see the videos of the competition again I rewatched it in October or September 2014. And my feeling was that Yuna should definitely win. She has much more grace and more beautiful lines. Maybe she did less difficult combinations and spins but the execution of the jumps and spins, her skating and everything was just much better. But then I rewatched it again in March or April and I noticed another factor. I think Adelina wanted to win more. Her program was very energic, while Yuna already had an Olympic gold. She was beautiful but it was a little bit like she just skated through the whole program and that was it. And now I can't decide who should be a winner.

My story is quite similar. I too felt that Yuna was a bit off during the OG, while Adelina gave everything she had. So I wasn't really outraged by the result and felt really sorry for all the hate Adelina was getting. Also, I was never a Yuna fan. I always thought she was a great skater, beautiful to watch, but I never really understood all that "Queen Yuna" hype. But over the past few months I revisited some of her routines and...wow, the girl IS a wonder. There is something so special about the way she skates, something we don't usually see. All that grace, all that light, all that spirit... Sometimes, during the competition, I'm too focused on jumps, scores, etc, and if the choreography doesn't capture me... well, I can't connect with that skater. But Yuna is great beyond her choreographies, if that makes sense I really hope she will be back for 2018. I will surely root for her then!

ETA: Ironically enough, my favorite Yuna-routine is now Adios nonino. Such a superb skater, in a whole different class.

 

[daphenaxa]

At first I thought that Yuna should have won. After rewatching it I think that Carolina should have won. So I would suggest that you should rewatch Carolina's performances.

haha I agree with you! I think Carolina should have won! (but i thought it all along). I am not outraged at Adelina winning either though

 

[tommybuffano12]

Patrick Chan--seeing him out this season made me realize how good he actually is. No one moves across the ice like Patrick and I think if he returns he will edge out Yuzu for another World title. Is inflation real? Likely but I've realized some of it is warranted.