Men's Free Skate Play-By-Play

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2018 Winter Olympics - Figure Skating
MEN'S FIGURE SKATING
FREE SKATE​

1 VASILJEVS Deniss (LAT)

Music: Put the Blame On Mame by Allan Roberts & Doris Fisher performed by Doctor 3
Anyone to Love by Andrew Von Slee performed by Michael Buble
Sway Luis Demetrio performed by Michael Buble

Blue/gold shiny blazer over grey shirt, black pants

3A+3T
3A - fall
3S
StSq
FCSp
3Lo
3Lz+2T+2Lo
2A - fall
3F+2T - bit tight, maybe 3F<
3Lz
ChSq
CCoSp
FCoSp

2 falls on axels, but still nice on the rest

FS: 76.42+80.64-2.00 = 155.06, 234.58, 1/1

 

[draqq]

Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT)

Much better 3A+3T than the underrotated one he got in the short. Tough fall on the second 2A. Solid 3S, though, good comeback! Smooth edgework through the step sequence into a decent camel spin. Nice spread eagles into a good 3Lo. Solid 3Lz+2T+2Lo but a hard fall on a 2A. Okay 3F+2T (might be < on the 3F). Stronger 3Lz and good attack in the choreo sequence. And a wonderful pair of spins to end the program, especially that last sit spin.

Sad that he had such trouble on the Axels today with 2 hard falls. But his triples were mainly clean and smooth, and his edgework throughout the program and the lean he has in his body to really dig deep into the ice is so pleasing. I think he could have been jazzier to match the Buble music, but he's still young and should have a great future.

 

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2 RIZZO Matteo (ITA)

Music: Come Together by The Beatles; Let It Be performed by Air With Air Rising; Help! by The Beatles

Black jacket+pants, gold buckle details

3F - ok, but no 3-3
3A+2T
3Lz
FSSp
ChSq
3A - bit tight, maybe <
3Lz+1Lo+3S
3Lo
2A
CCSp
2A
StSq
CCoSp

Another cleanisk skate from Rizzo, he fistpumps

FS: 80.86+75.92 = 156.78, 232.41, 2/2

 

[draqq]

Matteo Rizzo (ITA)

Steady 3F without a hitch. Good running edge out of the 3A+2T. Eeked out the landing on the 3Lz+3T but should still get positive GOE. Fine sit spin right into a neat choreo sequence. Good second 3A, maybe <. Secure 3Lz+1Lo+3S, a clean 3Lo with a stretched landing, and a calm 2A. Nice running movements (half sit-spins) into the camel spin. Fine 2A right into the footwork, with nice changes of edges. And a fairly well-centered combo spin.

A neat and clean program for Matteo Rizzo. He has good rhythm in his knees and flow across the ice. He hasn't yet learned how to project, express, and be more dynamic in his energy level to really bring in the audience, but he has solid basics and triples. Unfettered and simple.

 

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3 FENTZ Paul (GER)

Music: Game of Thrones (soundtrack)

Brown tunic with gold details, black pants

3A+3T
3T - pop
3Lo
StSq
CCoSp
3A - stepout
3F - hangs on
3S+1Lo+2F
FCSp
2Lz+2T
1A
CSSp
ChSq

No falls, but 3 pops and some iffy landings

FS: 66.98+72.84 = 139.82 (SB), 214.55 (SB), 3/3

 

[draqq]

Paul Fentz (GER)

Looking like a Lannister. Nice and high 3A+3T. Only a 3T from an intended 4T. Nice spread eagle into a 3Lo. Alright footwork which could have used more power and epicness (I mean, this IS GoT) and an okay change foot spin. Step-out on the second 3A. Awkward landing on the 3Lz with a tap of the other foot down. Alright 3S+1Lo+2F combination it looks like and an adequate camel spin. Only a 2Lz+2T. And a popped axel into a 1A. A fairly basic spin and a choreo sequence that's a bit lethargic.

A ho-hum effort artistically. There wasn't much theatre, pizzazz, or strength to carry the Game of Thrones soundtrack. It was very one-dimensional, stiff, and somewhat deer-in-the-headlights facial expression.

 

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4 YAN Han (CHN)

Music: I'll Take Care Of You by Brooke Benton performed by Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa

Black vest over purple shirt, black pants

3A+2T
3T - stepout, had down
3F - fall
FCSp
ChSq
3Lz - ok, hangs on
1Lz
3S
3F+REP - stepout, hand down
CSSp
StSq
CCoSp

1 fall, 2 pop and a couple of messy landings

FS: 53.80+79.58-1.00 = 132.38, 213.01, 4/4

 

[draqq]

Han Yan (CHN)

Elevated 3A+2T. Only a 3T in the intended 4T, with a step-out. Just slipped off the edge in the 3F and another fall. A fair camel spin. Good height and landing on the 3Lz, close to the boards. Hand-down on the 3Lo. Only a 1Lz, ouch. Smooth 3S though but a step-out on the second 3F (no combo). Good center on the sit spin. Powerful edgework in the footwork sequence and an adequate combo spin.

Well, that was a bit all over the place. Han Yan just didn't seem as though he had his feet under him and he felt imprecise and not that confident. He just wasn't able to check his landings well on jumps that mainly didn't need to have a step-out and that seemed to lean to the right. With all the mistakes, he wasn't able to really capture the music that well either.

 

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5 TANAKA Keiji (JPN)

Music: Amarcord by Nino Rota
Le Notti di Cabiria by Nino Rota
La Paaserella di Otto e Mezzo by Nino Rota

Black/blue blazer, black pants

4S
4S+REP - fall
3A
FSSp
StSq
4T - stepout, hand down
3A+REP - fall
3F+3T
FCSp
3Lo
3Lz+2T+2Lo
ChSq
CCoSp

A couple of expensive mistakes

FS: 85.64+81.14-2.00 = 164.78, 244.83, 1/5

 

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Keiji Tanaka (JPN)

Great 4S to open! Shame, a fall on the 4S (looks < on replay and no combo). Solid 3A though, into a fairly well-centered sit spin. Steps could be deeper but good energy. Turn-out on the 4T attempt but good rotation. Another fall on the 3A, shame (and also no combo). Strong 3F+3T with good running edges into an adequate flying camel spin. Nice steps into the 3Lo. Alright 3Lz+2T+2Lo. A bit off on the exit of the last spin but should still be alright.

Several falls and a bit sloppy on some of the jumps but the base value should remain high for all the elements he performed. A better performance overall than his team event free. He's got good energy but his lines aren't refined and his arms tend to flail a bit. The music certainly helped him have more of a personality on the ice.

 

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6 KVITELASHVILI Morisi (GEO)

Music: Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
Dream by Imagine Dragons
Believer by Imagine Dragons

White shirt with black swirly stripes, black pants

3A
4S - fall
4T<< - fall
FCSp
StSq
4T+REP - fall, looke <
3F+3T - stepout
3Lo
3F - fall
2A+1Lo+3S
CSSp
ChSq
CCoSp

Yikes, 4 falls. What happened to his quads?

FS: 63.35+70.66-6.00 = 128.01, 204.57, 6/6

 

[draqq]

Morisi Kvitelashvili (GEO)

Decent 3A to start, a bit wobbly on the landing. Hard fall on the 4S attempt. And another fall on the 4S attempt, looks like it will downgraded and no combo. Alright spin with okay positions. SThe step sequence makes it seem as though he's not moving well with his core and not leaning into the edges. Step-out fall on the 4T. Another step-out on the 3F+3T with very little speed. Better 3Lo, but the hand choreography is a disaster. Ouch, another fall, this time on the 3F. Okay 2A+1Lo+3S. Travelling and slow change foot spin. Choreo sequence lacks energy, but a better centered combo spin.

A hot mess, really. His arms could be better placed, his posture is neither here nor there, and his jumps left him today. It just feels gangly, unrefined, and ungainly. I would really give him 5s in components.

 

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7 BYCHENKO Alexei (ISR)

Music: Recitar! Vesti La Giubba (from "Pagliacci") by Ruggero Leoncavallo performed by Andrea Boccelli

Off-white brown blouse, black pants

4T+3T
4T
3Lo
CCoSp
StSq
3A - ok, bit tight
2A+2T - ok, but planned 3A?
3Lz
Sp
3F+1Lo+3S
2A
ChSq
CSSp

Good skate, he smiles and takes to his head

FS: 89.08+83.80 = 172.88 (PB), 257.01 (PB), 1/7

 

[draqq]

Alexei Bychenko (ISR)

Strong 4T+3T to open. Another solid 4T, no holds barred. And a solid 3A to boot into an alright spin. Fairly aggressive steps in the sequence but not a lot of relation to the music. Good height in the first 3A. Only a 2A+2T on the second intended 3A. Good run-out on the 3Lz, but took some time to find the center of the flying camel spin. Nice 3F+1Lo+3S and 2A. Edges in the choreographic sequence are a bit flat but a decent combo spin to finish.

Glad to see Bychenko have a clean skate despite the pop on the 3A. Apart from that hitch, he had wonderful take-offs and secure landings on all his jumps. His spins and footwork could have more speed overall and he could have taken more time to address the music, with such a dramatic selection as Vesti La Giubba. But I think that this skate is a great way to cap off his career if he chooses to retire. Great job, Bychenko!

 

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8 SAMOHIN Daniel (ISR)

Music: Two Angels by Sergei Erdenko performed by Loyko

White/blue ombre blouse, dark blue pants

4T+3T
4S - hangs on
3A
CCoSp
StSq
3A+1Lo+3S
2S
3Lz+2T - ok, bit tight
3Lo - hand down
2A - hangs on
ChSq
FCSp
ChSq

Not perfect, but still one of his better recent skate

FS: 89.03+81.72 = 170.75 (PB), 251.44 (PB), 2/8

 

[draqq]

Daniel Samohin (ISR)

Strong 4T+3T, first 4T might be two-footed but I don't think so. Eeked out the 4S landing somehow! Better o nthe 3A with a strong landing. Decent spin with many positions. Choreographic sequence seems to have a lot of breathing room for the second half. Strong 3A+1Lo+3S combo. But only a 2T out of an intended 4T. Decent 3Lz+2T but a hand-down on the 3Lo. Okay 2A right after. Good attack in the footwork sequence, though it could have more attention to the beat of the music. And a pair of adequate spins to finish.

I think the music choice is not as stirring as his skating, which can be powerful, sudden, and elegant. He has good interpretive skills and skating skills, so I hope he gets better choreography and more challenging transitions that are done with relation to the music. But a good comeback for him after a rough couple of seasons.

 

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9 CHEN Nathan (USA)

Music: Mao's Last Dancer (soundtrack) by Christopher Gordon
Sacre du Printemps by Igor Stravinski

Black shirt, white collar, grey sleeves; black pants

4Lz
4F+2T
4F - hand down
CCSp
StSq
4T+3T
4T
4S - foot own
3A
3F+1Lo+3S
ChSq
FCCoSp
CCoSp

Wow, what a comeback skate with 6 quads! Could seriously move him way up. He seems *bit* emitional

FS: 127.6+87.44 = 215.08 (PB), 297.35 (SB), 1/9

 

[draqq]

Nathan Chen (CAN)

Wonderful 4Lz to start! Clean 4F+2T as well. Two hands-down on the second 4F but looks fully around. Good placement of the camel spin and into footwork that's more focused and quick. Spread eagle into a solid 4T+3T, and a brilliant second 4T. And carefully into the 4S and a well-landed 3A for him! Solid 3F+1Lo+3S combo as well. Fantastic spread eagle and well-centered pair of spins to finish the program!

REDEMPTION! REDEMPTION! REDEMPTION! Brilliant technical skating and a stellar performance. 5 positive quads and another quad with just a hands-down. I felt that he was being safe and secure with the performance, a bit slower so that he didn't rush and could concentrate on the ridiculous number of quad attempts. The technical effort more than makes up for his artistry.

215.08!

 

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10 GE Misha (UZB)

Music: The Memories of Youth:
Meditation (from "Thais") by Jules Massenet performed by Lucia Micarelli & Lang Lang

White/blue ombre blouse, dark blue pants

3A
3A+1Lo+2S - tight, maybe 3A<
3F
CCSp
StSq
FSSp
3Lz+3T - hangs on
3Lz
3Lo
2A+2T
2A
ChSq
CCoSp

Good skate, he fistpumps. Good way to end his career

FS: 74.96+86.08 = 161.04, 244.94, 4/10

 

[draqq]

Misha Ge (UZB)

Clean 3A to open. Alright 3A+1Lo+2S combination (3A could be marked <). Beautiful 3F with fantastic landing and an elegant multidirectional camel spin. Lovely intension and positions through the footwork right into a well-centered flying spin. Eeked out the 3T on the 3Lz+3T combo. Solid second 3Lz and 3Lo. Good series of 2A+2T and 2A. And a glorious footwork sequence that fits the drama, phrasing, and softness of the music. And a fantastic combo spin to end.

Misha is a gorgeous skater; elegance will be his legacy. His movements are always full, well-minded, and well-placed. He shows off what is beautiful about skating without the quad. It's about the breath of the choreography - the lines, the stretch, and the space. A wonderful moment of serenity and intention.