- Joined
- Oct 31, 2014
Due to the space limitation in title, I had to submit it instead of this; Who do you want to win Olympic medals in PyeongChang?
The Four Continents Championship is now over, so we're heading into the Olympics to be held in PyeongChang, South Korea.
In principle, best skaters in the world delivering the very best of each event will take the medals especially the golds. However hyping our favorite skaters and teams is also a part of the enjoyment during every Olympics. I want fair and square wins without any scandalous and controversial judging like the Sochi Olympics; not just in the ladies, but also in dance and pairs as well as the disappointing men's event.
I'm interested in hearing what would be GS members' dream and wishful podiums regardless of the possibilities and then foreseeable yet relatively preferable podium finishes together. So here are my picks.
W means a wishful podium while F meaning a foreseeable podium. #1, #2 are other scenarios.
Team (wishful = foreseeable)
1. Canada
2. USA
3. OAR (Olympic Athletes from Russia)
Canada is strong & all around across the board. At least Patrick can break the Canadian curse in men's event with the Team Gold. As for US, except the pairs, all look relatively strong. I guess Bradie Tennell will be strongly pushed in both Team segments. Team OAR has strong ladies and pairs while the men are so inconsistent especially Kolyada and dance is not as much strong as the other two.
Men - too unpredictable
W#1: 1. Patrick Chan (CAN) 2. Javier Fernandez (ESP) 3. Denis Ten (KAZ) - admittedly, this is my most wildest dream
W#2: 1. Javier Fernandez (ESP) 2. Patrick Chan (CAN) 3. Boyang Jin (CHN) vs Shoma Uno (JPN) vs Nathan Chen (JPN) vs Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
F: 1. Nathan Chen (USA) 2. Shoma Uno (JPN) 3. Boyang Jin (CHN)
The reigning Olympic and World champion, Yuzuru Hanyu's status is such a mystery after his abrupt injuries at NHK. No news heard about his physical condition yet but the Olympics is coming in less than 2 weeks. I hope Hanyu to continue until Beijing. I also don't wish Nathan to retire from competition in pursuit of study in medicine after winning the Olympics and perhaps the World title. Therefore, I'm really reluctant to put him in first but he's won every title he entered this season so far, so I have no choice. I really hope Javi to win any colored medal and happily to retire (at least Patrick will get a Team medal) but I don't know which Javi will show up in the free.
Ladies
W: 1-2. Carolina Kostner (ITA) vs Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN) 3. Satoko Miyahara (JPN)
F: 1. Alina Zagitova (OAR) 2. Evgenia Medvedeva (OAR) 3. No idea but I'd be very happy if one of Osmond/Kostner/Miyahara wins it. I don't rule out the chance of Sakamoto/Tennell/Sotskova/Daleman for the bronze.
Pairs
W: 1. Aliona Savchenko & Bruno Massot (GER) 2. Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) 3. Xiaoyu Yu & Hao Zhang (CHN)
F: 1-2. Aliona Savhenko & Bruno Massot (GER) vs Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) 3. Evgenia Tarasova & Morozov (OAR) vs Megan Duhamel & Eric Radford (CAN) vs Vanessa James & Morgan Cipres (FRA)
I equally love S/M and S/H. However, S/M's programs are very strong and I really want Savchenko finally to grab the elusive OGM. Besides, Sui/Han's programs are less interesting than their last season's and they are highly likely to have a great moment at Beijing if they are healthy. Both Yu/Zhang and James/Morgan's two programs respectively are also my favorites but I wonder the judges will award the two teams enough GOE and PCS for the bronze unless T/M bomb a big time. Except the program qualities, clean T/M will also aim for the gold, but I rather wish not because of the dreadful Candyman, cherry pop, panties drop...no no.
Ice Dance
W: 1. Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) 2. Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) 3. Madison Hubbell & Zachery Donohue (USA)
F: 1-2. Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) vs Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) 3. Madison Hubbell & Zachery Donohue (USA) vs Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA) vs Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) vs Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN) - basically the bronze will be an US National redux though.
In terms of qualities, V/M deserve their second OGM if both go clean, but their programs this season (why again like the Sochi ones) don't work for me unfortunately. However, they are such legends and veterans to have participated in the three consecutive Olympics while P/C will have their first Olympic debut, so the key is who will overcome the immense pressure.
The Four Continents Championship is now over, so we're heading into the Olympics to be held in PyeongChang, South Korea.
In principle, best skaters in the world delivering the very best of each event will take the medals especially the golds. However hyping our favorite skaters and teams is also a part of the enjoyment during every Olympics. I want fair and square wins without any scandalous and controversial judging like the Sochi Olympics; not just in the ladies, but also in dance and pairs as well as the disappointing men's event.
I'm interested in hearing what would be GS members' dream and wishful podiums regardless of the possibilities and then foreseeable yet relatively preferable podium finishes together. So here are my picks.
W means a wishful podium while F meaning a foreseeable podium. #1, #2 are other scenarios.
Team (wishful = foreseeable)
1. Canada
2. USA
3. OAR (Olympic Athletes from Russia)
Canada is strong & all around across the board. At least Patrick can break the Canadian curse in men's event with the Team Gold. As for US, except the pairs, all look relatively strong. I guess Bradie Tennell will be strongly pushed in both Team segments. Team OAR has strong ladies and pairs while the men are so inconsistent especially Kolyada and dance is not as much strong as the other two.
Men - too unpredictable
W#1: 1. Patrick Chan (CAN) 2. Javier Fernandez (ESP) 3. Denis Ten (KAZ) - admittedly, this is my most wildest dream
W#2: 1. Javier Fernandez (ESP) 2. Patrick Chan (CAN) 3. Boyang Jin (CHN) vs Shoma Uno (JPN) vs Nathan Chen (JPN) vs Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
F: 1. Nathan Chen (USA) 2. Shoma Uno (JPN) 3. Boyang Jin (CHN)
The reigning Olympic and World champion, Yuzuru Hanyu's status is such a mystery after his abrupt injuries at NHK. No news heard about his physical condition yet but the Olympics is coming in less than 2 weeks. I hope Hanyu to continue until Beijing. I also don't wish Nathan to retire from competition in pursuit of study in medicine after winning the Olympics and perhaps the World title. Therefore, I'm really reluctant to put him in first but he's won every title he entered this season so far, so I have no choice. I really hope Javi to win any colored medal and happily to retire (at least Patrick will get a Team medal) but I don't know which Javi will show up in the free.
Ladies
W: 1-2. Carolina Kostner (ITA) vs Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN) 3. Satoko Miyahara (JPN)
F: 1. Alina Zagitova (OAR) 2. Evgenia Medvedeva (OAR) 3. No idea but I'd be very happy if one of Osmond/Kostner/Miyahara wins it. I don't rule out the chance of Sakamoto/Tennell/Sotskova/Daleman for the bronze.
Pairs
W: 1. Aliona Savchenko & Bruno Massot (GER) 2. Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) 3. Xiaoyu Yu & Hao Zhang (CHN)
F: 1-2. Aliona Savhenko & Bruno Massot (GER) vs Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) 3. Evgenia Tarasova & Morozov (OAR) vs Megan Duhamel & Eric Radford (CAN) vs Vanessa James & Morgan Cipres (FRA)
I equally love S/M and S/H. However, S/M's programs are very strong and I really want Savchenko finally to grab the elusive OGM. Besides, Sui/Han's programs are less interesting than their last season's and they are highly likely to have a great moment at Beijing if they are healthy. Both Yu/Zhang and James/Morgan's two programs respectively are also my favorites but I wonder the judges will award the two teams enough GOE and PCS for the bronze unless T/M bomb a big time. Except the program qualities, clean T/M will also aim for the gold, but I rather wish not because of the dreadful Candyman, cherry pop, panties drop...no no.
Ice Dance
W: 1. Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) 2. Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) 3. Madison Hubbell & Zachery Donohue (USA)
F: 1-2. Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) vs Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) 3. Madison Hubbell & Zachery Donohue (USA) vs Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA) vs Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) vs Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN) - basically the bronze will be an US National redux though.
In terms of qualities, V/M deserve their second OGM if both go clean, but their programs this season (why again like the Sochi ones) don't work for me unfortunately. However, they are such legends and veterans to have participated in the three consecutive Olympics while P/C will have their first Olympic debut, so the key is who will overcome the immense pressure.