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Is it wrong of me to be smirking over here? The Eteri 3A threat is no more... Kosto is my favourite but her free skate last year... blech. However, I haven't seen enough programs from Plushy's students to be positively happy about this... at least there will be different choreos to choose from, I hope. Plush must be smiling into his vodka... stars dropping into his lap...

I am so happy to see Mai back and looking so happy, and not just skating, but actually getting some harder jumps back. She still looks delicate, but much more robust than a few months ago. I hope she continues to improve her health and may the skating then follow.

I doubt Med gets a quad. All the reasons people have mentioned add up to that... and imho, while she's a good athlete and very accomplished skater, I just dont think she has the athleticism to go that extra step either. She's the type of athlete who went beyond through extra determination, resolve, and hard work as opposed to being a totally natural, gifted athlete. Sometimes there is a ceiling and without the proper technique that stands up to stresses, getting the quad will be harder for her. If she proves me wrong, then good for her. I would not mind being proven wrong. I am very supportive of any of the *older* girls proving people wrong when it comes to jumping.

it worked out half decently for him, so maybe it will with rika too...

Wonder what Med thinks... not what she says, but what she thinks. It could be good for her... or not. Competition is good, but less attention.....

I like this.

Which is sad because way back in the 80s and 90s the pairs and dance teams were well known for their skating skills... but I don't think it was ever a priority for their singles skaters...

Maybe she's been hoping skating friendships will get her ice with skaters she knows in Japan. Really, she should have gone home to Russia weeks ago and just stayed put and waited it out like everyone else.

Those strong girls in Vancouver, Joannie... Mao.

I"m so confused now I have no clue what's going on

Am I the only one who thinks the smile of Sasha's dog in that group photo is the absolute best one of the bunch?

I haven't heard ANY talk of them opening the borders to anyone. The idea hasn't even been brought up by the press or anyone else... at least in public. Just thinking about how closely tied together the US/Canada are, in most times they'd open the borders to them first, like a North American bubble (currently just essential supplies etc., can cross). However, with the virus still running wild down there I can't see how that would happen any time soon. I'd much rather see visitors from NZ, Australia etc., who are doing rather well, before those from the US. For the skaters who stayed where they train, ie Satoko, some of the dancers in Montreal, they may have the advantage... and others will just get on the ice whenever/wherever they can and do what they can with input from afar. The next year will be very interesting... if we even have one....

Memory lane. Shae and Vic were always emphasizing their hydroblading moves. At the time I thought it was cool but thought they milked them way too much and overdid it in every program. I think the fluff pieces on Canadian tv about it annoyed me so much that I went firmly into the Anisina/Peizerat corner when it was between the 2 for medals. I would have appreciated it more at the time if it wasn't stuffed down my throat constantly. But, it is a cool move/technique and I will forever associate it with Shae/Vic although Yuzu has brought it back to popularity.

Trust the Russians to bring some drama to the figure skating world... even if there is currently no skating going on and there is no timetable for it to return!! That 1 of the 3A is leaving is no surprise, I really believed one of them was going to bolt sooner rather than later... but for me that it is Trusova is a bit of a surprise... just because I thought Kostornaia might be the one who would want better choreography after that disaster of a long from last season... and she's capable of much more than Daniil can deliver. BUT, given Trusova's troubles last year compared to the other two this doesn't surprise me either. I hope it works out for her because although her skating skills leave much to be desired, her tenacity and competitive drive really demand my attention. I just like her for HER, rather than for her skating.

I really don't think cultural barriers in this case should be an excuse for not showing compliance with requests to stay in one spot/restricting movement. In most countries, including Canada where she was before heading to Japan, there were requests/restrictions on movement and for people to stay home and only go out for necessities. Wrt the language barrier, there are also English versions of the Japanese news online so that was available to her/her team. And really, just knowing about the virus and how it was spreading worldwide, one should not need to be told to stay put. So many countries worldwide were requesting this...it's a global pandemic! Restricting movement is just common sense... however, as we know, common sense isn't that common. I understand the desire to find ice when few rinks are open, but other skaters are restricting movement and staying home/finding training alternatives, so it just looks bad. I hope she understands the reasons why she is receiving criticism and that it isn't because people just want to pick on her. YOu have to understand to learn and then move on.

Flaunting your ability to act the tourist during a pandemic...and disregarding advice set by local government at this time... not impressive. I would be frowning upon anyone doing this, but even more so at a tourist who is a guest in the country, showing no respect. If it wasnt Med, I suspect less polite terms would be used.

Happy Birthday, everyone!! And, THANKYOU.

She is always trying for good PR in Japan, but this failed, imho.

They toured together, so he prob knows Yags the person a bit and who knows what that Interaction was like.

You know what? I have actually wondered myself (at other times) about where he pays his taxes, lol!! I don't know why my brain went there, but it did!!

Lol. I Just watched the sp final flight too!! That was a fight, that sp. How differently he skates now!!

At FaoI, in one of the sections you can see Mai and Rika standing beside Med and they barely reach Med's eyebrows... so they are very tiny.

I hope so. When TCC closed, Canada didn't have many cases of covid19, so that would be the best time to travel... because everyone knew it would only get worse and travel would be more risky. And, most people want to be home when there is a big threat/emergency , so it makes the most sense. If he can't train, he might as well be at home... esp since that is where the shows will be (if FaOI still occurs). I remember listening to an interview with Debbie Travis, a British/Canadian tv personality and interior designer, on the weekend. She lives mostly in Italy now but she returned to England after Italy began their emergency... her reasoning was that her Italian wasn't very good and if she happened to get sick she wanted to be somewhere where they spoke English. I suspect that most people would prefer to communicate easily with their carers when they are very sick.

I remember seeing video of him drinking coke... in an airport? Something like that.

I think it is probably smartest for anyone right now, wherever they are, to just hide out where they are unless they really need to get home......(who knows, he may have already gone home! )... but since show season isn't here yet he doesn't have to go anywhere. If they still have shows he can still leave for Japan if he wishes, and then he just stays there until he's allowed back (once FaOI starts he usually doesn't come back until close to July anyway)... I think everyone is hoping summer changes things... let's all do our part and clean things and keep away from others as much as we can!!