Guys....will the tears ever end? 

I went to bed but I just can't stop thinking about today and how much it took to get that OGM 

 

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet so sorry if it's a duplicate but BBC coverage of last night is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09smv6z/winter-olympics-bbc-red-button-day-8-womens-ski-slopestyle-and-figure-skating (probably geoblocked outside of UK)

 

Skating starts with Paul Fentz at around 1hr53. I'm rewatching the final flight now and it sounds like Robin Cousins saw that 'Zettai ni Katteyaru' documentary, although he quoted it wrong haha

I am so upset seeing all this emotion between Yuzu and Javi, how much Yuzu seems to have relied on Javi being there - I imagine Javi has been a stoic and constant friend especially  in these last months since the injury, encouraging Yuzuru and trying to keep his spirits up.  It's quite something to think of this strong loyal partnership ending isn't it, and it maybe will be more painful for Yuzuru than we or he imagined.............or maybe its just the heightened emotion on this unbelievable day.  Whatever, I keep crying!

6 minutes ago, Pamyu said:

It's quite something to think of this strong loyal partnership ending isn't it, and it maybe will be more painful for Yuzuru than we or he imagined............

I'd like to think that something as strong as that isn't easily broken by something silly like retirement

6 minutes ago, omn119 said:

I can't sleep at all, more than 25 hours and can't get away from the Planet!

maybe i need help

 

We need therapy 

 

I'm literally in my bed sobbing while I should be asleep and I can't stop thinking about what happened and of course all the Yuzu/Javi feels are hitting 

33 minutes ago, yuzupon said:

An observation from looking at snippets of the interviews with the two Japanese boys.

 

I think we've talked about how among other things, for Uno, Zu is a shield. ( @Yatagarasu you're the one who said it, I think?)

Uno himself said it, I think it was during pres con after SP, that not having the media focused on him helps, and if it will continue to be that way he will be very thankful.

 

In this regard, I have to say he is a lot luckier than Chen. The three competitions Uno was in where he usually had Zu to shield him (GPF, JP Nats, 4CC) he did not do well, because the pressure and attention were suddenly heaped on his shoulders. He is not equipped for that. As endearing as some people find his 'cluelessness' is (or maybe everyone but me finds it endearing; for me, it comes across as 'disinterested', much like the process by which he 'chose' his programs), I must say he has to snap out of it. Unless of course, he is fine with being forever on Zu's shadows. Because that's the price: you need the shield, you'll be forever hidden behind it. And Uno is talented. His technical flaws bug me to no end, but he is talented. He is younger than Zu, so I hope he will stay around for several more seasons after the inevitable. But if he doesn't learn to 'fend for himself' from the media of his country that are THIS invested in their skaters, he would be in so much trouble.

 

I've never watched interviews that featured only Uno, so some of you who do, if you don't mind enlightening me. Are those interviews as dynamic as the ones he had in which Zu also shielded his subtle 'I really don't want to be here, but whatever' demeanour?

 

I don't mean to be mean. It's the impression I got and I would like it to be corrected if wrong.

I also think that yuzu is like a shield for shoma. All pressure on yuzu's shoulder, shoma can focus on himself and be not bothered by anything. But yuzu.. Oh boy.. He's something else. With all pressures and attention for him, he still can perform and did his best. He can control himself. And he did it many times! What a champion. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Hydroblade said:

I'd like to think that something as strong as that isn't easily broken by something silly like retirement

Of course on a personal level they hopefully will remain friends, I suppose I meant more their training and skating relationship (their working partnership if you like), and the impact of it ending if Yuzuru decides he will continue in competitive skating.  These types of relationships are inspirational in sport aren't they.  End of an era feelings abound!

5 minutes ago, Yuazz said:

I also think that yuzu is like a shield for shoma. All pressure on yuzu's shoulder, shoma can focus on himself and be not bothered by anything. But yuzu.. Oh boy.. He's something else. With all pressures and attention for him, he still can perform and did his best. He can control himself. And he did it many times! What a champion. 

Indeed. 

I don't think all of us in this Planet combined, even on our best days, could bear the pressure and scrutiny Zu has to deal with. We've seen many of his competitors falter badly as well. That is why he is THE champion.

2 minutes ago, Pamyu said:

Of course on a personal level they hopefully will remain friends, I suppose I meant more their training and skating relationship (their working partnership if you like), and the impact of it ending if Yuzuru decides he will continue in competitive skating.  These types of relationships are inspirational in sport aren't they.  End of an era feelings abound!

Who knows, like I said in the other thread (@_@), if Javi stays at TCC maybe it doesn't really have to end... 

39 minutes ago, Pamyu said:

Sorry if posted already - the Yuzu Boyang hug Yuzu is so touchy feely

 

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Jin, how is it to be hugged this caringly by your hero?  

It just dawned on me that I've been reaaally gushing over Boyang for a while now . But how can I not? 

I think Shoma has the mindset/personality of what Yuzu had described as a mentally strong person in Jounetsu Tairiku 2016: someone who is unaffected by his surrounding, the words around him etc therefore is able to stay true to himself. In contrast, Yuzu described himself as someone who is mentally weak, therefore he needs to isolate himself to stay unaffected. This notion is once again brought up when Yuzu said Shoma has the heart and brain of a titanium, and praised him for his mental strength during the interviews post Olympics. Shoma himself also said he treated this competition like any other competition, and that Olympics holds no special meaning to him; whereas Yuzu is the opposite: Olympics is essentially everything to him.

 

Now, I do not know whether Shoma is truly the kind of person who can remain so unaffected by his surrounding or if he is just putting up a strong front, or whether he is able to stay so unaffected because of Yuzu's presence acting as a shield or his own mental fortitude. But I have to say while his words serve as a good and fun meme to the fans, his lack of emotion toward it is something I personally finds hard to connect with. This is not meant to be a dismerit to Shoma, as he is truly a strong competitor and skater, it is just his lack of interest serves a stark contrast to Yuzu's openness to his emotions and vulnerability, which I very much admired and loved. While a few complain of Yuzu's otherworldly-ness, ambitions and his records that make it hard for them to relate to and feel for him, I actually find it easier to understand Yuzu than Shoma. I do not know to what extent a competitive athlete can truly remain unaffected/disinterested by the competitions and the results, but I can definitely understand the ambition and thirst Yuzu has for winning perfectly, as well as the strong regret and frustration he has inside him when he doesn't perform the way he wants to. I feel for Yuzu who strives to become better and pushes his limit to work toward his lifelong goal and to revenge his past mistakes; I feel for him when he says while he is happy for the winner, he is also disappointed at not able to win. These honest and raw emotions from him makes him relatable to us as audience even though we may not be 2x Olympic Champion, 2x World Champion, 4x GPF Champion who also breaks 12 WR. 

 

That is why I personally think what he perceives as his weakness is actually one of his strengths. Sure, there are times he stumbled from all the weight he carries, but there are many times he shines brighter when he allows himself to feel and connect with his surroundings. Otherwise there won't be the iconic skates like WC 2012, WC 2013, GPF 2015, WC 2017 etc that made us fell for him no matter how many times we watch them. It is also one of the reason why he has such a large following in a relatively low profile sport.

 

But then I also see people putting down Yuzu for being so emotional and open, so who knows? In the end, to each their own. Whatever works for them is the way they should strive for. And I think it is a little bit early to speculate whether Shoma is going to buckle under the expectations. In my opinion, he is not as clueless and harmless as many of his fans like to make out to be. In order to be a top rated competitive skater, you don't just fumble your way through it. So I think we should give it some time to see how he progresses in the future.

23 minutes ago, MajaHled said:

It just dawned on me that I've been reaaally gushing over Boyang for a while now . But how can I not? 

 

I've been gushing over Boyang for ages so join the club. He's such a sweetie and honestly, I have mad respect for him. He's worked so hard to try and improve himself as an overall skater. He could have gone down the road of just piling on the jumps but he's trying to raise the level of his overall skating and mad, mad respect. I suppose this is why Ashley's bs annoyed me more this time around. Anyway I know it's a long shot but I wish he'd change choreographers so that he could get the programs that truly showcase what he's achieved.

Boyang with team Borser anyone?