2010 Olympics: Figure Skating Scandals in the Making?

[vclihotmail]

You were so right, the Russian pair were being set up to win the gold. At the EC, with a fall, they scored 20 pts higher than ever before with this program. For reference 20 pts = 17% higher score. This was suspicious, even more so that it was held in Tallinn, Estonia, a former USSR republic and a 2 hr plane ride to Moscow.

[aquaawhale]

It's just too bad that our so called sport bureaucracy does not have guts to fight for our sportsmen, to protest, to try to prove something. Such a great sportsman like. It's a shame to see politics merge with sports n arts anyway, shameful picture!

[solsolsets]

I think this game was paid. Nobody can deny that Evans performance wan not so good, and Plushenkos skating skills is more high in every meenings in this game. So its natural that many people talk about this outcome, it is not only personal thing. I m very sorry about this international festival.

[waihibeach09]

@solsolsets

Oh come on. Pushenko is stuck in the past & boring. Most of his jumps were on a lean & the rest of his program consisted of a few hand flaps & inferior "foot work". He was over marked

[waihibeach09]

@lala630312 Since we're not American - there goes your sweeping theory. You've obviously travelled the world to collect every country's opinions? Joking ... Plushenko does have undeniable charisma & a presence on the ice & we agree Evan can be a little stiff; however, on the day (i.e. Olympics) his skate was superior & far more complex than that of Plushenko's. We wonder - is this just a case of sour grapes on your part because, in spite of inflated projections, the Russians did so poorly?

[lala630312]

@waihibeach09 I knew, that you are canadian. I'm don't russian. Both country (USA, and Canada),support the new scoring system. I don't like it, because support the mediocrity( in male skating).Girls skating were beautiful. Evan had an underrotated 3A, he got +GOE(Evgeni had deduction on of 3A), Evan had a wrong -edged take on his triple flip, hadn't 2-3 points deduction. Why put Evgeni two judges 21-22. place after SP? Therefore say many peoples all over the world, the outscore was fraud.

[CrimsonVibrato]

@solsolsets How was Evan's skating not so good, and how was Plushenko's skating skills higher in every means? Plushenko could've used work on his spins while Evan's were centered and fast not to mention that his positions were also better. Evan also had superior footwork; his edges flowed better and unlike Plushenko he didn't stop and pose at the judges and audience continuously. Plush lacked transitions going into his jumps and a few of them were titled in the air and snatched at the landing.

[odd0odium]

Maybe that's why he lost the gold! This will be interesting in tomorrow's papers

[dongsoola]

Hey! people of the world!

watch North Korean Ri, SungChol's performance in mens figure skating, and just tell me why he ranked 25th and failed to make it to free skate.!!

And START SPITTING ON THESE OLYMPIC GAMES!!!

[butzyobutz]

I heard he was going to knee cap the other skaters with his nose

[BETHRJACOBS]

Plushenko scores high because he deserves to he has speed, guts, and phenomenal jumps and he may not have transitions but his other skill makes up for it. Scot Hamilton had it all but these two skaters share the main factor star quality and sheer guts. The sum parts of the above mentioned far out strips their individual skills but Plushenko also teases the gods with his jumping and for this he is dually rewarded

[ArtemisDianaSelene]

Actually, Plushenko said that he doesn't understand why Joubert is scored higher than himself becuase they are at the same level.

He didn't say that he doesn't understand why HE was scored so high.

What is he, an idiot to say that he doesn't know why he's scored so high?

[gloss26]

Sorry, skating has never been about who's best, it's about who thew judges feel is best for the future of skating. Many skaters have suffered from this. Particularly Rudy Galindo and Debbie Thomas. BTW- Great report!!!

[MoesTube1]

Paul Wiley also

[theoryneutral]

Thanks for the news.

[EscoIceSk8]

plushenko's scores were high because he skates with speed going into jumps and the jumps really are very quick and isn't hesitant. he gains GOE because of his speed. and his PCS are huge because of the way he covers the ice w speed & he's polished. Jouberts jumps are great in all, but i've seen him skate in person and his jumps look like he's kinda working hard, and the jumps weren't as quickly executed as plushenko. and comparing the two plushenko looks more confident on the ice than joubert.

[Michir10]

Big question is: 6 place for Dube/Davison after their disaster performance, where they goin down in triple toeloop,shaky steps and not synchronical both spins. Top 5 was amazing but Dube/Davison shuld be max. at 9place after Muchortova/Trankov and Volosozhar/Morozow ! Greetings from Poland... :)

[TonyWheeler]

I completely agree with you with D/D. I made another video that talks about that situation :)

[grandmagrumpy]

home town advantage?

[Michir10]

Well...We are one hour after pairs short program and Your conspiracy theory is not working. After short standings are:

1)Shen/Zhao

2)Savchenko/Szolkowy

3)Kavaguti/Smirnov

4)Pang/Tong

and of course everything is possible but this top 4 standings are absolutely fair.If You think Kawaguchi/Smirnov not deserve for gold at europeans-i can only say: You dont know anything about figure skating! Kawaguchi/Smirnov was definetely the best at europeans and I wish them gold at olympics.(Im not Russian)

[grandmagrumpy]

But it's a virtual tie. Whoever wins the FS, wins the GOLD.

My money is on Shen/Zhao for GOLD

Dube/Davidson... a gift for sure.

Russian pair... tiny twinkie girl, a lot easier, not better.

[goldstep999]

Dear author of this video, you are biased to say the least and this vid of yours is an arrogant attempt to paint some of the honest skaters with a black brush. Shame on you, but you have to live with yourself, so that's your business.

[sayomsskiver]

what do you mean by sacraficed? I dont get it.

[TonyWheeler]

Such as, the Japanese men will be out of the running for a medal in exchange for Ando and/or Asada to be on the podium. I mean, it all comes down to how they skate and if someone really bombs then there's no way this is going to work out, but we will see.

[LanaKapiniak]

The man that e-mailed the judges acted UNETHICAL!!

If there is an issue that needs to be discussed, it should be done professionally (no names) and in proper time (after the competition).

I would hope Olympic judges go through enough training to know how to evaluate programs and if they don't then it is too late to do training now.

I understand Plushenko just ignored the issue... Good for him....

[TonyWheeler]

He did address the issue, after the European Championships, where it was BROUGHT UP.

And the only names were the ones that Plushenko himself used, and were copied and pasted.

I guess we are going to just have to agree to differ :)

[LanaKapiniak]

@TonyWheeler

I agree to disagree... a thought - if anyone would do a thing like that towards any accountant in my work, I believe, they would be liable...

I think it is best to just leave it alone now... ;0)

[LanaKapiniak]

The phrase "In fact" was related to the fact that both skaters were concentrated on the jumps not on transitions. I guess what is disturbing is that one cannot say anything without you own words used against you....

[TonyWheeler]

I didn't mean just "In fact." I meant the whole sentence that followed, which started with "we don't have any transitions because.."

[LanaKapiniak]

@TonyWheeler

this is the phrase:

"In fact, we both didn't concentrate on transitions but on jumps."

As with any foreign language it is possible to derive a bit different meaning. But never the less, to use this small part of his speach to prove something and e-mail it all over the place is unprofessional...

[LanaKapiniak]

Tony, whether it is a bad translation or an intentional twist, I do not know, but I see where you got the idea... Plushenko said literally that he and Joubert concentrated on jumps not on transitions (it does not mean the absence of the last). The point of his sentence was unequal grading for the same transitions, not the discussion on their absence. I guess the US is just jealous... Though our Canadian skaters are not much better in their prejudices and comments ;0(

[TonyWheeler]

So are you saying that the whole "In fact.." part was not part of Plushenko's comments on the topic?

I don't think the US is jealous. Jeremy Abbott, Stephane Lambiel, and others can do quadruple jumps (OK, Stephane has no triple Axel, but still), and still manage to have programs full of intricacy/choreography. Lambiel even has that ability to draw you in, something that Plushenko has always been very good at. So I don't think Evgeny's argument of focusing on jumps is too vaild, in comparison.

[LanaKapiniak]

This man twisted Plushnko's words! P. NEVER said that he doesn't have transitions, because he DOES! What P. did say is that for the EXACT SAME footwork Joubert got much more points than he did- in other words the judges are already biased and cut points on Plushenko whenever they can. Thankfully they cannot do too much! He has jumps and is the KING OF FOOTWORK.

I guess, it's all jealousy of North Americans...

[TonyWheeler]

OK, when you are quoted as saying "Like in Tallinn, Brian Joubert got more points for his transitions than me, although we did exactly the same transitions on the ice. In fact, we dont have any transitions because we focus on our jumps," don't blame me as the one twisting words. Go to the original source!

[TonyWheeler]

Moreover, if he indeed was talking about FOOTWORK, why in the world would he go on to say that he "doesn't have any"?!!?!? Clearly, Plushenko has footwork sequences in his programs.

[sakuracherry1414]

First I don't agree with u tony,kawaguchi smirnov was deserve the gold medal .

Your comment is kind a disrespect to russian skater.

[TonyWheeler]

I'm not trying to be disrespectful, I like Kawaguchi and Smirnov. I just don't think they have improved as much as their components scores have gone up. That's my opinion, and doesn't mean I'm right or wrong.

And some of my favorite figure skaters of all-time are Russian, especially Maria Butyrskaya, so it's not like I'm singling the country out for their skaters.

In all honesty, I think that Mukhortova and Trankov should be marked higher than K/S components-wise, I really like that team.

[yuliaolympichamp]

I disagree with you, about pairs event.Kawaguchi and Smirnov got scored that high, because they didn't make so many mistakes ,as the Germans did in their free skate...

I believe that there's no conspirasy against Germans' and nobody is trying to put russians on the first position, but if they will skate clean and others keep making mistakes, it's obvious ,that they will get higher scores , then other top skaters. BUT I think that the germans deserve the gold.

[TonyWheeler]

I have just heard a few times now (outside any of the message boards or skating articles) that the Russians were scored how they were in Europeans to set them up for Vancouver as the favorites. They set the world record in the LP at Euros, and they weren't even clean! They've improved a lot, but I still don't think they are at a Savchenko/Szolkowy or Shen/Zhao level IMO. Of course, the judges can't make it a RUS-CHN-CHN podium if any of the teams don't skate well, but it'll be interesting.