Figure Skating Truth Booth: Kimmie Meissner

[MrAmazingness1234567]

i want kimmie to come back to the top

[eventsouth]

It is so hard to watch Kimmie struggle. She filled such a void for U.S. figure skating when Michelle left and Sasha seemed to crumble in major competitions. She really did carry women's skating on her shoulders.

Now we are witnessing yet another changing of the guard. There are so many young talents coming up the ranks and she will have to find a way to use her mature body to her advantage and improve her artistry. She has to work if she intends to pose a threat at the Olympics in '10.

[spunkysk8er1997]

who's joel.

[mischifKES]

lol its probably got something to do with joel lol poor girl.

[spunkysk8er1997]

By the way,not trying to be rude or anything

but how come Tara Lipinski didn't ever have that problem on tour and stuff?

[iluvefiguresk8tn]

i think kimmie showed that her weaknesses and her strengths i think since she switched coaches to mr.callaghan her skating is now back on track and i think hes helping her to try and develop an artistic side

[dizamonruler]

k this has nothing to do with anything... but my best guy friend's last name is meissner! and its kinda weird cuz he looks like her... sorta....

[waddleduckie1]

Kimmie is highly recognized for her jumping ability, NOT artistry. I think her artistry was not formed due to her technical skating ability. But don't blame her anyway for her lack of artistic skills, she is famous for her axel, and nobody can take that away from her.

[azsk8fan]

Kimmie can't compete with these young guns - her time has come and gone very quickly.

[lisam1987]

You'll be saying the same thing about these young guns in a couple of years when their time has come and gone. Kimmie has a woman's body now, how can she compete with pint sized little children who probably weigh 70 pounds.

[azsk8fan]

My point exactly - she can't. I don't believe it's all about the body size - she doesn't have the talent these young up-n-coming skaters have - Kimmie's talent now is, at best, just slightly above average - she peaked when the competition was at a low point - now that these talented youngsters have moved up to the Sr. Level Kimmie's time to shine was in 96 but she'll be hard pressed to stand on the podium again in international as far as Worlds or the Olympics go.

[lisam1987]

Body size has a lot to do with how good you jump. If your heavier, you will not get as much height or will not spin as fast. When Kimmie was their age, she was outjumping them. Now that she has added height and weight to her body, she's lost jumps that were easy for her- like her lutz, which was her favourite jump.

[goinforgold]

she didn't "lose" jumps. she still has them and does them consistently in practice. Sometimes people don't skate well. the youngins are going to go through the same growing issues leading up to the Olys. I wouldn't count ANYONE out.

[lisam1987]

Perhaps I should rephrase what I mean, goinforgold. I totally believe Meissner will come back, especially now that she is training with Richard Callaghan. ITA about the "youngins" going through the same thing in a few years, glad someone agrees ;).

[dsfddsgh]

I worry that these young girls like Mirai and Caroline and Rachel in 2 years will be having the same problems that Kimmie is having right now. Even Michelle Kwan had problems when she was about 16 due to her gaining weight. And 2 years is the winter olympics.

[smartskater1]

Well, One of those young girls (which the U.S. has four of) is bound to skate well under the pressure at the Olympics. We're just giong to have watch them grow and mature.

[mischifKES]

O yeah how many triples axels have you done lately? When she first came on the scene she didn't really have her hips which change your balance ALOT, I got them and my jumps went funny but now after alot of practice they are now bigger and loads better.

[spunkysk8er1997]

Like she said her PERSONAL life.That means she doesn't wan't people to know about it or assume what it was that was troubling her.How do you know it wasn't something else?

[rogcuadra]

I think Kimmie got robbed on her Artistry department. She is clearly is most skater with beautiful artistry. Those younger are not up their yet. She should have given more point for her artistry. It should be about 59-60 range.