Olympic preview part 3: Men's singles, part 1.
Welcome to part three of my Olympics preview. Men's singles! My favorite one! Do I need to warn for unbridled squee?
This got insanely long, so I'm splitting it into two posts. That's partially because men's is my favorite discipline, and partially because even NBC says it's the most hotly contested event in the entire Olympics, with about nine strong medal contenders and several dark horses.
Men's is my favorite partially because they're doing the most difficult technical elements: this is where you see the quadruple jumps and the triple axels. Men peak later in the sport than women do, in their early twenties rather than in their teens, so they also have a psychological maturity that, at best, can mean artistically sophisticated programs that reflect each skater's personality well. And oh, the personalities in men's figure skating. There's a wide range, from cocky to self-effacing, from divalicious to hypermasculine, from intensely competitive to "I just love to skate," from warm and sweet to icy and mean. The athleticism is amazing to watch, the artistry can be beautiful, and the soap opera is dessert.
One general warning about men's singles: you will almost definitely enjoy some skaters who don't do well, and you will almost definitely hate some of the skaters who place high. This will be true no matter what style of skating you like. Prepare to get mad at your television.
This is my FAQ about Olympic figure skating, and here's where I explain how the singles disciplines work.
annaalamode beta read this, as well as the pairs preview, which I forgot to credit her for. This is unfortunate, because she is fabulous and very helpful.
And now! Sparkly boys! (Don't say I didn't warn you about the squee.)
Jeremy Abbott
Short program at the 2010 US National Championships, to "A Day in the Life" by The Beatles
Name: Jeremy Abbott
Country: USA
Age: 24
Free skate at the 2010 US National Championships, to Symphony No. 3, "Organ" by Camille Saint-Saëns
Past competitive highlights: Two-time and reigning US national champion (2009-2010). 2008 Grand Prix Final champion. He was 11th at the World Championships last year.
He'll do well because: Half of a skater's score is program components - artistry and connecting moves - and Abbott's programs are uniquely well designed to maximize his scores there. His jumping technique is pristine, and he'll be doing a quadruple toe loop and two triple axels in his free skate. He made a coaching change last summer that has refined his skating and made it more appealing to international judges.
He might have trouble because: He thinks too much and psychs himself out. As a result, he's an inconsistent skater, prone to costly errors. Last year he had a great early season, only to perform back-to-back nightmares at Four Continents and Worlds. Because his international record is spotty, the judges are unlikely to cut him slack if he makes errors.
Fun facts: Early in his career, after qualifying for US Nationals on the junior level, he said of his chances of winning, "Stranger things could happen. Pigs could fly." He went on to win the junior national title... and name his fan club, Pigs Can Fly. After several memorable exclamations of "Oh, shit!" after seeing his scores, his sports psychologist worked with him, and he spent a season yelling "I love kung fu!" a lot. Although Abbott is 24, he's a self-described "late bloomer" who rose to the top of US figure skating when the other top skaters of his generation were complaining about how old they felt.
My opinion: Oh, Jeremy and your little face, you make me totally incapable of coherent analysis. I am rooting like hell for him, terrified that he's going to look like he did at Worlds last year, thrilled at the possibility that he will outdo his incredible performances from this year's Nationals. He's one of many skaters who has a legitimate shot at a medal, and boy will I go crazy with joy if he earns one.
Florent Amodio
Short program at 2009 Skate America, to the soundtrack from Munich by John Williams
Name: Florent Amodio
Country: France
Age: 19
Free skate at 2009 Skate America, to the soundtrack from Amelie by Yann Tiersen
Past competitive highlights: 2010 French national champion and French Masters champion; 2009 silver medalist. 2009 Junior Grand Prix Final champion. He was 15th at last year's Junior World Championships.
He'll do well because: Amodio is an incredibly engaging and charismatic performer - he lights up the ice. Since he's young, he's only competed under the Code of Points. When he has his jumps together, his technique is very sound.
He might have trouble because: He doesn't have the technical difficulty that the top skaters do: he doesn't have a quad yet, and he'll probably only do one triple axel in his free skate. This is his first year skating at the senior level, and he lacks both experience and stamina. The judges might sense that it's not "his turn" yet, especially with fellow Frenchman Joubert in the mix.
Fun facts: Amodio was born in Brazil and adopted as an infant by French parents. Despite feeling a strong connection to his country of birth and holding dual citizenship, he says he's proud to skate for France. His exhibition program is a Michael Jackson medley in which he moonwalks on ice.
My opinion: Everyone who saw Amodio skate at Skate America this season fell in love with him instantly. I'd actually had an eye on him since juniors as the Future of Figure Skating, and that's what I think he is. I'm very worried that the Olympic pressure will get to him, but I hope he'll be able to show his potential and his graceful style to the world. Even when he's having trouble technically, he's delightful to watch. No chance he'll medal, but if he skates clean and others don't, you might see him in the top 10.
Michal Březina
Short program at the 2010 European Championships, to "Puttin' on the Ritz" by Irving Berlin
Name: Michal Březina
Country: Czech Republic
Age: 19
Free skate at the 2010 European Championships, to An American in Paris by George Gershwin
Past competitive highlights: Reigning Czech national champion; silver in 2009. 2009 Junior World silver medalist. Fourth at the 2010 European Championships.
He'll do well because: He's one of the young rising stars of the sport, and his high placement at Euros might mean a strong performance at the Olympics as well. He has a powerful, consistent triple axel as well as a dancer's grace on the ice.
He might have trouble because: His inexperience frequently shows in his skating, and sometimes his stamina flags toward the end of his programs. The judges might feel it's not his time yet and decide not to do him favors. His quadruple salchow is too inconsistent for him to risk it at the Olympics.
Fun facts: I've got nothing except that I love his adorable frosted hair.
My opinion: Before Euros and Czech Nationals, I probably would have talked myself out of including Březina in this post - I love his skating, but I didn't think he'd arrived yet. Now, he's proven himself to be on the same level as the men at the top of the sport, and it seems like he's better and better at every competition. I doubt he'll medal, but the way he's exceeding my expectations, he could even be a dark horse for that. More likely, he'll beat out a few veterans for a top ten spot - and win a few hearts.
Patrick Chan
Short program at the 2010 Canadian National Championships, to "Tango de los Exilados" by Walter Taieb
Name: Patrick Chan
Country: Canada
Age: 19
Free skate at the 2010 Canadian National Championships, to Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Past competitive highlights: Three-time and reigning Canadian national champion (2008-2010). 2009 Four Continents champion. Reigning World silver medalist (2009).
He'll do well because: He has shot up like a bolt of lightning in this sport and is now considered one of the top men in the world. His jumps are clean and elegant, his spins are stunning, and his programs are complex but musical. He's the hometown favorite, and Skate Canada has put a lot of support behind him.
He might have trouble because: He does not do a quadruple jump, believing that his well-roundedness makes up for it - but it doesn't always. He was suffering from a muscle tear in his calf in the fall, and it's possible that the injury is still bothering him; he has yet to skate clean at a major competition this season. He recently ditched his longtime coach with no warning, and his coaching situation is still in flux.
Fun facts: Chan's parents are immigrants from Hong Kong, and he speaks fluent Cantonese in addition to English and French. He was the last student of the legendary coach Osborne Colson, who died in 2006. Chan's mouth tends to get him in trouble, because he's not shy about speaking his mind about other skaters. Last year, he got into a war of words with Brian Joubert over the importance of the quad jump: Joubert thinks the quad is the future of figure skating, but Chan considers himself the future of figure skating.
My opinion: Chan's skating certainly seems to please the judges, but I confess I don't see why he scores quite as high as he does. His skating is fluid and effortless, but I find his style kind of dull. He's definitely among the medal contenders, but that is not a small group. The way he's been skating this season, I just don't think it's his year - although 2014 might be.
Vaughn Chipeur
Short program at the 2010 Canadian National Championships, to "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson
Name: Vaughn Chipeur
Country: Canada
Age: 25
Free skate at the 2010 Canadian National Championships, to "Go Chango" by Les Baxter and "Harlem Nocturne" by Earle Hagen & Dick Rogers
Past competitive highlights: Two-time and reigning Canadian silver medalist (2009-10). He placed 12th at last year's World Championships.
He'll do well because: He's really excited to be at the Olympics, especially in his home country, and what a place to have the skate of his life. He's an explosive jumper.
He might have trouble because: He very seldom skates a clean program in international competition and very frequently falls apart - at both of his Grand Prix competitions this season, he was an absolute disaster. He isn't really interested in the artistic aspect of the sport, and because he tends to make errors, the judges don't forgive him for that.
Fun facts: Despite his French-sounding surname, Chipeur is actually of Polish descent. He plays the guitar and drums but doesn't have time for his garage band because he's too busy training.
My opinion: Chipeur seems like a really sweet guy, but I don't think he's going to do very well; I included him because I thought Canadian readers might want to know who the hell he is. He always looks really happy to be skating, but he's one of the least polished skaters I've seen at the top level.
Brian Joubert
Short program at the 2010 European Championships, to "Rise" by Safri Duo
Name: Brian Joubert
Country: France
Age: 25
Free skate at the 2010 European Championships, to "Ancient Lands" by Ronan Hardiman
Past competitive highlights: 2007 World champion; three-time World silver medalist (2004, 2006, 2008) and reigning World bronze medalist. Three-time European champion (2004, 2007, 2009); two-time European silver medalist (2003, 2005) and four-time and reigning European bronze medalist (2002, 2006, 2008, 2010). 2007 Grand Prix Final champion. Six-time French national champion. He placed sixth at the 2006 Olympics and 14th at the 2002 Olympics.
He'll do well because: He's an amazing jumper who can do a quadruple toe loop and a quadruple salchow consistently; he'll do a quad in his short program and as many as three quads in his free skate. He understands that a skater needs to be well-rounded to win these days, so he's put work into his spin technique, and his choreography is full of intricate transitions and difficult jump entrances.
He might have trouble because: In 2007, Joubert seemed unbeatable, but three years is a very long time in figure skating. Since that season, he's been unpredictable, often blaming poor performances on injuries and illness. He can be arrogant to the point where he's left difficult jumps out of his programs and left the door open for other skaters to beat him.
Fun facts: Brian Joubert does not like wearing clothes. He's got a great body, even for a figure skater, and he likes showing it off in pictures and on TV. He walks around backstage before competitions shirtless, with his costume rolled down to his waist. But he's also a mama's boy: his mother, Raymonde, travels with him to every competition, and she often sits in the audience with Johnny Weir's mother, Patti.
My opinion: I'm so torn about Brian Joubert. In his best programs, he has just enough artistry and grace to be interesting, and his high, muscular jumping technique takes my breath away. But he's so inexcusably full of himself that part of me hopes he tanks like he did at the last Olympics. If he lands all three of his quads in the free skate, he'll win a well-deserved medal, but he so seldom manages to do so these days.
Continue to part 2!
This got insanely long, so I'm splitting it into two posts. That's partially because men's is my favorite discipline, and partially because even NBC says it's the most hotly contested event in the entire Olympics, with about nine strong medal contenders and several dark horses.
Men's is my favorite partially because they're doing the most difficult technical elements: this is where you see the quadruple jumps and the triple axels. Men peak later in the sport than women do, in their early twenties rather than in their teens, so they also have a psychological maturity that, at best, can mean artistically sophisticated programs that reflect each skater's personality well. And oh, the personalities in men's figure skating. There's a wide range, from cocky to self-effacing, from divalicious to hypermasculine, from intensely competitive to "I just love to skate," from warm and sweet to icy and mean. The athleticism is amazing to watch, the artistry can be beautiful, and the soap opera is dessert.
One general warning about men's singles: you will almost definitely enjoy some skaters who don't do well, and you will almost definitely hate some of the skaters who place high. This will be true no matter what style of skating you like. Prepare to get mad at your television.
This is my FAQ about Olympic figure skating, and here's where I explain how the singles disciplines work.
annaalamode beta read this, as well as the pairs preview, which I forgot to credit her for. This is unfortunate, because she is fabulous and very helpful.
And now! Sparkly boys! (Don't say I didn't warn you about the squee.)
Jeremy Abbott
Short program at the 2010 US National Championships, to "A Day in the Life" by The Beatles
Name: Jeremy Abbott
Country: USA
Age: 24
Free skate at the 2010 US National Championships, to Symphony No. 3, "Organ" by Camille Saint-Saëns
Past competitive highlights: Two-time and reigning US national champion (2009-2010). 2008 Grand Prix Final champion. He was 11th at the World Championships last year.
He'll do well because: Half of a skater's score is program components - artistry and connecting moves - and Abbott's programs are uniquely well designed to maximize his scores there. His jumping technique is pristine, and he'll be doing a quadruple toe loop and two triple axels in his free skate. He made a coaching change last summer that has refined his skating and made it more appealing to international judges.
He might have trouble because: He thinks too much and psychs himself out. As a result, he's an inconsistent skater, prone to costly errors. Last year he had a great early season, only to perform back-to-back nightmares at Four Continents and Worlds. Because his international record is spotty, the judges are unlikely to cut him slack if he makes errors.
Click to viewFun facts: Early in his career, after qualifying for US Nationals on the junior level, he said of his chances of winning, "Stranger things could happen. Pigs could fly." He went on to win the junior national title... and name his fan club, Pigs Can Fly. After several memorable exclamations of "Oh, shit!" after seeing his scores, his sports psychologist worked with him, and he spent a season yelling "I love kung fu!" a lot. Although Abbott is 24, he's a self-described "late bloomer" who rose to the top of US figure skating when the other top skaters of his generation were complaining about how old they felt.
My opinion: Oh, Jeremy and your little face, you make me totally incapable of coherent analysis. I am rooting like hell for him, terrified that he's going to look like he did at Worlds last year, thrilled at the possibility that he will outdo his incredible performances from this year's Nationals. He's one of many skaters who has a legitimate shot at a medal, and boy will I go crazy with joy if he earns one.
Florent Amodio
Short program at 2009 Skate America, to the soundtrack from Munich by John Williams
Name: Florent Amodio
Country: France
Age: 19
Free skate at 2009 Skate America, to the soundtrack from Amelie by Yann Tiersen
Past competitive highlights: 2010 French national champion and French Masters champion; 2009 silver medalist. 2009 Junior Grand Prix Final champion. He was 15th at last year's Junior World Championships.
He'll do well because: Amodio is an incredibly engaging and charismatic performer - he lights up the ice. Since he's young, he's only competed under the Code of Points. When he has his jumps together, his technique is very sound.
He might have trouble because: He doesn't have the technical difficulty that the top skaters do: he doesn't have a quad yet, and he'll probably only do one triple axel in his free skate. This is his first year skating at the senior level, and he lacks both experience and stamina. The judges might sense that it's not "his turn" yet, especially with fellow Frenchman Joubert in the mix.
Fun facts: Amodio was born in Brazil and adopted as an infant by French parents. Despite feeling a strong connection to his country of birth and holding dual citizenship, he says he's proud to skate for France. His exhibition program is a Michael Jackson medley in which he moonwalks on ice.
My opinion: Everyone who saw Amodio skate at Skate America this season fell in love with him instantly. I'd actually had an eye on him since juniors as the Future of Figure Skating, and that's what I think he is. I'm very worried that the Olympic pressure will get to him, but I hope he'll be able to show his potential and his graceful style to the world. Even when he's having trouble technically, he's delightful to watch. No chance he'll medal, but if he skates clean and others don't, you might see him in the top 10.
Michal Březina
Short program at the 2010 European Championships, to "Puttin' on the Ritz" by Irving Berlin
Name: Michal Březina
Country: Czech Republic
Age: 19
Free skate at the 2010 European Championships, to An American in Paris by George Gershwin
Past competitive highlights: Reigning Czech national champion; silver in 2009. 2009 Junior World silver medalist. Fourth at the 2010 European Championships.
He'll do well because: He's one of the young rising stars of the sport, and his high placement at Euros might mean a strong performance at the Olympics as well. He has a powerful, consistent triple axel as well as a dancer's grace on the ice.
He might have trouble because: His inexperience frequently shows in his skating, and sometimes his stamina flags toward the end of his programs. The judges might feel it's not his time yet and decide not to do him favors. His quadruple salchow is too inconsistent for him to risk it at the Olympics.
Fun facts: I've got nothing except that I love his adorable frosted hair.
My opinion: Before Euros and Czech Nationals, I probably would have talked myself out of including Březina in this post - I love his skating, but I didn't think he'd arrived yet. Now, he's proven himself to be on the same level as the men at the top of the sport, and it seems like he's better and better at every competition. I doubt he'll medal, but the way he's exceeding my expectations, he could even be a dark horse for that. More likely, he'll beat out a few veterans for a top ten spot - and win a few hearts.
Patrick Chan
Short program at the 2010 Canadian National Championships, to "Tango de los Exilados" by Walter Taieb
Name: Patrick Chan
Country: Canada
Age: 19
Free skate at the 2010 Canadian National Championships, to Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Past competitive highlights: Three-time and reigning Canadian national champion (2008-2010). 2009 Four Continents champion. Reigning World silver medalist (2009).
He'll do well because: He has shot up like a bolt of lightning in this sport and is now considered one of the top men in the world. His jumps are clean and elegant, his spins are stunning, and his programs are complex but musical. He's the hometown favorite, and Skate Canada has put a lot of support behind him.
He might have trouble because: He does not do a quadruple jump, believing that his well-roundedness makes up for it - but it doesn't always. He was suffering from a muscle tear in his calf in the fall, and it's possible that the injury is still bothering him; he has yet to skate clean at a major competition this season. He recently ditched his longtime coach with no warning, and his coaching situation is still in flux.
Fun facts: Chan's parents are immigrants from Hong Kong, and he speaks fluent Cantonese in addition to English and French. He was the last student of the legendary coach Osborne Colson, who died in 2006. Chan's mouth tends to get him in trouble, because he's not shy about speaking his mind about other skaters. Last year, he got into a war of words with Brian Joubert over the importance of the quad jump: Joubert thinks the quad is the future of figure skating, but Chan considers himself the future of figure skating.
My opinion: Chan's skating certainly seems to please the judges, but I confess I don't see why he scores quite as high as he does. His skating is fluid and effortless, but I find his style kind of dull. He's definitely among the medal contenders, but that is not a small group. The way he's been skating this season, I just don't think it's his year - although 2014 might be.
Vaughn Chipeur
Short program at the 2010 Canadian National Championships, to "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson
Name: Vaughn Chipeur
Country: Canada
Age: 25
Free skate at the 2010 Canadian National Championships, to "Go Chango" by Les Baxter and "Harlem Nocturne" by Earle Hagen & Dick Rogers
Past competitive highlights: Two-time and reigning Canadian silver medalist (2009-10). He placed 12th at last year's World Championships.
He'll do well because: He's really excited to be at the Olympics, especially in his home country, and what a place to have the skate of his life. He's an explosive jumper.
He might have trouble because: He very seldom skates a clean program in international competition and very frequently falls apart - at both of his Grand Prix competitions this season, he was an absolute disaster. He isn't really interested in the artistic aspect of the sport, and because he tends to make errors, the judges don't forgive him for that.
Fun facts: Despite his French-sounding surname, Chipeur is actually of Polish descent. He plays the guitar and drums but doesn't have time for his garage band because he's too busy training.
My opinion: Chipeur seems like a really sweet guy, but I don't think he's going to do very well; I included him because I thought Canadian readers might want to know who the hell he is. He always looks really happy to be skating, but he's one of the least polished skaters I've seen at the top level.
Brian Joubert
Short program at the 2010 European Championships, to "Rise" by Safri Duo
Name: Brian Joubert
Country: France
Age: 25
Free skate at the 2010 European Championships, to "Ancient Lands" by Ronan Hardiman
Past competitive highlights: 2007 World champion; three-time World silver medalist (2004, 2006, 2008) and reigning World bronze medalist. Three-time European champion (2004, 2007, 2009); two-time European silver medalist (2003, 2005) and four-time and reigning European bronze medalist (2002, 2006, 2008, 2010). 2007 Grand Prix Final champion. Six-time French national champion. He placed sixth at the 2006 Olympics and 14th at the 2002 Olympics.
He'll do well because: He's an amazing jumper who can do a quadruple toe loop and a quadruple salchow consistently; he'll do a quad in his short program and as many as three quads in his free skate. He understands that a skater needs to be well-rounded to win these days, so he's put work into his spin technique, and his choreography is full of intricate transitions and difficult jump entrances.
He might have trouble because: In 2007, Joubert seemed unbeatable, but three years is a very long time in figure skating. Since that season, he's been unpredictable, often blaming poor performances on injuries and illness. He can be arrogant to the point where he's left difficult jumps out of his programs and left the door open for other skaters to beat him.
Fun facts: Brian Joubert does not like wearing clothes. He's got a great body, even for a figure skater, and he likes showing it off in pictures and on TV. He walks around backstage before competitions shirtless, with his costume rolled down to his waist. But he's also a mama's boy: his mother, Raymonde, travels with him to every competition, and she often sits in the audience with Johnny Weir's mother, Patti.
My opinion: I'm so torn about Brian Joubert. In his best programs, he has just enough artistry and grace to be interesting, and his high, muscular jumping technique takes my breath away. But he's so inexcusably full of himself that part of me hopes he tanks like he did at the last Olympics. If he lands all three of his quads in the free skate, he'll win a well-deserved medal, but he so seldom manages to do so these days.
Continue to part 2!