I was surprised to find out that one of the hottest topics about my about my blog, over the last few days, was Stephane Lambiel. So, I would like to satisfy everyone’s craving for figure skating by offering my preview of the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships. Over the next four days, I will preview one competition in the world championships, which is set to take place March 17 – 23 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Since, everybody seemed so interested in the men’s portion of the competition, I will start with that.
Men: (Photo by HirotomoT)
I expect it to be a close battle between Stephane Lambiel, Johnny Weir, and Brian Joubert. But, when it all shakes-out, I see Lambiel wearing the gold. Weir has the potential to win several competitions; however, he is not consistent enough with his jumps. This year he has resurged as one of the top contenders in the sport; but, the chances of him having a clean program are slim.
Joubert’s health is going to be the primary concern, for him, going into the championships. He has been very ill as of late, which forced him to withdraw from the Trophee Eric Bompard. He has the difficulty in his program to rival Lambiel; but, I really wonder if he will have the endurance to skate cleanly through such a difficult long program.
Stephane Lambiel is probably the most obscure two-time world champion in the history of figure skating. Besides the fact that he has won two world titles, he won the bronze at worlds last year and the silver at the last Olympics, and yet many people wouldn’t know who he was if they heard his name. Well, he may not be a well-known figure in the world of sports; but, he is my favorite to win his third world title. First of all, his Flamenco program is definitely a crowd favorite and when the crowd enjoys the program, the judges definitely take notice. Also, he racks in the points with his spins and footwork sequences, to the point where he can make a mistake somewhere else in his program and still score more points than his closest competitor. Finally, he showed that you have to be mentally strong to be a champion during his long program in the Grand Prix Finals. By improvising components in his routine, he scored enough points to win the title and it takes that type of quick-thinking to be World Champion.
Expected Results:
Gold: Stephane Lambiel
Silver: Brian Joubert
Bronze: Johnny Weir
4th: Daisuke Takahashi , 5th: Evan Lysacek
Tomorrow, I will preview the Ice Dancing portion.
Johnny Weir will *not* win a medal at Worlds without a quad. He has not shown that he can land a quad in competition. He has not shown that he is interested in attempting a quad in competition. Furthermore, he rarely does all three combination jumps.
Weir as a medal threat? Only if everyone, and I mean everyone, from Joubert to Verner to fricking *Berntsson*, has a meltdown.
Face it. Johnny’s not one of the top contenders, not anymore. He’s a guy who needs his competitors to have meltdowns or make major mistakes (Lysacek and Lambiel at COC, Lambiel again at COR) for him to win. Taking Lysacek out of the question for the moment, there are still more than three guys out there internationally who can beat a perfectly-clean Jonny with a less-than-spectacular skate. Johnny needs the quad. Unfortunately, I don’t think he gives a damn.
By: James on January 1, 2008
at 10:12 pm
I think it’s a little misleading that I put Weir as my bronze medal favorite; because, at their best, I don’t think Weir is anywhere near the caliber of Lambiel and Joubert. However, they aren’t at their best; because, Joubert has been ill and Lambiel has struggled with a few of his jump combinations. So, it gives Weir much more of a chance to have success. As far as the other top skaters go, Lysacek can’t do a quad and Takahashi can’t spin. So, maybe Weir has struggled, but, he is the best of the rest at this point.
By: candycane909 on January 1, 2008
at 10:54 pm
I don’t agree that Stéphane Lambiel is “obscure” and not a “well-known figure in the world of sports”. That may be true for the US because the focus is on US skaters and Stéphane Lambiel doesn’t like to skate at Champions in Ice that much. But the world is bigger than that: Stéphane Lambiel is very popular in Europe and Asia. His fan crowds at skating events always consist of fans from many nations, his guestbook online is visited by people from all around the world and next to his official fan club in Switzerland there’s even one in Korea.
By: Stephanie on January 2, 2008
at 2:17 am
I think it’s ridiculous to say that the only chance Weir has of making the World podium is if “everyone” has a meltdown. He won both of his Grand Prix events this season, and his total competition scores are right up there with Lambiel, Takahashi, and Lysacek. Yes, Lambiel and Lysacek made mistakes at CoC and CoR, but Johnny made them as well (no third combo, downgraded triple axel at CoR) and he still managed to win. My point is this: There is room for improvement in Johnny’s Tech score even without adding the quad. If he does add the quad — and, by the way, he has landed the quad in competition — he will be a threat not only for the bronze, but for the gold.
And if he truly doesn’t “give a damn” I wonder why he parted ways with his long-term coach, left his family, and moved to Jersey to train with a known taskmaster? If he doesn’t “give a damn” why is he pounding the quad in practice to the point that an old foot injury flared back up, costing him a shot at the GPF podium?
By: Brandi on January 2, 2008
at 6:21 am
Stephanie, where did you read that Stephane doesn’t like to skate in COI? I read in one of my IFS magazines that he liked being with the skaters on tour (or something like that). Was what you found more recent?
I agree more with the writer of this article that not as many Americans know of Stephane as much. So he needs to skate here more
LOL! Wishful thinking right?
By: Sara on January 3, 2008
at 10:41 am
on the podium i think (if brian’s going to compete) is (no order) daisuke, stephane, brian
this is cause daisuke has been having fairly stong skates this year. esp short program
stephane because although he has been stuggling with his quad and re-learning his 3A lately, he does have his 4-3 back and with his passion, should be able to get the 3A up and ready soon
brain, he’s sick right now but if he does manages to skate at worlds, he has all the right elements and techniques in his pocket
as for evan and johnny – johnny really needs to be more consistant if he wants any world medals even if he does have a quad
evan actually has landed a quad or 2 in competition but just not as many or as consistant as the other contenders…bronze again for evan? well probs if brian isn’t going to the worlds
By: mag on January 5, 2008
at 10:19 pm
[...] What a Suprise! [...]
By: E view news » johnny weir blog on January 27, 2008
at 6:50 pm