In the women’s figure-skating race yesterday, I bet Carolina Kostner to show, and that’s what she did. Her Italian home-town crowd went wild when she delivered a personal-best skate that won bronze in the ISU grand prix finals in Torino. I’m really pleased for this 20-year-old Italian skater. It’s her first world-level medal. Her hard work, grit and experience have finally been rewarded.
The singles gold and silver went to Korea’s Yu-na Kim and Japan’s Mao Asada. Shaky performances by Zhang and Meissner meant that the U.S. did not make it onto the women’s podium…though talented, explosive Evan Lysachek did get us the bronze in the men’s singles final. Switzerland’s Lambiel and Japan’s Takahashi took the gold and silver, respectively.
Our Johnny Weir, so admired by many of us, had one of his less fortunate days, and wound up 4th. He’s in a shaky moment, and it probably didn’t help that he was back in Torino, where he said he was never comfortable, and finished out of the medals during the Winter Olympics. If this was a movie, Johnny would have come roaring back to heave off the mental block about Torino and win the gold…like Seabiscuit finally came roaring back to win the Santa Anita Handicap. But Hollywood scriptwriters don’t get to determine the story points of athletes’ lives.
So what’s bothering Johnny? Pressures of stardom? Especially about the G question? Or just ongoing technical struggles with his jumps? I’m willing to bet that Weir pulls himself together at some point, and makes a late charge that will astonish us all. — Patricia Nell Warren
on Dec 17th, 2007 at 5:47 AM
Yeah, Johnny is great!
There is a mistake in the article, though. It wasn’t Kostner’s first big achievement by any means. She won a bronce medal at World and European level already!
on Dec 17th, 2007 at 8:46 AM
Absolutely love Johnny! Even though he wasn’t on form in Torino, he’s already made huge strides this season, winning gold in both of his Grand Prix events. Lysacek bested him here, but Johnny beat Evan at Cup of China in November. Their showdown at Nationals is 5 weeks away. Go, Johnny, Go!
on Dec 17th, 2007 at 9:16 AM
According to his coach, Johnny Weir had a minor injury to his landing foot. He actually skated very well, considering that. I’m sure he’ll be great at Nationals. Go Johnny!
Also, Carolina Kostner WON Europeans last year. She was the World bronze medalist in 2005.
on Dec 19th, 2007 at 2:48 AM
Have you been paying attention to Johnny’s career? *confused* Johnny isn’t distracted by the “G” question, he’s been distracted by the “Q” question. Johnny is the only top American skater to have never landed a quad in practice. He refuses to go for the jump, despite the fact that it’s required to medal at the “big” events, like the GPF and Worlds. Jonny is resting on his laurels yet again, relying on the same jump content that won him the Junior World title…but that was six years ago! Jonny needs to grow up and plan harder jumps, and do them! This is the guy who can count on one hand the number of times he’s ever maxed out his triples in a program. He hardly ever does three jump combinations in a program. Sure, his triple axel is gorgeous, but half the junior guys have triple axels. He needs a quad if he wants to get a World medal. “Less fortunate”?! Fourth at the GPF is about as high as he can expect without a quad. He did his best, but his best is not as good as the rest of the field, not anymore. It’s his own fault, too, so don’t start blaming the competition for being better, the way so many of us Johnny fans do.
Oh, and it’s Lysa*cek*, and Carolina Kostner is a World bronze medalist and European Champion. Get it right.
on Dec 19th, 2007 at 2:49 AM
Competition. Never landed a quad in competition.
In practice, he does it all the damn time, which makes it so much worse that he never does it in competition.
on Dec 19th, 2007 at 9:12 PM
Do your homework. Johnny Weir had 2 great performances in this year’s Grand Prix meets. The Grand Prix Final was his first under par competition of the season. Give him some slack. Also, Caroline Zhang did not have a “shakey” performance(do your homework before you say those things). She set personal best in both the short and long program. You really probably shouldn’t be commenting on figure skating unless you know more about it.