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peanutpinet · 3 years ago

Note

Hi I would like to make a request!

Honestly I don't know if you would be comfortable writing for Shoma x reader x Yuzuru? If you are, you can go for it! If not, then just a Shoma x reader.

The reader maybe it's a skater that started skating really late (like 18 or smth) and just won her first big medal!

Thank you ♥️

The First - Shoma x Reader

A/N: Hi!! Thank you for requesting this!! It's definitely been a while since I've written any Shoma fanfic since my Wattpad story so if you don't mind, I'll be doing just a Shoma x Reader fic :D

Warnings: nothing really, just floof :)

Pairings: Shoma x Female reader

Summary: you have been training under Stephane Lambiel ever since your debut as a junior all the way until your senior levels. While your junior time was definitely one of the best times for you, winning grand prix after grand prix, senior-level has never been kind to you with all the other girls being able to do multiple quads and even triple axels while you were still working on yours. But one skater that made a sudden change in coaching was the one to change it all ;)

Ever since your senior debut, you've been trying your best to keep up with every other female skater that has quads or even triple axel since you really wanted to get back on the podium since your junior days. But life aint that easy. While your double axel and all your other triple jumps are considered one of the best in the fields, adding another rotation was not as easy as people thought.

Every time you were to attempt a triple axel or even a quad, it would never end well for you. Popping your jump, landing with too big of an impact that would cause you to fall and get bruises or even you wouldn't dare to attempt the jump at all.

Stephane tried to convince you that not having a triple axel or quad is alright since with your artistry, you would still make it to the top 8 in the ladies field. But to you, that wasn't good enough. Call it ambitious or what not. Sometimes, you didn't really care about being on the podium anymore, all you wanted is to be able to jump a triple axel or even a quad in competition and skate clean. But because you were so eager for at least that one specific jump, you would often not be able to concentrate fully on your program that would make you get off track and messing up your program from time to time.

This mentality and state of mind of yours have been going for a good 2 years into your senior debut that Stephane recommended you to take a longer break during off-season instead of being at the rink like 5x a week which your parents also agreed on since they were rather worried about your mental being.

After some convincing, you finally agreed on just going to the rink 2-3x a week during off-season and just figure out how you want to continue your figure skating career. It was definitely a tough one since all you could think about was landing those jumps but you never really had thought beyond that. Not until your encounter with Shoma Uno.

You were not a stranger to the 2018 Winter Olympics silver medallist. I mean, you've seen him in competitions before and even watched several of skating to get some inspiration to better your own skating skill and interpretation since Shoma had one of the best PCS in the men's field.

Sometimes you wonder if it was a coincidence that you met Shoma but your gut tells you that it was already written in the stars that you were both destined to meet. Because Shoma couldn't understand nor speak English all to well, you decided to pull your "amazing" Japanese skills and body language and while it was rough in the beginning, you both slowly understood each other in your own way and shared many thoughts of skating and life in general.

While the talks don't last as long as you would like, especially when the new season is starting; you and Shoma both exchanged contacts to just update each other on your skating progress and how you finally admitted to Shoma that you might actually sit the season out since you couldn't nail the triple axel or any quad jumps. But what he replied next was out of your expectation.

"I can teach you! Well, I can try at least!" - Shoma

Ever since that text, you and Shoma slowly worked on your jumps and Shoma told you that sometimes if you keep "forcing" yourself to do the jump without feeling the beat or flow, you would tend to get off track hence falling and even could even cause an injury.

Slowly but surely you started understanding what Shoma meant and there was some progress. Like instead of falling completely or spraining an ankle, you did a step out of a triple axel and quad toe which surprised you, yourself. The next few sessions consist of multiple step-outs with several three turns until literally a month before they assigned the grand prix, you managed to not only land a triple axel but also a quad toe during one of your practices. Shocking you, your coach and even everyone at the rink at that moment.

Ever since, you were more than sure that this season will be one of the best. But just in case, you had two different layouts for both your short and free program. One of each has both the triple axel and quad toe while the other one is a safer program with a double axel and the other triple jumps.

For both of the grand prix you were assigned, you had a very inconsistent triple axel; with landing only that jump once in a free program whilst the other times you would always have a step out of your triple axel and barely landed your quad toe. But even with all that mishap, you managed to secure your place as one of the six skaters for the grand prix final; your first grand prix final as a senior.

When you thought that you would get used to the nerve of competition, you were suddenly so nervous since it was your first ever grand prix as a senior but you took a deep breath and just go with the flow; whatever happens, happens.

Throughout all the practice sessions went fairly well, you managed to land your triple axel and all your other triple jumps. Unfortunately, during your actual short program, it did not go a well as you thought because you had a step out of your triple axel and was barely hanging on in your triple lutz + triple toe combo, resulting in you being in 4th place with an 11 point difference with the first place

At the same time, you got a text from Shoma asking if you wanted to hang out which you decided "Eh, why not" and just went back to your room to change and then head out into the city with Shoma to just explore around and have dinner before heading back to your hotel since the next day was the men's short program.

As you went back to your hotel, Shoma asked if you just wanted to hang out at the pool of the hotel which you agreed on since the view from your hotel was breathtaking. Sitting down by the pool, neither of you started a conversation but it didn't feel awkward at all. Just admiring the view whilst enjoying each other's presence.

It wasn't until you decided to ask Shoma why did he dare to go out the night before his short program which he answered that every skater has their own ritual before the competition and he was simply enjoying the city, leaving whatever happens to fate since all he could do is just do his best. Adding on that there's no point in worrying too much since no one might really know what happen during the competition. Ending the conversation, Shoma told you that you shouldn't worry so much about the result and the important thing is you did your best since you're competing with yourself not so much others.

After that talk, you decided to watch the men's short program and while in the end, Shoma was at 3rd place with a near 10 point difference from the 1st place and around 7 point difference with the 2nd, he was still happy and pleased with the score he received. And for some reason, you were also happy for him and enjoyed his and the other skaters' programs.

Remembering Shoma's talk and mindset, you took that with you through your free program and just enjoy the program more than anything. Taking your place at the center, you saw Shoma sitting at the seat that was across you, showing you some encouragement. Taking a deep breath, the second the music started, you started your program as well.

As you were nearing your opening jump, the triple axel, you just followed the flow of the music and ended up landing a clean jump, earning a loud cheer from the crowd and a smile upon your face. Continuing your program, your next big jump, the quad toe was up and surprisingly, you landed the jump clean as well!! With two big jumps out of your way, your confidence level increased and you started to enjoy your program even more, adding some touches of your own because you were feeling it.

Once you ended your program with your ending pose, tears were threatening to fall from your face as you bowed to the crowd who cheered you whilst throwing gifts to the rink. Picking some up, you bowed to the crowd one more time before going to your coach, Stephane who always welcomed you with a big hug.

After Stephane helped you balance yourself to put your blade guards, the both of you went to the kiss and cry to await for your score. When the score came up, you almost didn't believe it since not only did you get a seasons best but you were currently in first place with only 2 skaters to go and you had a near 15 point lead from the current 2nd place.

In the end, whilst you didn't get first place, you still managed to secure your spot at the podium, at 2nd place with only a 5 point difference from first place. After the award ceremony was over and you went backstage to change your clothes and shoes before heading back to the hotel to rest. Along the way you saw Shoma and rushed up to him who brought a little gift for you, your favourite character in a doll form and even a rose.

"Congratulations on making it to the podium on your first grand prix final as a senior. There might be tough times but I hope that you remember that you're not alone okay? Now let's go have some bbq to celebrate" Shoma exclaimed, handing you the gifts one at a time before holding your hand in his

A/N: yes, I know that you didn't really win first place in a big competition. But I feel that being able to make it to a big competition and even managing to be on the podium should be considered a big accomplishment!! Also, I know that this is not my best work but yeah, I hope that whoever requests this and everyone else who reads it enjoys it :) Hope everyone have a wonderful week and remember to stay safe and practice good hygiene!! :) xoxo Vinet

#figure skating #figureskating #figure skating scenarios #figure skating imagines #ice skating #ice skating scenarios #ice skating imagines #shoma uno #shoma uno scenarios #shoma uno imagines #shoma uno x reader

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justanawesomeowl · 3 years ago

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Olympic predictions

Warning: I've only been following figure skating since 2020 grand Prix. I'm not the most knowledgeable on the technical side (or the pcs) but I do try to listen to podcasts and commentators who actually know what they are speaking about. So this is my opinion. Don't go to a betting house with this predictions.

Okay, i might expand on this a bit later (meaning, when i do my predictions on golden skate I might post the full 6 skater list) but here are my realistic-ideal podiums for Beijing 2022:

Pairs (my beloved)

My favourite discipline, the one I would watch if could only watch one

Sui/Han

Boikova/kozlovski

Mishina/Galliamov

A few things come into place here: 1. I want home gold for s/h. No discussion. They should skate clean and they will get it (I would also give it to them just by showing up but we are trying to be serious here) 2. I love b/k and if they do the kind of skate they can, they should get silver, and I want them to place above m/g to restore the balance. They are also the original-last moskvina team so... Yeah. I love them. 3. I don't think t/m will be able to deliver. Historically they've flunked with pressure and there's nothing that makes me think differently this time. 4. P/K are still alternates but you can be sure I would place them on the podium if I could

Ladies

Kamila Valieva

Alexandra Trusova

Anna Sherbakova

In another world, Rika kihira is competing and I'm not supporting an Eteri sweep but we live in the bad place. There's also a discussion to be had about judging, pcs inflation and judges actually using their eyes when it comes to the Russians defects, but I'm going to lean more in the realistic side for this one and accept that they have a political backing no other fed can match. (And some good TES, even though underrotations and edges are being ignored) 1. Whether I like it or not, unless she flunks massively (which I don't want to happen because she's just a kid) Kami is a lock for gold. Do I want isu reform and real judging? Yeah, but that's not the discussion here. 2 Russian-Rocket with a clean program. That's it.Do you remember what we saw at Russian tests? If you don't, look it up. I'm hopping for some transitions and better SS but... 🤷 (It just occurred to me that clean Sasha could outscore kami's free skate and still place silver while getting a world record. That would be best place scenario) 3. Anna feels like a podium lock as well. I don't even know who would be third? I also want her to be safe and healthy.

Men

Yuzuru hanyu

Nathan Chen

Shoma Uno / Yuma Kagiyama

I actually don't care much about men. To the point where I didn't even know who I wanted for bronze. 1. Yuzuru OGM. With a clean 4Axel, although I would give him the medal if he landed everything else. If you think I'm delusional I will inform you that I cheered for Rafa Nadal for 5 hours last sunday, he won but the important point here is that I stick with my choices even when it doesn't seem logical. I'm aware I'm delusional 2. We can give Nathan silver as long as he doesn't flunk like he did in the previous Olympics. Unlike t/m I think he has overcome what happened last time and will do some great skates 3. Between the two, whoever skates cleanest. That's it. Shoma can be great but he has been a bit inconsistent and doesn't have stable triples which affects his base value....

Also, at this point I can see Mark continuing his rocket trajectory and wining bronze. It wouldn't be the weirdest thing AND he is one of the few male skaters who's short program I like (even if the costume is ugly imo)

Dance

I feel like I need to say that I would love to see smart/Diaz on the podium, but that's not realistic and I'm just hopping for a top 10 finish.

Papadakis/Cizeron

Sinsinita/Katsalapov

Stepanova/bukin or h/d

I actually don't follow dance. Could you tell? Number 1/2 could probably go either way, and I have absolutely no idea if s/b are a realistic bronze but my Tumblr dashboard loves them so at least they'll have this fictional bronze. Or h/d. They are the other valid team. I love their lift because it's reminds me of the best discipline: pairs I also hope team Nepo (Davis/smolkin) flunk. I saw their euros free a while ago and.... omg I wish I hadn't. Why did no one tell me they were desacrating virtuemoir's legacy??? And the commentators loved them 👀

Aaaand, that's it!

#all of this because i saw a b/k edit on twitter and it got me thinking about how much i love them #figure skating #beijing 2022 #im not tagging the skaters #come scream to me if you disagree #or if you want to share your predictions on anon #ill post them even if i disagree #i spent 45 minutes on this #owl rambles

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fukiko · 6 years ago

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Highlights from Tessa Virtue’s Vogue Japan Interview pt. 1

- On the motivation for coming out of retirement: “After the 2014 Olympics in Sochi finished, we tried distancing ourselves from competitive skating but felt strongly in our hearts that we wanted to compete again. We’d really fallen in love with working hard in pursuit of a single goal and making strong efforts, and of course, we were confident we could polish our skills even more. We felt we hadn’t lost the drive to test our abilities and advance as athletes.”

- On switching coaches for the comeback, she says they wanted to be able to control themselves better. All decisions had to be made with the athletes goals and visions in mind. Their comeback years were the most trying but also the most rewarding.

- She and Scott had joked about returning to competition, but one day while driving to the Great Wall of China they started thinking of their “dream scenarios” for a comeback — what music they’d use, coaches, styling, image, etc — and realized they needed to make it reality.

- Their years doing ice shows after the 2014 olympics helped them understand how to really present to an audience instead of solely focusing on perfection and getting lost in the details.

- Pyeongchang was full of meaning and felt like a fairytale. The atmosphere in the rink was unlike any other and winning gold in both events has become her greatest memory.

- She didn’t know that PC had gotten a world record score between they went on and isn’t sure if she would have been able to perform the way she did if she’d known.

- Shoma Uno asked VM for skating advice, but they’re so impressed by him that they said they wanted him to teach them how to skate!

Taking a quick break before I dive into the rest!

#tessa virtue #scott moir #tessa virtue and scott moir #ice dance #interview #translation #vogue japan

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lazuliblade · 8 years ago

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I was wondering since it's possible for any skaters to land the jumps or spins how does one become their "signature move" ?

There’s a number of ways:

if the element is always performed in every program for years

if an element is performed better than most other people could ever hope for,

if an element is so unique or unused that they are one of very few skaters to do it

if they popularize the element

if the element is used in an iconic performance

Points 1 and 3 in particular apply to elements besides jumps - like certain spin positions and choreographic elements. Those are the real moves that make you go “Ah, yes, this is a Michelle Kwan/Yuzuru Hanyu/Victor Nikiforov program.” Point 2 is what makes a normal spin position or element into something they “own.”Point 4 - you might see many other competitors start trying out a move because X-skater is super popular and does it in his programs. The move becomes tied to his name because he’s inspiring a new generation of skaters - he has an impact on others and they think of him whenever they try the move.

For example:

(Yuzuru Hanyu, his Layback Ina Bauer. 2016/17 EX Notte Stellata. This gif is from a gala practice.) Point 1: Even though Yuzuru’s layback ina bauer isn’t a new move, and even though many Ladies can do it, it’s one of his signature moves because he’s put it in one of his programs every year since he was a Junior (9 years of programs). You watch his programs expecting it to appear this year too. “It’s not a Yuzu program unless it has an ina bauer.”Point 3: Not many other men can do a layback version of the ina bauer because it requires a certain amount of flexibility in the back, thus making it rare to see in the men’s field (especially as they get older).Point 2: Even if other top skaters try putting it in their programs now, the quality of Yuzu’s will set his apart.Point 4: Because Yuzuru is now famous, you’ll find an increase in videos of younger skaters including the layback ina bauer in their programs. Where it used to be sort of feminine, now younger male skaters are starting to use it because they want to emulate him.

Point 5 - imagine this scenario: It’s the World Championships and young Victor is behind a couple of points going into the Free. Everyone in the last group of skaters is neck-and-neck and anyone could be on that podium. His older competitors are doing well with their Free Skates and it’s such an exciting competition for the spectators that the atmosphere in the venue is electric. Finally it’s Victor’s turn. The tension is palpable, and commentators are wondering if this teen will win the gold in just his second appearance at the World Championships. He goes out there and performs his program the best he has ever done it. It’s such a gorgeous performance that he shatters the World Record by a ridiculous margin, and wins the event in such a way as to leave the spectators in awe.Commentators are calling this “one of the best programs in the history of figure skating - if not THE best.” “The program moved me to tears.” “It was such a touching performance, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”It makes such headlines, goes viral in the figure skating community, and spreads to news reports in countries where figure skating is popular.Somewhere near the end at a music climax he does a long spiral, and the cameras catch it at multiple angles. He’s done this move many times in the past, other men have done this move (although rarely), women do this move all the time. It’s not like it’s a new move, but this record-breaking program with the spiral set right at a climactic moment makes the spiral his signature move. It becomes associated with his name and people say:“Hey, remember that move in the program by that silver-haired skater, Victor?”“The spiral? You’re talking about the move with the leg up, right?”“Oh, is that what it’s called? Yeah, that’s the one. That was gorgeous - Victor’s spiral.”Just as the long hair was likely his signature look for many years, the spiral becomes attached to his image. When he does the spiral from then on, commentators will call it his signature move because it’s recognizable as HIS move from that one really amazing performance.

(This is a made-up headcannon based on his spiral at Junior Worlds. Please don’t take it as canon.)

Point 2: if a move is performed better than most other people could ever hope for – this is where jumps become signature moves

The key is for the difficult jump to be performed cleanly and consistently. We’re talking +3GOE quality here. Or alternatively, if the skater is one of the few who jump that particular one (4Lo, 4F, 4Lz). Let me use in-series and real-life examples.

Yuuri is known for his 3A - it seems that he usually lands it with good form. I’m sure over the years he hasn’t fallen on it very often in competition and thus it became a jump that commentators and people in the FS world know him for. But that’s not exactly a signature move in the sense that you wait an entire program to see it. It’s signature in the sense that he’s known for being one of the best at it.Then we have Victor with his 4F. I’ll bet you that he was the first man to land this jump, but if he wasn’t, then he was definitely the one to land it consistently and cleanly in competitions. He’s known for it because of the quality and probably because he always puts a 4F his programs. Perhaps it’s even his favorite quad.

Looking at real-life skaters:

Yuzuru is known for his 3A. Of course, every Senior Men’s skater has to be able to do a 3A, and there are some currently competing skaters with beautiful 3As of their own, but Yuzuru’s is one of the most effortless and consistent you’ll see. It’s the one jump that everyone can count on when all other jumps fail in his program. He can do a 3A from standstill, he can do 4T-3A-3A-3A chains, he can do 4Lo-3A. He does it so well and always with such difficult entries, that his 3A became the jump he is known for.

Going further back, his coach Brian Orser was known during his career in the 1980s as “Mr. Triple Axel” because he was that good at 3As. He was the first Junior to land a 3A in competition, he was the first man to land it in the Olympics. This was back in the time when the 3A was the pinnacle, and quads were for crazy dreamer athletes who cared less for points and more for achieving the impossible.

Shoma Uno is the first man to land the 4F, and he lands it well for how little time he’s competed with it (not even a full year). That’s become his signature jump and even if other skaters like Boyang Jin and Nathan Chen try it out, Shoma is the one that the jump is tied to and spectators always wait for it.

So I guess the bottom line is, even if other men do the same spins and jumps, if a skater does the element so well that it sticks in people’s minds, then it becomes their signature move.

#yuri!!! on ice #informational post #yoi meta #anon ask #figure skating #ask response #yoi #yuuri katsuki #victor nikiforov #yuzuru hanyu #brian orser #shoma uno

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iguana012 · 8 years ago

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Japanese Nats: The Aftermath

This recap is almost 3 weeks late but fwiw I judged the event on The Judges’ Table. If you’re interested in my (serious) opinions about the competition, you can read them there. If you’re interested in my less censored opinions, I will include as much as I can in this post.

So what happened is that Japan crowned their tiniest champions ever, Satoko Miyahara (her 3rd title) and Shoma Uno (his 1st title). But some people were less interested in that and more interested in receiving updates on Yuzuru Hanyu’s recovery after he decided to withdraw from the competition in order to prioritize his health, thus generating earthquakes among his sensitive fans. Other people (those who attended the competition) went just to see Mao Asada but they were polite enough not to get up and empty the arena while Mao wasn’t skating unlike what happened at the Sochi Olympics when Evgeni Plushenko withdrew from the men’s event.

Now I’m not pretending to be some advocate of justice and I’m not intending to preach. But I believe this is a good opportunity to highlight frequent problems in the skating fandom so you won’t be tempted to fall into their traps.

DISCLAIMER: I do realize I’m already in a very high risk of getting attacked by some Yuzu fans via anon asks or salty replies/reblogs but I’m gonna say this again: it’s okay if you’re not into my kind of “”””humor”””. You can ignore me and I promise I won’t get a boo-boo. GETTING TO THE SUBJECT NOW!

THE LADIES EVENT aka Game Of Thrones

Satoko Miyahara waltzed into this event giving negative fucks and the results showed: when she gives negative fucks, that 3Lz-3T combo in the second half of her SP is miraculously rotated. As a consequence she got 76 for her program and further established her new position as one of the most overscored skaters currently competing (don’t believe me? Ask the Russian ubers and Mao ubers). I also thought “damn, this empty program actually looks nice when neither she nor I have to worry about rotations”. But the key here is to make the program look like that when you give a lot of fucks as opposed to negative fucks, and Mie Hamada knew that. So the next day before Satoko skated her FS, Hamada annoyed the crap out of her and pressured her as a strategy to make her get used to skating clean when she gives a lot of fucks, such as when she’s thinking she’s gotta get a medal in a relevant event, including the Olympics. For now, Satoko is still failing that test because she had a step-out on the 3Lz-3T combo and a couple of carrots.

Wakaba Higuchi finally - I repeat - FINALLY skated a clean short program and it was so adorable to see her get all excited and happy about it. Except it wasn’t a squeaky-clean program because she got a wrong edge call on her flip. What can ya do, if ya got a good lutz ya gotta lip and when ya got a good flip ya gotta flutz. She’s gonna have to follow Satoko’s example and replace that lip with a loop and be done with it. Other than that, damn this girl got huge jumps. Everyone loves some huge jumps. However, the disadvantage of huge jumps is that you gotta have very good control of the landing and you have to know how to manage your speed, when to speed up, when to slow down, otherwise you’re doomed to pull a Midori Ito and land your jumps over the cameraman outside the boards. (Have you imagined Evgenia Medvedeva landing one of her 3-3-3 combos on Tarasova’s table cause I did and I cracked myself up really).

Another skater who is fast as crap and has great technique on top of that is Mai Mihara who won the bronze medal and got herself a ticket to Worlds. Just a year ago around this time she was watching Nationals on TV from a hospital bed having been diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Doesn’t that make a great Cinderella story? She is, actually, skating to Cinderella but her style is still stuck somewhere on the road between junior and senior (she was pretty good as a junior but I didn’t like her skating then and I’m not necessarily warming up now) but she seems like a very sweet girl and if there’s anyone who deserved going to Worlds aside from Satoko and Wakaba, it’s this young lady.

Marin Honda is another skater who finally - I repeat - FINALLY skated a clean short program after burying herself in competitions right from the start. The poor girl has been under so much constant pressure this season I feel like she’s always on the verge of having an emotional breakdown. It’s not only the fact that she’s cried a number of times after her performances, but this season she always looked like she was terrified of her results no matter how she skated. I’m not a fan of either of her programs this season (SP is similar to last season’s and the FS is a hot mess combo of Yuzuru’s Romeo & Juliet 1 and 2) but she has excellent skating skills, musicality, expression, projection to the audience for her age. She doesn’t have the best jump technique but she is one of the few lucky ones with a clean lutz AND flip. After a smooth short program, a popped jump in the free prevented her from stepping onto the podium but that’s how it is in competition; it’s not about what you’re able to do, it’s about what you end up doing when it counts.

Rika Hongo has been in serious trouble ever since the beginning of this season - or maybe as far as the previous Nationals - and the worst case scenario happened. She finished 5th and now the juniors ahead of her are old enough to go to Worlds in her place. While she was 2nd in the SP with the best performance of the season, she went down to 6th in the FS and finished 5th overall despite bringing back Riverdance, a program that worked for her last year. Unfortunately the spark, the freedom and the joy that was present last season was absent in this competition as she was very nervous even before she took the ice.

Yuna Shiraiwa on the other hand... I’m only going to say this. Clean 3Lz-3T and (second half) 3F-3T combos in the FS. No UR calls. Highest TES (71.74) of the evening. She’s the real MVP in Hamada’s team.

THE OLD(ER) GENERATION

This was Mao Asada’s worst result at Nationals but instead of having retirement thoughts (like she had last season at Nationals even though she skated better), she’s still determined to come back stronger next season. An old knee injury prevented her from landing the 3A and rotating a lot of her jumps but at this point she’s obviously not skating for the medals as much as she’s skating for herself. No skater wants to leave the competitive world with regrets so who are we to judge Mao’s decision to continue in spite of physical difficulties? With Yuzuru absent due to influenza, most fans attended the competition to see Mao and it was obvious just counting the number of flowers that were thrown on the ice for her compared to the other skaters.

Redemption from Kanako Murakami, who is also nearing the end of her career but managed to deliver the first clean FS she’s skated in ages. That’s all she wanted from this competition, she got it, and she awarded the audience with her signature Kanako Smile.

Painful competition for Haruka Imai, former Japanese Jr National Champion and 4th at the 2014 4CC. No GP assignments this season, she was plagued by inflammation of her hips and knees but she fought to land the 3Lz and 3F. This was also the first time we got to see one of her new programs (the FS, which is Primavera by Einaudi) and she’s still beautiful to watch.

SHOMA UNO & CO.

It was kind of depressing to watch the men’s event this year because only a couple of years ago it was the fiercest event at Nationals. Keiji Tanaka seized his chance to grab onto the silver medal while Takahito Mura’s bronze was (once again) useless - as harsh as it sounds. Shoma wasn’t at his best here but he showed that he learned a new lesson (tag a 3T to a different jump if you screw up one of your planned combos!!) and he came out of this alive and well. The added pressure of having to “live up to expectations” in the absence of Olympic King Zuzu was another thing he suddenly had to put up with (good job Fuji). But there’s an old saying; “better here than at Worlds”.

CONTROVERSIES

While Satoko and Shoma are the tiniest champions Japan has ever had, they’re also the most criticized. They both have to skate under the shadows of two skating giants, Mao and Yuzuru, who have hoards of fans. Among those hoards of fans there are ubers, people who have made a habit out of bashing their favorite skaters’ successors. In Japan there already are Mao ubers whose jobs are to tear Satoko apart and the disease has long spread worldwide. You can see it on forums, you can see it on comment sections of YouTube videos, you can even hear it on television (looking at you Simon Reed). People who write passive-aggressive, sarcastic remarks, calling Satoko names and whatnot. Shoma gets similar (though mellower) treatment from overseas fans, but not from Japanese fans, possibly due to the fact that he’s a Daisuke Takahashi fan so most of Dai’s fans are now supporting him.

These two young skaters (and not only) deserve all the support in the world. It’s not easy to become Japan’s supporting pillar and leading lady after the great Mao Asada, but Satoko is doing an incredible job. Appreciate more, bash less. Don’t let the judges cloud your judgement. There’s also a massive amount of PR in figure skating; Mao has so many sponsors you can see her in commercials, you can see fluff videos about her because that’s what the general audience wants. She’s been advertised as a child prodigy (which she was) and people consider her part of their family. Satoko doesn’t benefit from that kind of treatment so people tend to be cold and judgmental towards her because she’s nothing compared to Mao-chan (oh dear those jumps, oh dear the way she bends her knee, oh dear her face).

Recently Marin Honda has been getting the “heir of Mao” treatment, getting sponsorship from JAL, shooting CMs for Ghana and stuff. I feel like I have to point out the fact that all of her siblings, including herself, are managed by a hugely influential management company. If you’re into Japanese entertainment, you might have heard of it. It’s called Oscar Promotion and it’s a talent agency whose famous names include actresses Emi Takei, Aya Ueto and Ayame Gouriki. She’s been promoted and modeled by a talent agency since she was a young child so she’s an expert at working with the camera, the audience and the reporters. As a result she’s also been gathering - well, pretty scary fans who are downright infatuated with her and will start arguments if you dare criticize her. Similar to idol group fans, I’d say.

But this is figure skating and crack commentaries aside we’re talking about real, young people with feelings who are training every day from dawn till dusk, who get injured, who sacrifice their childhood and adolescence. We’re also talking about real fans behind the computer screen who like who they like and no one person is entitled to criticize or ridicule the things that make them happy. At the same time, no one is entitled to attack fans who criticize your favorite skater(s) as long as they bring valid arguments and they’re polite about it. And no one is entitled to attack another fan whose way of seeing or perceiving things is either more or less intense than yours. Be nice to each other. #PEACE

#Yuzuru Hanyu #Mao Asada #Satoko Miyahara #Shoma Uno #figure skating

156 notes · View notes

mystlnewsonline · 7 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://www.stl.news/latest-court-to-rule-friday-morning-russian-appeals/82583/

The Latest: Court to rule Friday morning on Russian appeals

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea /February 8, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) — The Latest from the Pyeongchang Olympics (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it will issue a ruling Friday morning on 45 Russian athletes’ last-ditch appeals to compete in the Olympics.

The court heard the cases of the athletes and two coaches Thursday.

The court says the ruling will be announced Friday morning at 11 a.m. local time, nine hours before the opening ceremony for the Pyeongchang Games.

The Russian athletes are protesting the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to issue them invitations. The IOC said it could not be sure they were not involved in Russia’s doping scandals.

If they win, they can join 168 Russians who were invited by the IOC to compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” in neutral uniforms under the Olympic flag.

Another six Russian athletes and seven support staff had a separate appeal rejected on procedural grounds earlier Thursday.

___

6:25 p.m.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected an appeal by six Russian athletes who weren’t invited to compete in the Olympics, ruling them out a day before the opening ceremony.

The court says it “lacked jurisdiction to deal with” the application filed by the six Russians, as well as another filed by seven support staff.

The six include two world champion speedskaters, Denis Yuskov and Pavel Kulizhnikov, plus athletes from biathlon and ski jumping.

They were seeking to overturn the International Olympic Committee’s decision not to issue them invitations to the Pyeongchang Games.

It was a separate case from appeals by 45 Russian athletes and two coaches that were heard Thursday.

The IOC has invited 168 Russians to compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia,” competing in neutral uniforms under the Olympic flag. Others were not invited under criteria put in place after doping issues in Sochi.

___

6:15 p.m.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected an appeal by six Russian athletes, ruling them out of the Olympics a day before the opening ceremony.

CAS says it “lacked jurisdiction to deal with” the application filed by the six Russians, as well as another filed by seven support staff.

The six include two world champion speedskaters, Denis Yuskov and Pavel Kulizhnikov, plus athletes from biathlon and ski jumping.

They were seeking to overturn the International Olympic Committee’s decision not to issue them invitations to the Pyeongchang Games.

It was a separate case to appeals from 45 Russian athletes and two coaches which were heard Thursday.

The IOC has invited 168 Russians to compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia,” competing in neutral uniforms under the Olympic flag.

___

6 p.m.

Skeleton gold medalist Lizzy Yarnold will carry the British flag at Friday’s opening ceremony for the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Yarnold was Britain’s only gold medalist at the Sochi Games four years ago and was rewarded with the honor of carrying the flag at the closing ceremony.

In Pyeongchang, she’s hoping to become the first British athlete to win back-to-back Winter Olympic gold medals.

Yarnold says she’s “really proud to march in front of the whole team.”

Australia has chosen 23-year-old snowboard halfpipe world champion Scotty James as its flagbearer. Competing in his third Olympics, James says he is “overwhelmed and honored” to be chosen as flagbearer.

___

5:45 p.m.

Defending halfpipe champion Iouri Podladtchikov has arrived in Pyeongchang , though his status for next week’s contest remains day-to-day.

Podladtchikov, known as the I-Pod, broke his nose in a nasty fall at the Winter X Games on Jan 28. He was taken off the mountain on a stretcher and admitted to the hospital, but scans for brain and neck injuries came back negative.

Halfpipe training starts Friday, with the qualifying round set for next Tuesday.

Podladtchikov is expected to go to the mountain, but a spokesperson for the Swiss team says he’ll decide day-to-day whether he is going to ride.

___

5:10 p.m.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister and other senior North Korean officials who are coming to the South on Friday for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Moon’s spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom also said Thursday the North Korean delegates will attend the games’ opening ceremony on Friday evening.

Kim says Moon will hold a luncheon with the North Korean delegates on Saturday but didn’t provide an exact time and location.

Kim Yo Jong would be the first member of North Korea’s ruling family to visit the South since the 1950-53 Korean War. The North Korean delegation will also include the country’s nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam.

___

4:55 p.m.

The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is awaiting a ruling on the appeals of Russian athletes hoping to compete in the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Forty-five Russian athletes and two coaches are seeking to overturn the International Olympic Committee’s decision not to invite them to the games based on criteria put in place after doping issues in Sochi in 2014.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport heard their appeals Thursday, but didn’t immediately issue a ruling. The court said it could come Thursday evening or Friday morning. The opening ceremony is Friday night.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday that the much-awaited ruling “should be respected and complied with.” He says the IOC must abide by the court’s ruling.

___

3 p.m.

American figure skater Adam Rippon says he doesn’t want his team to be distracted by his animosity toward Mike Pence over the U.S. vice president’s conservative stance on gay rights.

The openly gay Rippon criticized the White House last month for choosing Pence to lead the official U.S. delegation for Friday’s opening ceremony. Pence has been considered an opponent of the LGBT community after signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as governor of Indiana.

Critics say the legislation encourages discrimination against gay people.

Rippon said after practice Thursday that he would be open to speaking with Pence after the games.

The figure skating program begins Friday with the men’s and pairs short programs in the team competition. Rippon is due on the ice Monday, when he tackles the men’s free skate for Team USA.

___

2:55 p.m.

A lawyer for 45 Russian athletes and two coaches says hearings have concluded in their last-ditch attempt to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics, but there is no ruling yet.

Philippe Baertsch, representing the 47 Russians, says the Court of Arbitration for Sport panel will issue a decision within the next 24 hours.

He adds “we are hopeful that the panel will follow our argumentation and respect the rights of the athletes.”

Elena Nikitina, a skeleton bronze medalist who attended the hearing, says “everyone was pleasant and we were listened to.”

___

2:45 p.m.

The head coach of the hastily assembled joint North and South Korean women’s Olympic hockey team says it’s important for members to march together in the opening ceremony to show they are unified.

Asked if marching together is a political statement, coach Sarah Murray says putting the team together was a political statement, but now it’s just one team.

Murray, who is Canadian, says her worst-case scenario was that the players wouldn’t talk to each other, but she says they eat together, have meetings together, and mix and talk in the locker room.

The team has played together just once before, but she says the chemistry is better than she could have imagined. Their first game is Saturday against Sweden.

___

2:30 p.m.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada has found the fastest line in the first Olympic downhill training session despite a balky back and two creaking knees.

Osborne-Paradis finished in 1 minute, 40.45 seconds Thursday on a demanding but not overly tricky course. Kjetil Jansrud of Norway was second, 0.31 seconds behind Osborne-Paradis. Mauro Caviezel of Switzerland wound up third.

The downhill race is set for Sunday.

Over the years, Osborne-Paradis has dealt with a herniated disk and soreness in a surgically repaired left knee. Now, he has what he calls a “grumpy” right knee. Still, he found speed on a track that requires a racer’s full attention. Explained Jansrud: “You can’t afford putting out a hand and go a kilometer slower, because it’s going to cost you a medal.”

___

2:10 p.m.

Shaun White says he is working on the tricks that Japan’s Ayumu Hirano used to win the halfpipe at the Winter X Games last month.

Hirano became the first snowboarder to string together back-to-back 1440-degree jumps in what was widely regarded as the best show ever seen in a halfpipe.

White says “he’s really pushing it, and he did an amazing combination that I’m working on myself. I don’t think we’ve seen my best run.”

White’s best run, at least this season, came at Snowmass in an Olympic qualifier in January. White used one 1440, along with his patented Double McTwist 1260, to win the contest with a maximum score of 100 — one of the rare times that mark has ever been handed out.

It established him as the man to beat at the Olympics. But a short two weeks later came the X Games, where Hirano strung together his back-to-back 1440s — the first time that had ever been done in a competition — and Scotty James finished a close second on a run that included three 1260s, including one in which he rides and spins backward into the wall to execute the double cork.

___

2 p.m.

Reigning men’s gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan will not participate in the team event that opens the figure skating program Friday as he continues to recover from an ankle injury he sustained in November.

Japan will go with Shoma Uno and Keiji Tanaka in the men’s short program and free skate.

Hanyu sustained ligament damage in his right ankle while practicing for the NHK Trophy in November, and his recovery has been slower than expected. He only began training on ice last month, though his Canadian coach Brian Orser said this week that Hanyu will be “100 percent” for the men’s competition beginning Feb. 16.

Hanyu is trying to become the first skater to defend his Olympic title since Dick Button in 1952.

___

1:30 p.m.

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency is blaming underfunding for sports seeming to be losing ground to doping and cheating.

Craig Reedie says “we are 50 percent underfunded in terms of what everyone wants us to do.”

Reedie says WADA’s annual budget is about $30 million. Half comes from national governments, which is matched equally by the International Olympic Committee. Speaking at the Pyeongchang Olympics, Reedie says he hopes to see a 50 percent increase in the next several years, pushing governments for more.

The IOC — which relies on WADA to give its events credibility — has the resources to pay more.

The IOC’s revenue for the last complete four-year Olympic cycle — 2013 through 2016 — was $5.7 billion. That means the IOC’s contribution to WADA and the fight on doping is miniscule.

Says WADA’s Director General Olivier Niggli: “We think that currently the fight against doping is under-funded, worldwide.”

___

1:15 p.m.

North Korea says it is not interested in meeting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence while he is in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Pyongyang is sending a senior delegation — including Kim Jong Un’s younger sister — and rumors had circulated such a meeting could be in the works. A top Foreign Ministry official seemed to rule that out in comments carried by North Korea’s state-run media Thursday.

“We have no intention to meet with the U.S. side during the stay in South Korea,” the official was quoted as saying. “We are not going to use such sports festival as the Winter Olympics as a political lever. There is no need to do so.”

Pence is scheduled to arrive in South Korea from Japan on Thursday.

___

12:55 p.m.

The most prized Olympic titles in Alpine skiing will be won this month on downhill courses raced only once before, and lined with trees that are sacred as symbols of fertility.

Only after the South Korean region was picked as host in 2011 were the wide speed tracks in Jeongseon cut through the forest. The mountain is now a pure competition venue for the Pyeongchang Games rather than a hub for ski tourism.

The best downhillers have each had only one World Cup race to fully test the jumps and terrain in cold air sweeping down from Siberia.

Lindsey Vonn, the 2010 Olympic champion, says it’s a very unique course. The men’s downhill race is Sunday and the women race on Feb. 21.

___

12:45 p.m.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says six more Russian athletes have filed appeals seeking to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The six include two world champion speedskaters, Denis Yuskov and Pavel Kulizhnikov, plus athletes from biathlon and ski jumping.

All six were originally refused invitations to compete by the International Olympic Committee. All have previously served bans of various lengths for failed drug tests. The IOC had said it wouldn’t invite athletes previously banned for doping.

Seven Russian support personnel have filed appeals in another case.

The court says the new cases will be heard separately from ongoing hearings for 45 Russian athletes and two coaches. The opening ceremonies are Friday.

___

12:30 p.m.

South Korea says the number of people treated and quarantined for norovirus following an outbreak in Olympic areas has increased to 86 as authorities struggle to track the spread of the disease.

Hong Jeong-ik from South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday the number of cases is likely to continue to rise because authorities are screening more areas for the disease.

Officials had initially confirmed 32 cases among security personnel and sequestered about 1,200. Because the sick workers handled security, 900 military personnel have been brought in to work at 20 venues.

The Olympic organizing committee said 63 of those sickened, mostly security staff, were staying at a youth training center in Pyeongchang. The committee did not say where the other 23 were staying but did say 12 are police officers, seven are committee staff and four are journalists from other countries who work for the Olympics news service.

Hong says officials suspect the outbreak was caused by contaminated water but that an ongoing epidemiological survey has yet to confirm that.

Norovirus is a common, infectious bug that causes unpleasant symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting but doesn’t require medical treatment.

___

11:50 a.m.

Some of the Russian athletes seeking last-ditch admission to the Pyeongchang Olympics have arrived for their appeal hearings.

Forty-five Russian athletes and two coaches are seeking to overturn the International Olympic Committee’s decision not to invite them to the games. If they win, it would force the IOC to accept athletes it considers to be linked to doping offenses.

In attendance for Thursday’s hearing at a luxury resort near the Olympic facilities are Elena Nikitina, the 2014 bronze medalist in women’s skeleton, and luger Tatiana Ivanova, who won silver in the team event in 2014.

Nikitina says she is optimistic about winning the case.

Other athletes whose cases will be heard include Viktor Ahn, a six-time Olympic gold medalist in short-track speedskating, and cross-country ski gold medalist Alexander Legkov.

A few of the Russians have said that even if they win, they won’t take up their invitations because they haven’t been training.

___

11:30 a.m.

Erin Hamlin will carry the U.S. flag into Friday’s opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The four-time Olympic luger was chosen by fellow Team USA Olympians for the honor. Hamlin is retiring at the end of the Olympics, after nearly two decades of racing competitively.

Hamlin says “it is definitely a privilege and honor to be the one to lead the team.”

The native of Remsen, New York, won a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Games and is a two-time world champion. She’s also the fourth luge athlete to carry the U.S. flag into an Olympics.

___

10:10 a.m.

The Pyeongchang Olympics have begun with a curling competition featuring a pair of U.S. siblings in a showdown against a Russian husband-and-wife team competing in neutral uniforms with no national insignia.

The opening ceremony is still a day away, but the games are already underway. Among the athletes are 168 Russians who are being forced to compete under the neutral banner of “Olympic Athletes from Russia” as punishment for doping in Sochi in 2014. Others who were barred altogether have filed appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and are still hoping to be allowed to participate.

The first event is mixed doubles curling, which is making its Olympic debut. The more familiar single-gender version of curling will begin later in the games.

There were four games played simultaneously Thursday morning.

___

By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (Z.S)

___

#Court to rule Friday morning #Russian appeals #two coaches

0 notes

mystlnewsonline · 7 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://www.stl.news/latest-defending-half-pipe-champs-status-day-day/82562/

The Latest: Defending half-pipe champ's status is day-to-day

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea /February 8, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) — The Latest from the Pyeongchang Olympics (all times local):

5:45 p.m.

Defending halfpipe champion Iouri Podladtchikov has arrived in Pyeongchang , though his status for next week’s contest remains day-to-day.

Halfpipe training starts Friday, with the qualifying round set for next Tuesday.

Podladtchikov is expected to go to the mountain, but a spokesperson for the Swiss team says he’ll decide day-to-day whether he is going to ride.

___

5:10 p.m.

Moon’s spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom also said Thursday the North Korean delegates will attend the games’ opening ceremony on Friday evening.

Kim says Moon will hold a luncheon with the North Korean delegates on Saturday but didn’t provide an exact time and location.

___

4:55 p.m.

The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is awaiting a ruling on the appeals of Russian athletes hoping to compete in the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday that the much-awaited ruling “should be respected and complied with.” He says the IOC must abide by the court’s ruling.

___

3 p.m.

American figure skater Adam Rippon says he doesn’t want his team to be distracted by his animosity toward Mike Pence over the U.S. vice president’s conservative stance on gay rights.

Critics say the legislation encourages discrimination against gay people.

Rippon said after practice Thursday that he would be open to speaking with Pence after the games.

The figure skating program begins Friday with the men’s and pairs short programs in the team competition. Rippon is due on the ice Monday, when he tackles the men’s free skate for Team USA.

___

2:55 p.m.

A lawyer for 45 Russian athletes and two coaches says hearings have concluded in their last-ditch attempt to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics, but there is no ruling yet.

Philippe Baertsch, representing the 47 Russians, says the Court of Arbitration for Sport panel will issue a decision within the next 24 hours.

He adds “we are hopeful that the panel will follow our argumentation and respect the rights of the athletes.”

Elena Nikitina, a skeleton bronze medalist who attended the hearing, says “everyone was pleasant and we were listened to.”

___

2:45 p.m.

Asked if marching together is a political statement, coach Sarah Murray says putting the team together was a political statement, but now it’s just one team.

Murray, who is Canadian, says her worst-case scenario was that the players wouldn’t talk to each other, but she says they eat together, have meetings together, and mix and talk in the locker room.

The team has played together just once before, but she says the chemistry is better than she could have imagined. Their first game is Saturday against Sweden.

___

2:30 p.m.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada has found the fastest line in the first Olympic downhill training session despite a balky back and two creaking knees.

The downhill race is set for Sunday.

___

2:10 p.m.

Shaun White says he is working on the tricks that Japan’s Ayumu Hirano used to win the halfpipe at the Winter X Games last month.

Hirano became the first snowboarder to string together back-to-back 1440-degree jumps in what was widely regarded as the best show ever seen in a halfpipe.

White says “he’s really pushing it, and he did an amazing combination that I’m working on myself. I don’t think we’ve seen my best run.”

___

2 p.m.

Japan will go with Shoma Uno and Keiji Tanaka in the men’s short program and free skate.

Hanyu is trying to become the first skater to defend his Olympic title since Dick Button in 1952.

___

1:30 p.m.

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency is blaming underfunding for sports seeming to be losing ground to doping and cheating.

Craig Reedie says “we are 50 percent underfunded in terms of what everyone wants us to do.”

The IOC — which relies on WADA to give its events credibility — has the resources to pay more.

The IOC’s revenue for the last complete four-year Olympic cycle — 2013 through 2016 — was $5.7 billion. That means the IOC’s contribution to WADA and the fight on doping is miniscule.

Says WADA’s Director General Olivier Niggli: “We think that currently the fight against doping is under-funded, worldwide.”

___

1:15 p.m.

North Korea says it is not interested in meeting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence while he is in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Pence is scheduled to arrive in South Korea from Japan on Thursday.

___

12:55 p.m.

The most prized Olympic titles in Alpine skiing will be won this month on downhill courses raced only once before, and lined with trees that are sacred as symbols of fertility.

The best downhillers have each had only one World Cup race to fully test the jumps and terrain in cold air sweeping down from Siberia.

Lindsey Vonn, the 2010 Olympic champion, says it’s a very unique course. The men’s downhill race is Sunday and the women race on Feb. 21.

___

12:45 p.m.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says six more Russian athletes have filed appeals seeking to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The six include two world champion speedskaters, Denis Yuskov and Pavel Kulizhnikov, plus athletes from biathlon and ski jumping.

Seven Russian support personnel have filed appeals in another case.

The court says the new cases will be heard separately from ongoing hearings for 45 Russian athletes and two coaches. The opening ceremonies are Friday.

___

12:30 p.m.

South Korea says the number of people treated and quarantined for norovirus following an outbreak in Olympic areas has increased to 86 as authorities struggle to track the spread of the disease.

Hong says officials suspect the outbreak was caused by contaminated water but that an ongoing epidemiological survey has yet to confirm that.

Norovirus is a common, infectious bug that causes unpleasant symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting but doesn’t require medical treatment.

___

11:50 a.m.

Some of the Russian athletes seeking last-ditch admission to the Pyeongchang Olympics have arrived for their appeal hearings.

Nikitina says she is optimistic about winning the case.

Other athletes whose cases will be heard include Viktor Ahn, a six-time Olympic gold medalist in short-track speedskating, and cross-country ski gold medalist Alexander Legkov.

A few of the Russians have said that even if they win, they won’t take up their invitations because they haven’t been training.

___

11:30 a.m.

Erin Hamlin will carry the U.S. flag into Friday’s opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The four-time Olympic luger was chosen by fellow Team USA Olympians for the honor. Hamlin is retiring at the end of the Olympics, after nearly two decades of racing competitively.

Hamlin says “it is definitely a privilege and honor to be the one to lead the team.”

The native of Remsen, New York, won a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Games and is a two-time world champion. She’s also the fourth luge athlete to carry the U.S. flag into an Olympics.

___

10:10 a.m.

The first event is mixed doubles curling, which is making its Olympic debut. The more familiar single-gender version of curling will begin later in the games.

There were four games played simultaneously Thursday morning.

___

By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (Z.S)

___

#day-to-day #Defending half-pipe champ's status #Winter X games

0 notes

mystlnewsonline · 7 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://www.stl.news/latest-moscow-awaits-ruling-olympic-appeals/82517/

The Latest: Moscow awaits ruling on Olympic appeals

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea /February 7, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) — The Latest from the Pyeongchang Olympics (all times local):

4:55 p.m.

The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is awaiting a ruling on the appeals of Russian athletes hoping to compete in the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday that the much-awaited ruling “should be respected and complied with.” He says the IOC must abide by the court’s ruling.

___

3 p.m.

American figure skater Adam Rippon says he doesn’t want his team to be distracted by his animosity toward Mike Pence over the U.S. vice president’s conservative stance on gay rights.

Critics say the legislation encourages discrimination against gay people.

Rippon said after practice Thursday that he would be open to speaking with Pence after the games.

The figure skating program begins Friday with the men’s and pairs short programs in the team competition. Rippon is due on the ice Monday, when he tackles the men’s free skate for Team USA.

___

2:55 p.m.

A lawyer for 45 Russian athletes and two coaches says hearings have concluded in their last-ditch attempt to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics, but there is no ruling yet.

Philippe Baertsch, representing the 47 Russians,, says the Court of Arbitration for Sport panel will issue a decision within the next 24 hours.

He adds “we are hopeful that the panel will follow our argumentation and respect the rights of the athletes.”

Elena Nikitina, a skeleton bronze medalist who attended the hearing, says “everyone was pleasant and we were listened to.”

___

2:45 p.m.

Asked if marching together is a political statement, coach Sarah Murray says putting the team together was a political statement, but now it’s just one team.

Murray, who is Canadian, says her worst-case scenario was that the players wouldn’t talk to each other, but she says they eat together, have meetings together, and mix and talk in the locker room.

The team has played together just once before, but she says the chemistry is better than she could have imagined. Their first game is Saturday against Sweden.

___

2:30 p.m.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada has found the fastest line in the first Olympic downhill training session despite a balky back and two creaking knees.

The downhill race is set for Sunday.

___

2:10 p.m.

Shaun White says he is working on the tricks that Japan’s Ayumu Hirano used to win the halfpipe at the Winter X Games last month.

Hirano became the first snowboarder to string together back-to-back 1440-degree jumps in what was widely regarded as the best show ever seen in a halfpipe.

White says “he’s really pushing it, and he did an amazing combination that I’m working on myself. I don’t think we’ve seen my best run.”

___

2 p.m.

Japan will go with Shoma Uno and Keiji Tanaka in the men’s short program and free skate.

Hanyu is trying to become the first skater to defend his Olympic title since Dick Button in 1952.

___

1:30 p.m.

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency is blaming underfunding for sports seeming to be losing ground to doping and cheating.

Craig Reedie says “we are 50 percent underfunded in terms of what everyone wants us to do.”

The IOC — which relies on WADA to give its events credibility — has the resources to pay more.

The IOC’s revenue for the last complete four-year Olympic cycle — 2013 through 2016 — was $5.7 billion. That means the IOC’s contribution to WADA and the fight on doping is miniscule.

Says WADA’s Director General Olivier Niggli: “We think that currently the fight against doping is under-funded, worldwide.”

___

1:15 p.m.

North Korea says it is not interested in meeting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence while he is in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Pence is scheduled to arrive in South Korea from Japan on Thursday.

___

12:55 p.m.

The most prized Olympic titles in Alpine skiing will be won this month on downhill courses raced only once before, and lined with trees that are sacred as symbols of fertility.

The best downhillers have each had only one World Cup race to fully test the jumps and terrain in cold air sweeping down from Siberia.

Lindsey Vonn, the 2010 Olympic champion, says it’s a very unique course. The men’s downhill race is Sunday and the women race on Feb. 21.

___

12:45 p.m.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says six more Russian athletes have filed appeals seeking to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The six include two world champion speedskaters, Denis Yuskov and Pavel Kulizhnikov, plus athletes from biathlon and ski jumping.

Seven Russian support personnel have filed appeals in another case.

The court says the new cases will be heard separately from ongoing hearings for 45 Russian athletes and two coaches. The opening ceremonies are Friday.

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12:30 p.m.

South Korea says the number of people treated and quarantined for norovirus following an outbreak in Olympic areas has increased to 86 as authorities struggle to track the spread of the disease.

Hong says officials suspect the outbreak was caused by contaminated water but that an ongoing epidemiological survey has yet to confirm that.

Norovirus is a common, infectious bug that causes unpleasant symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting but doesn’t require medical treatment.

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11:50 a.m.

Some of the Russian athletes seeking last-ditch admission to the Pyeongchang Olympics have arrived for their appeal hearings.

Forty-five Russian athletes and two coaches are seeking to overturn the International Olympic Committee‘s decision not to invite them to the games. If they win, it would force the IOC to accept athletes it considers to be linked to doping offenses.

Nikitina says she is optimistic about winning the case.

Other athletes whose cases will be heard include Viktor Ahn, a six-time Olympic gold medalist in short-track speedskating, and cross-country ski gold medalist Alexander Legkov.

A few of the Russians have said that even if they win, they won’t take up their invitations because they haven’t been training.

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11:30 a.m.

Erin Hamlin will carry the U.S. flag into Friday’s opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The four-time Olympic luger was chosen by fellow Team USA Olympians for the honor. Hamlin is retiring at the end of the Olympics, after nearly two decades of racing competitively.

Hamlin says “it is definitely a privilege and honor to be the one to lead the team.”

The native of Remsen, New York, won a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Games and is a two-time world champion. She’s also the fourth luge athlete to carry the U.S. flag into an Olympics.

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10:10 a.m.

The first event is mixed doubles curling, which is making its Olympic debut. The more familiar single-gender version of curling will begin later in the games.

There were four games played simultaneously Thursday morning.

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By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (A.S)

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#47 Russians #Moscow awaits ruling #Olympic appeals #The Court of Arbitration #Winter X games #World Anti-Doping Agency

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mystlnewsonline · 7 years ago

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The Latest: Hearing on Russian Olympic appeals concludes

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea /February 7, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) — The Latest from the Pyeongchang Olympics (all times local):

2:55 p.m.

A lawyer for 45 Russian athletes and two coaches says hearings have concluded in their last-ditch attempt to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics, but there is no ruling yet.

Philippe Baertsch, representing the 47 Russians, says the Court of Arbitration for Sport panel will issue a decision within the next 24 hours.

He adds “we are hopeful that the panel will follow our argumentation and respect the rights of the athletes.”

Elena Nikitina, a skeleton bronze medalist who attended the hearing, says “everyone was pleasant and we were listened to.”

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2:45 p.m.

Asked if marching together is a political statement, coach Sarah Murray says putting the team together was a political statement, but now it’s just one team.

Murray, who is Canadian, says her worst-case scenario was that the players wouldn’t talk to each other, but she says they eat together, have meetings together, and mix and talk in the locker room.

The team has played together just once before, but she says the chemistry is better than she could have imagined. Their first game is Saturday against Sweden.

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2:30 p.m.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada has found the fastest line in the first Olympic downhill training session despite a balky back and two creaking knees.

The downhill race is set for Sunday.

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2:10 p.m.

Shaun White says he is working on the tricks that Japan’s Ayumu Hirano used to win the halfpipe at the Winter X Games last month.

Hirano became the first snowboarder to string together back-to-back 1440-degree jumps in what was widely regarded as the best show ever seen in a halfpipe.

White says “he’s really pushing it, and he did an amazing combination that I’m working on myself. I don’t think we’ve seen my best run.”

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2 p.m.

Japan will go with Shoma Uno and Keiji Tanaka in the men’s short program and free skate.

Hanyu is trying to become the first skater to defend his Olympic title since Dick Button in 1952.

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1:30 p.m.

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency is blaming underfunding for sports seeming to be losing ground to doping and cheating.

Craig Reedie says “we are 50 percent underfunded in terms of what everyone wants us to do.”

The IOC — which relies on WADA to give its events credibility — has the resources to pay more.

The IOC’s revenue for the last complete four-year Olympic cycle — 2013 through 2016 — was $5.7 billion. That means the IOC’s contribution to WADA and the fight on doping is miniscule.

Says WADA’s Director General Olivier Niggli: “We think that currently the fight against doping is under-funded, worldwide.”

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1:15 p.m.

North Korea says it is not interested in meeting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence while he is in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Pence is scheduled to arrive in South Korea from Japan on Thursday.

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12:55 p.m.

The most prized Olympic titles in Alpine skiing will be won this month on downhill courses raced only once before, and lined with trees that are sacred as symbols of fertility.

The best downhillers have each had only one World Cup race to fully test the jumps and terrain in cold air sweeping down from Siberia.

Lindsey Vonn, the 2010 Olympic champion, says it’s a very unique course. The men’s downhill race is Sunday and the women race on Feb. 21.

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12:45 p.m.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says six more Russian athletes have filed appeals seeking to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The six include two world champion speedskaters, Denis Yuskov and Pavel Kulizhnikov, plus athletes from biathlon and ski jumping.

Seven Russian support personnel have filed appeals in another case.

The court says the new cases will be heard separately from ongoing hearings for 45 Russian athletes and two coaches. The opening ceremonies are Friday.

___

12:30 p.m.

South Korea says the number of people treated and quarantined for norovirus following an outbreak in Olympic areas has increased to 86 as authorities struggle to track the spread of the disease.

Hong says officials suspect the outbreak was caused by contaminated water but that an ongoing epidemiological survey has yet to confirm that.

Norovirus is a common, infectious bug that causes unpleasant symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting but doesn’t require medical treatment.

___

11:50 a.m.

Some of the Russian athletes seeking last-ditch admission to the Pyeongchang Olympics have arrived for their appeal hearings.

Nikitina says she is optimistic about winning the case.

Other athletes whose cases will be heard include Viktor Ahn, a six-time Olympic gold medalist in short-track speedskating, and cross-country ski gold medalist Alexander Legkov.

A few of the Russians have said that even if they win, they won’t take up their invitations because they haven’t been training.

___

11:30 a.m.

Erin Hamlin will carry the U.S. flag into Friday’s opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The four-time Olympic luger was chosen by fellow Team USA Olympians for the honor. Hamlin is retiring at the end of the Olympics, after nearly two decades of racing competitively.

Hamlin says “it is definitely a privilege and honor to be the one to lead the team.”

The native of Remsen, New York, won a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Games and is a two-time world champion. She’s also the fourth luge athlete to carry the U.S. flag into an Olympics.

___

10:10 a.m.

The first event is mixed doubles curling, which is making its Olympic debut. The more familiar single-gender version of curling will begin later in the games.

There were four games played simultaneously Thursday morning.

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By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (A.S)

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#bronze medalist #Hearing on Russian #Olympic appeals concludes

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