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Post by reut on Aug 9, 2015 11:00:07 GMT 1
Icenetwork has series of articles which is called "My first time" where various skaters recall their first time doing some of the elements. Stéphane was asked about triple Axel: "I remember working on the triple axel during the practice sessions at the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002. I wasn't presenting it in my programs, but I felt so inspired by all the great skaters in the competition. That was the first time I had the feeling that I was going to land it." web.icenetwork.com/news/2015/08/07/136831786Well, I think they could be a bit more sensitive and ask him about quad. Just saying...
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Post by Gaja on Aug 9, 2015 15:11:44 GMT 1
Yes, I agree with you, reut. I think it was quite tactless or even a bit provocative to direct this question to Stéphane. Pity, they could write such a lovely story about landing the first quad.
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Post by reut on Aug 9, 2015 15:14:45 GMT 1
Yes, I agree with you, reut. I think it was quite tactless or even a bit provocative to direct this question to Stéphane. Pity, they could write such a lovely story about landing the first quad. Luckily we already know the story about his first quad even without them.
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Post by Gaja on Aug 9, 2015 15:21:10 GMT 1
Yes, I agree with you, reut. I think it was quite tactless or even a bit provocative to direct this question to Stéphane. Pity, they could write such a lovely story about landing the first quad. Luckily we already know the story about his first quad even without them. Exactly!
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Post by tisha on Aug 9, 2015 17:12:00 GMT 1
My (possibly erroneous) reading of the article is that skaters were asked to talk about an element that had been difficult for them to master, not that a specific element was requested of each skater or team. Several of the men's singles skaters, including Brian Orser and Yuzu Hanyu, talked about the 3A, which I understand is generally the hardest element for men, even harder than quads for many of them.
Thank you for the link to the Thin Ice segment, reut. I'm still so miffed about the botched final vote that I haven't watched the replay, so I'd forgotten about the short interview with Shizuka and Stephane. He was his usual adorable self, and Shizuka her usual charming self, but what a ridiculous and intrusive last question from the idiotic interviewer.
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Post by reut on Aug 9, 2015 17:56:27 GMT 1
They wrote that skaters "tell us about the first time they successfully executed a particularly challenging element after working on it for a long (or short) time". I'm not sure how exactly the question was formulated to Stéphane, I doubt he would have chosen himself triple Axel and not quad to tell the truth, but who knows.
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Post by Gaja on Aug 9, 2015 18:09:04 GMT 1
My (possibly erroneous) reading of the article is that skaters were asked to talk about an element that had been difficult for them to master, not that a specific element was requested of each skater or team. Several of the men's singles skaters, including Brian Orser and Yuzu Hanyu, talked about the 3A, which I understand is generally the hardest element for men, even harder than quads for many of them. Thank you for the link to the Thin Ice segment, reut. I'm still so miffed about the botched final vote that I haven't watched the replay, so I'd forgotten about the short interview with Shizuka and Stephane. He was his usual adorable self, and Shizuka her usual charming self, but what a ridiculous and intrusive last question from the idiotic interviewer. You are right, tisha (I'm such an agreeable person ) My fault, because I haven't read the whole article but only the part about Stéphane. So, it seems that it was Stéphane himself who mentioned the 3A. "Good for him" (to borrow from the classic) I'm glad to know that he has no trauma related with this particular jump As for this stupid question asked at the end of the interview... You know, I have the impression that in that kind of shows they always try to convince the viewers that "there is something going on" between two participants. But I think it was particularly unfortunate in relation to Shizuka, who is Japanese and lives in a completely different culture than we do. So yes, I do agree (again ) that the question was idiotic.
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Post by reut on Aug 11, 2015 15:55:25 GMT 1
Sporting legends to support young athletes at Lillehammer 2016 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced the list of 15 Athlete Role Models (ARMs) who will support the young athletes going to the 2nd Winter Youth Olympic Games from 12 to 21 February 2016 in Lillehammer, Norway. Selected by the Winter International Federations whose sports will be featured at Lillehammer 2016, the list includes many legendary names from the world of sport, including Olympic and world champions. In Lillehammer, they will play a key role in supporting, mentoring and offering advice to the 1,100 young athletes who will be participating in the Games. The ARMs will be accessible to the athletes in the Youth Olympic Village and during a series of educational activities and workshops within the Learn & Share Programme. These activities will focus on areas such as skills development, how to lead healthy lifestyles, environment and social responsibility, and Olympism. The ARMs will be behind the scenes during competition and will also be available for informal chats in a specially created lounge that will be open to all participants. The athletes can also learn valuable lessons from the ARMs during “Chat with Champions” sessions – a Q&A format to promote discussion with the young athletes. Fans of the YOG, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to put their questions directly to the ARMs during informal chat sessions on the IOC’s social media channels. Click here for the full list of Athlete Role Models: www.olympic.org/Documents/YOG/2016/arms_list_lillehammer_2016_en.pdfsource: www.olympic.org/news/sporting-legends-to-support-young-athletes-at-lillehammer-2016/247018
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Post by jomeku on Aug 11, 2015 16:31:38 GMT 1
Stéphane is the incarnation of a Role Model for figure skating! He will do so well! (A bit nostalgic, though, that Yuna Kim will not be present as she was in Innsbruck). Thanks again, reut!
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Post by reut on Aug 11, 2015 16:40:39 GMT 1
Athletes who will come to YOG 2016 are so very lucky that they will meet him and will have fun with him and will talk to him and will get his advice. He definitely "adorned" Games in Innsbruck with his presence. Last time he could be present only two and a half days because he had preparations for AOI coming, but this time it's after AOI, so maybe he'll be able to spend there more time. I got nostalgic too, it was such an interesting and exciting experience. I even went back to re-read my own article to recall some moments.
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Post by jomeku on Aug 11, 2015 22:52:48 GMT 1
This made me read about Innsbruck 1976 and I found some quite interesting things. For example that during those Olympic for the first time a male skater showed a backflip, but that ISU decided to change the rules and forbid it in the same year. It was the last time a female skater (Dorothy Hamill) won the games without any triple jump. And it was the first time ice dance was an olympic discipline. Back to the clip that introduces the Athlete Role Models for Lillehammer www.olympic.org/news/sporting-legends-to-support-young-athletes-at-lillehammer-2016/247018So nice: the clip shows 17 years old Stéphane with his program 'Quindam' at Olympic games in Salt Lake City 2002. It's with this program I for the first time saw Stéphane on TV, at Euros in Lausanne one month earlier. I never forget how this playful young man interpreting a ropedancer struck me. And how many times he has done ever since -
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Post by reut on Aug 12, 2015 7:15:38 GMT 1
This made me read about Innsbruck 1976 and I found some quite interesting things. For example that during those Olympic for the first time a male skater showed a backflip, but that ISU decided to change the rules and forbid it in the same year. It was the last time a female skater (Dorothy Hamill) won the games without any triple jump. And it was the first time ice dance was an olympic discipline. Yes, and legendary Pakhomova/Gorshkov were first Olympic champions in ice dance. While Irina Rodnina won her second Olympic gold there skating with her second partner, Alexander Zaitsev. And the youngest figure skater in those Games was also Soviet, Elena Vodorezova, aged 12. She came back to Innsbruck, 36 years later, as the coach of Adelina Sotnikova of Russia. There were a lot of changes and "firsts" in Innsbruck, including gala at the last night of the Olympics where skaters performed exhibition programs. We're lucky they've got that change! As for Stéphane's "Quidam", actually it was thanks to Stéphane (but more thanks to "Dralion" to tell the truth) that I became a real "Cirque du Soleil" fan. When I watch Stéphane's early programs (naturally I re-watched "Quidam" right now ), I always have the same thought. That we always say how much he is talented and how much he was given from birth, but still you can see what an enormous work he himself has done and how much he has improved. What I love the most about his skating (and dancing for that matter) is how natural and yet perfect, how right his every movement looks. And only when you see him at the age of 16 at times not really knowing how to handle his hands yet or you see him teaching and his students trying to copy him you understand that there is a lot of work and sweat behind this naturalness...
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Post by jomeku on Aug 12, 2015 11:39:54 GMT 1
When I watch Stéphane's early programs (naturally I re-watched "Quidam" right now ), I always have the same thought. That we always say how much he is talented and how much he was given from birth, but still you can see what an enormous work he himself has done and how much he has improved. What I love the most about his skating (and dancing for that matter) is how natural and yet perfect, how right his every movement looks. And only when you see him at the age of 16 at times not really knowing how to handle his hands yet or you see him teaching and his students trying to copy him you understand that there is a lot of work and sweat behind this naturalness… Oh yes. I knew it's hard work to reach the top as a figure skater, but I think I am fully aware of it only now, after watching those short clips Rob provided from the 3S-camp. And they must be so strong and determined personalities. Full admiration! Stéphane's hands: How well he knows to handle them now! Video from Euros 2002, LP Quidam : www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzsbDqh8kDI
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Post by jomeku on Aug 18, 2015 11:07:46 GMT 1
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Post by jomeku on Aug 18, 2015 11:10:07 GMT 1
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