The most up-to-date decade of figure skating began with a concern over whether a man could (or should) win the Olympic singles gold without a quadruple hop.
At first sparked by Boyang Jin of Asia then fueled from the exploits of two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan, three-time globe champ Nathan Chen for the US and a pack of young Russian female, the activity’s jumping passes have grown to be dizzyingly tough at a great speed.
Evan vs. Evgeni
While 2006 Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko of Russia along with his coach, Alexei Mishin, s as a€?last centurya€? and a€?ice dancinga€? because Lysacek decided not to perform a quad, it absolutely was personnel Plushenko’s problems to make the most of the fresh judging program that aided Lysacek become the first U.S. singles silver medalist since Brian Boitano in 1988.
Lysacek’s winning margin (1.31 details, the smallest in men’s singles when you look at the four Olympics obtained under IJS) are accounted for by his creating complete eight of his 12 leaps within the extra room in comparison to four of 11 for Plushenko. And, had Plushenko done a 12th hop, as Lysacek did, it, too, would have erased the difference.
Lysacek’s solid shows in tools of what might end up being his final opposition had been emblematic for the reliability within the last six several years of his career, when the guy produced the podium in 20 of 22 events. That included medals in three of four World Championships, including the 2009 subject; medals throughout 12 large Prix shows, like a gold at a Grand Prix Final; medals in every five Four Continents appearances, like two gold; and a fourth devote his additional Olympic look. Continue reading