Attitude Adjustment Required

Four years ago, I was intrigued with the number of Frozen Chosen who were participating in the Turino games. As I then mentioned, I love the Olympics. I get completely caught up in the human interest aspect and enjoy watching the high caliber of athleticism and determination. As a citizen of the world, I get a thrill watching each team enter the arena during the Parade of Nations. As an American, it does give me satisfaction when an compatriot medals. However, I truly rejoice when the ones who executed the most flawless routine or played the best match are rewarded. Even when that athlete is from a country other than my own.

Perhaps it is for that reason that I have no tolerance for bad sportsmanship. After the race has been run (or the routine has been skated, in this case) and the judges have rendered a decision, accept it or don’t. But keep your thoughts to yourself.

There were many amazing moments in last night’s Mens Figure Skating Long Program. Extraordinary artistry and incredible power. Both are required. And both are rewarded. If it was just about the jumps, it would be a jumping contest.

Evgeny Plushenko is the best jumper in the world. For him, it really is all about the quad, as evidenced by this statement:

Still, he and his coach, Aleksei Mishin, continued to say that male skaters who did not try the quad were basically wimps. Their theory is that no-quad performances are setting the sport back at least a decade. Mishin said “a real champion should execute quadruple jumps.” Plushenko hinted that Lysacek’s performance was subpar.

“If the Olympic champion doesn’t know how to jump a quad, I don’t know,” Plushenko said. “Now it’s not men’s figure skating. It’s dancing. Maybe figure skating needs a new name.”

[For the record, Evan Lysacek, “the Olympic Champion”, does “know how to jump a quad.” having successfully executed them in the past, Lysacek was forced to abandon the quad due to a stress fracture that he sustained earlier this season. Though that fact did not stop Plushenko from getting in his digs during the week leading up to the competition.]

Like all bad sports, the responsibility lies elsewhere. Plushenko cites a flaw in the judging system as the reason for his second place finish. At least, that was the reason after a good night’s sleep. His original thought?

“I was positive that I won,” Plushenko said. “But I saw that Evan needs a medal more than I do. Maybe because I already have one.”