.... quite unanimously
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http://www.examiner.com/x-20118-Figure- ... mpionshipsFebruary 7, Figure Skating Examiner, Jackie WongOpining on the European ChampionshipsA few thoughts on the European Championships last month as we move toward the Olympics this coming week.
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The European men's podium could very well be the Olympic podium. The three medalists at Europeans, Evgeni Plushenko, Stephane Lambiel, and Brian Joubert, could very well be at the top again in Vancouver. But interestingly enough, the men's field will be so deep at the Olympics that it is even possible that none of them end up on the podium. It will likely take two clean performances to just win a medal for the men.
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olym...stories_sectionBy Ron Judd12 Olympians to watch from around the world
Here are 12 of the hottest stories from around the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.Here's a look at a dozen of the world's hottest athletes beyond the U.S. team competing at the Winter Olympics.
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Evgeni Plushenko, Russia, figure skatingWhen we last saw him in Turin four years ago, Plushenko didn't just compete in men's figure skating, he owned the event.
The gap between Plushenko and everyone else was so broad that the competition, from the moment the Russian finished his perfect short program, was all about the race for second. A perfectionist on the ice, the three-time world and six-time European champion largely walked away from the sport after Turin. But he returned with a flourish this fall, and appears to have lost little of his flair in a calculated buildup to the Vancouver Games.
If he's healthy, the 27-year-old will be a gold-medal favorite despite serious competition from Evan Lysacek, the reigning World Champion from America, and home-nation favorite Patrick Chan of Canada.
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www.examiner.com/x-33967-Olympics-E...ing-PredictionsFebruary 1, Olympics Examiner, Jeremy FreebornFigure Skating predictionsPredicting figure skating was a lot easier fifteen years ago-- especially in the sport of ice dancing, where you could accurately predict the top six before the Olympics ever began.
Now that the sport has cleaned up its act significantly, positional battles are less clear, and for the viewer, it is more enjoyable to watch. If a figure skater makes a mistake, he or she will be penalized in the new system-- as they should be.
One thing that hasn't changed, is the dramatic battles that will occur for the top of the podium.
In the men's competition, Evgeny Plushenko of Russia is back after taking a two year break in 2007-08.The Olympic champion returned to train last March, and hasn't missed a beat after winning the European Figure Skating Championships in Estonia.
Plushenko will battle World Champion Evan Lysacek from the United States for gold.
I like Plushenko because Lysacek struggled with a triple axel and failed to win the U.S. Nationals in Spokane. He comes to the Olympics without momentum, and that is huge when trying to knock off a
legend in the sport.....
RECAP--
Men's--
GOLD-- Evgeni Plushenko-- Russia SILVER-- Evan Lysacek-- United States, BRONZE-- Brian Joubert-- France
Women's--GOLD--Yu Na Kim-- South Korea, SILVER--Miki Ando-- Japan, BRONZE-- Joannie Rochette-- Canada
Pairs-- GOLD-- Xue Shen, Hongbo Zhao-- China, SILVER--Aliona Savchenko, Robin Szolkowy--Germany, BRONZE--Qing Pang, Jian Tong-- China
Ice Dance--GOLD--Meryl Davis, Charlie White-- United States, SILVER--Oksana Domnina, Maxim Shabalin--Russia, BRONZE-- Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir-- Canada.