Best and Worst of 2012/2013, Part 9
Last season, Akiko Suzuki and Elene Gedevanishvili emerged as two promising names, winning a World bronze medal, for the Japanese, and a European bronze medal, for the skater from Georgia. This season, the fairy-tale came to a not-so-happy ending - Gedevanishvili ended 14th at the European Championships, while Suzuki finished on 12th place at the World Championships. Despite it, there is something about these ladies that will always catch our eyes.
Akiko Suzuki managed to finish the season a lot less bruised than Gedevanishvili. In fact, if we look carefully at her competitions and ignore the fiasco from the World Championships, we'll realize this was not a bad season at all for her - silver at the Four Continents, silver at both Grand Prix competitions, bronze in the Grand Prix Final and a brilliant gold at the World Team Trophy.
Her short programme music was a mash-up between the Kill Bill and Once Upon a Time in Mexico soundtracks. The programme was a hit, even if not spectacular. She did her part well, proving she can skate on any theme.
The long programme was probably the most artistic programme this season had and her costume was definitely the most beautiful costume. Just by seeing it, you could already tell we would be in for a masterpiece of a routine. Choosing Cirque du Soleil music was the most inspired of decisions as, paired with the costume, choreography and Akiko's interpretation, it brought a bit of magic on ice. No wonder it brought an entire arena on their feet at the World Team Trophy, making even rival skaters cheer for her.
Elene Gedevanishvili's best result this season was a shaky 5th place at Skate Canada. Compared to last season, it was a huge disappointed especially because she had gained the renown of a rising star. But there was no rising going on there, just a lot of falling.
The short program, featuring the soundtrack of Schindler's List, would have been a masterpiece if it hadn't been constantly flawed. Gedevanishvili is a true artist when it comes to interpretation, but the smallest of mistakes can set her off balance and ruin an entire routine. Unfortunately, this happened too often to make the programme memorable.
One of the things I appreciate most about a skater's programmes is diversity and Elene Gedevanishvili knows a thing or two about that. Her long program featured the story of Don Quixote, an entirely different world than the one portrayed in the short. Skating on two pieces of music that are so different proves that Gedevanishvili is mature enough to play any part she wants. The program was intense, beautifully choreographed and would have won her a medal or two if it hadn't been for the technical part, which she never ceased to mess up.
Being a rising star is a tricky business. Most of them have one season of glory and then fade away in a sea of disappointments. Elene Gedevanishvili seems to be going down that road, which would be truly a shame not only for Georgia, whose never had a skater as talented as she is, but also for the entire skating community, who would be deprived of the chance to see her shine again. On the other side of the world, Akiko Suzuki seems to have learned a valuable lesson: don't be anxious, don't expect too much, just do your stuff and you might just end up with a brilliant programme and a great season. Looking forward to seeing more of that!
Akiko Suzuki managed to finish the season a lot less bruised than Gedevanishvili. In fact, if we look carefully at her competitions and ignore the fiasco from the World Championships, we'll realize this was not a bad season at all for her - silver at the Four Continents, silver at both Grand Prix competitions, bronze in the Grand Prix Final and a brilliant gold at the World Team Trophy.Her short programme music was a mash-up between the Kill Bill and Once Upon a Time in Mexico soundtracks. The programme was a hit, even if not spectacular. She did her part well, proving she can skate on any theme.
The long programme was probably the most artistic programme this season had and her costume was definitely the most beautiful costume. Just by seeing it, you could already tell we would be in for a masterpiece of a routine. Choosing Cirque du Soleil music was the most inspired of decisions as, paired with the costume, choreography and Akiko's interpretation, it brought a bit of magic on ice. No wonder it brought an entire arena on their feet at the World Team Trophy, making even rival skaters cheer for her.
Elene Gedevanishvili's best result this season was a shaky 5th place at Skate Canada. Compared to last season, it was a huge disappointed especially because she had gained the renown of a rising star. But there was no rising going on there, just a lot of falling.
The short program, featuring the soundtrack of Schindler's List, would have been a masterpiece if it hadn't been constantly flawed. Gedevanishvili is a true artist when it comes to interpretation, but the smallest of mistakes can set her off balance and ruin an entire routine. Unfortunately, this happened too often to make the programme memorable.
One of the things I appreciate most about a skater's programmes is diversity and Elene Gedevanishvili knows a thing or two about that. Her long program featured the story of Don Quixote, an entirely different world than the one portrayed in the short. Skating on two pieces of music that are so different proves that Gedevanishvili is mature enough to play any part she wants. The program was intense, beautifully choreographed and would have won her a medal or two if it hadn't been for the technical part, which she never ceased to mess up.
Being a rising star is a tricky business. Most of them have one season of glory and then fade away in a sea of disappointments. Elene Gedevanishvili seems to be going down that road, which would be truly a shame not only for Georgia, whose never had a skater as talented as she is, but also for the entire skating community, who would be deprived of the chance to see her shine again. On the other side of the world, Akiko Suzuki seems to have learned a valuable lesson: don't be anxious, don't expect too much, just do your stuff and you might just end up with a brilliant programme and a great season. Looking forward to seeing more of that!
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