Internationaux de France 2017 - Nerve-Wrecking Is the Word (Men FS)
The men's short programme saw a lot of mistakes, but also a return to top form from Europe's favourite skater. There are therefore great things expected from Spain's national champion tonight, but also a redeeming from Shoma Uno, who could have done better yesterday. If they're both at their best, the battle for the gold will be tough to win.
Vincent Zhou is the first to skate. He falls on the 4Flip and singles the 4Lutz, but still manages two other quads. His spins are also not very graceful - his leg is bent throughout the camel spin and his low spins need to be a bit tighter. His score: 156.09. Overall: 222.21.
Romain Ponsart skates to the same theme as Vincent, Moulin Rouge, but to a different selection of songs. Unfortunately, the mistakes are similar to those of the American. He steps outs of the 3Axel, doubles out of the 4Toeloop and singles the 3Axel. He gets 134.31 points. Overall: 198.12.
Denis Ten receives a lot of support from the audience. He needs it too because the number of mistakes is almost hard to keep track of - hand down on the 4Salchow, fall on the 4Toeloop, step out of the 3Axel, another fall on the 3Axel and doubling out of the 3Flip. He also almost loses his balance during a transition and the step sequence. His score: 144.87. Overall: 228.57.
Max Aaron cannot repeat the astonishing performance from Beijing, but he doesn't do too badly compared to those before him. He doubles out of the 4Salchow and double-foots the 4Toeloop. The spin camel is also a bit wobbly. I like the use of arms during transitions, but sometimes there's too much of that and too little of anything else. Still, he's definitely continuously improving. He gets 158.56 points. Overall: 237.20.
Kevin Aymoz receives almost fanatic support tonight, probably because Grenoble is his hometown. He deserves it too because he's such a fighter - he saves so many jumps, but does step out of the first 3Axel. His spins are quite basic, but he does have some good variations on the camel spin. His score: 150.43. Overall: 220.43.
Moris Kvitelashvili had a fantastic day yesterday, but makes a few mistakes today. The biggest is the fall on the 4Salchow. His height might be hindering his low spins, which don't go as down as they could. Out of the three Imagine Dragons songs, Believer is my favourite - it's the most instrumentally interesting, so the choreography during it is great. He gets 153.52 points. Overall: 240.50.
Sometimes the easiest jumps can give the worst trouble. That's exactly what happens tonight to Alexei Bychenko. His quads are so good and fast, but he doubles out of three triples (Loop, Lutz and Salchow) and singles out of a 3Toeloop. His score: 160.65. Overall: 247.44.
Misha Ge leaves me speechless tonight. His presentation is just superb. His transitions are emotional and at times even balletic. If he had quads, he would be at the top of the rankings, competing with the likes of Yuzuru Hanyu. He gets 172.93 points. Overall: 258.34.
Alexander Samarin's routine is very intense, being set to Unforgiven and House of the Rising Sun. He puts a hand down on the 4Lutz, falls on the 4Toeloop and double-foots the 3Loop. His transitions are almost inexistent in the first half of the programme, which is going to hurt his score, even when compared to Misha Ge, who was less powerful technically. His score: 161.62. Overall: 253.13.
Javier Fernandez's Man of la Mancha should be full of that comedic Spanish confidence he does so well, but the elements are screaming something completely different. He makes a total of six mistakes: doubles out of the 3Toeloop, double-foots the first 3Axel, falls on the 4Salchow, over-rotates the 3Loop, falls again on the second 3Axel and steps out of the 3Salchow. Oh my! He gets 175.85 points. Overall: 283.71.
Knowing the opportunity Shoma Uno has to win here makes me incredibly nervous for him. Unfortunately, he makes many mistakes - 2 falls, an over-rotated 3Lutz and a double-footed 4Flip - but he may just still have a chance at the gold....or not. His score: 179.40. Overall: 273.32.
Right, well, wasn't that a nerve-wrecking finale?! I'm almost glad it's over. Good news is, there's a next competition right around the corner. Congratulations to Javier Fernandez for taking the gold against the odds tonight! Shoma Uno has also done well to maintain his silver position. However, the biggest kudos have to go to Misha Ge, who has just won his first Grand Prix medal. Boy, are we all glad he didn't retire!
Vincent Zhou is the first to skate. He falls on the 4Flip and singles the 4Lutz, but still manages two other quads. His spins are also not very graceful - his leg is bent throughout the camel spin and his low spins need to be a bit tighter. His score: 156.09. Overall: 222.21.
Romain Ponsart skates to the same theme as Vincent, Moulin Rouge, but to a different selection of songs. Unfortunately, the mistakes are similar to those of the American. He steps outs of the 3Axel, doubles out of the 4Toeloop and singles the 3Axel. He gets 134.31 points. Overall: 198.12.
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| Javier Fernandez's performance in Grenoble is miles better than that in Beijing Photograph: www.heraldo.ed |
Denis Ten receives a lot of support from the audience. He needs it too because the number of mistakes is almost hard to keep track of - hand down on the 4Salchow, fall on the 4Toeloop, step out of the 3Axel, another fall on the 3Axel and doubling out of the 3Flip. He also almost loses his balance during a transition and the step sequence. His score: 144.87. Overall: 228.57.
Max Aaron cannot repeat the astonishing performance from Beijing, but he doesn't do too badly compared to those before him. He doubles out of the 4Salchow and double-foots the 4Toeloop. The spin camel is also a bit wobbly. I like the use of arms during transitions, but sometimes there's too much of that and too little of anything else. Still, he's definitely continuously improving. He gets 158.56 points. Overall: 237.20.
Kevin Aymoz receives almost fanatic support tonight, probably because Grenoble is his hometown. He deserves it too because he's such a fighter - he saves so many jumps, but does step out of the first 3Axel. His spins are quite basic, but he does have some good variations on the camel spin. His score: 150.43. Overall: 220.43.
Moris Kvitelashvili had a fantastic day yesterday, but makes a few mistakes today. The biggest is the fall on the 4Salchow. His height might be hindering his low spins, which don't go as down as they could. Out of the three Imagine Dragons songs, Believer is my favourite - it's the most instrumentally interesting, so the choreography during it is great. He gets 153.52 points. Overall: 240.50.
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| Max Aaron skating to Phantom of the Opera, one of his favourite soundtracks Photograph: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein |
Sometimes the easiest jumps can give the worst trouble. That's exactly what happens tonight to Alexei Bychenko. His quads are so good and fast, but he doubles out of three triples (Loop, Lutz and Salchow) and singles out of a 3Toeloop. His score: 160.65. Overall: 247.44.
Misha Ge leaves me speechless tonight. His presentation is just superb. His transitions are emotional and at times even balletic. If he had quads, he would be at the top of the rankings, competing with the likes of Yuzuru Hanyu. He gets 172.93 points. Overall: 258.34.
Alexander Samarin's routine is very intense, being set to Unforgiven and House of the Rising Sun. He puts a hand down on the 4Lutz, falls on the 4Toeloop and double-foots the 3Loop. His transitions are almost inexistent in the first half of the programme, which is going to hurt his score, even when compared to Misha Ge, who was less powerful technically. His score: 161.62. Overall: 253.13.
Javier Fernandez's Man of la Mancha should be full of that comedic Spanish confidence he does so well, but the elements are screaming something completely different. He makes a total of six mistakes: doubles out of the 3Toeloop, double-foots the first 3Axel, falls on the 4Salchow, over-rotates the 3Loop, falls again on the second 3Axel and steps out of the 3Salchow. Oh my! He gets 175.85 points. Overall: 283.71.
Knowing the opportunity Shoma Uno has to win here makes me incredibly nervous for him. Unfortunately, he makes many mistakes - 2 falls, an over-rotated 3Lutz and a double-footed 4Flip - but he may just still have a chance at the gold....or not. His score: 179.40. Overall: 273.32.
Right, well, wasn't that a nerve-wrecking finale?! I'm almost glad it's over. Good news is, there's a next competition right around the corner. Congratulations to Javier Fernandez for taking the gold against the odds tonight! Shoma Uno has also done well to maintain his silver position. However, the biggest kudos have to go to Misha Ge, who has just won his first Grand Prix medal. Boy, are we all glad he didn't retire!
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