Apolo's Competition

[Lori]

Okay, Laura, I found something on that. Apparently in the Torino Olympics one of the short-track announcers said that there is a growing trend in S. Korea to allow their athletes to compete in only 2 Olympics, then give up their spot for younger talent.

Ahn has stated that he has his sights set on Vancouver 2010. It would be his 3rd Olympics, so apparently they're not following that strategy in his case, at least for now...I can't imagine they'd cut him as long as he's still winning World Championships.

[laura6]

lori said:

Okay, Laura, I found something on that. Apparently in the Torino Olympics one of the short-track announcers said that there is a growing trend in S. Korea to allow their athletes to compete in only 2 Olympics, then give up their spot for younger talent.

Ahn has stated that he has his sights set on Vancouver 2010. It would be his 3rd Olympics, so apparently they're not following that strategy in his case, at least for now...I can't imagine they'd cut him as long as he's still winning World Championships.

yes thats what i was talking about,,I just could remember exactly...thanks

[callie]

Just wanted to say I have loved reading more about these speed-skaters. Thanks to all who have posted such great information. Someone told me (I think it was skaterma from another site) that Jordan Malone skated on a broken ankle during a race. That's tough!

[claire522]

Ahn would be a tough competitor to beat at WC and Olympics. i can't remember what race but i saw one where he passed about 2 or 3 skaters and won the race like it was a breeze for him. he was in a relaxed skating position with both his arms on his back while he was passing the skaters. i was like "whoa!" what was that? he's really great.

[elsa]

Stephen Gough has an interview up at OZ -- and he says that he (and Apolo I assume) realized through tapes than Ahn wasn't "slipping" at all in the turns or corners -- he had just beaten Apolo I believe at the Worlds somewhere in one of the long races, 3000 maybe? Which I don't think they're gonna race anymore ?? Oh sheesh, I'll go look up the details but I'm in a hurry now to catch Apolo on Showtime if I can...

Anyway, of course, Gough and Apolo set about trying to work on Apolo's equipment and maybe technique to work out that slipping thing.

That article made me think about how much time they spend watching tapes -- I guess I just figured Apolo watched his own races a time or two to look at exactly what happened and details and stuff -- but imagine all the time he watches Ahn, Lee, etc. And VICE VERSA. From '02 when the Korean men were shut out of the medals - I bet they watched an hour or more of Apolo skating every day !! Apolo said they trained for 4 years for HIM, and I'm absolutely sure that's right.

Gough is the coach that Apolo brags about in his autobiography - and I believe Gough went back to Canada (where he's from) in '03 (not clear on this - I'm sure somebody here knows better than me!) and now will be coaching Canadians. They guy who knows so much about Apolo! However, Apolo is ever-evolving and improving so I doubt it'll help them all that much.

ETA: Here's the quote (April 2003) I was trying to remember:

OZ: Do you feel that the team skating cost Apolo some medals and points at Worlds?

SGough: No. It's been the same over the years, two different skaters that are in the hunt. I don't think so. I look at the way the races played out. The only instances [where team skating occurred] were probably the 1500 and the 3000, where he was in the final with the three Korean skaters. To me that was not the determining factor in why it didn't work out. In the 1500, he was racing from the back too much. But even then, he was in third place but he had a little equipment problem with his skates. When he [accelerated] he was slipping a little bit. Having watched the race on our own videotapes, he wasn't following the guy in second in the right way. There were two little problems there: racing from the back, where you put yourself in a position to have to pass people at the end, which is an age-old problem for Apolo that needs to be fixed. The equipment thing was a minor problem, but was enough to make the difference between 1st and 3rd, or [in Apolo's case] 3rd and 4th. The 3000, he skated that race fine, but other things were exposed that need to be worked on. When you've got one guy that never slips at the corners, which is Ahn, you can't slip either. In that case, we would have looked at [changing equipment and improving technique].


OZ: So the team skating is something that can be dealt with, assuming the other problems are addressed?
SG: Totally. I totally think so. He has to work on it.

[tigerlilly]

Here's a pic from the Bormio, Italy, WC in December, 2002. It shows Ahn from his younger days. He was great even then, but not the dominant force he is now. There's our Apolo, winning the 1000m and the second pic is of the overall winners. Check out Jean-Francois Monette to the right of the pic. As Guest II said earlier, Monette may have been a bit "aerodynamically challenged" by his height, but he managed to have a stellar year during the 2002-03 season and ended up the highest ranked Canadian skater that year, (I think). Monette also is a World Record holder in the 500m. Isn't he (or wasn't he) studying for a law degree?

(Where is Ruffian when you need her? LOL!)

[claire522]

hee! Ahn looked like he just came out of grade school or something or like he should be in World Junior Championship instead of WC.

and yes, Monette is the World Record holder of the 500m.

[tigerlilly]

On a not quite so serious note.....With his stunning blue eyes, dark hair, and drop dead gorgeous physique, Monette became a heartthrob among many of the U.S. female fans the 2 WC seasons following the 2002 Olympics. I get a kick out of this pic (taken by Sue) from the Marquette WC--2003-04 season, I believe.





Check out the look on Apolo's face. It's like.....Back off, Monette!! You ain't takin' this race---(or the hearts of my ladies...lmao)!!

[claire522]

tigerlilly said:

Check out the look on Apolo's face. It's like.....Back off, Monette!! You ain't takin' this race---(or the hearts of my ladies...lmao)!!

that was really funny tigerlily!

i like Monette here though:



beautiful isn't he?

[tigerlilly]

I used to follow the Canadian National Team Trials online on OvalAudio and pull for Monette in that context. (Whew! Talk about wild competitions....Those CNT trials are nailbiters.) Yes, he's beautiful, quite an athlete, and I miss seeing him on the circuit!! Anyway, that was the way I got my Monette fix....lmao...'cause in international competition, as soon as Apolo's blades touched the ice, I forgot about everybody else.

[tigerlilly]

Here's the link I was looking for.....It's a great interview with Hyun-Soo Ahn's gf during the 2006 Torino Olympics....Interesting article for anyone who missed it the first time around.

english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=070000&biid=2006022230378

[elsa]

Thanks for all these details - I love 'em! Is Monette still skating?

And what do you think of Charles Hamelin's future chances? He barely edged out Apolo and came in second at the World Championships at Milan just 4 months ago, where Apolo was third (but he took the year off!) and Ahn was first. Does Hamelin have a female following? I thought he was pretty cute. Not in Apolo's league, but hey, not many are. Nobody?

ETA: Speaking of Hamelin AND team skating, I didn't realize this happened to him in Torino. Crap! Apolo wasn't kidding when he said it "happens all the time.":

Turin, Italy -- There was little bitterness from Canadian short-track speedskater Charles Hamelin despite his being bumped off the podium at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Hamelin, 21, in his first Olympic event, got a taste of how nasty short-track can get when he was jostled by a Chinese skater who was apparently clearing the way for a teammate to win a medal in the men's 1,500-metre final.

World champion Ahn Hyun-Soo of South Korea won gold, with teammate Lee Ho-Suk second and China's Li JiaJun third.

Hamelin, from Ste-Julie, Que., was cruising in third place with just over a lap to go when the two Chinese cut in front of him. Li Ye bumped him and was disqualified. Li JiaJun went on for the bronze.

''It was more strategy by the Chinese because they were two,'' said Hamelin, showing no anger. ''One tried to pass me and bump me and the other passed me and finished third.

''It happens a lot with the Asian teams. It's just like that. You just have to push it out of your head and concentrate on your next race.''

At that point, Hamelin looked as strong as any of the six finalists and admits he had gold on his mind.

''For sure,'' he said. ''If the Chinese was not there, I was expecting to catch the Koreans and try to pass them. I was going for the gold.''

Added coach Guy Thibault: ''If he wasn't bumped, he could have won that race.''

BTW: Since then, Thibault is one of the Canadian coaches who's defected to the USA!

Also: I looked up the results from Milan & Hamelin won the 500m (Apolo won the 1500m & Ahn the 1000.) Here's the other results:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_World_Short_Track_Speed_Skating_Championships

[Lori]

Elsa, you're right about the order of finish in Worlds. I remember the overall title came down to the 3000m superfinal, and Hamelin and Ohno were just 2 or 3 points apart in the end. Ahn dominated, medaling in every distance.

Hamelin is a cutie, isn't he?

Woo-Hoo, I just noticed I got karmaaaaaaaaaaa! Thanx to whoever you are - 'first karma I didn't have to pay for! ;D

[claire522]

tigerlily, thanks for the link on the interview of Ahn's gf.

elsa, i'm not really sure if Monette's still skating. i'm still learning about our canadian athletes but i'm always distracted by Apolo. lol. anyway, is there a limit on age when it comes to ST competition? Monette is 29 this year so i doubt he'd still be competing.

Hamelin i think is the one who's "in" now on our ST athletes.

[elsa]

Tiger, Claire and Lori - you're so right - Hamelin looks like da man in Canada - and he's cute! And I thought Ahn's gf was adorable - I read some article about him and it said he text-messaged her a lot. I hope he's as sweet as he sounds - don't know why but I kinda don't want to like him cuz well you know - but I saw a picture of him at World's in '06 when Apolo didn't compete and he was kinda partying and grinning with all these Americans and was holding this little baby who they called his youngest fan or something - sooo cute! He still looks like a baby himself, if you ask me.

And I found this about Monette THIS year!:

2007 Canadian Open Championship
500m - 3
1000m- 4

World Cup #6 - Hungary
500m - 4
World Team Championships - Hungary
500m - 1
Canadian ranking: 4

He was ranked 8th in Canada in 2006 so I don't think he went to the Olympics. But it looks like he won the 500m at the World Cup in Hungary and this year is ranked 4th in Canada? (if I'm reading the stats right) And he's 29, so I guess it's possible he might make the 2010 team? But Canada is so Deep! But not so well hung? What do they do - wear girdles?

There's more at this site:
www.speedskating.ca/eng/highperformance/bios_st/monette_j_f.htm

Ahn (in bright blue shirt) and baby at banquet - next to bottom row:

ozannex.typepad.com/photos/2006worlds_banquet/index.html