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Post by number1fan on Mar 1, 2008 4:38:14 GMT -5
lori, y'kno...i think they (the korean nat'ls) are kinda 'proud' of our apolo taking that road and coming back so strong! {{yes}}.
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Post by mtnme on Mar 1, 2008 14:55:02 GMT -5
It wasn't quite accurate either, or maybe it just got lost in translation. Apolo hasn't been for a visit to Korea for the last 29 months, but he certainly has been competing in that time. What about the last 2 world cups? What about last years Worlds? It hasn't been all 'tripping the light fantastic" that whole time. |
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Post by skaterswaltz on Mar 3, 2008 1:02:16 GMT -5
Well, the U.S. Team should be in Korea by now. I wish I could be there at the Gangneung International Ice Rink watching them practice and warm-up and do their flock-of-bird formations. Also would love to be able to see Apolo breaking the sound barrier again. GO APOLO GO!! (Photo credit: Jerry Search - Worlds SLC) |
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Post by aaosmts19 on Mar 3, 2008 7:28:40 GMT -5
Local news starting to flow for World Champs. www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/136_20016.htmlSung, Ohno Highlights Short Track Worlds By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter South Korean Sung Si-bak and American Apolo Anton Ohno are among the biggest names participating in the International Skating Union (ISU) World Short Track Speedskating Championships starting Friday in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. The three-day event will feature 238 athletes from 32 countries competing at the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink in the last ISU competition of the 2007-08 season. South Korea, a perennial powerhouse in the sport, is fielding arguably the strongest team in the men's competition, despite the void left by Olympic champion Ahn Hyun-soo, who is recovering from knee surgery. The absence of Jin Sun-yu, out with an ankle injury, looms larger on the Korean women's squad, which his placing its hopes on teenage prospect Yang Shin-yang and 20-year-old Jung Eun-ju. Sung, who won the men's 500 meters at the ISU World Cup in Utah, U.S., last month, is padding his reputation as the country's top skater next to Ahn. Lee Seung-hoon, who won the 1,500-meter event in Utah, and Lee Ho-suk are also favorites to win golds. Challenging the Koreans would be Ohno, the 25-year-old Seattle native who is expected to contend in the 500-meter and 1,500-meter races. Competing in South Korea would have been a dreadful thought for Ohno just years ago, when his controversial 1,500-meter gold in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics caused an outcry here, after he was awarded the medal by successfully protesting that South Korean Kim Dong-sung, who won the race, illegally blocked him. However, with the emotions of 2002 fading and few memories of Kim, who is now anonymous after a quick retirement and a failed signing career, Ohno has now become somewhat of a celebrity figure in Korea. thkim@koreatimes.co.kr |
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Post by apolostarr on Mar 3, 2008 8:54:41 GMT -5
Thanks so such aaomts19!
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Post by linmiste on Mar 3, 2008 9:42:46 GMT -5
Local news starting to flow for World Champs. www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/136_20016.htmlSung, Ohno Highlights Short Track Worlds By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter ...Challenging the Koreans would be Ohno, the 25-year-old Seattle native who is expected to contend in the 500-meter and 1,500-meter races. Competing in South Korea would have been a dreadful thought for Ohno just years ago, when his controversial 1,500-meter gold in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics caused an outcry here, after he was awarded the medal by successfully protesting that South Korean Kim Dong-sung, who won the race, illegally blocked him. However, with the emotions of 2002 fading and few memories of Kim, who is now anonymous after a quick retirement and a failed signing career, Ohno has now become somewhat of a celebrity figure in Korea. thkim@koreatimes.co.kr  See... no publicity is bad publicity.  Karma for that article, aao. Korea still does have a strong team, despite Ahn's absence. And Apolo will be skating against three champions on their own turf. He has a tough row to hoe... but he can do it! I wonder how he mentally prepares for this? The article says that Apolo will be skating in the 500 and 1500. Does anyone know if that's accurate? It thought he might be skating the 1000 also with hopes of the world title. |
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Post by apolostarr on Mar 3, 2008 11:33:51 GMT -5
I think Apolo will come out on top, but as long as he gives 100% (he always does) He'll do alright!
I just pray for NO CRASHES and NO INJURIES those are what I fear the most then not doing well!
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Post by skaterswaltz on Mar 3, 2008 13:45:45 GMT -5
Thanks, aaosmts19, for the great article! I love how it's one of their lead stories on their sports page today. Can't wait to see subsequent articles. I love the last paragraph!! "However, with the emotions of 2002 fading and few memories of Kim, who is now anonymous after a quick retirement and a failed singing career, Ohno has now become somewhat of a celebrity figure in Korea." GO APOLO GO!Think POSITIVE thoughts everyone and send 'em their way!!!!  |
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maricorgi
Full Member
I've gone to the dogs.
Posts: 132
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Post by maricorgi on Mar 3, 2008 13:55:15 GMT -5
Not to jump the gun here, but who can tell me if it's possible for Apolo to win the Overall title. I realize Quebec wasn't great but he did get two in Salt Lake. Is he racing all 3 distances? Come on Lori or Susie or someone in the know... tell me the chances. I'm already starting to fret about falls or injuries and he hasn't even raced yet. What's the scoop on the balance of the team and is everyone ready to go? I'll be parked by the computer when the racing starts. I just want them all to do well and come home safe.
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Post by wildfire on Mar 3, 2008 14:34:33 GMT -5
Woah I've been out of the loop the past couple days and I'm just now trying to get caught up! LOL. Thanks aaosmts19 for posting that news article! Good job as always!  Mari I am with you...pray for safety all around! I wondered that too, if he could get the Overall Title!? My *wish* is that the US Team just does their best and win or lose, they have no regrets about their performance(s)...and everyone 'plays' nice and by the rules! (And if AO should win a Gold/Overall Title, well then happy day all around!) LOL. GO TEAM USA!!!! Can't wait to see/hear the updates from Korea!!! |
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Post by Lori on Mar 3, 2008 14:57:38 GMT -5
Not to jump the gun here, but who can tell me if it's possible for Apolo to win the Overall title. I realize Quebec wasn't great but he did get two in Salt Lake. Is he racing all 3 distances? Come on Lori or Susie or someone in the know... tell me the chances. I'm already starting to fret about falls or injuries and he hasn't even raced yet. What's the scoop on the balance of the team and is everyone ready to go? I'll be parked by the computer when the racing starts. I just want them all to do well and come home safe. Mari, the World Championships is a stand-alone competition. The medals at previous World Cups don't figure in. I don't know why the article omitted the 1000M, but I'm nearly 100% sure that Apolo will be skating in all 3 distances. Here's how I understand it: 1) Each country has up to 3 men and 3 ladies competing in all 3 individual distances. If we're allowed to have 3 (and I'm not sure how that is determined), it would be Apolo, Jeff Simon and Ryan Leveille for the men, and Katherine, Allison and Kimberly Derrick for the ladies (our overall medalists from Nationals). 2) The others on the team (Jordan Malone and J.P. Kepka; Lana Gehrig and Carly Wilson) would be available for the relay only. 3) Points are awarded in the individual distances, and the 8(?) best skaters overall qualify for the 3000M SuperFinal, which is considered a tie-breaker. 4) Highest point total at the end of the weekend wins. Not sure what happens if Jeff can't skate. Maybe Simon Cho would make the trip for the relay and J.P. Kepka would move up into our top 3... and does anybody know how (or if) the relay figures in? (Edit: Apparently the relay does not figure in to individual points for the Championship) [glow=red,2,300]So will this be the 'party' thread this weekend? Who else is gonna be here?[/glow] |
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maricorgi
Full Member
I've gone to the dogs.
Posts: 132
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Post by maricorgi on Mar 3, 2008 17:41:54 GMT -5
Thank you Lori... you always have the info for us. How exciting that it's a stand alone comp.. sort of like the Olympics. So the other comps are to qualify, right? Do you have to qualify in each distance? I would really like to hear an injury report on Jeff... hey if he played for the Pats we'd have all sorts of info. I am so proud of all these skaters. How I wish it was a higher profile sport so that the rest of the country would support them too, but then I say that about so many winter sports. It's as if the country pokes its head up out of the snow every 4 years and says "wow.. how cool is this" and then goes back to baseball, football and Tiger Woods on Sunday.
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Post by mtnme on Mar 3, 2008 17:54:01 GMT -5
Local news starting to flow for World Champs. www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/136_20016.htmlSung, Ohno Highlights Short Track Worlds By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter ...Challenging the Koreans would be Ohno, the 25-year-old Seattle native who is expected to contend in the 500-meter and 1,500-meter races. Competing in South Korea would have been a dreadful thought for Ohno just years ago, when his controversial 1,500-meter gold in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics caused an outcry here, after he was awarded the medal by successfully protesting that South Korean Kim Dong-sung, who won the race, illegally blocked him. However, with the emotions of 2002 fading and few memories of Kim, who is now anonymous after a quick retirement and a failed signing career, Ohno has now become somewhat of a celebrity figure in Korea. thkim@koreatimes.co.kr See... no publicity is bad publicity. Karma for that article, aao. Korea still does have a strong team, despite Ahn's absence. And Apolo will be skating against three champions on their own turf. He has a tough row to hoe... but he can do it! I wonder how he mentally prepares for this? The article says that Apolo will be skating in the 500 and 1500. Does anyone know if that's accurate? It thought he might be skating the 1000 also with hopes of the world title. I found this curious too, as Apolo would normally skate all distances, and if he were going to bow out of one, it would be the 500, since that isn't his specialty. Guess we'll have to wait and see. As to how many skaters a country is allowed to enter, I believe is determined by their performances at previous competitions (last years worlds perhaps). If the US medals (which Apolo did), then they can enter 3 skaters. If the team finishes further down the pack, then we can only enter 2 and so on. (Figure skating operates the same way.) Count me in this weekend, I'll sure try and stay awake for this. |
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maricorgi
Full Member
I've gone to the dogs.
Posts: 132
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Post by maricorgi on Mar 3, 2008 19:07:49 GMT -5
Thanks. I'm beginning to get it. I'll be around through Sat nite and then head for JFK early Sunday..hoping to get to the family's mountain house late afternoon. I would be ever so grateful those who have my number (Lori, Michelle, Emily )to jingle my cell phone to give me results. PLEASE?  Heaven knows I won't be able to find it on ESPN or the newspaper. |
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Post by linmiste on Mar 3, 2008 21:27:15 GMT -5
Lori, as always, thanks for the detailed and patient explanation of how the system works. I'll be stopping by when I can over the weekend to see what the results are and read everyone's commentary. I get the impression you're thinking you can watch it on Korean internet TV?
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~Lori