Then I went back and finished the skating. My thoughts:
If Joannie Rochette had had a triple/triple combination instead of the triple/double, she would have won the short program. Her jumps had more zing, her spins were faster and more impressive, and her skating was just more solid and grounded, I thought.
Kim and Mao both skated impressive, clean, and difficult short programs. But I think the hype for the two of them has been laid on a little thick. They're lovely skaters, but I didn't see such a major points difference between them and some others.
Miki Ando (4th place) was given a GIFT with those scores. Her program was underwhelming, and she put her foot down on the triple/triple combination which should have cost her dearly and didn't. Her spins and spirals are VERY mediocre.
I was VERY proud of the two American girls. Rachael had the more difficult of the two programs, and I loved how she kept up with the REALLY fast "Sing, Sing, Sing" music in her footwork. (Only Kim Yu-Na had comparable footwork.) Nagasu skated a really soft, lovely program, and if she had been able to do her planned triple/triple (the same one Yu-Na landed), she would have been much closer to the leader.
Still I'm glad our girls will get to skate in the final flight although Joannie started 8th at the last Olympics and ended up 5th so it's possibly to start in the bottom of the top ten and make your way toward the top.
