Morning thoughts about judging.
My favorite ladies’ figure skater, YuNa Kim won the silver medal yesterday in the Olympic Games. Her free skate was strong and mature; I wished it had lasted longer.
She was outscored by another lady having the skate of her young life at the right time in her career. 7 triples and technical tricks outscored 6 triples and smooth elegance. Her free skate was exciting, although her posture was not the best; her energy sold the program even though it lacked connection with the music.
This competition highlights the challenge of judging. Who wins? The one with the most technical content and little artistry, or the one with technical content and the most artistry? The one who plays a complicated fiddle tune with little passion, or the one that plays a simpler tune with great passion?
A choreographer I know says that there are only 2 questions in judging: 1) Is it any good? 2) do I like it?
For me, last night, the winner was good, and I didn’t like her skating.
Update: this article goes into the depth of planning. I wish Ms. Kim had competed more in the 2013-2014 season. If she had, her short program would have been performed later in that event, and increased her chances of a higher score. If she had, her technical weaknesses would have been noticed in time to be fixed. Still, I will always love her artistry and style, and the best triple lutz/triple toe combination in the world.
http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2014/02/21/68062776/checking-the-math-should-sotnikova-have-won
