Foreign Judges Impressed by Chinese Men's Skaters

When people showed interests on the five foreign judges who appeared in the figure skating finals of the Chinese National Games for the first time, the foreign judges were impressed by the Chinese young skaters.

After the three-day event starting from August 10, judges from Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, France and Germany agreed that it was a good competition with some potential skaters show off their talents.

Alain Miquel from France said :"I am very impressed by the Chinese young potentials, especially the men's skaters. They are amazing. They can reach the top position in the world."

Listing the top three Chinese men's skaters' names without hesitation, Miquel said he had never expected that there were a group of high-level skaters in China.

"The competition was tense that it was hard to decide who could win the title."

Poland judge Anna Sierocka echoed:" From this competition, I have learned that there are many good skaters in China."

Many skaters have complained the early season for lack of time to practice their new routines and to better their forms, but Miquel hailed their fit performances.

"I wondered how can they keep fitted in such an early season. If they could keep on this form to the Winter Olympic Games next February, they could be unbeatable."

As a former singles skater and experienced judge, Miquel suggested the Chinese men's skaters should work on their carriage and the use of blade. They also need to improve their artistry although "they have improved a lot".

"The most important thing is to understand the music and present the music, no matter skating with traditional Chinese music or western music. Just like Chen Lu, she could make me cry," he said.

Miquel came to Chen and congratulated her in person for the " tremendous, gorgeous and sensitive performances" during the last three days before she went to awarding ceremony.

Comparing with men's skaters, Miquel pointed out the women's skaters had a long way to go, even to challenge Chen Lu, who retired in 1998 after Nagano Olympics and showed in the United States as a pro.

Chen, a former world champion, managed a near flawless routine in French music "The Ocean" while her closest rivals Sun Siyin and Fang Dan all suffered mistakes in the free skate.

"It is unfair that they compete with more mature and experienced Chen. They are in two different levels with Chen who in fact could not jump as difficult as she did before."






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