Something in the Water

Last week at Nationals I theorized that I was in the middle of viewing some of the best figure skating of my life. Now that I’m home, recovering from my vacation, and have reliable internet access, I’ve been able to research that theory.

Mind you, I didn’t bother to look at the scores of every skater; that would more time than I have and desire to devote to, but the cursory research of senior-level scores I have done has proven my theory correct. If I did a more complete survey of the scores, I’d bet good money that many (or perhaps most) of the figure skaters who competed in Spokane this year skated the best they ever skated.

Below is a relatively small list of the senior skaters who broke records—who improved their personal best, and by how many. Of note is Evan Lysacek’s marvelous free skate. He broke all records; not only did he make his personal best (169.89) by over five-and-one-half points, he broke Eveny Pleshenko’s all-time highest score (167.67).

Like I said, there was something in the water at Spokane.

Kimmie Meissner
Short program: 5.52

Beatrisa Liang
SP: 1.62
LP: 5.62

Emily Hughes
SP: 4.90
LP: 3.70

Katy Taylor
SP: 1.46

Alissa Czisny
LP: 9.81

Evan Lysacek
SP: 5.57
LP: 17.31

Ryan Bradley
SP: 9.14
LP: 36.78

Rena Inoue / John Baldwin
SP: 0.46

Naomi Nari Nam / Themistocles Leftheris
SP: 4.97
LP: 2.20

Brooke Castile / Benjamin Okolski
SP: 5.78
LP: 30.23

Meryl Davis / Charlie White
CD: 1.78
FD: 6.56

Kimberly Navarro / Brent Bommentre
CD: 4.87
OD: 7.27
FD: 10.36

Melissa Gregory / Denis Petukhov
OD: 0.84
FD: 3.80