Golden child
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- October
- 30
Did you catch Charles Schulz’s bio on “American Masters” last night? It was absolutely haunting, from the opening scenes using the finale of “Citizen Kane” to the cartoon characters fading against the landscape at the end.
The documentary really demonstrated to what extent character is destiny. I couldn’t help but think about this over the weekend as NBC’s telecast of “Skate America” featured rising ice-skating star, 14-year-old American Caroline Zhang. This girl has it all, including the musicality and fluidity of a real dancer. After her performance to Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” one of the commentators said she was reminiscent of Michelle Kwan. I always adored Kwan, but the comparison was like a stab to the heart. In three tries, she failed to win Olympic gold, despite being a golden girl herself.
It got me thinking, particularly with the media being all over Alex Rodgriguez’s decision to opt out of his New York Yankees’ contract: Why do otherwise larger-than-life people shrink on the world stage in crucial moments?
I think it has something to do with perfectionism and fear of failure. When you’re in familiar surroundings  say a 162-game season or day-to-day practice  you’re in a comfort zone you can control. But the post season and the Olympics offer a small all-or-nothing chance. It throws the perfectionist off his or her game, because the margin of failure is that much greater. There’s no tomorrow and no time for refinement.
Now, how do you overcome this self-conscious fear? You have to have the hunger, the drive, all of that. But really, you have to love what you’re doing more than you’re afraid to do it. When love trumps fear, the moment is always golden.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 11:34 am by Georgette Gouveia.
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Michelle did not shrink on the world stage. She is a 5 time World Champion for Heavens sake.
Michelle should have won in 98 and 2002 (If judges didn’t cheat to try and put Irina in first)
Michelle only won silver and bronze at 2 Olympics Not 3.
I agree with the first comment, Kwan didn’t choke in 98. IMO, she should have won based on the fact that she had cleaner technique than Tara Lipinski. Tara rotated fast, but her actual jump technique was poor – ie, her roller skating enterance into double axle and her “flutz”. 2002, I would have had Kwan in at least Silver position, but the judges were in a pickle due to the ordinal system. It was either give Kwan the Gold for a flawed performance or have Irena place above Kwan to give Hughes the Gold. No one wanted to give Slutskaya the Gold…she is a piss poor skater outside of her jump technique.