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Takahashi becomes 1st Japanese man to win figure skating gold

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Congrats Takahashi!! Hope we can watch these performances on youtube soon.

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I watched the exhibition live and it rocked.

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Go Takahashi!! Congrats on wins and earning the ones golds medals.

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Good job Daisuke. A well deserved gold.

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Congratulations. Nice job and great news for Japan!

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Yay! Good for him!

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Too bad this article doesn't mention that the Vancouver gold and silver medallists didn't compete.

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We knew that. Still, it was their choice not to join. And since the people who did join carried on with the competition, it in no way reduces the fact that they competed and won against their peers.

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I didn't realize that no Japanese man had won a gold yet. Congrats to Takahashi. Glad he didn't retire after Vancouver.

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Too bad this article doesn't mention that the Vancouver gold and silver medallists didn't compete.

I was waiting for someone to mention this in an attempt to diminish Takahashi's accomplishment.

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TheDave: "I was waiting for someone to mention this in an attempt to diminish Takahashi's accomplishment."

That's funny, I didn't have to wait at all to hear how this means more than the Olympics because Japan won first. Heaven help us all if Asada Mao wins, because more than praising the girl for an excellent performance, Japan will be too busy patting itself on the back and thumbing its nose at Kim Yu-Na.

Either way I think it's a shame when such politics take precedence over the performances themselves. Excellent job to the top three, and in particular Takahashi. The Japanese are getting better and better in the world of figure skating, and the sport is getting more attention -- and more exciting -- than ever. It's truly becoming 'international'.

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Congratulations Daisuke: World Champion! Even though a couple of skaters did not compete, it doesn't take away anything from this accomplishment. To say so would be a slap in the face to the other great skaters like Joubert and Chan, who were also phenomenal.

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Congratulations, Daisuke! A first for the mens. Hopefully not the last!

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Omedetou, Daisuke. Well done - he is a great skater and a really nice guy,too.

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Where does it say that this means more than the olympics ??? And wheres the politics in the article ?? smith,the article doesnt support what your saying whatsoever..and as for the kim snubbing comment,youre living in a hole..

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smithinjapan:"That's funny, I didn't have to wait at all to hear how this means more than the Olympics because Japan won first. Heaven help us all if Asada Mao wins, because more than praising the girl for an excellent performance, Japan will be too busy patting itself on the back and thumbing its nose at Kim Yu-Na."

A bit over the top, don't you think?

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Basically, a champion is a champion, whether they be the Olympic or World champion. It's kind of like the difference between the WBC, WBO, or IBF champions in boxing: they are all champions. Only those crying sour grapes like to downplay results like these. Congrats to Daisuke for a great performance and becoming the World champion, and congrats to Patrick Chan and Brian Joubert for bouncing back from the Olympics.

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Yeah smithinjapan, this is not even big news in Japan. People around me are like, "Oh, he won a championship? Good for him."

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Why aren't the big champs competing in this event? Is it too minor and/or not enough prizemoney?

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Basically, a champion is a champion, whether they be the Olympic or World champion

I disagree. Olympic Gold is what it is all about, for better or worse. Only happens every 4 years, so it is THE prize everyone wants. It is why you see even silver medal winners in tears after competing - it is everything to them. It seems that without all the top champs, this event is just part of the skating circuit? I think some sports have way too many "world championships"! Anyhow, good for this young Takahashi kid, it will probably translate into several million more bucks in sponsorship!

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Being first is great - but being a DOUBLE first is greater still. Kudos to Takahashi san as he enters Japanese figure skating history as the FIRST!

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Why aren't the big champs competing in this event? Is it too minor and/or not enough prizemoney?

So soon after the Olympics is too early.I'm sure the gold medal winner in Vancouver is still on a high that to enter when he hasn't even practiced would be folly.He has been doing the night shows circuit too. And my idea of a bonafide,true blue champion is winning when EVERYONE is there OR at the Olympics.

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I disagree. Olympic Gold is what it is all about, for better or worse.

Bad logic, if you ask me. It's like saying the Olympic gold in basketball is worth more than an NBA championship, which happens every year, or the Olympic gold in tennis is worth more than a Wimbledon championship, or an Olympic gold in marathon is better than winning the New York Marathon, or the Olympic hockey gold is worth more to the players than a Stanley Cup championship.

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Bad logic, if you ask me. It's like saying the Olympic gold in basketball is worth more than an NBA championship, which happens every year, or the Olympic gold in tennis is worth more than a Wimbledon championship, or an Olympic gold in marathon is better than winning the New York Marathon, or the Olympic hockey gold is worth more to the players than a Stanley Cup championship.

I agree - think in hugely rich sports like soccer, tennis, ice-hockey and basketball that have their own world-cups (or equivalent) the Olympic Gold possibly means less to them. Most other sports - and athletes and spectators - view Olympic Gold as the ultimate. Certainly athletes in track and field - marathon included - would put that Olympic Gold right up the top of their mantelpiece. You only get one shot every 4 years. And this must be the case for figure skating: If this "World Championship" was equal in status to the Olympics, the top athletes would ALL attend.

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And this must be the case for figure skating: If this "World Championship" was equal in status to the Olympics, the top athletes would ALL attend.

True, but not always are all top athletes attending the Olympics. Several can't because of injury, or some of a nations top athletes (which could beat a lot of other countries athletes) don't attend because there is a limit. Even some of the other tournaments like the World Cup in Soccer often have countries (e.g. Russia, Croatia, Czech Rep., Ukraine, Sweden) left out that could easily beat many of the teams in the tournament that were selected. In any case, I feel it is wrong to downplay winning a world championship. Just say congrats and be done with it. I for one would be proud to place a world championship trophy on my mantel.

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You only get one shot every 4 years.

Interesting point. The fact that you only get one shot every four years actually leaves a lot left to chance. IMO, winning a World Cup or Grand Prix series, like a lot of individual events do have (skiing, skating, F1 car racing), which lasts the whole season and crowning the champion over that series of tournaments, is more indicative of a true champion. One shots like this world championship tournament and the Olympics show not only an athlete's skill, but involves a bit of luck as well. I've seen too many top athletes NOT get the medal that they were favored to get because of errors, slip-ups, disqualifications, and other elements of chance. It is why many sports have "best-of-five" or "best-of-seven", or "round-robins" to eliminate some of that chance. At least with team sports, like curling, there are round robins where you play everyone else. I mean, is it fair to say when an athlete beats everyone else 99 out of 100 times, but loses the one time in the Olympics or these world championships, as less than the person who comes out on top in that one tournament?

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Good points there, haoushokuhaki. It kind of sucks that people will usually only remember, for example, the champion of the 100m at the Olympics - rather than the IAAF World Champion (held every 2 years) - or the individual Grand Prix winners. But hey, thats life. Who remembers the 2008 Olympic Men's 100m winner? Of course - Usain (Lightning) Bolt. Who remembers the 2005 Men's 100m World Champion?

If I was an athlete (I am tragically bad at most sports bar swimming) I'd be putting everything into getting that Olympic glory. That is not to denigrate any winner of other "Championships" - the achievement puts them in the realms of the elite - and they deserve all the rewards that come their way.

Moderator: Back on topic please.

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I think all competitions are important, and none is more important than the other. If you win at the Olympics, then you've won only at that particular competition at that moment in time--it doesn't make you the best ever in that particular sport, any time.

What country wouldn't celebrate over winning an award of any type? Hope Takahashi has fun celebrating his medal winning.

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omedetou daisuke!!! yoku gambatta!!!

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Agree with #haoushokuhaki(at 05:29 PM - 26th March). Almost all the favorites bring us a lot of JOY&FUN.

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You did great, Daisuke. Otsukare sama deshita. I see endorsements coming your way already.

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@haoushokuhaki

Very good points you bring up there. I agree.

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