In case you are wondering, the photo is of French skater, Florent Amodio who recently won the European Championship. He won the title on the strength of his short program, so that is the program I am going to link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLR9tjqAr2E
This is either Italian or Spanish television, no subtitles this time.
The silver medalist was another French skater, Brian Joubert, who actually won the freeskate. Joubert is trying new music this year, Beethoven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXOvsH5bkwk
The bronze medalist was Thomas Verner of the Czech Republic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHw-9qh5JVU
Now, on to U.S. Nationals. The favorites coming in, Jeremy Abbott and Adam Rippon are better covered on the agony of defeat side, so I will write about them later. There were several very good stories to come out of U.S. Nationals though.
With the veterans faltering, the next generation of skaters really stepped up. The first one (shown on NBC) was Richard Dornbush, who is the current Jr. Grand Prix champion. His program was my favorite of the ones shown on NBC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNyIvU_rdM
(Also, if you watch the video, you will hear that Adam Rippon skated an outstanding program, his freeskate was outstanding. However his short program was not)
The next skater, I wish to highlight is Ross Miner. I was quite surprised by how much I liked this program. I had watched a video of it from a summer competition, and had not liked the program at all. But in late January, I loved it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRlYRHPinWw
Familiar music, huh? :)
The night belonged to one of the veterans though, Ryan Bradley. Last year, he was fourth at Nationals, therefore missing out on the Olympics, and had decided not to compete anymore. After a twitter campaign from his fans, he decided to compete at Nationals. I'm posting both his short programs and free skates.
SP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSgRw_HZXvw&feature=fvst
FS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLR0kIoHxis
The skate of the night though, didn't come from a medalist, or a well know skater. It was from a 16 year old, competing in his first senior nationals. Enjoy the freeskate of Jason Brown, and I think his is a name you should remember in the future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFVz7WJgkK0