She's baaaack.
Samantha Cesario has returned from a year full of injuries looking stronger and more determined than ever. The 18-year old from New Jersey took the bronze medal today at the third Junior Grand Prix event in Gdansk, Poland.
Her portrayal of Odile, the black swan from Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, is stunning as she uses every part of her body -- right down to her fingertips -- to tell the story. What's more, her jumps have never looked better. Yes, she still has an egregious "flutz," but her jumps are higher and stronger, and the triple loop is back in her arsenal.
Cesario looks poised for a breakthrough at Nationals in 2012. She missed the event last January due to her back injury, but that appears to be in the past. She is the highest scoring U.S. lady of the season to date, and after strong summer competition showings, one can see the momentum begin to build. The next step: a (preferably) top 2 finish at her next JGP event, and then (hopefully) a spot at the JGP Final in Quebec City in December.
If she can keep her focus and drive for the next few months, there's no reason to believe she can't be top 6 at Nationals in January, perhaps even flirting with a top 4 podium finish. In this ever-unpredictable world of U.S. ladies, anything is possible.
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