I personally think they are the only dynamic, exciting and world competitive pairs in the US right now. I was bitterly disappointed when they didn't make the Olympic team. I honestly feel they are the only pair that could compete on any level with the rest of the world.
I had heard at Nationals from someone who was in the know that the plan was always for them to be done after this year. But I think they also assumed they were making the Sochi team. Maybe they now see an opportunity with the C/S split although I can't see how he could possibly last another Olympic cycle. I had wondered if she might team up with Shnapir just because they're on similar levels experience wise.
As far as them being the only pair that could compete with the rest of the world, I don't see how that statement holds up when they were beaten at their own nationals by a massive 7.5 points in the SP and couldn't get ahead of Z/B who ended up 12th in Sochi even with the judges bending over backwards for them. A perfect D/C would have placed maybe exactly the same as C/S in Sochi. Two years ago they were ahead of the US field but they never got back there after his injury and I highly doubt they will again given his age.
Caydee's even shorter than Marissa. I don't think it would have worked.
I'm not basing my opinion on what they did at Nationals this year. Anyone can have a bad skate. I'm basing it on the fact that they're dynamic, interesting, have great choreography and good chemistry. Never felt Schnapir and Castelli had chemistry and thought their Bond program was borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring! Z&B are nice to watch but not thrilling. Pairs in the US is at an all-time low and it's going to take someone that can make you sit up in your seat and clap spontaneously at this juncture to compete with the Russians, the Chinese, the Japanese, etc. I think Caydee and John could do it. I do hope they come back. I can't see John retiring if he's healthy.
They didn't win, but I also thought that they were the ones who skated the best that night (the only couple to complete two clean programs)! :yes:I remember Trankov tweeted to them that they were the best at TEB. (they weren't, they got bronze).