Michelle's Proof-of-Recovery Skate, Jan 16

[Frau Muller]

Hot off the press, in the AP story about Michele's withdrawal from Nationals:

-quote - Kwan must prove to the federation by Jan. 16 that she is fit enough to be selected for the Olympic team. The members of the team must be submitted to the Turin organizing committee by Jan. 30. -unquote-

Here's the $64K Question -- Will this be televised? Wanna place your bets? Even if not officially televised, you can bet that every 'Good Morning America' and 'Fox & Friends' camera will be at the rink on the 16th (or whenever this demonstration by Michelle takes place). Geraldo Rivera will don skates! Let the carnival begin!

[dwiggin3]

I wonder what this "test" will consist of....Maybe a runthrough of her sp? I'd be surprised if it was open to the public or media.
Darby

[dfj]

Will this be televised?

I seriously doubt it. No one will see this.

[Piel]

I think the U.S.F.S.A. probably makes up the criteria as they go along to get the team they want.

[Mathman]

Proof of recovery skate? I'm not seeing anything about a "skate" or a "test" in the USFS announcement.

I think a doctor's note certifying that she was recovered and ready to go would satisfy the requirements.

MM

[Frau Muller]

Uh...I'm not so sure, guys, that a mere drs note will do it. The USFSA is supposedly a serious organization representing ALL skaters in the competition (read that - Meissner, Czisny, BeBe & whoever else will be waiting with bated breath for the outcome to see if she'll go to Turin). A drs note or even an SP run-through won't do it.

Remember when Slutskaya had to skate a 'demo/proof' of BOTH her SP & LP to the Russian Federation before she was named to the 2004 Dortmund Worlds team? Also - I clearly recall Nancy Kerrigan's 'demo/proof' before she was named to the 1994 Oly team...and Gerardo Rivera & a gazillion other reporters were there!!!!!! What's to keep Geraldo from planting himself in front of Michele's home rink this time?

Mathman, I was referring to the AP report's quote above: "Kwan must prove to the federation by Jan. 16 that she is fit enough to be selected for the Olympic team. " uh......fit enough to be selected....true, it doesn't say 'fit enough to skate'...just 'fit enough to be selected.' So all she has to do is prove that she's fit enough to give interviews & do endoresements????!!!!!

[curious]

Uh...I'm not so sure, guys, that a mere drs note will do it. The USFSA is supposedly a serious organization representing ALL skaters in the competition (read that - Meissner, Czisny, BeBe & whoever else will be waiting with bated breath for the outcome to see if she'll go to Turin). A drs note or even an SP run-through won't do it.

Remember when Slutskaya had to skate a 'demo/proof' of BOTH her SP & LP to the Russian Federation before she was named to the 2004 Dortmund Worlds team? Also - I clearly recall Nancy Kerrigan's 'demo/proof' before she was named to the 1994 Oly team...and Gerardo Rivera & a gazillion other reporters were there!!!!!! What's to keep Geraldo from planting himself in front of Michele's home rink this time?

Mathman, I was referring to the AP report's quote above: "Kwan must prove to the federation by Jan. 16 that she is fit enough to be selected for the Olympic team. " uh......fit enough to be selected....true, it doesn't say 'fit enough to skate'...just 'fit enough to be selected.' So all she has to do is prove that she's fit enough to give interviews & do endoresements????!!!!!

was the marshall joke televised? she doesn't have to prove a thing cause she is da kween lol!

[Piel]

I think a doctor's note certifying that she was recovered and ready to go would satisfy the requirements.

Dr. MM, can you provide the note ?

[mememe]

According to an article on asian athlete news, USFS doesn't intend to send anyone out to see if she's fit -- a doctor's certificate will be sufficient.

I don't know if the reporter got the information straight -- or if they're talking about different things (like, a certificate from the doctor would be sufficient to get her named to the team by the 16th, but she'd have to do a test skate to remain on the list that is submitted by the 30th).

Whatever, here's the link:

http://asianathlete.com/DaScoopsFor...ay.aspx?ID=2681

[Frau Muller]

Well, the 30th would be a better date for Michele, giving her more time to prepare the programs & nurse herself to health. That wuld be great news, if true.

Imagine the tension with the alternate, though! She will have to keep herself in total shape & continue to train as if she were truly going to Turin! Even AFTER Michele is deemed 'fit' & able to comple, the alternate should stay at tip-top competition level & not go off on holiday (as happened with poor Angela Nikodenov when named to a Worlds team at the last minute & she had gone off to Bulgaria!).

[attyfan]

Well, the 30th would be a better date for Michele, giving her more time to prepare the programs & nurse herself to health. That wuld be great news, if true.

Imagine the tension with the alternate, though! She will have to keep herself in total shape & continue to train as if she were truly going to Turin! Even AFTER Michele is deemed 'fit' & able to comple, the alternate should stay at tip-top competition level & not go off on holiday (as happened with poor Angela Nikodenov when named to a Worlds team at the last minute & she had gone off to Bulgaria!).

Well, that is what Michelle had to do when Michelle was the alternate, in '94. She had to train until after Opening Ceremonies, until it was legally settled that no decision on busting Tonya would be made until after Olys. Since the alternate then went on to Worlds, it wouldn't be a bad idea to stay in shape!

[tripleflutz]

is a bye fair?
....I'm not real comfortable with a bye, because it implies that Michelle owned a spot all along and that Nats was meaningless for her. Now is that fair to those who will compete at Nats? In 91, Jill Trenary asked for a bye and in 96, Nicole Bobek asked for a bye, both times because of a slow recovery from an injury, and both times the answer was no.

Should she have to test?
....Yes, I guess she does have to prove she can perform at a certain level, after all, at Marshall's she didn't complete a single clean triple, they were all doubled, flutzed, under-rotated or two footed. If she were to skate like that in Turino, I doubt she could make the top twenty under COP. If she can't skate well enough to even compete at Nats, how much can she expect to improve in a month?
....and if they are going to consider giving a bye, then the 16th is reasonable, because they always announce the team at the end of Nats, and it would be very unfair to keep the other skaters hanging for two more weeks while Michelle tries to get in shape for a test.
.... I don't want her to go out with a very poor performance in front of the whole world, that would be really sad. So if she can skate then thats one thing, but if she's not able to perform at an acceptable level, then its better if they don't send her to Turino.

[Ptichka]

I think they should send Michelle and the Nationals bronze medalist to 4CC. Whoever places higher would get to go to Turin.

[Joesitz]

Regarding the timing of the decision for Olys or not. If I recall correctly there was an announcement regarding Nancy at the competition. It was either right after the ladies competitiion or the next day during the Exhibitions.

Like the Nancy case, I am sure it will be televised.

Joe

[hockeyfan228]

I don't think staying in shape will be an issue, because I'd expect the alternate to be slated for 4C's anyway.