I think Asada is Japan's best chance at an OGM (or OM in general). IMO it would be a mistake on their part not to send her even with her recent struggles. Ando could do it also but she's also been very underwhelming so far. But I think her scores are higher than they should have been.
I think the math ensures an American lady in the GPF. Whether it is Wagner or not remains to be seen, but she tweeted that she has to keep training for "the possibility" of going.
So probably the only ones who can really knock off Ashely is Alissa and Caroline and they would need to win SC.
:chorus: it's safe to say Asada is out of the GPF.
Yes, either Czisny or Zhang have to win SC, and I think Suzuki also must place somewhere around 4th or 5th (?)
There is a tiny chance that Asada can get it in... for that to happen the results would have to look something like this in SC:
1. Lacoste
2. McCorkell
3. Hecken
4. Helgesson
5. Phaneuf
6. Zhang
7. Cizny
8. Lepisto
9. Nagasu
10. Rochette
11. Suzuki
Which is near impossible!
Just curious, but why do you feel the need to put these particular icons and saying 'it's safe to say Asada is out of the GPF'. She's not the only one out of the GPF.
Yeah, never going to happen. (knock on wood). Asada will do better at Japanese Nats, she always skates well when she needs to, then when she does she'll go the Olympics and probably get silver or bronze. She can probably win Japanese nats without the 3axel even. There's no way Rochette will come in 10th skating in her home country, even if she bombs the judges will hold her up and she'll finish no lower than 3rd I bet. This is another reason why I doubt Caroline or Alissa will win, Alissa maybe if she does 2 great programs, which I can't remember the last time she pulled that off, and Caroline maybe if she's grown 2 inches and now skates a lot faster and abandons the mule kick.
I want to see Joannie go out there and break it down. People on some thread were talking about how they admire Rachael for being an athlete and competitor, I would say Joannie is another example of this. She's 23, she's consistent, and she rarely leaves the audience disappointed. And have you SEEN her muscles? Talk about an athlete, she looks like an olympic gymnast
There's no way Rochette will come in 10th skating in her home country, even if she bombs the judges will hold her up and she'll finish no lower than 3rd I bet.
Joannie has never been held up by international judges when she bombs. 2007 Worlds SP, 16th place. 2009 COC SP, 7th place. She hasn't "bombed" at Skate Canada since 2002, so there's no way of knowing what would happen at that event if she didn't skate well. I do know that in 2006 during the SP at Skate Canada, she popped her Lutz jump into a double, her only mistake, and she was placed 5th in the SP in her home country. She went on to deservedly win the event after her 6 triple LP skate though. How she has the reputation of supposedly being a skater who is held up by judges is lost on me.
I want to see Joannie go out there and break it down. People on some thread were talking about how they admire Rachael for being an athlete and competitor, I would say Joannie is another example of this. She's 23, she's consistent, and she rarely leaves the audience disappointed. And have you SEEN her muscles? Talk about an athlete, she looks like an olympic gymnast
Joannie has never been held up by international judges when she bombs. 2007 Worlds SP, 16th place, and that was a result of falling on a footwork sequence and jumps with full rotations, but shaky landings on the triple jump combo and the solo triple. 2009 COC SP, 7th place. 2005 Worlds, 11th place. She hasn't "bombed" at Skate Canada since 2003 when she finished 10th, so it's difficult to say what would happen now at that event if she didn't skate well. I do know that in 2006 during the SP at Skate Canada, she popped her Lutz jump into a double, her only mistake, and she was placed 5th in the SP in her home country. She went on to deservedly win the event after her 6 triple LP skate though. How she has the reputation of supposedly being a skater who is held up by judges is lost on me.
I think now that Joannie is a higher-ranked skater that has broken through to be among top contenders in the world, she will continue to be held up with her higher PCS, just as she was at COC. No repuation now, true, but it's possible she could have one in the future.
Sounds like a very unrealistic scenario. I trust that she'd know better if she couldn't recover well enough from the injury by Nationals. The only convincing scenario is that Sasha shows up and wins Nationals. Even if she comes in 2nd, it would seem pretty questionable unless there is a great margin from the 3rd.Is Sasha allowed to not show up at nationals but ask to go to the Olympics anyways?
I think that Miki has a better chance this season. Mao's programs, jump contents, coaching situation, and mental state all seem to be going against her. If Mao does badly at Nationals, I hope that they won't send her so that they won't repeat what happened four years ago with Miki. I think it better for her to be treated fairly based on what she accomplishes this season rather than the last three years.Japan definitely has to send Asada to Vancouver. There would be riots in the streets if they didn't (okay, that's a bit of exaggeration). Of all the Japanese skaters, Mao has the potential to score the most. Ando may be underwhelming so far but I would never count her out. She might just be working to peak during the Olympics.
ITA.I see your point, but I think we have to recognize that there is a big difference between Joannie, pre-2008 and post-2008, at least in the eyes of the judges.
Weren't Rachael and Alissa substitutes for the final last year as well? Or maybe just Rachael?
Anyway; congrats Ashley for being the only American Lady in the GPF!!!!!!!