- Joined
- May 15, 2009
No, this is not how she will be remembered by most. Maybe only bitter, prejudiced fans will remember her like that, but these are very few, I believe.
If she retires, most fans will remember her as a very hard working, determined competitor, who sadly probably did not live up to her potential. I will definitely remember her outstanding skates when she was a junior and how promising she looked out there.
In general I am a bit frustrated that US did not get 3 spots - just because the up coming off-season and next season will be full of threads: 'if only we had 3 spots' 'we had chance for 3 spots and Racheal blew it'. 'Who can secure 3 spots this year'. 'X and Y should be going to Worlds, Z stands no chance and does not deserve that'. 'Skater X or Y was robbed at Nationals, why the hell is Z assigned to go to Worlds'. It would be so much less of this if US had these darn 3 spots. Otherwise half threads on GS forum will be about trashing and bashing. I can see that coming.
Tell you what, your post is more than fair and my words were too strong.
I don't think Rachael will retire but if she did I would rememeber her as you described her which is a far better assessment than what I wrote yesterday.
I am glad US Skating is looking into this. I hope in the future a US coach will HAVE TO INFORM the federation if one of his skaters comes down with a serious injury.
And I hope US Skating will make the call. Afterall, that is why there is an alternate.
I seriously doubt that Rachael would have been sent to Worlds if US Skating was told the truth which is that Rachael had a stress fracture in her leg.
At the very LEAST Tom Z should have informed Frank that there was a chance and that Mirai should be ready just in case.
Rachael is just a kid and a noted strong competitor. She did her best and I don't fault her for that.
I don't mind the three spots and there is NO guarantee Mirai or anyone else would have skated well enough to get them.
But I do mind NOT giving it our best shot. A skater with a broken leg had no chance.
There was a viable alternative and it feels wrong that it wasn't even considered.
It feels wrong that the alternate wasn't even given the coutesy to be ready just in case.
Tom Z has to be held accountable for this particularly since it isn't the first time.
I hope he doesn't try and pull something like this again.
As Rachael said after the LP, "this was no fun at all and I was in alot of pain."
Sorry, but I think there was a better way.