ISU World Team Trophy, April 2012, Tokyo

[Mathman]

Canada, OTOH, could up their chances if Joannie would skate for the Team.

If Joannie returns with half of her skills from 2010 intact (so that she finishes at least in the middle of the pack), at this time I don't see how anyone will be able to challenge Canada in Sochi. I think Patrick Chan and Virtue and Moir will be up to doing both segments with enthusiasm, along with their individual events. (Weaver and Poje could spell V&M in the short dance if desired.) Duhamal and Radford are headed in the right direction, and Dube and Wolfe could hold up the SP without fear of Canada missing the finals.

[MarkusNJ]

so, some skaters will, basically, be skating up to 4 times at the Olympics?????

There is a complicated procedure (based on placement at Worlds, Grand Prix, etc.) for determining which ten countries will be allowed to participate. Once a country is in, as far as I can tell the National Federation of that country choses which skaters will comprise the national team. Only skaters who are already entered in the individual events can skate in the team event.

All ten countries send a skater to compete in the short program/short dance. The top five counties move on the the finals. For the most part the same skaters will do the LP, but the team can make two substitutions for the long program.

[SkateFiguring]

so, some skaters will, basically, be skating up to 4 times at the Olympics?????

That has been my major concern, especially with the team event taking place before the individuals'. However, I'm now more relaxed about it, remembering how well Kozuka did last year when he skated the preliminary round. Most who did the PR seemed to have held up well generally in the competitions. Granted, the PR only requires the LP, but I think the best trained athletes in the world will likely meet the challenge, even using the early event as live practice for the later competitions. Those with stamina issue may skate one program at the Team event, or even train to be SP specialists if their federation has two strong skaters in the same discipline.

[MarkusNJ]

I was really hoping it meant more skaters could go.... :(

That has been my major concern, especially with the team event taking place before the individuals'. However, I'm now more relaxed about it, remembering how well Kozuka did last year when he skated the preliminary round. Most who did the PR seemed to have held up well generally in the competitions. Granted, the PR only requires the LP, but I think the best trained athletes in the world will likely meet the challenge, even using the early event as live practice for the later competitions. Those with stamina issue may skate one program at the Team event, or even train to be SP specialists if their federation has two strong skaters in the same discipline.

[Mathman]

I was really hoping it meant more skaters could go.... :(

Me, too. I think this was an International Olympic Committee decision, rather than ISU. They wanted to make sure that the team competition is the real McCoy and not just for fun.

[golden411]

There is a complicated procedure (based on placement at Worlds, Grand Prix, etc.) for determining which ten countries will be allowed to participate. Once a country is in, as far as I can tell the National Federation of that country choses which skaters will comprise the national team. Only skaters who are already entered in the individual events can skate in the team event.

All ten countries send a skater to compete in the short program/short dance. The top five counties move on the the finals. For the most part the same skaters will do the LP, but the team can make two substitutions for the long program.

And because of the "complicated procedure" (understatement ), the 10 countries who qualify for the Olympic team event will not be known until after the Dec 2013 Grand Prix Final.

[enlight78]

Me, too. I think this was an International Olympic Committee decision, rather than ISU. They wanted to make sure that the team competition is the real McCoy and not just for fun.

Something about this doesn't sound thought our, if a country only has one skater qualify for each divison in the Olympics and they don't want to participate in the team event and focus on the individual, wouldn't it be unfair to make the skaters compete in the team event of not allow the country to come up with another team for that event, I don't even believe we have ten countries that would qualify, we barely have seven right now. I not sure figure skating has enough depth in all- 4 disciplines for this event, or we are going to have a lot of pairs and dance teams change countries.

[PolymerBob]

... or a team could just forfeit. You can't force anyone to compete.
It would make more sense to let federations send another team just for the team event.

[DobrinFan]

Update: Sergei Voronov has been replaced by Maxim Kovtun due to injury.

[Buttercup]

There is a complicated procedure (based on placement at Worlds, Grand Prix, etc.) for determining which ten countries will be allowed to participate. Once a country is in, as far as I can tell the National Federation of that country choses which skaters will comprise the national team. Only skaters who are already entered in the individual events can skate in the team event.

I believe if a country has no qualifying skaters in a discipline they can have someone just for the team event, but I could be wrong.

Also, from what I've read, China, Germany, the Czech Republic and Spain rounded out the top ten in this season's rankings. Spain! I definitely want to see team Spain in the Olympic team event

[sky_fly20]

Update: Sergei Voronov has been replaced by Maxim Kovtun due to injury.

, this is not good

he hasn't even competed in Junior Worlds event,
Kovtun is good and has potential but he hasn't fared well yet on seniors competitions, he had an epic meltdown at 2012 nationals
falling on his quads and 3A. he needs more juniors competitions not seniors !

well good luck

[enlight78]

Update: Sergei Voronov has been replaced by Maxim Kovtun due to injury.

The Russian Team is just falling apart.

[sky_fly20]

The Russian Team is just falling apart.

ikr, the headcase Gachinski and Voronov were bad enough
now they replace them with the inconsistent Bush and the inexperienced still Junior Kovtun

[DobrinFan]

Yeah but in reality who would they replace Gachinski and Voronov with?

Plushenko is recovering from surgery.
Menshov, Grigoriev, and Dmitriev have been a mess this season. And Menshov is schedule for a Senior B that week.
I guess they could have sent Bariev, but he's just as inconsistent although he's done fairly well at his Senior B's this season.
Gorshkov doesn't have a 3axel, and Kovalev doesn't have much senior experience either.

And that's your top 10 at nationals. Kovtun finished outside the top 10 but was 3rd at Junior nationals. Maybe they want him to get more experience???

[golden411]

I believe if a country has no qualifying skaters in a discipline they can have someone just for the team event, but I could be wrong.

Buttercup (not surprisingly ) is correct, per Olympic team qualification system (emphasis added):

- NOCs/ISU Members with Teams who have qualified Skaters/Couples in an individual OWG competition/discipline (Single Lady, Single Man, Pair Skating, Ice Dance), must list the respective qualified Skaters/Couples of such discipline also as entries for the Figure Skating Team Event and may not enter different Skaters/Couples for such discipline.

- NOCs/ISU Members who do not have qualified Skaters/Couples in an individual OWG competition/discipline (Single Lady, Single Man, Pair Skating, Ice Dance), may enter into the Figure Skating Team Event 1 Skater/Couple per competition/discipline plus one Stand-by Skater/Couple per discipline.