Czisny: FB Post and Hip surgery

[snowflake]

I think we only have certain facts about Alissa. Let's not decide just yet she lacks morals, courage etc. We don't have facts but speculation. I wrote a support thread after CC but felt she should retire after worlds regardless of what went wrong=phsically mentally or both, but I agree with MM that people shouldn't call her Shady. She has pressures...herself, her coaches, USFS, her fans. Maybe it's very hard knowing what to do when you have pain, but not sure the etiology or if it is permanent. We are mostly fans here of AC as she has been around a long time, and she has smitten us with her beauty and some truly beautiful skating mpments. Alissa is special for many reasons, and she may be done. So let's respect all she has struggled to give to us her fans when she is by nature a girl who loves to skate but has fought her comp. nerves all her life. I think I would give AC the benefit of the doubt when she doesn't have all the facts herself. Pushing through pain is how top athletes and many of us live.

Your whole post is nice skateluvr! Just wondering about this:

I am surprised if there aren't regularly check ups on skaters like Alissa. Doesn't her club provide a doctor to talk to if she feels something is wrong? A doctor with knowledge on sports injuries. So that she can have a more successful treatment than if she waits until she practically can't move. When I read posts about Rachael and Alissa it seems like their teams only consist of them, their coaches and maybe parents.

And isn't there some kind of National team doctor to consult?

Anyway, really good luck to Alissa at this hard time and in the future

[iluvtodd]

I agree. We don't know enough to criticize her--or Rachael. I continue to respect them both for their efforts as skaters and the way in which they represented their country and skating itself.

Let's see how Alissa recuperates, and then we'll know whether she chooses to continue in competition, go pro, or retire. I support her whatever she decides (and hope that she continues skating in some venue or other).

[Ginask8s]

Poor thing Its a tough procedure to rehab

[Mathman]

Were there so many injuries in the days of Peggy, Doro, Linda Fratianne, Janet Lynn? Everyone seems to end up injured with all kinds of issues.

For one thing, all four of the champions that you mentioned retired at 19. Maybe there should be an age limit -- 20 and out.

Plus, back then they pretty much did only Nationals and Worlds, possibly with an occasional North American Championship or Nebelhorn Trophy thrown in. Skaters now compete and train for competition nine months of the year.

And also they did not have to train the arsenal of triple jumps that skaters do now.

Add this all up and I think the top skaters of today, in common with professional athletes in other sports, are signing up for a life time of physical problems. The difference between figure skating and football is that top footballers are compensated with contracts in the tens of millions of dollars.

[mskater93]

I am surprised if there aren't regularly check ups on skaters like Alissa. Doesn't her club provide a doctor to talk to if she feels something is wrong? A doctor with knowledge on sports injuries. So that she can have a more successful treatment than if she waits until she practically can't move. When I read posts about Rachael and Alissa it seems like their teams only consist of them, their coaches and maybe parents.

Not to be rude, but a reality check question, snowflake: Who's going to pay for a club doctor? Most clubs charge members between $75 and $200 a season (unless ice time is included and required to be purchased through the club, then it is much higher) and $50 goes to USFS out of that. The balance typically covers the shortfalls from club ice time payments (~$300/hour to the club from the rink, the club then charges members something like $15 per hour which requires 20 skaters on the session to break even - which doesn't typically happen - or sometimes the club charges less expecting to cover the shortfall with dues). It's also why many clubs host an annual competition - to cover their operating short falls. Clubs are typically 501c3 non-profit organizations. In addition, many clubs offer their qualifying level skaters some assistance (for example, if you skate at a qualifying level, ie Juvenile and up, in my club and go to Regionals, your entry fee is given back to you as some relief for the costs of skating. If you make JNs, Sectionals, Nationals, or are given international assignments, the Board of Directors votes on whether to provide additional assistance to those members. This is also something that is discussed for Theater on Ice teams and Synchro teams - what assistance they should receive for Sectionals, Nationals, TOI Worlds, etc). So again, the question is, who's going to pay for it?

[Johar]

Not to be rude, but a reality check question, snowflake: Who's going to pay for a club doctor? Most clubs charge members between $75 and $200 a season (unless ice time is included and required to be purchased through the club, then it is much higher) and $50 goes to USFS out of that. The balance typically covers the shortfalls from club ice time payments (~$300/hour to the club from the rink, the club then charges members something like $15 per hour which requires 20 skaters on the session to break even - which doesn't typically happen - or sometimes the club charges less expecting to cover the shortfall with dues). It's also why many clubs host an annual competition - to cover their operating short falls. Clubs are typically 501c3 non-profit organizations. In addition, many clubs offer their qualifying level skaters some assistance (for example, if you skate at a qualifying level, ie Juvenile and up, in my club and go to Regionals, your entry fee is given back to you as some relief for the costs of skating. If you make JNs, Sectionals, Nationals, or are given international assignments, the Board of Directors votes on whether to provide additional assistance to those members. This is also something that is discussed for Theater on Ice teams and Synchro teams - what assistance they should receive for Sectionals, Nationals, TOI Worlds, etc). So again, the question is, who's going to pay for it?

Obamacare!

[mskater93]

Until it's struck down as unconstitutional.

[snowflake]

Not to be rude, but a reality check question, snowflake: Who's going to pay for a club doctor?.....

Okay, okay… I understand all you say. "Club" was the wrong word. I see Alissa, Jeremy, Adam, Valentina etc training together with their coaches, but I don't know what to call their organization. Thought there might be arrangements/insurances to help them with health issues. But I suppose they have their own insurances then, that pay for health controls, treatments and surgeries. My main point was that if you are an elite athlete you need and usually have access to a sports doctor.

[Pikachuusb]

Im wishing Alissa a speedy recovery

[mskater93]

Okay, okay… I understand all you say. "Club" was the wrong word. I see Alissa, Jeremy, Adam, Valentina etc training together with their coaches, but I don't know what to call their organization. Thought there might be arrangements/insurances to help them with health issues. But I suppose they have their own insurances then, that pay for health controls, treatments and surgeries. My main point was that if you are an elite athlete you need and usually have access to a sports doctor.

As with most things with regard to health insurance and dealing with injuries and whatnot, it's personal choice in the US who your healthcare provider is (if any) and what (if any) doctor you choose to deal with and what type of doctor you choose to deal with...When you used the word "club" I assumed you were implying DSC (Detroit Skating Club) and that's really outside the purview of their responsibilities.

[Mathman]

^ IMHO that is why the USFSA has limited jurisdiction at best over injuries to skaters and should not be in the business of criticizing them after the fact, like Rachael last year.

[dorispulaski]

Amen. I was not for criticizing Rachael last year, nor am I about criticizing Alissa this year, for using the spots at Worlds that each earned fairly.

[R.D.]

The same poor judgment/decision making from two skaters yields two completely differing reactions on the forums. Quite amazing to watch, honestly...exposing the clear double standard.

[os168]

The same poor judgment/decision making from two skaters yields two completely differing reactions on the forums. Quite amazing to watch, honestly...exposing the clear double standard.

Not really... as far as I know Rachel's team had been aware of the injury going into WC and chose not to disclose it to TPTB. Alissa's team had not been aware of symptom of injury until after WC (although her poor showing surely should have ticked a few warning signs), where she start to experienced pain at a skating show weeks later then confirmed via MRI needing surgery another 2 weeks later.

I have no opinion on what is the best way forward given this is a grueling sport that takes so much toll on athlete's physical well being, especially for the ladies. Alissa is a world class athlete who contributed tremendously to this sport that need hip surgery at age 26. Who knows what the side effects of this in her later life. Every time they go out there, something is more at the risk than just national interests and pride, and who knows if this is at all covered by health insurance either by the federations or privately. That Michael Moore film scares me. I really hope she makes a full recovery, skating should be the last thing on her mind.

[Mathman]

I agree with R.D. (and disagree with OS) about the double standard. People on the message boards didn't like Rachael much anyway and were ticked off because she placed over Mirai at Nationals. (Phil Hersh was the biggest cheerleader for this point of view -- without Hersh's nagging USFS would have just let the matter drop.)

Alissa, on the other hand -- aw, what's not to like? She's our sweetheart, win or lose.