It's very sad... When, in 2010, se placed 5th at Worlds, and then 4th at both her GPs and won the national title in 2010-2011, everyone was considering her a top-level skater, a contender for at least the top-ten at Worlds, now she won't probably qualify for 4CC, Worlds or Olympics, and (from what you wrote) she's considering retirement, what a sad way to end a career after that exploit in 2010...Here's an article published at the time of the High Performance Camp (she was absent).
http://www.lapresse.ca/sports/autre...la-carriere-de-cynthia-phaneuf-compromise.php
The gist is that the stress fracture in her back has compromised her season and possibly also her career (hopefully the writer isn't overdramatizing here, but I suppose it's a reasonable statement). Paraphrasing Mike Slipchuk's comments - SC was planning to meet with her the following week to discuss her situation. He says the new rules (minimum score requirements) are hard for her (i.e. because she's missing the GP season and won't get a chance to earn minimum scores) and he understands she may be thinking seriously about her future.
Hmm, I wish we knew the rules for the team competition. Looks like Amelie is Canada's best hope for world's and only realistic shot. Osmond is young and still developing and who knows if last year was a fluke. I had high hopes with Cynthia. But maybe Canada could manipulate the rules if we knew what the rules were for the Olympic team competition. It may be possible to manipulate the situation so that if Canada has only 1 spot for ladies they could use it for someone else and have Joannie Rochette as no. 2 and she could then still compete in the team competition if the rules allowed it. I think the rules say you have to skate in the individual event of course if there is only one spotand she was th e back up it may allow her to skate as no. 2 Canadian woman and then help Canada to medal as a team.
Hmm, I wish we knew the rules for the team competition. Looks like Amelie is Canada's best hope for world's and only realistic shot. Osmond is young and still developing and who knows if last year was a fluke. I had high hopes with Cynthia. But maybe Canada could manipulate the rules if we knew what the rules were for the Olympic team competition. It may be possible to manipulate the situation so that if Canada has only 1 spot for ladies they could use it for someone else and have Joannie Rochette as no. 2 and she could then still compete in the team competition if the rules allowed it. I think the rules say you have to skate in the individual event of course if there is only one spotand she was th e back up it may allow her to skate as no. 2 Canadian woman and then help Canada to medal as a team.
I believe these are the relevant passages from the Olympic team event rules:
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.
The Skaters/Couples competing in the Free Skating must be the same as those having competed in the Short Program/Short Dance, however each Team has the option to replace up to two (2) entries (two Single Skaters or one Single Skater (Lady or Man) plus one couple (Pair Skating or Ice Dance) or both the Pair Skating and Ice Dance Couples) between the Short Program/Short Dance and the Fee [sic] Skating/Free Dance provided such Skaters/Couple is part of the accredited delegation on site of the OWG.