How about looking at the judging panel that could also tell the "Tale" or look at the PCS history of Carolina "That" could also tell the tale.
and how about giving any current skater the 8 tripple layout of Asada that includes a 3A and 3-3, and on top of it change the choreography and placement of the elements one month before WC and see how any other skater would complete them. Mao hitting 7 triples is a huge testament to her pure skills and gutsiness and anyone who doesn't acknowledge that is only trying to fool themselves!
THIS. No one is denigying Carolina's skills I am not doing that. But this season Mao showed she can beat her even with out perfect programs. Mao's 4cc performace would have beat Carolina's European without a problem. Mao's world performace was only a few points away from silver. So, I dont see how Kostner is superior.
So if I am understanding correctly, the only way the Japanese fed will send her to Sochi is if she wins nationals? Why?
Mao's fans have selective memory. Right after the SP, people were surprised Mao got such a high score. She was lucky to be in the final group, quite frankly.
There is no way she should beat Kostner when 2 programs are combined. Even if Kostner's was called for the UR in the SP, Mao should have been called on 3 other jumps.
If the caller was any stricter, maybe Ashley would have won bronze over Mao and Kanako.
The thing is, Kostner is a superior skater in all program components, and Kostner has true lutz, true flip, 3x3. Mao has an unstable 3A and an UR issue. As it stands, Mao is not capable of beating Kostner.
If both improves, Kostner would still come out ahead.
Which is more likely?
Kostner hitting 7 triples vs. Mao hitting 8 triples? I give the former 10% chance and the latter 1% chance. If you were a betting man, you would bet Kostner for silver.
And only disrespectful people will insult someone just because I dont agree with you I am child that does not know how to add. And stop with your exagerations Carolina supirior in every component. Not interested in discussing with you. You make exagerations with no data to back them up
Kostner's program is transitionless, Asada has a lot of them. Kostner has very easy choreography, Asada much more complex. Inrterpretation is very subjective but Asada's final footwork and choreographed sequence as well as the slow section perfectly interpret Swan Lake. Kostner stops to move her arms, torso and head in one spot on the ice. Asada performs her choreography while skating (spread eagles, balletic turns at the end). Kostner is superior ONLY in SS department but Asada isn't really weak in that area too. Asada's planned content is much more difficult than Kostner's.
There was no Italian judge on either panel.
SP: RSA TUR FIN GER GEO BUL ESP JPN EST
FS: BUL EST DEN ESP GER RSA GBR SUI GEO
Except Mao didn't hit 7 triples:
3a-df, 3f-df<, 3ze, 3lo+2lo, 2a+3t, 3s, 3f+2lo<+2lo
She landed SIX triples, and only 3 received +GOE.
Kostner landed five triples, but all received +GOE
The only skaters to land 7 triples were Gracie Gold and Zijun Li.
No italian judge, but most of the panel consisted of European judges and who do think they favor?
The grade of execution can always be discussed, fact is that she landed 7 triples, whether you like it or not!
Because you can't add and made the same argument over and over when I gave explicit data to show how 2 mistakes != 2 mistakes. chuckm also gave the components score where Carolina is superior in every component.
That's not enough data for you?
Anyway, it's futile to argue with kids. I'm done with you.
I guess according to you every skater not named Mao is overscored and Mao has never been overscored in her life. You even dispute that her NHK win this season was anything controversial. So if Kostner is such a pet of the European judges how come she didnt win a European title until Slutskaya retired, has even lost Europeans to run of the mill skaters like Lepisto and Meier, didnt medal at the rather poor 2010 Worlds even with a very good skate, and has only been given 1 World title by those so called predominantly pro European panels.
Also when someone stumbles and trips out of jumps and gets mostly -2s in GOE for how it was completed that isnt typically landing all those triples. I mean technically a skater could fall on 7 triples and you could say they landed 7 triples by that logic, after all they landed them on their rear ends, but they were still rotated and landed then right.
The feeling here is that Ando is fairly confident she is still one of the top five skaters in the world, and would relish a chance to go after that elusive Olympic medal she does not own.
From an article published after Worlds:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/...still-force-to-be-reckoned-with/#.UV81R78TvJw
As for talk about Miki getting the "3rd spot" it seems some people still need to be reminded as many of us in this thread already have done, that JSF themselves have said Miki has to WIN Nationals to make the Games. There is no 3rd spot option for her, due to their qualification format for the Games which is consistent with the one they have used the last few Olympiads, and gave Miki her own spot on the last 2 Olympic teams. She either comes back with a huge boom and wins Nationals, recemeting herself as Japanese #1 over Mao, or she doesnt go to the Games at all.