With Nicole she did skate at Nats then withdrew. I think your prospects of bye are lessened when you show up at Nats and withdraw. If Michelle had gone to Nats and had to withdraw because she was too injured her odds of getting a bye would have lessened because everybody would have seen her condition. Knowing she's injured and seeing it are two differen't things. How many people were shocked when they saw Michelle at Marshalls? Yes we knew she was injured but until you actually saw her you didn't really know how bad it was. Not going to Nats and asking for a bye was her best move.