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 :thumbsup: