Firstly, nobody is saying this is the be-all-and-end-all of achievements. Few will say Kavaguti/Smirnov are a better pair than Berezhnaya/Sikharudlize. But chances are, you also need some kind of skill to win that many GPs, not just luck. Among all the skaters listed (including those who won 5/6 or 4/6), who would you say is just "average"? They might not all be the Kings and Queens of the sport, but they're all good skaters of their generation.
Secondly, have you considered how much training, willpower, and competitive spirit it takes to compete in many different GPs over many years? Even if your hypothetical skater just "lucked out" to win all the GPs due to competition, it likely still takes many years to come across so much "luck." In which case, we should at least applaud their longevity and determination. Most people don't even have eight years in the sport, let alone eight years in the GP.
I didn't say it was ALL luck, I also never said it doesn't take talent to win a GP, even being invited you have to have some talent. But the first obstacle is the luck of the draw to be invited all six. Not all skaters want to go to certain countries, that takes them out of the running right there. Then it depends on the skaters you have to compete against. The first roster that gets put out in June is much different than those who compete due to injury, break-ups, illness etc.
The pairs usually run out of skaters who are eligible and the picks near the end are not the cream of the crop, so yes, it's easier for a top team to win over Israeli skaters who've been together for five months.
Is it luck the world champions aren't there so the competition is against 'newer' teams? Of course, it's much easier to fall a few times and still win than it is to have to be the best you've ever been just to medal.
K/S would have never won the honor unless they got (A) picked for Skate America this season after eight years together and (B) V/T dropped out....LUCK! Did they have to skate well? Absolutely, but other factors have to fall into place as well that are totally out the skaters control. Like another team failing.
That's why skaters like S/Z, S/S, Z/Z and K/S have been the only pairs to do it, because they have been together that long. K/S won their first GP medal at Skate Canada six years ago.
If it wasn't K/S this year, it would have been V/T. Lucky for K/S, they got picked and V/T were not there. They may have had another chance or maybe not. LUCK
Pang and Tong also don't have that honor. Why? Because they were unlucky enough to be competing against Shen/Zhao and Totmianina/Marinin. If P/T were lucky enough to have just one of those teams not be assigned or drop out, they too would have the honor.
If anyone doesn't think sports doesn't have to have a little luck of the athletes side, they haven't been watching long enough.
To answer your question, who should've won over Chan and Asada? Oda and Suzuki.
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that, at least until Oda learns to count.
My Original post:
I don't think you can define a skater as being good simple because they won a Grand Prix, or even all of them. For numerous reasons some skaters have zero competition so it's easier to win. Look at pairs in China this year, P/Z will most certainly win because of the other teams that are there. Same with Iliushechkina/Maisuradze winning Skate Canada years ago, three top teams dropped out and the only other competitor did terrible.
Sometimes it's just the hand your dealt, and not necessarily tough competition.
But as I feel strongly about the unfairness of the GP selection system, I also felt obligated to respond to another poster and express my opinion on the matter. Just had to get it off my chest. There are some things I love about the sport of figure skating, and some I don't.
Agree that it was a shame she wasn't able to do anymore SC's.
