Mirai Nagasu's future prospects

[MK's Winter]

I would think the 4CC team would be the 3 top finishers like in previous years though i think Karen is to young so it would be Polina going instead.

I wondered with it being in Tapai if the USFS would have the top three focus on Worlds. Just a thought

 

[Gullygirl84]

I feel like they're not going to send her anywhere this year. Another strange saga in her career. Hopefully it will give her mental strength. I still hold out hope that they'll be at least one more high for her in the future, no matter how minor.

 

[Mathman]

Oh please! The driver about whom Martin Brundle uttered this immortal quote would show Mirai that she doesn't know the meaning of the word bad luck!

Actually, this is a lyric from the song "Gloom, despair, and agony on me" from the 1969 U.S. corn-pone TV show Hee Haw.

Anyway, no need to kick the girl while she's down.

 

[Icey]

I just watched Mirai's short program. And while she did do an admirable job, she STILL doesn't look like she's enjoying what she's doing. It's like a job. I think she's fast on the ice but she still looks heavy on the ice to me. I guess I just don't get the love!

Different, of course, but there were times Michelle referred to skating at a competition, especially the Olympics, as a "job".

 

[Icey]

too many skaters at this competition came too close for comfort to the boards imo. Even the commentators mentioned that about other skaters. Sorry this happened to Mirai. I wonder if she will stay around for another year. Mirai: My knee!!!; Tom: "that's ok". He seems to have a quirk about injuries.

 

[tulosai]

Mirai has been given a 'nod' of sorts by the USFSA in the form of being the 3rd alternate to Worlds. I was not expecting that.

However, as expected, she is not named to 4CCs and her season is indeed over.

 

[UnsaneLily87]

Mirai has been given a 'nod' of sorts by the USFSA in the form of being the 3rd alternate to Worlds. I was not expecting that.

However, as expected, she is not named to 4CCs and her season is indeed over.

It's nice for her. I see her sticking around another season but honestly I don't know why. it doesn't seem too emotionally satisfying to be in her position.

 

[MK's Winter]

It's nice for her. I see her sticking around another season but honestly I don't know why. it doesn't seem too emotionally satisfying to be in her position.

It was a fluke thing to happen with the boards. I felt a lot of skaters were cutting it close. Especially Gracie in her short. I think she should continue as long as she wants and be done when she wants to be done.

 

[noskates]

I don't see that as a "nod!" It's just where she landed in the final standings. It also bears up the fact that if you aren't of the age to go to Worlds than you shouldn't be skating seniors. Nice for Chen that she medaled but she should have stayed in juniors and could possibly have won junior worlds. Dont' get the point of her moving up to seniors.

 

[Jammers]

She finished 3rd and won the Bronze medal going against all those older girls. Seems like it worked out for her after all. Not only that she's still going to Junior Worlds so what's the issue?

 

[thoakun]

Finally watched Mirai's LP. I've learned not to expect too much about Mirai, but her accident broke my heart, especially at the second half of the program when Mirai's physical and emotional pain interwove with Madam Butterfly's devastation as both of them felt their hopes crumbling away.

 

[MoonlightSkater]

I don't see that as a "nod!" It's just where she landed in the final standings. It also bears up the fact that if you aren't of the age to go to Worlds than you shouldn't be skating seniors. Nice for Chen that she medaled but she should have stayed in juniors and could possibly have won junior worlds. Dont' get the point of her moving up to seniors.

Skating in seniors nationally does not preclude you from going to junior internationals. Karen Chen can still do junior worlds and junior events next year if she wants to, though I won't be surprised if she makes the leap to the senior grand prix as soon as she can. Will she be old enough for seniors next year? If so, she might have chosen to skate the senior event with the hopes of at least getting Skate America next year.

Mirai's skate was heartbreaking and yet I have to say that I totally respect her guts. Few skaters could land so many jumps on a knee that felt broken.

 

[SkateToronto]

Skating in seniors nationally does not preclude you from going to junior internationals. Karen Chen can still do junior worlds and junior events next year if she wants to, though I won't be surprised if she makes the leap to the senior grand prix as soon as she can. Will she be old enough for seniors next year? If so, she might have chosen to skate the senior event with the hopes of at least getting Skate America next year.

Mirai's skate was heartbreaking and yet I have to say that I totally respect her guts. Few skaters could land so many jumps on a knee that felt broken.

Yes she is.

 

[BlackPack]

Skating in seniors nationally does not preclude you from going to junior internationals. Karen Chen can still do junior worlds and junior events next year if she wants to, though I won't be surprised if she makes the leap to the senior grand prix as soon as she can. Will she be old enough for seniors next year? If so, she might have chosen to skate the senior event with the hopes of at least getting Skate America next year.

Mirai's skate was heartbreaking and yet I have to say that I totally respect her guts. Few skaters could land so many jumps on a knee that felt broken.

It looked like she was skating with a broken heart too.

 

[MoonlightSkater]

It looked like she was skating with a broken heart too.

And yet she still landed a fair number of jumps with no speed when even pushing off her knee appeared to give her pain.

 

[Amei]

I don't see that as a "nod!" It's just where she landed in the final standings. It also bears up the fact that if you aren't of the age to go to Worlds than you shouldn't be skating seniors. Nice for Chen that she medaled but she should have stayed in juniors and could possibly have won junior worlds.

Skating in the senior ranks doesn't prevent a skater from skating in Juniors - several of the Russian ladies competed on the GP and still sent to Jr. Worlds.

Dont' get the point of her moving up to seniors.

To compete with the Russian youngsters, so the USFSA can point and say see we have a good young one just like them.

 

[apgold]

I hope Mirai rests up after this injury and comes back again next year, no matter how many want her to retire. I felt so badly for her last night but I think she will just soldier on.

 

[Amei]

It was a fluke thing to happen with the boards. I felt a lot of skaters were cutting it close. Especially Gracie in her short. I think she should continue as long as she wants and be done when she wants to be done.

I asked this last night - what's up with that rink in Greensboro, everyone seemed to be much closer to the boards than normal. I know that most of the rinks in the US are smaller than in the international competitions because they are built for the NHL - and that would be a good excuse if this had been Worlds or a GP event where there were non-US skaters, but this was at nationals where a lot of these skaters train in the US.

 

[gotoschool]

Finally watched Mirai's LP. I've learned not to expect too much about Mirai, but her accident broke my heart, especially at the second half of the program when Mirai's physical and emotional pain interwove with Madam Butterfly's devastation as both of them felt their hopes crumbling away.

It broke my heart as well, especially as it seem to be a cruel and random blow from out of the blue. Your post is really beautiful, tragic and poetic. I hadn't thought of Mirai's performance matching the fate of Madame Butterfly. I just wish Mirai could overcome her troubles and be triumphant and fulfilled, personally, on the podium, or hopefully both.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

After Mirai hit the boards last night, Terry mentioned that she was making eye contact with Tom Z and I had a flashback to Josh Farris in 2011. I thought, "Oh my heck, I hope Tom Z is kinder to Mirai than he was to Josh."

Anyway, props to Mirai for finishing the program. I really wondered if she was going to stop, but she pushed through. Wow. Wishing her all the best and a speedy recovery.