Karen Chen on-ice collision article

[Moxiejan]

AND is blaming 4CCs issues on broken-down boots:

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/20/skater-karen-chen-reveals-accident-on-the-ice/

 

[mrrice]

"I forgive her. It wasn’t really her fault." If it was an accident then why is she saying she forgives her? She should stop harping on about the boots and just stay positive in these interviews.

True. I realize it was a serious incident however, it didn't prevent her from competing and the more she thinks about it, the less focused she'll be on her current performances.

 

[shiroKJ]

Oh Karen, sweetie.....no.

 

[Amei]

The boot issues have become a broken record with her - if I was USFS I would be concerned that she is still having boot issues. Her coach should really talk to her about how to handle a poor skate with the media - the better response than her 'another skater collided with me, I don't blame her but I forgive her (which is talking in circles), would be to just say she was dealing with a minor leg injury, no need for the world to know how/why it's injured.

 

[mrrice]

The boot issues have become a broken record with her - if I was USFS I would be concerned that she is still having boot issues. Her coach should really talk to her about how to handle a poor skate with the media - the better response than her 'another skater collided with me, I don't blame her but I forgive her (which is talking in circles), would be to just say she was dealing with a minor leg injury, no need for the world to know how/why it's injured.

Exactly....She could have just called it a "Training Incident" and left it right there. If she were truly injured, she wouldn't have skated at all. Did Tammy know about this? I'm surprised she didn't mention it. Neither of them said anything about it during the event and IMO, they should be looking forward and leaving this issue in the past.

 

[ice coverage]

Important to note that in Karen's media teleconference yesterday, she stressed that:

(1) She is completely recovered from the collision -- which she very clearly said happened two weeks ago.

The collision was AFTER Four Continents.​

(2) Her boot problems have been resolved. She has new boots for Worlds.​

---

"I forgive her. It wasn’t really her fault." If it was an accident then why is she saying she forgives her? ...

In Karen's teleconference, reporters kept asking her questions about the collision.
I don't think she wanted to dwell on the collision -- but she kept being asked about it.

When questioning Karen, one of the reporters said, "If you knocked down a U.S. champion, you might feel really bad about yourself" -- and I think Karen graciously was trying to squash the idea that the other skater had any reason to feel bad about herself.

I'm not going to transcribe everything from the teleconference that was about the collisions.

(The full audio of the teleconference is here:
http://web.icenetwork.com/video/topic/220125674/v1244052183 )​

But I wish that SkaterX at least had had the decency to copy and paste the longer quote that was in the article in the OP.

“Things like this don’t happen as frequently as you’d think,” Chen said. “If [typo for "I"] felt bad for her. I’m glad she’s fine. I forgive her. It wasn’t really her fault. Things like this just happen.”​

---

AND is blaming 4CCs issues on broken-down boots: ...

Karen cited the pressure of being national champion as another factor at Four Continents.

On the media call, she talked at some length about the pressure as well as about her boots.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I hope to skating gods that Karen skates the best she's ever skated at Worlds. I see the claws coming out already.

 

[mrrice]

Important to note that in Karen's media teleconference yesterday, she stressed that:

(1) She is completely recovered from the collision -- which she very clearly said happened two weeks ago.

The collision was AFTER Four Continents.​

(2) Her boot problems have been resolved. She has new boots for Worlds.​

---

In Karen's teleconference, reporters kept asking her questions about the collision.
I don't think she wanted to dwell on the collision -- but she kept being asked about it.

When questioning Karen, one of the reporters said, "If you knocked down a U.S. champion, you might feel really bad about yourself" -- and I think Karen graciously was trying to squash the idea that the other skater had any reason to feel bad about herself.

I'm not going to transcribe everything from the teleconference that was about the collisions.

(The full audio of the teleconference is here:
http://web.icenetwork.com/video/topic/220125674/v1244052183 )​

But I wish that SkaterX at least had had the decency to copy and paste the longer quote that was in the article in the OP.

“Things like this don’t happen as frequently as you’d think,” Chen said. “If [typo for "I"] felt bad for her. I’m glad she’s fine. I forgive her. It wasn’t really her fault. Things like this just happen.”​

---

Karen cited the pressure of being national champion as another factor at Four Continents.

On the media call, she talked at some length about the pressure as well as about her boots.

That made things much more clear. Thank you for posting this comment. Good Luck to all the ladies................

 

[ice coverage]

That made things much more clear. Thank you for posting this comment. Good Luck to all the ladies................

Thank you, mrrice.

And I join you in wishing good luck to all the ladies at Worlds :agree:.

 

[mrrice]

The rest of the quote doesn't change that fact that if you say you forgive someone, it means you think they screwed up. She should have left that part out. The media never considers things in context so what I'm saying is she could use some pointers going forward on how to answer stupid questions.

Karen is still very young and has never been under a spotlight this bright. However, you're completely correct when you mention "Context". You can't decipher tone or inflection by reading an article. This is why I'm willing to cut her some slack in this instance.

 

[ice coverage]

I hope to skating gods that Karen skates the best she's ever skated at Worlds. I see the claws coming out already.

:agree:

---

The rest of the quote doesn't change that fact that if you say you forgive someone, it means you think they screwed up. She should have left that part out. The media never considers things in context so what I'm saying is she could use some pointers going forward on how to answer stupid questions.

As I explained above, it was the reporter who portrayed the other skater as screwing up -- and Karen was defending the other skater.

Karen is 17 years old.
She has been U.S. champion for barely two months.
It is not her fault that she has not had a ton of experience with the media.

I for one would be ashamed to criticize a 17-year-old for not being super media-savvy. YMMV.

 

[Meoima]

Well, you're doing a pretty good job of criticizing me for just having an opinion.

I like Karen and I also think that comment of her sounds so weird. :noshake: It is just so weird to say you forgive someone when it's not their fault.

 

[ice coverage]

Well, you're doing a pretty good job of criticizing me for just having an opinion.

And I stand by my opinion :yes:.

 

[chuckm]

Worries me that Karen has new boots for Worlds. There is NO guarantee that these boots will be any better than previous ones. They could even be worse.....

And Karen will still have the pressure of being US Champion at Worlds.

 

[mrrice]

I like Karen and I also think that comment of her sounds so weird. :noshake: It is just so weird to say you forgive someone when it's not their fault.

You're correct. However, it does take 2 people to have a collision and if the other skater wasn't paying attention, things like this do happen. Good grief, weird stuff happens in dance class all the time. I've seen dancers fall during across the floors and then get run over by the next dancer and they both and end up inured. Of course it's unfortunate but, sometimes accidents happen.

 

[ice coverage]

It's fine to have your own opinion. I respect that (and for the record, I respect and admire Karen Chen). But please don't insult my character in the process.

I am more than willing to cut a 17-year-old some slack. YMMV.

I stand by all my opinions and all my posts in this thread.

 

[mrrice]

I am more than willing to cut a 17-year-old some slack. YMMV.

I stand by all my opinions and all my posts in this thread.

I think you should BOTH stand by your opinions!!! Seriously, you both made great points and shared your opinions. That's what this page is all about. I appreciated both of your points of view.

 

[Violet Bliss]

I don't understand why people dwell so much on and judge the 17 year old girl's character based on her one short sentence in response to media questions. The fact is she was hurt and the other girl wasn't so she forgave her because it was an accident. The difference in their rankings was emphasized so the other girl could easily be blamed for injuring the National Champion. Karen was saying she would not blame the other girl even though she was hurt.

Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada was injured very badly when she tried to turn away from a junior girl coming at her. She had surgery and her season was ended.

 

[chuckm]

There is a pecking order in skating sessions and I'd think Karen as US Champion should have had the right of way. So it was entirely fitting of Karen to forgive the junior for the 'accident'.

I've been to Nationals and Skate America several times and have seen many near-misses during practices when music is being played for specific skaters. Some skaters just seem determined to get in the way of the skaters whose music is being played, repeatedly "buzzing" them. I could never understand why skaters could jeopardize themselves and other skaters in this fashion.

 

[mrrice]

There is a pecking order in skating sessions and I'd think Karen as US Champion should have had the right of way. So it was entirely fitting of Karen to forgive the junior for the 'accident'.

I've been to Nationals and Skate America several times and have seen many near-misses during practices when music is being played for specific skaters. Some skaters just seem determined to get in the way of the skaters whose music is being played, repeatedly "buzzing" them. I could never understand why skaters could jeopardize themselves and other skaters in this fashion.

I thought this happened on her home ice in Corona. But, you're right about the warm up at events. Plushy, Yags, and Elvis Stojko were definitely sizing each other up at Worlds in 2001. Tim Goebol and Todd basically stayed out of fray and did their own things. So did Emanuel Sandhu who was the current Canadian Champion at the time.