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- Jul 9, 2014
I never thought about that....Has she stated whether or not her foot is completely healed? That's such a difficult injury for anyone to deal with but, for skater it must be like torture...
2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating
- Thread starter R.D.
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I never thought about that....Has she stated whether or not her foot is completely healed? That's such a difficult injury for anyone to deal with but, for skater it must be like torture...
So, about Polina and college. First, I don't think walking into classes in the rain on a fairly small campus constitutes undue hardship for a skater--Canadians and Russians do fine in much more severe circumstances. Second, does she even live in a dorm or is she in a sorority house? Either way, she lives close to where she trains, which seems the main thing. Third, yes, she has a class schedule, but she has some choice about which classes she takes and when and, given that she attended multiple competitions last season, she clearly manages some sort of work-around. I'm sure she also works out her rink practice time so that it aligns with her schedule. If anything, a college schedule is easier to work around than a high-school schedule--and Polina attended a high school.
It's different than performing in theater where a lot of people have to be on the same rehearsal/performance schedule for months on end. There are a lots of serious college athletes--you see tons of them every Summer Olympics. The only difference between them and Polina is that she and her family have had to do it mostly on their own. I, personally, had a college housemate who was one of the top 25 female marathon runners in the world. Injuries, not college, did in her athletic career.
As for full-time training--if you read the interview, Polina says that she'll be done with college before 2022 and plans to train full-time at that point--*if* her foot can handle it. She actually has no other post-college plans.
It's worth noting that even with the recurring injury and the lack of the flip and lutz, Polina was comfortably in seventh after the short. She was one of the few who skated a clean program and the GOE on her elements was good. If you want to see where she started, check out her skate in Vacaville last summer. There were some very rough skates, but she improved every single outing. While attending college full time.
I just don't see any sign that attending college is the issue. The foot is the issue. And it's a serious one. Hope it continues to heal solidly.
One last thing--I think getting an education and having outside interests is a good thing for skaters--because no one skates forever. Good for Mirai Nagasu. She trained that triple axel as a student.
It's different than performing in theater where a lot of people have to be on the same rehearsal/performance schedule for months on end. There are a lots of serious college athletes--you see tons of them every Summer Olympics. The only difference between them and Polina is that she and her family have had to do it mostly on their own. I, personally, had a college housemate who was one of the top 25 female marathon runners in the world. Injuries, not college, did in her athletic career.
As for full-time training--if you read the interview, Polina says that she'll be done with college before 2022 and plans to train full-time at that point--*if* her foot can handle it. She actually has no other post-college plans.
It's worth noting that even with the recurring injury and the lack of the flip and lutz, Polina was comfortably in seventh after the short. She was one of the few who skated a clean program and the GOE on her elements was good. If you want to see where she started, check out her skate in Vacaville last summer. There were some very rough skates, but she improved every single outing. While attending college full time.
I just don't see any sign that attending college is the issue. The foot is the issue. And it's a serious one. Hope it continues to heal solidly.
One last thing--I think getting an education and having outside interests is a good thing for skaters--because no one skates forever. Good for Mirai Nagasu. She trained that triple axel as a student.
They don’t pay for their family to go
Obviously, no fed pays for that. But I was quoting someone who wrote skaters have to pay for themselves and their coaches.
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2014
It was posted in her fanfest.
Mirai is a full time student at the Universary of Colorado, Colorado Springs since 2015, studying International Business.
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- Jul 9, 2014
Thank you for that information. I hope Mirai can be an inspiration to younger skaters. You don't have to be finished with school by your 21st birthday. Skating does NOT have a long shelf life. Stay focused and strike while the Iron is hot....School will always be there. I graduated at 28 years old and though I was on tour when my fellow students graduated, it still meant the world to me.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
I guess she needs the recovery time. In 2014, I think Gracie went and I don't think she did very well, did she? Wasn't that the year that Polina won? I know Ashley won but it was not an Olympic year. I never remember when 4CC happens. Is it between Olympics and Worlds, or is before the Olympics? If it's before, I say no. If it's after, I'd wait and see how I'm feeling before I'd commit.
Polina won the 4CC in 2015. 4CC is late January. Olympics runs from 2/9-2/25.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
So, if you were coaching Bradie, would you want her to attend 4CC? Or would you have her skip it?
With the time change and long flights--skip it.
At many schools, not all sorority members live in the house; not enough room. They live in dorms or apartments (or at home) & simply go to the house for meetings & activities. So we wouldn't know Polina's living situation unless she has described it herself.
We don't know how much they care, but we do know that, whether they care or not, she's still the first alternate.
Plus she hasn't gone to 4CC for a while, so they were pretty much expecting her to withdraw when she was given the first alternate spot.
It could be argued that NOT going to 4CC gives Ashley more time to prepare to be a good 1st alternate. Also, if she's not planning to compete next year, the ranking points from 4CC will not be essentially wasted. They can help Angela's chances for GP assignments.
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