With all due respect, Gracie's career isn't over yet. Agree with the remainder of your statement.
None of Caroline Zhang, Mirai Nagasu or Rachael Flatt went on to become an outstanding success as a senior skater. They had initial success, then plateaued out.
Takshashi won sectionals in Nov, with a SP score of 83 & LP score of 161=244.
https://www.rockerskating.com/rocke...isuke-takahashi-2018-japan-western-sectionals
This score is higher than what some of the men scored at GP events. Perhaps you meant his performance at Kinki regionals, where his total score was 195 only
There was nothing "plateau-like" about Mirai's career. More like a series of mountain ranges. She has three major-international medals, four GP medals, and an Olympic gold that we all know she darned well helped earn (by placing over Kostner & Daleman). "Outstanding" is in the eye of the beholder.
There was nothing "plateau-like" about Mirai's career. More like a series of mountain ranges. She has three major-international medals, four GP medals, and an Olympic gold that we all know she darned well helped earn (by placing over Kostner & Daleman). "Outstanding" is in the eye of the beholder.
Gracie didn’t achieve much more than her predecessors. She had the talent but wasn’t able to convert it to a World or Olympic championship(or medal). And Mirai never reached the highest level but I wouldn’t put her in the same category as Caroline Zhang or Rachael Flatt. Her career was a lot longer and she qualified for 2 (actually 3) Olympic teams. She made improvements in the later part of her career and became a member of the 3A club.
Get the point about Mirai. She worked hard but I just don’t think she has the goods or the star quality or the solidity of say a Satoko or Ashley to be the dependable US number 1. And after all these years, like Ashley, her basic SS is still sadly mediocre. I guess someone like Kwan with the sophisticatied footwork and edge control and competitive spirit is simply exceptional.
I don't want to get too deep into this or necessarily project it onto Gracie's situation, but sometimes the thing that may seemingly make you feel the most fulfilled has a lot of tradeoffs for physical/mental health buried within it and that should be taken into account. Honestly, sometimes people shouldn't return to competition. That feels like a radical thing to say in some sports, but I think it's true, and people surrounding elite athletes should work to try to make that option feel more like a valid, honorable path when it makes sense for that person's well-being.
In no way diminishing Gracie's situation or trying to present myself as a mental health expert, but I think common sense comes into play.
If something is causing you deep pain and disrupting your life, perhaps it's time to walk away from it.
I don't know the specifics of Gracie's diagnosis, but she did not look happy in Russia. If skating is causing her this much anxiety, I don't see anything "brave" or "noble" about continuing.
Life is not an old ABC "Up Close and Personal" fluff piece about perseverance.
The thing is, if Gold is still extremely emotional fragile and in the middle of a very rocky path to recovery, is it in her best interest to launch a comeback right now? Competitions won't get any easier and the scrutiny will only intensify. I also don't think Gold is the best person to make the ultimate decision in this matter, given that she may not be acting as a rational agent.
The thing is, if Gold is still extremely emotional fragile and in the middle of a very rocky path to recovery, is it in her best interest to launch a comeback right now? Competitions won't get any easier and the scrutiny will only intensify. I also don't think Gold is the best person to make the ultimate decision in this matter, given that she may not be acting as a rational agent.
But she's a grown woman and the most anyone close to her can do is give her advice and support.
She has done the most important thing of recognizing that she needs treatment for mental illness and getting that treatment. That's the hardest thing to do and she's done it.
No one else has the right to make decisions for Gracie other than Gracie.
People suffering from anxiety and depression are perfectly capable of making their own decisions. They might not be the right decisions 100% of the time, but mentally healthy people make mistakes too.
Seriously, the hardest part will be to train to get into competitive shape without being too hard on her body, resorting to overtraining/starving. And to train enough, but not let it get away her treatment.
People suffering from anxiety and depression are perfectly capable of making their own decisions. They might not be the right decisions 100% of the time, but mentally healthy people make mistakes too.
It's tough to compare Kwan with the US ladies of the IJS era. If she had to do 3-3s and difficult transitions and IJS spins and footwork to compete, her legacy might be very different. Overall, I think the issue with the Ashley, Mirai, Caroline generation of US ladies was they were all initially trained under the 6.0 system and had weaknesses that IJS punished. That doesn't excuse the fact that in 2018 the US ladies are still struggling when basically anyone under age 22 should have been trained under IJS only. But I do think it explains the struggles of that generation of skaters.