2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

[artsciboy]

And Olympic team bronze medallist This might sound rather mean but by American standards it was kind of a Jennifer Robinson time of life in America. It wasn't exactly stellar skating that Ashley should have dominated but she did have to deal with Gracie Gold, Karen Chen, Polina Edmunds, Mariah Bell, Mirai Nagasu.

I’m not American but a Canadian to boot, and quite frankly I wish that we had that roster of ladies to contend with in Canada (#Shade clearly noted). As for Ashley, she is without a doubt the top US lady since Sasha Cohen and her results speak for themselves (even in the absence of a World title or individual Olympic medal).

From 2011 onwards, Ashley *always* kept herself competitive with the top ladies in the world (not just in the US). In addition to her World Silver Medal, she is a 4CC Champ (beating Mao) and a 3x GPF Medallist (among several other international titles and medals). And as much as we all love Michelle Kwan and other skaters who dominated during the pre-COP era, if Ashley was competing then with her skills and programs (more difficult jump content, spins, transitions, etc.), she would have had multiple world and olympic medals/titles.

 

[ssminnow]

I agree with this, with Mirai Nagasu being in 2nd.

 

[Harness]

My recollection is the same as Chuckm. Michelle said in an interview that she made her decision when she was accepted to attend Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I agree with this, with Mirai Nagasu being in 2nd.

NVMD

I was able to answer my own question

 

[lizardlass]

Ashley has done so much for US figure skating. I've loved rooting for her over the years. If she is done competing, I will miss her.

 

[Tulipstar]

Yes, I agree. Ashley was consistently in the mix and got the best results.

 

[bobbob]

I mean I agree, but it isn't saying much. Popularity in women's figure skating has probably dropped to a 50 year low in America due to the lack of good international results by American ladies.

 

[zanadude]

I'm inclined to leave the "American lady of the last decade" title vacant. Nobody has ever stepped up to fill the shoes of Michelle Kwan, and figure skating fandom in America has suffered greatly as a result.

 

[satine]

I would agree Ashley is the most successful American woman of the last decade, but as others have said, that isn't necessarily the biggest statement. I have to say, I have vastly preferred women from Canada, Europe, and various Asian countries to any recent American woman- and I say that as an American hwell:

 

[georgia]

It’s funny how skaters from other countries admire Ashley more than American fans. I feel they resented her during the Sochi Olympics, forgetting her skating success up to that day was the only reason they send her in place of Mirai. I saw an effort from different skating boards to undercut Ashley’s success in favore of Mirai. Two totally different skaters with different results to prove their strength ....Ashley never got the credit she deserved, and she is apsolutely right to be upset and dipressed about it. In my opinion she should not come back. She can’t be used to bail out American skating forever and then be punished for it!

 

[skylark]

What I’d Ashley’s legacy to be remembered as?

A charismatic skater who always provided a Diva Wagner Moment and often brought down the house. In competitions, as well as shows.

Performance quality. Her spirit shiines through her performances: A strong woman who gives and gives and gives to every audience.

Ice Presence by the gobfuls. (is that a word? And musicality. Music and drama from inside out.

Perseverence and Longevity. No matter how many times she was written off as too old, too inconsistent, too whatever, she didn't accept that.

Improving her technical content at age 23, when people doubted.

A Great Competitor, at heart and in reality.

The only US woman to be a World Medalist from 2007 through 2018.

World Silver Medalist !

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Ashley got a lot of hate and some mocking her for never being a real contender and then she won GPF medals and then a World silver and Olympic team bronze.

While we can't expect her (or anyone) to have the career of Kwan she's actually done really well for herself. When people counted her out she got back her 3F+3T and added a 3L+eu+3S. That's what I love about her - she didn't just regain her form after a bit of a slump, she improved on it.

She also had a fire, sass and personality that made her memorable and distiguinshed her from other skaters.

Most skaters would kill to have a career like Ashley. And skating would have been more boring if she weren't competing in the field.

 

[macy]

It’s funny how skaters from other countries admire Ashley more than American fans. I feel they resented her during the Sochi Olympics, forgetting her skating success up to that day was the only reason they send her in place of Mirai. I saw an effort from different skating boards to undercut Ashley’s success in favore of Mirai. Two totally different skaters with different results to prove their strength ....Ashley never got the credit she deserved, and she is apsolutely right to be upset and dipressed about it. In my opinion she should not come back. She can’t be used to bail out American skating forever and then be punished for it!

this is the only thing that would make me not want her to come back. the way she was deliberately dumped at 2018 nationals, people saying her world silver was a fluke, along with how she was treated and blamed for being put on the 2014 team over mirai when it was completely out of her hands is disgusting. i think many people actually resent her for not being the prim and proper ice princess like so many US ladies before her (and even Gracie, and look where that got her), and for speaking her mind and expressing her feelings when everyone expected her to keep her mouth shut. but i really think this is the main reason why people discredit her achievements and spew so much hate regardless of how she basically carried American ladies skating from 2012-2016/2017. She has done so much for figure skating in the US the last 10 years, and the way she was treated by the fed after all she's accomplished is just wrong. :noshake:

Ashley Wagner will always have my utmost respect whether or not she comes back. She never shied away from a challenge, was a true fighter, and proof that you can accomplish most anything with extremely hard work and diligence. She went from being dubbed the "almost girl" to an international threat who won multiple US championships, GP medals/titles, GPF medals, made an Olympic team, and won a world medal over the span of several years. She has always been honest with herself and all others, owning up to her mistakes and never blaming the way things turned out on her competitors.

 

[andromache]

Congrats to Ting Cui in 2nd at Tallinn with a score of 67.56! (Am I allowed to say scores? These rules have changed so many times). Surprisingly, she ranked first in PCS!

The judges are willing to reward her with the other top juniors. I think if she went to junior worlds and skated clean, she would make top 5. Her elements are beautiful.

She just needs to land those jumps.

 

[Danibellerika]

Ashley has overall had a really successful, long, amazing skating career. If I was a competitive skater, I’d honestly rather have her career than most Olympic Champions.

I think most actual Olympic Champions would beg to differ.

 

[StarSprinkles]

Looks like Karen Chen just withdrew from the FS of Tallinn Trophy with no reason given. Honestly? Bradie and Mariah may as well start packing for Worlds. I'm not a fan of the new trend of withdrawing if your SP doesn't go as planned. Bradie's SP for IDF didn't go as well as she'd like, and she fought back and medalled.

 

[georgia]

Σ

I think most actual Olympic Champions would beg to differ.

Ok. They are some successful Olympic champions, but most of them are not making a big splash in the financial world.

 

[Danibellerika]

Σ
Ok. They are some successful Olympic champions, but most of them are not making a big splash in the financial world.

Ashley doesn't exactly strike me as set for life either. Adam, maybe if he keeps it up.

 

[noskates]

I'm inclined to leave the "American lady of the last decade" title vacant. Nobody has ever stepped up to fill the shoes of Michelle Kwan, and figure skating fandom in America has suffered greatly as a result.

I would have to agree with this statement as far as filling Michelle Kwan's shoes but even Michelle couldn't have captured people's hearts if she hadn't been all over the television. The decline in figure skating fandom, IMO, has more to do with the lack of exposure in the media, one tour being closed and SOI going to less and less cities with the ticket costs going up and up. It's not easy for a family with 2 children to pay almost $100/ticket to see SOI and television coverage is pitiful. Until more people have access to figure skating its popularity in the US is going to continue on the downward trend.

Always liked Ashley and her fierce determination and possitivity.

 

[georgia]

Ashley doesn't exactly strike me as set for life either. Adam, maybe if he keeps it up.

But she is not an Olympic Champion and anyway it’s early to judge her carrier . Of course some skating fans judged her all of her skating life without any problem. As for Adam , another skater who never did right, just because he dared to compete against Jason.