2024-25 Grand Prix assignments: Updated 11/12/24

[figureskatingandrainbows]

We have some news of sorts on the sudden WD of Flores/Desyatov. I would take this tweet from The Skating Lesson with a grain of salt - it is hearsay and of course most of us have many a strong feeling about TSL - but it is news and I don't think they would post this if there wasn't some truth behind it.


I'm posting the text below in case you can't see the tweet or they delete it.

For context, the team with the SafeSport investigation is RUMOURED (and I emphasize rumoured because there was one Patreon post from TSL about this) to be Morozov/Chen, and TSL claims that Chen is under investigation by SafeSport for inappropriate treatment towards a former partner, with MIDA also under investigation for not dealing with the situation properly.

"The USFS replaced a dance team with a skater who has a criminal investigation with a dance team with a skater who has an ongoing SafeSport investigation."
@skatinglesson on X/Twitter, Oct 17, 2024 · 7:24 PM UTC

 

[Karoltyna]

There are some (or maybe one?) posters who believe that it's part of a deliberate strategy from USFS to damage or destroy Flores/Desyatov's career. I have seen no actual evidence of it being anything other than a conspiracy theory concocted by fans.

If this was the case, there are many feds that would take F/D and pamper them...

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

The amount of people that actually believe this is kinda crazy. I think as you say, the timing is unfortunate. The case wasn´t even similar because Sophie Joline had a chance to go to the JGPF final, where the teams we are speaking of are not in a position to medal in this event, there is no logic that the USFS would do this move willingly on such short notice. Not to mention the logistics with travel etc. which is just a lot of extra work and expenses.

I do think if there was another team that had replaced them, all this conspiracy wouldn´t be so bad. There is opinion that the team who replaced them are a federation favorite and they are the opposite.

The only situation I can imagine USFS would encourage them to WD is if Bella had come out with a positive covid test or something. She had been saying very recent she has been a little ill. So it could be something like that, but I think she would have said that if so, unless she feels fine but still test positive on routine test. If they had to inform them about illness, they could have been encouraged to take a test to protect others or themselves from competing with illness, all though she might not feel that sick anymore. I don´t know if there is any restrictions longer on that part, but the past years there were a couple of WD with skaters who didn´t even have symptoms but were forced to because of routine covid test. And of course that felt very disappointing. However - now I do not think they would be forced to take test if there were no symptoms.

The fact that there continues to be all kinds of chatter and wild speculation points to US figsk's complete mishandling and usual lack of transparency. Everyone trying to sugarcoat or normalize this situation and to make excuses for US figsk, seem to forget how many past instances of unfairness and lack of heads-up courtesy toward impacted skaters has surrounded US figsk's major assignment processes. An entire book could be written about the unnecessarily poor way skaters are often treated by US figsk.

Flores/ Desyatov were instructed, along with Pham/ Spirodonov, and Morosov/ Chen that whoever placed ahead among the three teams at Lake Placid would receive the SKAM tbd. As a result, Flo/Des told their subscribers once their SKAM tbd spot was announced in September, that they had known since the Lake Placid results that they would get SKAM, because that is what they were told. It just wasn't announced until the month of September. The fact that it appears US figsk ultimately decided not to honor their directive to the skaters about the Lake Placid competition, is simply bad business.

In addition, Flores/ Desyatov have many positive, encouraging, and supportive fans who are very upset. Many of them have politely voiced to usfigureskating their concerned well wishes for Flo/Des, along with their intense disappointment in not being able to see Flo/Des compete at SKAM. As usual, there are also people who make strange comments on IG posts, which is par-for-the-course on social media. This is why it is always a good idea to take a breather from social media platforms, or to spend time away often and to use social media judiciously.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

There are some (or maybe one?) posters who believe that it's part of a deliberate strategy from USFS to damage or destroy Flores/Desyatov's career. I have seen no actual evidence of it being anything other than a conspiracy theory concocted by fans.

This does not make sense. This sounds like histrionics by overwrought fans, or an exaggerated misreading by you. Not every Flo/Des fan is acting in an overwrought manner. The rampant speculation on social media is largely due to confusion caused by the lack of transparency of U.S. figureskating in making this SKAM replacement at the last minute.

IMO, this is more of a political favoritism situation. Without a doubt, US figsk is fully invested in helping MIDA succeed. A lot has been done to facilitate partnerships there and to favor certain MIDA skaters. The fact that Ivan Desyatov is not yet a U.S. citizen is a factor in how Flores/ Desyatov have too often been treated with relative indifference by US figsk. In addition, the U.S. has so many good ice dance teams that they seem unable to figure out how to manage them all with equal respect and fair opportunity.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

We have some news of sorts on the sudden WD of Flores/Desyatov. I would take this tweet from The Skating Lesson with a grain of salt - it is hearsay and of course most of us have many a strong feeling about TSL - but it is news and I don't think they would post this if there wasn't some truth behind it.


I'm posting the text below in case you can't see the tweet or they delete it.

For context, the team with the SafeSport investigation is RUMOURED (and I emphasize rumoured because there was one Patreon post from TSL about this) to be Morozov/Chen, and TSL claims that Chen is under investigation by SafeSport for inappropriate treatment towards a former partner, with MIDA also under investigation for not dealing with the situation properly.

"The USFS replaced a dance team with a skater who has a criminal investigation with a dance team with a skater who has an ongoing SafeSport investigation."
@skatinglesson on X/Twitter, Oct 17, 2024 · 7:24 PM UTC

I do not see how the seemingly 'forced' withdrawal of F/D and replacement with M/C has anything to do with TSL's salacious, irresponsible tweet. It seems more likely that TSLDave is taking advantage of the uproar about the SKAM replacement to stir up more confusion and Sturm und Drang.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Guarise/Beccari are out of Skate Canada

 

[saine]

It should be Chtchetinina/Wozniak to replace them for the spot.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

It should be Chtchetinina/Wozniak to replace them for the spot.

That's their second assignment then, good for them but still sad for the Italians

 

[gsk8]

Belgium's Loena Hendrickx has withdrawn from #GPFigure France:

"I regret to announce my withdrawal from the Grand Prix de France. I need some additional time to ensure I'm fully prepared for upcoming events. I will return as soon as I feel ready to compete at my best. I appreciate your understanding and I'm looking forward to be back. Thank you for your support!"

 

[yuumagical]

We have some news of sorts on the sudden WD of Flores/Desyatov. I would take this tweet from The Skating Lesson with a grain of salt - it is hearsay and of course most of us have many a strong feeling about TSL - but it is news and I don't think they would post this if there wasn't some truth behind it.


I'm posting the text below in case you can't see the tweet or they delete it.

For context, the team with the SafeSport investigation is RUMOURED (and I emphasize rumoured because there was one Patreon post from TSL about this) to be Morozov/Chen, and TSL claims that Chen is under investigation by SafeSport for inappropriate treatment towards a former partner, with MIDA also under investigation for not dealing with the situation properly.

"The USFS replaced a dance team with a skater who has a criminal investigation with a dance team with a skater who has an ongoing SafeSport investigation."
@skatinglesson on X/Twitter, Oct 17, 2024 · 7:24 PM UTC

I feel as if I'm missing some essential information here: why would Flores/Desyatov be under a criminal investigation (since that's what this tweet is implying)?

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Guarise/Beccari are out of Skate Canada

Christ, this week has been like the bloody Hunger Games

edit: just saw the F/D news... I need a drink

 

[paulusfr]

It should be Chtchetinina/Wozniak to replace them for the spot.

Yes, but we don't know about visa stuff. I think Nagaoka and Moriguchi train in Canada. So it could be them.

 

[lariko]

Guarise/Beccari are out of Skate Canada

Oh, no, I was looking forward to watching them develop further as a team

 

[saine]

Sarah Everhardt has been assigned to Grand Prix de France to replace Loena Hendrickx

 

[lariko]

Sarah Everhardt has been assigned to Grand Prix de France to replace Loena Hendrickx

That's fabulous news, and also hoping that Hendrickx takes the time she needs to come back strong.

 

[Karoltyna]

Yes, but we don't know about visa stuff. I think Nagaoka and Moriguchi train in Canada. So it could be them.

Ioulia has Swiss citizenship and Poles don't need visas to go to Canada if they are going for less than 6 months.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

I feel as if I'm missing some essential information here: why would Flores/Desyatov be under a criminal investigation (since that's what this tweet is implying)?

Oh dear, I didn´t really realize before now what TSL is implying, I did not read it properly and I thought it was only about the one team (that replaced them) that is under SafeSport investigation, and that frankly is not news. But now I see there is speculation about both teams and that is news. I´m taking it with a grain of salt since the source is TSL but this is turning into something very bad. This is a serious accusation, but it would kinda explain the sudden WD and why Bella was so cryptic about the WD...

Edit: Criminal investigation could be so much. There is another issue here, if this is true and regardless if it´s something minor, if it´s Ivan he could get serious problems with his Visa

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Oh, no, I was looking forward to watching them develop further as a team

Me too Lucrezia has now posted an explanation on Instagram, her foot is acting up again.

 

[saine]

Ivan Desyatov was suspended by Safe Sport:

 

[Sk8swan]

Me too Lucrezia has now posted an explanation on Instagram, her foot is acting up again.

Yes, unfortunately it doesn't sound good... she has been off ice for 2 months already this summer and now a new issue is adding up...