- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
U.S. pairs have historically been given short shrift domestically and internationally, as well as being looked down on generally by fans. Especially during the period of 2003 to 2021. Even at 2022 Worlds, it was Miura/Kihara who received the favored focus when U.S. pairs were 1 and 2 in the short program! Knierim/ Frazier logically should have been considered favorites at Worlds due to their high placement at the '22 Olympics (6th when they were arguably good enough to compete for 4th and certainly to place 5th ahead of Peng/Jin had K/F been viewed with the rep stature they deserved). Later, K/F skated brilliantly and deserved their championship win at Worlds, while Miura/ Kihara made multiple mistakes in the fp and were unfairly given silver over James/ Radford (with Cain/LeDuc having to WD after Ash's fall mishap).
In the lead-up to 2022 Olympics, the U.S. had a number of talented pairs teams but judges were slow to reward them fairly. Again, likely due to nearly two decades of U.S. pairs not being perceived as a strong discipline, despite U.S. pairs teams' many strengths and contributions, including record-setting feats. Poor perception of U.S. pairs was seemingly due to a dearth of winning medals at Worlds and Olympics, likely in part because of U.S. fed placing more emphasis and attention on singles development. Only in the past 10 or so years has the U.S. begun paying more dedicated attention to pairs development.
Still, the U.S. has never been the best at knowing how to beneficially support their skaters politically. They were especially not skilled at politics during the European bloc judging years. Past U.S. coaches and officials have even admitted U.S. fed's historical tendency to expect their athletes' excellence to be fairly rewarded without any maximizing of political strategies by the fed (partly because U.S. fed has lacked skilled political know-how). Perhaps they are learning more about playing the political game in the past 12 years or so.
For sure, Kam/O'Shea are an excellent team. Anyone with eyes and knowledge of pairs can see that. Plus, international judges know Danny O'Shea as a pairs veteran. I also believe U.S. fed is strongly backing K/O, and as I said, U.S. fed may be learning how to politically support their skaters better bts in recent years. The U.S. should certainly be pushing hard for their top pairs team with 2025 Worlds taking place in Boston. I am not sure of the context of Duhamel's comments about K/O. Clearly, K/O opened the 2024-25 season with excellent performances that surprised some people. I do not think judges were overly boosting their scores. When Ellie is able to land her jumps and throws, K/O are world-class in everything else, so they deserve to be highly rewarded. Anyone who can't see that are either blowing smoke or retaining an unfairly negative view of U.S. pairs regardless of their excellence and hard work.
Ironically, Bruno Marcotte (Duhamel's husband) worked with Ellie in helping improve her triple jumps and throws. It is also Danny's loyalty, patience, experience, and his own coaching skills that have helped him and Ellie improve as a team. They move beautifully together, plus they have excellent choreo and gorgeous transitions.
With Duhamel assisting her husband in coaching Shin/ Nagy, I would not be surprised if Duhamel favors S/H over K/O.
It was actually 43 years prior in 1979 when Babilonia/ Gardner won Worlds. Prior to that it was 1950 when the Kennedy siblings won Worlds, the first ever World championships won by a North American pairs team. It should not have been that hard for U.S. fed to take the lead in having a statement ready! They knew Knierim/Frazier were 6th at the Olympics with Cain/LeDuc not far behind. Meanwhile, none of the 1-5 teams at the Olympics were competing at '22 Worlds! Duh!
fan of figure skating, I am always continuing to learn. The learning never stops. Of course, skating fans and prognosticators will have preferences for certain skaters and may not warm to others for whatever reasons.
Jean Luc Baker knows whereof he speaks!
I 'm sure Efimova/ Mitrofanov are thrilled. They are so lovely and I'm so happy for them. Altho' I don't think they wanted to see Kam/ O'Shea completely fall apart. 
Alisa/ Misha fought so hard in both programs, but especially in the fp, Alisa was gritting out those jumps trying to stay clean. She did have an underrotation on one of her jumps, but I was impressed by her fight. She and Misha both fought so hard, showing their passion and desire. That's the essence of what champions are made of. 
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