- Joined
- Aug 6, 2025
Interesting, I can't remember in the senior grand prix if they have ever switched someone out, but I only really started watching skating on and off 6 years ago so I wouldn't know. I really hope your right!
2025-26 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating
- Thread starter BlissfulSynergy
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
I figured out why this happened. The lineup for Skate America was likely originally the lineup for GP France, which would be why 3 Italian guys are in that lineup. When the country scheduling switches were made, it looks like the lineups did not change. Thus, there are 3 U.S. guys competing at GP France, now the first GP, which was initially intended to be Skate America. Before Camden pulled out of Finlandia, there were 3 U.S. guys competing there as well. Plus, 10 U.S. men were initially assigned to the GP, with 6 having two assignments. Now, there are 8 men (still 6 with 2 GPs).
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2015
Sounds more than plausible but I would have loved to see Alexandr at Skate America.. darn
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Yep. I've always enjoyed watching Alexandr Selevko, since the first time I saw him skate as a newbie at senior Worlds! His Prince sp this season is on fire.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2025
Great job to our American pairs!! M/P were so good, they match so well and I think thats one of their best skates. S/N did great for themselves as well, if they skate as well in their free I will be so happy for them. I knew taking them out of my top 5 would work...
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
For sure, this was a great showing from McBeath/ Parkman. I'm happy for them. And Shin/ Nagy looked much better and more confident. This was the best that McBeath/ Parkman have skated all season, and they've been very good and consistent at their opening competitions. However, you wouldn't know it from the judges' scoring at GP France.
McB/Park scored 64+ at John Nicks; 65+ at Nebelhorn; and only 63.31 at GP France. They were held down by the judges as the judges tend to do with skaters in early starting groups.
The placements are accurate, but McB/Park should not be so far behind Pavlova/ Sviatchenko. McB/Park were unfairly dinged on a very good spin because the judges were looking to keep their score down. Judges could nitpick on every team's spin whenever they want to manipulate scores. Pav/Svia have an edge with technical precision and they are trying to improve on PCS, but they are generally an average team presentation-wise, certainly not that much better than McB/Park on PCS or choreo in the way these judges scored it. Both teams are fairly on a par in PCS categories. Pav/Svia just have higher status and recognition internationally along with more opportunities, and a coach who is good at exercising political savvy to advocate for them. That's the main difference. With Pav/Svia getting 70+, McB/Park should be at least around 65.95, IMO.
www.isuresults.com
It's good to see Shin/Nagy looking better. It will still take time for S/N and they shouldn't be rushed. But I think U.S. fed is going to persist in pushing S/N forward and trying to keep McB/Park on the backburner largely due to Parkman not having his U.S. citizenship. But that's a dumb way to operate. It would have helped McB/Park tremendously in terms of momentum and exposure had they been sent to Beijing. They were certainly ready, and more confident than S/N. There was more likelihood of McB/Park securing the third spot for U.S. pairs at '26 Olympics, which would have been a huge coup for them and for the U.S. pairs discipline (thus, in the long run, also benefiting S/N). The poor judgment by U.S. fed might be shrugged off now, but it matters.
McB/Park scored 64+ at John Nicks; 65+ at Nebelhorn; and only 63.31 at GP France. They were held down by the judges as the judges tend to do with skaters in early starting groups.
The placements are accurate, but McB/Park should not be so far behind Pavlova/ Sviatchenko. McB/Park were unfairly dinged on a very good spin because the judges were looking to keep their score down. Judges could nitpick on every team's spin whenever they want to manipulate scores. Pav/Svia have an edge with technical precision and they are trying to improve on PCS, but they are generally an average team presentation-wise, certainly not that much better than McB/Park on PCS or choreo in the way these judges scored it. Both teams are fairly on a par in PCS categories. Pav/Svia just have higher status and recognition internationally along with more opportunities, and a coach who is good at exercising political savvy to advocate for them. That's the main difference. With Pav/Svia getting 70+, McB/Park should be at least around 65.95, IMO.
ISU GP Grand Prix de France 2025 - Pairs - Short Program
www.isuresults.com
It's good to see Shin/Nagy looking better. It will still take time for S/N and they shouldn't be rushed. But I think U.S. fed is going to persist in pushing S/N forward and trying to keep McB/Park on the backburner largely due to Parkman not having his U.S. citizenship. But that's a dumb way to operate. It would have helped McB/Park tremendously in terms of momentum and exposure had they been sent to Beijing. They were certainly ready, and more confident than S/N. There was more likelihood of McB/Park securing the third spot for U.S. pairs at '26 Olympics, which would have been a huge coup for them and for the U.S. pairs discipline (thus, in the long run, also benefiting S/N). The poor judgment by U.S. fed might be shrugged off now, but it matters.
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- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
I disagree with your analysis above @BlissfulSynergy. I'm an admirer of McBeath/Parkman and I have high hopes for them in the future.
In this competition, I agree with you that the placements are correct, but I disagree with your review of the score gap. I thought the Hungarians did everything just a bit better technically, and the protocols reflected that. I agree with the judges that the spin deserved a ding, and another big factor was the death spiral, in which Mc/P only earned basic level - not a judging manipulation - Jackie Wong called it in real time. It was an aberration, true, but it was real.
On the PCS, I think a gap of about 2 and a half was about correct. Judging only what I could see on the screen, the Hungarians looked faster and more confident, more connected. McBeath and Parkman are certainly a team on the rise, and nobody is rooting harder for them than me if they keep this up, but they haven't begun to reach the levels they're capable of.
In this competition, I agree with you that the placements are correct, but I disagree with your review of the score gap. I thought the Hungarians did everything just a bit better technically, and the protocols reflected that. I agree with the judges that the spin deserved a ding, and another big factor was the death spiral, in which Mc/P only earned basic level - not a judging manipulation - Jackie Wong called it in real time. It was an aberration, true, but it was real.
On the PCS, I think a gap of about 2 and a half was about correct. Judging only what I could see on the screen, the Hungarians looked faster and more confident, more connected. McBeath and Parkman are certainly a team on the rise, and nobody is rooting harder for them than me if they keep this up, but they haven't begun to reach the levels they're capable of.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2025
Oh completely agree! I have never really enjoyed the Hungarian team artistic wise and their score in PCS shocked me how high it was but your correct they have a powerful coach and more recognition and skated later. I thought M/P should have been way closer.
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Well, we agree to disagree. You may be right about some technical nitpicking. But when judges want to find something to nitpick to keep scores down, they will. Pav/Svia are no powerhouses on presentation and they were overscored on PCS relative to McB/Park, especially regarding presentation and choreo. Pav/Svia have a powerful coach who is advocating politically on upping their pcs scores. And I give Pav/Svia credit for trying to improve in that aspect, but they are slightly overscored on pcs. No biggie here. But I do feel McB/ Park were underscored especially on GOE for what they executed well. Pavlova was a bit tight on her sbs landing, too, if you're interested in nitpicking.
As I said previously, the placements are accurate, and Pav/Svia generally have the edge in technical precision, which they have over a lot of teams. They also have rep status, fed backing, strongly connected coach politically, and greater opportunities to compete over McB/Park, right now. All of these are huge factors in figure skating.
Give McB/Park their due. They are a very good team with wonderful programs this season, and a greater ease and comfort with each other which shows from all their hard work and longer experience together, e.g., than Shin/Nagy.
If S/N keep at it, they could blossom, but right now U.S. fed should stop with the over-favoritism and allow S/N to develop without pushing them to excel quickly, which is what happened by sending them to Beijing when they were obviously not in great form and were lacking in confidence, too.
In any case, my predictions in pairs are accurate at the moment aside from the Kovalevs and Shin/Nagy.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2025
Good job to USA pairs for being 4th and 5th, it's honestly what I and I think everyone else expected with the competition that was here. I'm happy I took S/N out of 5th because I knew it would work and they would get top 5. 
While M/P had their worst scoring comp this season, there's just something about them that I really like to watch them together, they match very well. We will see them next week in China. S/N had their best yet, and I hope this gets them on an upward trajectory to Nationals where they will need to peak. We will see them in Skate America in about a month.
While M/P had their worst scoring comp this season, there's just something about them that I really like to watch them together, they match very well. We will see them next week in China. S/N had their best yet, and I hope this gets them on an upward trajectory to Nationals where they will need to peak. We will see them in Skate America in about a month.- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
In one of the review shows for GP France, it was indicated that the U.S. judge on the pairs judging panel placed Shin/Nagy over McBeath/ Parkman. I'd have to check the judging protocols for more details. But it figures. U.S. fed is more invested in supporting Shin/ Nagy, regardless of McBeath/ Parkman having a better start to the season and more experience together as a team. Not to mention McB/Park being reigning U.S. Nationals silver medalists. Shin/ Nagy landed in 4th with the pewter medal at 2025 U.S. Nationals.
Part of this preferential bias for S/N vs McB/Park, is more than likely due to Parkman not having U.S. citizenship.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
Well, here's some news, at least for me:
Alisa and Misha were married on Feb 1, 2024, and are seeking accelerated citizenship in time for the Olympics.
Here's the source document from SCOB website: https://scboston.org/olympics/
Alisa and Misha were married on Feb 1, 2024, and are seeking accelerated citizenship in time for the Olympics.
Here's the source document from SCOB website: https://scboston.org/olympics/
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2025
Congrats to M/P for a great sp in China! They continue to improve and their program is beautiful on them.
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Yes. McB/Park were wonderful, even a bit better than last week in Angers, France. They were quite good in Angers, too, but were not given deserved GOE on some of their elements. IMO, they should have been scored at least 65 last week. In any case, McB/Park put what they learned to good use and skated even better at this back-to-back GP in China. Hoping they improve from last week, as well, in the upcoming fp!
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
The SCOB article is awkwardly phrased in some parts. Alisa's written statement is very poignant, though. Her words brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps there's a separate thread to discuss this development. There should be.
There had already been speculation that Alisa & Misha were married, due to public documentation about Misha's house purchase, where it's indicated he has a wife. I suppose the two U.S. teams who obtained the opportunity for 3 spots in pairs at the '26 Olympics, should be the ones to compete at the Olympics. Certainly, U.S. fed is backing Alisa to obtain the citizenship waiver. Alisa/ Misha will need to perform well on the GP and win U.S. Nationals again to bolster Alisa's chances to get the waiver.
The interesting thing is that Misha said during an interview with TWIS that he is hoping to make the Olympic team with Emily & Spencer. Well, U.S. fed's bonehead decision to send Audrey & Balasz to the Beijing qualifier when they were obviously not skating well, has hurt chances for Emily & Spencer since there's only two spots in pairs for the Olympics. If Alisa gets the waiver for her passport in time, then the second spot for the Olympics will be battled out between Ellie/ Danny; Emily/Spencer; Audrey/ Balasz; and longshots: Val/Max; and Chels/ Ryan.
If McB/Park (or even Chan/ Howe) had been wisely sent to the Beijing qualifier, our conversation today would be different.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2025
A bit of a shame on the FS, but jump issues is not rare for USA teams, and I have faith they will approve. Since this team cannot go to Olympics, they still have 4CC and Worlds to peak at. Great job to them on finishing their GP season!
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2014
I love this comment. Not linking adrenaline & exhilaration so much to the competition, but to the skating itself.
There's a quote from Chelsea Liu on the skaters' bio page on FS Fanzone. She said she loves that figure skating brings her freedom and happiness. I think that's wonderful motivation. Also it was a great quote that she used the time off competition to figure out what she needs as a skater and off the ice, and what her boundaries need to be.
Also, I don't necessarily think Nate Bartholomay's motivation had to include envy or even inspiration from other skaters. He retired for the first(?) time after the break-up with Gretchen Donlan. He gave an interview within a year saying that watching other pairs, he realized that he could still do what was needed, so he started the search for a new partner. It sounds to me like injuries were his reason for retiring after Deanna, and also maybe after Katie. Maybe he's just being careful to take all the time he needed to heal after injuries. I believe I read somewhere that a coach or someone remarked that he enjoys and is good at working with a partner who has never skated pairs before. Just look at his record with Deanna and Katie both!
Maybe he's un-retiring for the challenge of training, for the love of the experience, the love of performing, etc!
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2025
Congrats to Ellie and Danny on a fantastic FS at Skate Canada!! If they had done a cleaner SP they would have been in the 200's. I'm so happy they got a medal after all their injuries this year.
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- Feb 12, 2014
Not really, Flores/Wang and Plazas/Fernandez have both been there since the original entries came out. They had Efimova/Mitrofonav and Kam/O'Shea get their two assignments elsewhere since they were the only US pairs guaranteed two from the outset leaving spots at Skate America for a team moving up from seniors, and a team coming off an injury.
That third spot has been TBD until now. They put Shin/Nagy in the remaining host spot because they had to name someone to that spot by Sep. 15th because the ISU wanted a name, but they hadn't really decided anything. Clearly, USFS thought they could make some sort of switch because they'd added Shin/Nagy to Ice Challenge after the original assignments had come out. You don't register a team for a competition in Europe a week before a GP in America if you know they're going to be competing at that home event.
I just wonder if there's some rule that USFS was trying to skirt, and ended up having to commit to what they chose. And you know what, I'm fine with USFS having to stick with it because giving Shin/Nagy that second spot took them off the alternates list, even though we all know they wouldn't have gotten another spot that way.
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