- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Just read on FSU that the full lineup for the USA team event will be annouced on Jan 12th.
2026 Olympics Team Event speculation
- Thread starter SubRosa
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
How is this an extremely worrying state? Your number 2 just got 269 points, which even without nationals inflation would have still scored easily 260+. His FS of 182 without inflation would have still scored 170-175.
How is it non sportsmanlike to rest Malinin if Torgashev is a viable FS skater, capable of scoring 170+? Is it more sportsmanlike to step on the necks of Japan if the USA has enough of a lead and is likely to win the team event?
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
Putting up the best people per event is supposed to be what happens in a competition. The rules for this event are awful and make the LP nearly meaningless sometimes, but if there is ever a chance of certain medal not being secured, then it should be taken seriously. Torgashev is nowhere close to Malinin and very inconsistent on top of that. He could finish dead last in the LP portion. Losing 5 points is a lot and could very much risk the gold medal. Whereas with splitting the dance event, if it looks safe to do so after the SP, there's essentially no risk of placing that low, and it would help Zingas/Kolesnik's individual momentum to show a big result in the team event.
There's also a question mark how Alysa and Amber will be split between the SP and LP. Amber is the higher scoring potential skater but not consistent. I would put Alysa in the SP, because consistency is big in that portion and it's her stronger program, and also because a clean SP from Amber might not even outscore a "perfect" SP from Sakamoto anyway, which would be very underwhelming.
Also, there's absolutely nothing that shows it makes any sense to "rest" Malinin. It's such a bad mentality. Getting to compete the LP in the team event, without going for his maximum tech, should be considered valuable experience for him before the individual event.
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2024
In all fairness, no matter what you think about it, Ilia is not doing both segments- he can withstand a lot, but this is his first Olympics. I'd say not to underestimate the competition the Team Event is in the first place- part of the results are these choices made ahead of it- like a starting lineup before a soccer match, for exmaple.
I am also skeptical on whether Torgashev can deliver, but that is USFSAs problem, not ours. Imo, it will come down to what C/B want- I can see women not get split if the Dancers want to. It would be a very unfortunate decision given that an individual medal is not guaranteed, but alas.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2024
Ultimately it comes down to priority for US Figure Skating and are they really going to strong arm Bock or Ilia to do both segments. My hunch is there will no twisting of arms and the skaters will choose.
The USA could still win even if Torgashev has a rough skate. Japan's dance team is their weak link and will need to rely on their singles skaters and Pairs getting a few maximum points and really no worse than 2nd which is perfectly doable of course. Italians are a dark horse, they have no weaknesses but their Pairs Team withdrawing from Euros last minute is not ideal.
The USA could still win even if Torgashev has a rough skate. Japan's dance team is their weak link and will need to rely on their singles skaters and Pairs getting a few maximum points and really no worse than 2nd which is perfectly doable of course. Italians are a dark horse, they have no weaknesses but their Pairs Team withdrawing from Euros last minute is not ideal.
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
This being his first Olympics is all the more reason to compete fully in the team event beforehand, and get a feel for competing both programs on Olympic Ice. He has to do barely anything by his standards to do better than any of the other USA guys. It's literally just a glorified practice run-through.
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
I think Ilia should think if it as a practice, but he will want to show what he can, and that will wear him out.
I think he has proven at US Nationals he is playing it smart.
The main issue is that both Men and Dance have events so close to the team event. Coming down from earning an Olympic (team) medal only to perform for an individual one is a process skaters are not used to.
Chock/Bates are no longer 20 years old.
Ilia is a safe bet for men's.
Both Amber and Alyssa probably deserve a shot at a team medal based on what they've done over the past few seasons.
I would say no other skaters made a real case to be included in the team event so it would be a real shame if Amber or Alysa missed out on their chance because of scheduling.
Tough decision.
I think Torgashev is a huge risk. He could place last of the 5 men. Why give up 10 points for 6
It will depend on what kind of lead they have going into the long.
Same goes with dance. Why give up 10 point and get 7 or 8.
I think the pairs placement will really be the deciding factor on is they need the big guns to win gold in the free.
They provide all the names for the LP at the end of the short. You can’t make any changes after the segment starts.
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2020
Thank you!!!
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2018
The thing is Andrew doesn’t need to skate badly to place last. He could do that even if he skates lights out! Why is it that no one’s realizing this when it’s obvious?!
It’s going to be Egadze, Sato, probably Grassl (if not Rizzo or Memola), Gogolev (if Canada makes it) and Siao Him Fa or Aymoz (if France makes it). Of that group, I say he beats only Rizzo and Gogolev and maybe Aymoz. But if Grassl skates both programs and France qualifies and Siao Him Fa is in the free, then realistically Andrew will be last even if he’s clean if the others are clean also.
Of course that “if” is huge, but how big does that “if” need to be for Andrew to be higher up?
It’s going to be Egadze, Sato, probably Grassl (if not Rizzo or Memola), Gogolev (if Canada makes it) and Siao Him Fa or Aymoz (if France makes it). Of that group, I say he beats only Rizzo and Gogolev and maybe Aymoz. But if Grassl skates both programs and France qualifies and Siao Him Fa is in the free, then realistically Andrew will be last even if he’s clean if the others are clean also.
Of course that “if” is huge, but how big does that “if” need to be for Andrew to be higher up?
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2022
Personally I think all the elder skaters Should Not do Team unless have to like Chan/Howe and Kam/OShea. They are elder but only pair team sent
I think federations should readjust their thinking f Team . Yes its important, but not the goal of certain top skaters like Ilia, Kaori, Giles and Poirer, Chock and Bates, Guinard and Fabrri , Fb / Cizeron.
Personally I think the individual medal means more to them . The years of practicing and self sacrifice things .
Team may help alleviate with a medal, but they could help think of not for someone else.
Instead of , I did it or We did it as pair and dance team.
.fulfill the goal of olympic medals.
Already fulfill the goal of being Olympian.
What next the medal preferably gold.
I think federations should readjust their thinking f Team . Yes its important, but not the goal of certain top skaters like Ilia, Kaori, Giles and Poirer, Chock and Bates, Guinard and Fabrri , Fb / Cizeron.
Personally I think the individual medal means more to them . The years of practicing and self sacrifice things .
Team may help alleviate with a medal, but they could help think of not for someone else.
Instead of , I did it or We did it as pair and dance team.
.fulfill the goal of olympic medals.
Already fulfill the goal of being Olympian.
What next the medal preferably gold.
I don't think he would beat Gogo or Memola either.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
I agree with this principle. If you don't intend to try your best, stay home. If the USFSA respects the Olympic Team thing as a legitimate sporting event, then they should "send" Malinin to both SP and LP.
If Ilia himself doesn't want to, then goodbye and good luck -- enjoy your individual medal.
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2017
IMO, Chock/Bates should do both segments, and the US should split the women's event and the men. I feel like Chock/Bates splitting doesn't make sense at all, either from the POV of trying to win gold in the team event (assuming Canada makes the final, Z/K and CPom are both guaranteed to place behind Gilles/Poirier and Guignard/Fabbri, while C/B are highly unlikely to) or from the POV of strategy for the individual event, since they're getting valuable experience and judging feedback from doing both segments. This is why the Shibutanis did both segments, as well as Virtue/Moir in 2018. Yes, it's tiring, but I would be shocked if Chock/Bates haven't been training with it in mind, especially since it's a necessary advantage over Cizeron/Fournier-Beaudry.
Meanwhile, the women are the USA's strongest discipline, and both Amber and Alysa are equally likely to win either segment they place in, plus Isabeau is really reliable. I also think, from how Amber and Alysa have been setting the tone, it would be shocking if either of them didn't want to split the team event and have that experience together.
Ilia Malinin is, iirc, on record as saying he wants to split, and I expect he'll still feel that way.
Meanwhile, the women are the USA's strongest discipline, and both Amber and Alysa are equally likely to win either segment they place in, plus Isabeau is really reliable. I also think, from how Amber and Alysa have been setting the tone, it would be shocking if either of them didn't want to split the team event and have that experience together.
Ilia Malinin is, iirc, on record as saying he wants to split, and I expect he'll still feel that way.
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
What matters is not what fans think but what the athletes think of the team event and from what I have heard and read, they are happy to compete under the same flag at the olympics in the team event. They often train and travel and compete together and have been on the national team for years, know each other very well, room together, etc and the team event is a great way to share the ice and aspire together for Olympic glory.I have to confess that the whole team thing is not a winner to me. There is no team.
Maybe the team event should be replaced by Synchro 9s. Now that's a true team competition.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
But doing the team event in both segments worked out so well for Lipnitskaia! It was such great practice leading up to her individual event which was such a glorious succe—. Oh wait.
