Because she's the reigning Olympic silver medalist, that's why.
Sasha. Comeback. Believe it.
- Thread starter Particle Man
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Because she's the reigning Olympic silver medalist, that's why.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
I got clobbered with that one, too. Apparently the previous Olys do mean something. No?
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- Mar 23, 2008
"Reigning Olympic silver medalist" is certainly the logical reason for Sasha's 2 spots. Being a previous GPF-gold and GPF-silver medalist couldn't have hurt either. But I do wonder what the "official" reason is, or if they will ever make it known. 
Sasha coming back out of nowhere and getting 2 GP spots doesn't surprise me much. What does surprise me is -- no Alissa at Skate America? So much for Mathman's prediction that she would win.
I wonder if Alissa is upset about it. Maybe we'll find out in her blog sometime this summer.
Sasha coming back out of nowhere and getting 2 GP spots doesn't surprise me much. What does surprise me is -- no Alissa at Skate America? So much for Mathman's prediction that she would win.
I wonder if Alissa is upset about it. Maybe we'll find out in her blog sometime this summer.
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- Jan 6, 2007
If now Plushy, Cohen and S/Z win / medal at the Olympics because of better PCS but not because of better TES - we should simply skip the three years between the Olympics. Because if that happens, it means that it's enough to have a big name, take the three years between the Olympics off and make some big bucks on the show circuit and come back to collect the next medal. I mean, S/Z and Cohen already got preferential treatment with their GP assignments.
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- Jun 21, 2003
But I do wonder what the "official" reason is, or if they will ever make it known.
Of all the conjectures that have been posted, the one I like best is, "maybe she got a note from her psychiatrist saying that she was not able to compete for the last three years because of mental stress."
Boooooo. That settles it. I'm not going.
Skate America is a dud this year. No U.S. ladies champion. No U.S. men's champion. No U.S. dance champions. What kind of "Skate America" is that?
So much for Mathman's prediction that she would win.
Alissa will get the last laugh when she wins Skate Russia and Skate Canada. :yes:
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- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
It was my understanding that the number of GP assignment you get is decided by which "group" your federation puts you in. Sasha is part of USFSA's group A, so she is entitled to 2 events along with everybody else.
This has been answered before, but with the number of threads and posts on the topic, it's not too surprising the answer has been lost.
Cohen -- and the other skaters returning to competition -- don't have to qualify. As you note, USFS invited her to Skate America, as is its perogative. On top of that, the ISU Figure Skating Event Coordination Group, chaired by David Dore and run on a day-to-day basis by Peter Krick, may select additional skaters for the Grand Prix events according to its own (I think unpublished) procedures. So in addition to business about seeded skaters, season's best scores, etc., by its own rules ISU is able to invite other skaters into the events.
Common sense tells one these skaters will be past medalists, i.e., Shen and Zhao, and Cohen, and that the member nations inviting them -- in this case, U.S. and France -- thought something along the lines of, "Gee, I think having them here will help the popularity of the event."
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- May 15, 2009
Good explanation. Also I might add this was always a no-brainer and one of the least debatable topics I could imagine. Some seem to think something is amiss here and that due to very secret and mysterious circumtances, S/C and Sasha have been invited to skate in this seasons GP series.
A more realistic topic might have been "why wouldn't ISU welcome back such accomplished and well known skaters"
The answer would be "because ISU officials are crazy."
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- Jul 11, 2003
I was even shown that there is no rule for allowing former podium Oly medalists 2 GPs. 1 was ok if invited by a host GP country. YuNa will never get this."Reigning Olympic silver medalist" is certainly the logical reason for Sasha's 2 spots. Being a previous GPF-gold and GPF-silver medalist couldn't have hurt either. But I do wonder what the "official" reason is, or if they will ever make it known.
Where were you shown this non-rule exactly and by whom?
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- Jul 11, 2003
I don't know the ISU rule on former Olympic medalists returning years later to get 2 GPs. Can you link me to the article? I thoght the Oly medal had some weight on it but I read from others that it did not. The Rules for 2 GPs are there in writing and nothing about Oly medals is involved. The posters who were adamant about the Rules are not answering to any of this so to clear this up in the next 4 years, please give us the link.
S/Z, and Cohen, and I would guess Plushenko too could get an invite to their host country events. And you say it is common sense to get 2? with out a ruling? Please show the directives about Quote: the ISU Figure Skating Event Coordination Group, chaired by David Dore and run on a day-to-day basis by Peter Krick, may select additional skaters for the Grand Prix events according to its own (I think unpublished) procedures.
Where is MM, Chuckum and gkelly on unpublished rules?
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- Jun 21, 2003
http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=1403
Bottom of page 3 to top of page 4, section 2.2, paragraph h).
I'm very confused by the whole discussion...all I can think of is...do the rules state the skater can be invited by only one OTHER country's GP event (not counting their host country) and then their host country can ALSO invite them? If that is the case, here is where Sasha slides in. Or is the rule just ONE GP event in general? And didn't she say something about wanting to go to TEB? If I'm remembering right, then I would guess at the conference, USFSA requested she go there.
The ISU could've made a stipulation allowing reigning Olympic medalists 2 invites each year during that quad, which makes perfectly good sense to me, but as of now, I don't believe such rule exists.
The ISU could've made a stipulation allowing reigning Olympic medalists 2 invites each year during that quad, which makes perfectly good sense to me, but as of now, I don't believe such rule exists.
I am really sure I am going to regret this post, because I don't seem to be expressing myself clearly. Nevertheless, here goes --
It has nothing to do with Olympic medals, or a rule about Olympic medalists coming back two years later, or if you skipped competition "through no fault of your own."
A link to the Technical Announcement has been posted several times: http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=1403
The particular clause I referred to in my post is on p. 3, bullet h.
Basically, the ISU Figure Skating Event Coordination Group may take requests from member nations for skaters who would not normally qualify for a non-host GP event. My reference to "common sense" just meant that these requests would very likely apply to past medalists, instead of someone obscure.
So, let's say, China is searching for an event for Shen and Zhao. OK, USFS makes room for Shen and Zhao at Skate America; in return -- and I am just postulating -- Armin gets Cup of China, which he requested, and the men's field is kept rather clear for Evan Lysacek. Done deal, and all within the rules.
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- Jun 21, 2003
I can only speak for myself, but the reason that it took me so long to come to a minimal understanding of the issue is this. The formal announcement of the Grand Prix selection procedures starts out with a long list of cut-and-dried rules about seeded skaters, invited skaters, top 12, top 24, top 75, etc., etc., etc. The tone of the document is that this is something a computer could do just by following the instructions.
People in the know, evidently know better. The real procedure is people wheeling and dealing and pursuing their own agendas, against the background of hope that the final selections will produce a good compeitive season.
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- Mar 23, 2008
I think it's best to look at it this way. The rules explain when skaters are REQUIRED to have a minimum number of GP assignments, they don't describe a ceiling or maximum number of GP assignments.
If Yun-a got Olympic silver, took 3 years off, then came back in 2013, I would also expect her to get 2 GP assignments. She's a star and has a big following just like Sasha.
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2004
I guess I/B have not star power. They have 1 GP assignment. What is up with that.?
With all due respect, fairly early on in the Technical Announcement it details no skater or couple will have more than 2 [senior] Grand Prix assignments. IIRC this in itself is a change from prior years.
There has been so much discussion on the board about this issue, and so many posters expressing confusion, IMO it would be best for interested people to simply read the ISU communications on the topic.
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- May 15, 2009
People in the know, evidently know better. The real procedure is people wheeling and dealing and pursuing their own agendas, against the background of hope that the final selections will produce a good compeitive season.
That is a realistic assessment imo mm and nylynnr. Of course, there are rules which serve as a guideline. But the fact is skating has many federations to please - all of which have their own needs and agendas.
I think it turned out pretty good this season. Now I only hope US Skating will look at the assignments and consider the level of competition certain skaters are facing - rather than blindly looking at which US Skaters may make it to the GPF.
I just hope you can sell this latest explanation to Joe
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
nylynnr said:
The Grand Prix announcement document is kind of a long read all by itself, and the problem for me is that there are many details that are not mentioned. Trying to use the search feature on the iSU web site to learn more is a daunting and humiliating exercise.
For instance, the rules speak about seeded skaters but do not say anything about a separate draw for 1-3 and then for 4-6. The rules don't mention that each event must choose one and only one skater from 1-3 and one and only one skater from 4-6.
The rules do not say anything about whether or not seeded skaters, especially the world champions, do or do not get to disignate where they would like to skate, or whether the host federations are or are not expected to take these preferences into account.
The rules do not say that the host picks of skaters from the host's own country are chosen first, before the general draw.
The rules do not make clear the nature of the "draw." Are the names of the skaters put in a hat and the host federations draw from the hat? Are the names of the federations in the hat and representatives of the skaters draw for their events? Or (as I belive) are the names of the fedearations in the hat, and whichever is drawn first gets first choice of whichever skaters it wants? Are there separate draws for each round, so that the order of the draw changes each time.
The other problem is that it is impossible to guess -- just by reading the rules and without appealing to past experience -- how the famous 2.2 h) will affect the selection procedure, if at all.
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