- Joined
- Mar 27, 2010
Is Oda even allowed to go to Skate America? There are already 3 Japanese men there.
I'm hoping that with Joubert withdrawing from Skate America that Nobu will get the slot!
http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00028019.htm
Right now, they are not listing a replacement.
Is Joubert ok? Just wondering since he also withdrew from the French Masters.
I just checked the Skate America Preleminary Entries thread, and apparently the French fed withdrew him as a sanction for not having done French Masters (!!!??!)
Takahashi has made it known that this will be his final competitive season I believe. Do we know or have an inkling about any of the other more experienced men? Not that it should, but I wonder if sentimentality will factor in this at all. Oda has been to the Olympics previously I would note.
Takahashi has made it known that this will be his final competitive season I believe. Do we know or have an inkling about any of the other more experienced men?
One thing to remember, though - the selection process will NOT be based solely on the Japanese Nationals.
Here's the link to a pdf document listing the Olympic figure skating team selection criteria (in Japanese): http://skatingjapan.or.jp/image_data/fck/file/2013/130619_FS_senkokijun.pdf
Rough translation:
The Olympic Team of Men and Ladies single will be announced at the end of Japanese Nationals.
The team will be decided from among the Olympic qualifiers by the following selecting method:
1. The first spot will be awarded to the winner of the Japanese Nationals.
2. The second spot will be awarded to a skater chosen from the following pool: the winner of the silver medal at Japanese Nationals, the winner of the bronze medal at Japanese Nationals and the skater who placed the highest on the podium at the Grand Prix final.
3. The third spot will be awarded to a skater chosen from the following pool: the skater qualified in point 2 but was not chosen, 3 skaters who will have the highest World standing at the moment of the Japanese Nationals, 3 skaters with the highest ISU season best score.
So basically, only the winner of the Japanese Nationals is certain to get a spot (and even that might possibly be influenced by the skater's international success, as the judges are more likely to give high PCS/GoEs to a skater who proved their consistency). If the second place winner has no high international standing, his season PB is lower than 3rd best and he didn't make the GPF, he might find himself booted off the team.
To sum up: the entire season including the Nationals will be a bloodbath. Every competition counts, as making the GPF (& winning a medal there), high season PB and high ISU standing will help to decide 2nd and 3rd spot. I don't envy those skaters who are slotted at the most packed GP events (Skate Canada: Hanyu, Oda, Mura + Chan & Abott; NHK Trophy: Oda, Mura, Takahashi + Fernandez, Abott & Aaron).
So, how would they justify giving Takahashi a spot based on the set criteria?
Based on early season performance so far from Kozuka, Oda, Takahashi and Hanyu, I can see the following realistic scenario playing out :
- Kozuka, Oda and Hanyu made GPF in which Oda won a Bronze medal = highest place Japanese from GPF (Oda has always done quite well in GP Series)
- At Japanese Nationals, Kozuka won the Nationals for the 3rd time while Takahashi finished 4th
- Hanyu has the highest ISU World ranking
So, how would they justify giving Takahashi a spot based on the set criteria?
Right now only the winner of the Nats is sure to go, the rest will be hand-picked. It isn't clearly stated what JSF will value more - the highest PB of the season? The highest placement at nats? The highest World standing?
I think Hanyu is a lock and the one with most potential for medal. On a good day, he can challenge fore gold and on a bad day, he can easily manage 3rd to 5th. Plus he is the only one that can match Fernandez technically.