Ashley Wagner's chance of an Olympics Medal after Nationals | Page 8 | Golden Skate

Ashley Wagner's chance of an Olympics Medal after Nationals

drivingmissdaisy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
I know what you mean; there has been this ugly narrative going on that is ignorant and completely misses the point; Ashley is the undeserving white princess and Mirai is the spit upon Asian.

This had nothing to do with race, and statements like this desensitize people to situations in which racism actually occurs. Do you think if Agnes or Samantha came in 3rd they would have kept Ashley off the team?
 

caseyl23

Rinkside
Joined
Dec 29, 2005
This had nothing to do with race, and statements like this desensitize people to situations in which racism actually occurs. Do you think if Agnes or Samantha came in 3rd they would have kept Ashley off the team?

You're not the only one, but as another thread title on this board says, people are continuing to "get the story wrong." I don't think the debate for the Olympic spot was ever about Ashley versus Mirai – in the past 12 months, Ashley's results (except one) have been vastly superior to Mirai's. I think the decision has to have come down to Polina versus Mirai, and that's a much different (and fascinating) debate.

As for Ashley, I posted earlier on this board before the Nationals free skate that I didn't think she necessarily needed to win to do well at the Olympics, but that was assuming Ashley would pull up to (at worst) second. Now, I don't know. My gut instinct is, coming into the Olympics, Gracie is now the No. 1 U.S. lady, and if both skate about the same in Sochi, she'll come out on top. That puts Ashley in a tough position. Figure the Japanese, the Russians, Yu-Na Kim, Carolina Kostner and maybe even Kaetlyn Osmond into that equation, and I think she's got a very big hill to climb, now. If Gracie does finish ahead of Ashley, it's extremely hard to imagine another spot on the podium for a U.S. lady.
 

louisa05

Final Flight
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
As much as I've defended Mirai should be on the team, I think this is ridiculous. There's nothing racist about the decision. The all-time favorite U.S. skater in the last 30-40 years is Michelle Kwan, hello!!

And it occurs to me that if Ashley were chosen based on blonde hair and white skin, Denney and Coughlin would be going over Zhang and Bartholomew. Caydee looks like Malibu Barbie, after all.

I also noticed during the exhibition that Christina Gao has a spot on one of USFSA's promo commercials--so if the team was chosen based on who they have marketed, what was she doing placing so low?
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
One article pointed out a conflict of interest regarding sponsorships...apparently more than one of USFS's direct sponsors happens to also sponsor miss Wagner...this was not openly disclosed by them...
 

guanchi

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Not in the top 5. Even Polina may score higher than her (and should if they are both clean).
 

Sasha'sSpins

Medalist
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Country
United-States
Now that Europeans are over, we can tell that Ashley Wagner's chances of a medal are nil. Before Euros there were doubts that Julia and Adelina would get this kind of PCS but in Sochi they might even crack 70. As if their TES advantage over Ashley wasn't enough.

I won't say that Ashley's chances to make the podium in Sochi are nil but I do think that her chances are growing more and more remote. The international judges since the GPs have been giving Julia and Adelina HUGE scores when they hit, on par with Mao Asada and Yuna Kim. Carolina's stock seems to have diminished somewhat but I still think a flawed Kostner will place ahead of Wagner. Then there is her own teammate Gracie Gold and Canada's hope Kaetlyn Osmond. Most of these girls with the exception of Julia are big jumpers which Ashley is not. Julia in spite of smallish jumps is consistent and has beaten Ashley too. In Sochi, Wagner is going to have to skate lights out in both of her programs - and hope for major implosions from at least 4 women to make the podium imo.

I know what you mean; there has been this ugly narrative going on that is ignorant and completely misses the point; Ashley is the undeserving white princess and Mirai is the spit upon Asian. At least here people argue the merits of one over the other using the respective records and reputations of each other or the deficiencies of the process. Peeves me off that people who could care less about figure skating and know squat about it smugly think they know everything they they need to know and then tell me what is "REALLY" going on. :bang:

I call BS on the race card people are trying to pull. Imo, Mirai vs. Ashley per the USFSA's criteria Wagner was always going to win. We've all gone over this ad nauseum in other threads, but imo the real controversy was sending an untried Polina Edmunds who only had a junior record to Mirai's results in the senior ranks. Would Polina have skated as well as she did this past season if she had to face the likes of Asada, the Russians, Kostner, or Kim? We'll never know. But I will always say that it is unfair to compare the results from junior events to those of a skater who had to skate against the top guns most of the last two years. Mirai , as well as Ashley and Gracie certainly faced them at one time or another. Polina's first test against them will be at the crown jewel of figure skating - the Olympics. I think that is grossly unfair to a skater who had to duke it out in the senior ranks for four years. Jmo.

And I think it is reprehensible that cyberbullies are leaving hateful messages against Ashley on her FB site as well as Twitter. Shame on those cowards hiding behind a computer screen.
 

Sasha'sSpins

Medalist
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Country
United-States
It's tempting to write Wagner (and others) off, but if history is any indication - you never know, really.

If Europeans is any indication, there is going to be at least one Russian on the podium in Sochi. Even with mistakes Kim and Asada will likely still make it too. But still, never say never. But no way a flawed Ashley is going to be held up like she has been at Nationals these past two years. She's going to have to skate absolutely clean and hope for multiple falls from the frontrunners.

Literally anything can happen and often does. But the odds are like 99% Ashley Wagner is done.

I'd have to agree. Last year I thought Ashley had a great chance at least for bronze at the Olympcs being as she was top 5 at Worlds and all. But Adelina is nailing her FS's lately and now Julia is in town. The very best Wagner could hope for imo is top 5 again - but even that is doubtlful. Her own teammate Gracie Gold is a threat and even Polina Edmunds could sneak into the top 6 with those big jumps of hers.

One article pointed out a conflict of interest regarding sponsorships...apparently more than one of USFS's direct sponsors happens to also sponsor miss Wagner...this was not openly disclosed by them...

Hm. That does give one pause - but I think that Ashley still comes out on top because of her 'body of work'. Polina, not so much imo. Junior results will never be comparable to those in the senior ranks - that is until juniors are allowed to skate with seniors as they are allowed to in some country's Nationals.
 

koatcue

Medalist
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Country
Russia
Still the "Almost Girl" in my eyes. Not enough talent to win a medal in such a deep pool..
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
It'll be nice if the US can sneak in there for a medal - honestly though, I'm indifferent as to whether it is Gold or Wagner (or even Edmunds, as unlikely as that would be)

I do think a 100% Gold is our best shot at competing with the Russians and the Japanese (I think Kim is out of reach unless she messes up big time)

Hm. That does give one pause - but I think that Ashley still comes out on top because of her 'body of work'.

The conflict of interest is still somewhat concerning IMHO, though. Especially given their inconsistency in naming the team(s) across the different disciplines. We will never know how much of an influence it was in the decision-making process but it was never disclosed. Now, this is not to say they were wrong to choose her, but what precedent does this set moving forward?
 

Jammers

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Country
United-States
Thank God the new girls are coming on strong now and it's not a sure thing who will be on the podium in Sochi. Last year it seemed it was going to be Kim, Mao and Kostner. I think it's better that there are a new crop of girls with every Olympics and not the same skaters from 4 years before.
 

coppertop1

On the Ice
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
I call BS on the race card people are trying to pull. Imo, Mirai vs. Ashley per the USFSA's criteria Wagner was always going to win. We've all gone over this ad nauseum in other threads, but imo the real controversy was sending an untried Polina Edmunds who only had a junior record to Mirai's results in the senior ranks. Would Polina have skated as well as she did this past season if she had to face the likes of Asada, the Russians, Kostner, or Kim? We'll never know. But I will always say that it is unfair to compare the results from junior events to those of a skater who had to skate against the top guns most of the last two years. Mirai , as well as Ashley and Gracie certainly faced them at one time or another. Polina's first test against them will be at the crown jewel of figure skating - the Olympics. I think that is grossly unfair to a skater who had to duke it out in the senior ranks for four years. Jmo.

I can see the debate there, there are skaters who go to the Olympics before even going to Worlds, there always will be. For Polina, and any skater like her, it seems to go one way: Either they're a deer in the headlights, or they skate with nothing to lose. I would be cautious about proclaiming the Russian girls, especially Lipnitskaia, shoo-ins for medals. Never predict at the Olympics. Keep in mind, Julia has never been to Worlds, this is her biggest test yet and the Olympics are in home ice. She'll be under a lot of pressure, as will Sotnikova, though Sotnikova has a bit more experience. Que sera, sera. How about we give Ashley a clean slate. It seems everyone is ready to declare Gracie the new big star over Ashley based solely on US nationals. Again, don't count the medals before they won.

I don't understand why the whole race thing is being played. Really? Then why send the Shibs to Sochi, or as someone else said, Zhang/Bartholomay. Why make what is already a difficult decision even uglier?


And I think it is reprehensible that cyberbullies are leaving hateful messages against Ashley on her FB site as well as Twitter. Shame on those cowards hiding behind a computer screen

"You hide behind computer screens so that you don't have to be seen. How can a person be so mean?" to quote Fergie. It's disgusting. Ashley. did not. make. the choice. Don't hate on her. Mirai isn't hating on her Ashley, why are these bullies? I'll never understand why some fans feel the need to be so ugly. You don't do the skaters any favours.
 

Selene

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 7, 2012
Wagner's chances of a medal at the Olympics are virtually non-existent. She is a good skater, but not Olympic or world-podium level.

Her best quality was her consistency, but that has seemingly vanished this season. She has been making many mistakes and getting lots of underrotation calls this season, particularly in her free program. She introduced the 3F-3T (which is only borderline rotated and could easily be downgraded by a strict technical specialist) to her repertoire, but she has not gotten the scores that she expected.

In short, she doesn't have the spins, edge quality or jump difficulty to compete with the best skaters in the world, and she must skate 100% clean to give herself a chance against more talented competitors.

Moreover, the PCS she was getting from international judges was (I believe) based on being the #1 American. Now that Gold is the national champion, the judges may consider her the #1 American and she may start receiving the PCS advantage.
 
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