2017 4CCs Ladies Recap

[gsk8]

A year ago, Japan's Mai Mihara didn't even know if she was ever going to compete again, and now she topped the Ladies podium at the 2017 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Gangneung, Korea. Gabrielle Daleman of Canada earned the silver medal and USA's Mirai Nagasu took bronze. All three ladies produced personal best scores in the free skating.

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"A year ago, at this time I couldn't even stand up and walk, and to be able to compete at the Four Continents and to be selected for the World team is something just incredible," Mihara said following her clean short program that put her into fourth place.

"It was a new experience leading after the short at such a big championship like Four Continents," said Daleman, 19. "I've never done it before.

"I love this music," Nagasu said about her free to 'The Winner Takes It All.' "This piece of music, really, I feel defines me.

"The beginning of my program went super well and I'm glad that I was still able to go out there and do the beginning of my program really well," said Osmond. "I've been getting a lot better when I miss an element, being able to refocus and get back my feet underneath me.

"There were a few pretty big mistakes, but overall, this was the most pressure I think I've had in an event, so it was good to be able to go out and manage that was a big step for me," said Bell, 20.

What are your thoughts on the ladies' event?

 

[jFarrisFAN]

If bell can't handle this pressure, she doesn't deserve to be on the world team. I'd hardly call what she did today as handling the pressure. Worlds will pose even more pressure on her, it's her first world championship, the 3rd spot is on the line and she has been so up and down all season that she can't trust herself. Usfsa, send MIRAI please.

 

[Interspectator]

Mai's skate made me happy just watching it. Skated with such joy and confidence.
I like her speed and her jumps go 'Whoosh' (as they should).
Her reaction to her scores made me tear up.
Sometimes being a dark horse is the best way to win the race. :luv17:

 

[janav]

Hopefully, people will now stop referring to Mai as the 'other japanese lady'.

 

[topaz emerald]

If bell can't handle this pressure, she doesn't deserve to be on the world team. I'd hardly call what she did today as handling the pressure. Worlds will pose even more pressure on her, it's her first world championship, the 3rd spot is on the line and she has been so up and down all season that she can't trust herself. Usfsa, send MIRAI please.

Oh come on, all the us ladies are inconsistent, except for polina and judges hate her anyway, not her fault, but whatever....And Mariah was clearly nervous here. To be fair, this is her first 4cc event? And mirais done 4cc how many times already? None of them are consistent.

And besides, Mariah already earned her spot to go to worlds. It's Mariah, Ashley, Karen. Mirais had so many chances man.....But honestly it doesn't bother me if we get two or even one spot at Olympics. We should just root for whoever makes it.

 

[topaz emerald]

I like Mai more than Marin....Congrats to mai

 

[mhu714]

So let's add Karen Chen and Mariah Bell to the list of all US ladies since Michelle who just can't skate well consistently under pressure. Sasha, Kimmie, Marai, Rachel F, Alisa C, Gracie. Even Ashley though she did skate great last yr at world's. Who wants to bet she'll do it again? Not me, though as always I'll be hoping for the best. Just mind blowing how every single one of them can't hack it against the world. Karen really surprised me how horrible she was just a month after looking so fantastic at Nats. Now that Nathan Chen is looking like the real thing, and Pairs are looking better, one could actually make a case for ladies being the worst US discipline! Never would I have ever thought THAT possible.

 

[brightphoton]

So let's add Karen Chen and Mariah Bell to the list of all US ladies since Michelle who just can't skate well consistently under pressure. Sasha, Kimmie, Marai, Rachel F, Alisa C, Gracie. Even Ashley though she did skate great last yr at world's. Who wants to bet she'll do it again? Not me, though as always I'll be hoping for the best. Just mind blowing how every single one of them can't hack it against the world. Karen really surprised me how horrible she was just a month after looking so fantastic at Nats. Now that Nathan Chen is looking like the real thing, and Pairs are looking better, one could actually make a case for ladies being the worst US discipline! Never would I have ever thought THAT possible.

To be fair, it's kind of hard to be as good as Michelle Kwan ...

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

If bell can't handle this pressure, she doesn't deserve to be on the world team. I'd hardly call what she did today as handling the pressure. Worlds will pose even more pressure on her, it's her first world championship, the 3rd spot is on the line and she has been so up and down all season that she can't trust herself. Usfsa, send MIRAI please.

Why are you singling out Bell when Chen has had, objectively, a worse season? The US champ doesn't automatically get to go.

 

[lavoix]

Nagasu should go to worlds.

 

[stella luna]

A proper ending ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isI8GkPuwBM

 

[Manitou]

If bell can't handle this pressure, she doesn't deserve to be on the world team. I'd hardly call what she did today as handling the pressure. Worlds will pose even more pressure on her, it's her first world championship, the 3rd spot is on the line and she has been so up and down all season that she can't trust herself. Usfsa, send MIRAI please.

That's why it's good she had this new experience representing US. Good for her! I am sure she will do much better at the worlds.

The same with Karen. She truly crashed her performance. But let's give them a chance! It's the first time for them, 4CC is a perfect place to crash. And I wouldnt even call Maria's performance a crash.
Now they have it behind them, it's done, they start new at the worlds.

 

[breadstal]

Mai, Mirai, Dabin and Zijun saved me. #MiraiandDabinforWorldsTeams. It was awful even overall though. Too much drama, tears and falls.

 

[cathlen]

I like Mai more than Marin....Congrats to mai

Me too. She was my favourite among Japanese Junior Ladies last season (along with Yuna SHiraiwa). But I think the lack of pressure she had coming this season has helped her. She was out of media focus, so she could train clamly and she strated season with winning Challenger So I think in some aspects it was good Marin became the star of last seaosn, instead of her

 

[Interspectator]

Me too. She was my favourite among Japanese Junior Ladies last season (along with Yuna SHiraiwa). But I think the lack of pressure she had coming this season has helped her. She was out of media focus, so she could train clamly and she strated season with winning Challenger So I think in some aspects it was good Marin became the star of last seaosn, instead of her

I hope she continues to fly under the radar, she still has some health problems so I don't want the whole of Japan's hopes pinned on her. I think each of the top Japanese ladies can shoulder the load together. They are pretty well-matched. Each winning or losing to each other at times.

 

[MaiKatze]

Anyone else disappointed in Rika? She was the only link left to the Akiko spirit and I think she's done.

 

[brightphoton]

Anyone else disappointed in Rika? She was the only link left to the Akiko spirit and I think she's done.

Her new Riverdance didn't look as good as last year's Riverdance ..... I wonder what's going on with her. I haven't been keeping up with the Japanese women

 

[ioanna]

Rika had a chance to redeem herself here but it didn't happen. Maybe next week at the Asian Winter Games... although I doubt it.

 

[Sai Bon]

Anyone else disappointed in Rika? She was the only link left to the Akiko spirit and I think she's done.

I wouldn't say that. Akiko is a choreographer. She will continue to create programmes for other skaters.
But I don't know what's going on with Rika. Something mental, or perhaps a health issue?

 

[gsk8]

Rika had a chance to redeem herself here but it didn't happen. Maybe next week at the Asian Winter Games... although I doubt it.

She'll be skating third in the final group (4).

http://info.sapporo2017.org/IIS/INFO