2018-19 U.S. Ladies' figure skating

[MarinHondas]

Normally I'd say that, unless she wouldn't be competitive with the US women, there wouldn't be any compelling reason to switch. However, Chinese athletes who reach the top of their sport can do tremendously well financially through sponsorships. Li Na, a former top tennis player, secured $48 million in sponsorships after winning a Grand Slam title.

Hmm, do successful Chinese skaters make that much as well? Boyang Jin and Sui/Han? You know, come to think of it...weren't Sui/Han in a Beats Ad last year. I am sure that was pretty lucrative. If Chinese athletes can make so much money, I would say that's a very compelling reason to switch.

 

[chuckm]

Skaters do give up a lot skating for China---they don't have much say about their careers or their personal lives, for that matter. Shen and Zhao couldn't date while they were competing and had to wait until they were allowed to stop competing to get married. Same for Pang and Tong.

I'm not sure if China allows dual citizenship. If not, Beverly Zhu would have to give up her US citizenship to become a Chinese citizen, and she'd have to be a Chinese citizen to compete for China at the Olympics. Then what happens after the Olympics are over......

 

[andromache]

Skaters do give up a lot skating for China---they don't have much say about their careers or their personal lives, for that matter. Shen and Zhao couldn't date while they were competing and had to wait until they were allowed to stop competing to get married. Same for Pang and Tong.

I'm not sure if China allows dual citizenship. If not, Beverly Zhu would have to give up her US citizenship to become a Chinese citizen, and she'd have to be a Chinese citizen to compete for China at the Olympics. Then what happens after the Olympics are over......

http://www.clic.org.hk/en/topics/immigration/chinese_nationality/q6.shtml

It appears that China does not allow dual citizenship.

https://www.dualcitizenship.com/countries/china.html
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/dual-nationality.htm

But then there's this, which seems like it could apply to Beverly assuming one of her parents is a Chinese national. If that is the case, then Beverly is de facto a dual citizen already, it seems?

From a brief Google search, it seems like China really dislikes it when their citizens get citizenship elsewhere, but that wouldn't be the case for Beverly - it'd be closer to the opposite. And if she's doing it to represent China at the Olympics? I don't see why they wouldn't let her.

 

[frida80]

China is planning on making exceptions for the Olympics. Last time they invested $44 billion dollars in hosting the 2008 games. Paying off a few nationals living in the US for their kids to skate for China is a drop in the bucket. Beverly will not be the only one. They will be other promising US kids that will make the leap.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Hmm, do successful Chinese skaters make that much as well? Boyang Jin and Sui/Han? You know, come to think of it...weren't Sui/Han in a Beats Ad last year. I am sure that was pretty lucrative. If Chinese athletes can make so much money, I would say that's a very compelling reason to switch.

I think top women in figure skating will always have the best prospects among the four divisions. Look at how Yuna and Mao did, then think about the size of the Chinese market compared to South Korea or Japan.

 

[hippomoomin]

Is Alysa's adopted by her father?

I actually was wondering if China would try to recruit Alysa Liu, but I imagine that the US would NOT want to give her up, and having a gay father would probably also be difficult for the more traditionally minded people in China to except.

 

[frida80]

Is Alysa's adopted by her father?

No. He used a surrogate and a donor egg to have her and her siblings.

 

[truthbooth]

Great skates and scores today from Mariah Bell and Ting Cui.

Combined with Bradie's impressive showing last week, could this season be the turning point for US Ladies skating? Don't want to jinx it!

 

[SimplyAFan]

Great skates and 70+ scores for the first time today from Mariah Bell and Ting Cui. Good stuff.

Combined with Bradie's impressive showing last week, could this season be the turning point for US Ladies skating? Don't want to jinx it!

Coming out of my hiatus from posting to say that this is exactly what I was thinking when I saw both scores today! Fingers crossed for them all!

 

[princessalica]

Super excited for both of them! Hoping Gracie also comes back with fire! But yay US ladies!

 

[mrrice]

Great skates and 70+ scores for the first time today from Mariah Bell and Ting Cui. Good stuff.

Combined with Bradie's impressive showing last week, could this season be the turning point for US Ladies skating? Don't want to jinx it!

Which event did Mariah and Ting attend?

 

[lavenderblossom]

Which event did Mariah and Ting attend?

Mariah Bell is competing at Nebelhorn Trophy, Ting Cui is at JGP Ostrava.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Mariah Bell is competing at Nebelhorn Trophy, Ting Cui is at JGP Ostrava.

Too many events and disciplines going on!! I’m like.... ever time I log into GS!!!

I can’t wait to get home and catch up on Mariah Bell. She’s so high on my list of favorites and it sounds like she did well and even got her SP combo on

 

[mrrice]

I just saw Mariah on YouTube...Spectacular. The US ladies are really stepping it up this year. I hope she skates well in the free. I don't really care if she wins as long as she stays on her feet and has a nice program. I'm so proud of her. The US has 3 spots, right? If Bradie and Mariah get the first 2....Who do you think will get the 3rd spot???

 

[MarinHondas]

I just saw Mariah on YouTube...Spectacular. The US ladies are really stepping it up this year. I hope she skates well in the free. I don't really care if she wins as long as she stays on her and has a nice program. I'm so proud of her. The US has 3 spots, right? If Bradie and Mariah get the first 2....Who do you think will get the 3rd spot???

US ladies have two spots. (Top two Worlds placements were 6th and 10th which is equal to 16. The top two must be 13 or less to earn three spots)

 

[mrrice]

US ladies have two spots. (Top two Worlds placements were 6th and 10th which is equal to 16. The top two must be 13 or less to earn three spots)

That's fine. Personally, I like to see a real fight for those world spots because I think it pushes the skaters to be their absolute best. Good luck in the free, Mariah.

 

[SimplyAFan]

That's fine. Personally, I like to see a real fight for those world spots because I think it pushes the skaters to be their absolute best. Good luck in the free, Mariah.

Agreed. I’d also like to see Ting go to Jr worlds with whoever ends up being the next highest scoring junior and get more spots in next years JGP so the US ladies have more chances at getting competition experience.

 

[stella luna]

Though Mirai is not competing this year, she's still listed on Team A for the USFSA's team envelopes. Is it standard procedure *not* to move anyone up from Team B? And does this mean Bradie gets more funding, since she's officially the only singles female on Team A?

 

[ice coverage]

Though Mirai is not competing this year ...

AFAIK, Mirai has not said that she would not compete at 2019 Nats.
She said only that she would not compete in the GP series.

Nagasu, a two-time Olympian who in PyeongChang became the first U.S. woman to land a triple Axel at the Olympics, said she will sit out the fall Grand Prix series but could return later in the season.

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2018/06/27/mirai-nagasu-figure-skating/ (Jun 27)​

… And does this mean Bradie gets more funding, since she's officially the only singles female on Team A?

It is not true that Bradie is officially the only singles lady on Team A.

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... Is it standard procedure *not* to move anyone up from Team B? ...

USFS has very detailed criteria for the different levels of team envelopes.

www.usfigureskating.org/story?id=84105&menu=TeamUSA​

As a hypothetical matter (given that I do not agree with your premise re Mirai):

My two cents are that I would not expect USFS to change funding for anyone else just because another skater is taking a year off.

Regardless of who is or is not in a higher envelope, the skaters receiving Team B funding fulfilled the criteria for Team B funding -- and not for Team A funding.​

 

[stella luna]

Thanks. Of course it would be great to see Mirai compete at Nationals, though the Grand Prix would have allowed her to hone her programs before judges. Any word on if she is still training?

AFAIK, Mirai has not said that she would not compete at 2019 Nats.
She said only that she would not compete in the GP series.

Nagasu, a two-time Olympian who in PyeongChang became the first U.S. woman to land a triple Axel at the Olympics, said she will sit out the fall Grand Prix series but could return later in the season.

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2018/06/27/mirai-nagasu-figure-skating/ (Jun 27)​

It is not true that Bradie is officially the only singles lady on Team A.

---

USFS has very detailed criteria for the different levels of team envelopes.

www.usfigureskating.org/story?id=84105&menu=TeamUSA​

As a hypothetical matter (given that I do not agree with your premise re Mirai):

My two cents are that I would not expect USFS to change funding for anyone else just because another skater is taking a year off.

Regardless of who is or is not in a higher envelope, the skaters receiving Team B funding fulfilled the criteria for Team B funding -- and not for Team A funding.​