2021-2022 US Women's Figure Skating

[skatingiscool]

Karen is doing both segments of TE. I hope this blatant robbery fuels Alysa to do her very best for the individual.

Here is just my guess:
(1) Alysa lost lots of training time due to COVID quarantine. She is still trying to train and fine tune programs at the very last minute in Colorado. Also, recent coach change is a big disadvantage for her. She still need some time to adapt to the coach change.
(2) What's Beijing COVID protocol? If Athletes got COVID, do they need to provide multiple negative tests before departure? Perhaps Alysa doesn't meet Beijing strict COVID requirement yet.


We will all find out answers tomorrow. Actually, I prefer Alysa to take some rest and get ready for individual competition instead.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Here is just my guess:
(1) Alysa lost lots of training time due to COVID quarantine. She is still trying to train and fine tune programs at the very last minute in Colorado. Also, recent coach change is a big disadvantage for her. She still need some time to adapt to the coach change.
(2) What's Beijing COVID protocol? If Athletes got COVID, do they need to provide multiple negative tests before departure? Perhaps Alysa doesn't meet Beijing strict COVID requirement yet.


We will all find out answers tomorrow. Actually, I prefer Alysa to take some rest and get ready for individual competition instead.

I think this makes sense, and I would add on 2) that maybe they wanted to wait as long as possible for her to arrive so that they are sure she will pass the test in China as well, as a lot who recently had covid have experienced having a positive test in China because of the higher threshold in the tests.

But what I don´t understand is why they would let Karen do the whole Team Event. That seems like a lot. I´m sure the best for the whole team and her self would be to split it between Mariah and Karen.

When will it be official?

 

[Moxiejan]

I think this makes sense, and I would add on 2) that maybe they wanted to wait as long as possible for her to arrive so that they are sure she will pass the test in China as well, as a lot who recently had covid have experienced having a positive test in China because of the higher threshold in the tests.

But what I don´t understand is why they would let Karen do the whole Team Event. That seems like a lot. I´m sure the best for the whole team and her self would be to split it between Mariah and Karen.

When will it be official?

It will be official at 10 a.m. (Beijing time) on Wednesday.
As for splitting the women, it can't happen if two other events also are split. It has always been presumed that these 2 would be men’s (because the individual event starts so soon after the team) & dance (the USA’s highest-ranked event).

USA also has a similar difficult decision in pairs, with C-G/L & K/F being extremely close. It would be wonderful if they also could split, but seems unlikely.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

It will be official at 10 a.m. (Beijing time) on Wednesday.
As for splitting the women, it can't happen if two other events also are split. It has always been presumed that these 2 would be men’s (because the individual event starts so soon after the team) & dance (the USA’s highest-ranked event).

USA also has a similar difficult decision in pairs, with C-G/L & K/F being extremely close. It would be wonderful if they also could split, but seems unlikely.

I didn´t know that, in that case it makes much more sense. And it makes even more sense that Alysa isn´t doing it if they are not going to split because she should save her energy for the individual after having covid.

 

[Amei]

I think this makes sense, and I would add on 2) that maybe they wanted to wait as long as possible for her to arrive so that they are sure she will pass the test in China as well, as a lot who recently had covid have experienced having a positive test in China because of the higher threshold in the tests.

But what I don´t understand is why they would let Karen do the whole Team Event. That seems like a lot. I´m sure the best for the whole team and her self would be to split it between Mariah and Karen.

When will it be official?

Well I would think that they would be able to test her or anyone else using the same standard for Beijing, so that if someone tests positive they aren't doing it after a very long flight with other people and be made to quarantine in China

 

[skatingiscool]

Well I would think that they would be able to test her or anyone else using the same standard for Beijing, so that if someone tests positive they aren't doing it after a very long flight with other people and be made to quarantine in China

China has the strictest COVID policy in the world - COVID ZERO. They require travelers to log temperature for 14 days before departure and quarantine in hotel for 28 days upon arrival more than a year ago. I don't know their latest COVID travel rules, perhaps 21 quarantine days. Keep in mind, they may have more strict COVID requirements for athletes.

My guess is....they require negative test for at least two weeks before departure. If you test positive last week but negative 5 days ago, it doesn't mean that China will let you go in.

 

[Apple1078]

I can see there are reports that Mariah was on official team event practice ice Tuesday evening in Beijing.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Well I would think that they would be able to test her or anyone else using the same standard for Beijing, so that if someone tests positive they aren't doing it after a very long flight with other people and be made to quarantine in China

I don´t know what kind of test they offer in the US, but I thought the standard PCR test in most countries had a threshold of 30 or something, and China has increased the threshold to 35. So there have been several reports about those who recently had covid, tested negative on PCR before departure, but positive when they take the "China-test". There was just 2 more cases now from the Norwegian team (not athletes) who tested positive in Beijing today, who tested negative at the airport before departure. However, this weekend there was another 3 such cases from the Norwegian team, who recently had covid. They said they worked on finding a solution for the affected one, as they have recovered but the test comes back positive in Beijing. They were brought to the isolation hotel, but apparently they have now produced 3 negative test in a row and are now out of isolation. I don´t know if that means they were offered the normal test or just had to wait a little before they produced negatives, but it for sure gives hope that is possible to be out of isolation in short time if you test positive at the airport. But it would depend of the person and the immune system. I actually had an interesting read about that people who have a weakened immune system are longer in isolation because they use more time to get rid of the virus. I don´t think this is relevant to the athletes though, but an example on how immune system can have something to say. I´m sure Alysa will be fine, it´s almost a month since she tested positive so. And Tracey Wilson was fine, I saw pictures from her at practice with Jason

 

[yelyoh]

I don´t know what kind of test they offer in the US, but I thought the standard PCR test in most countries had a threshold of 30 or something, and China has increased the threshold to 35. So there have been several reports about those who recently had covid, tested negative on PCR before departure, but positive when they take the "China-test". There was just 2 more cases now from the Norwegian team (not athletes) who tested positive in Beijing today, who tested negative at the airport before departure. However, this weekend there was another 3 such cases from the Norwegian team, who recently had covid. They said they worked on finding a solution for the affected one, as they have recovered but the test comes back positive in Beijing. They were brought to the isolation hotel, but apparently they have now produced 3 negative test in a row and are now out of isolation. I don´t know if that means they were offered the normal test or just had to wait a little before they produced negatives, but it for sure gives hope that is possible to be out of isolation in short time if you test positive at the airport. But it would depend of the person and the immune system. I actually had an interesting read about that people who have a weakened immune system are longer in isolation because they use more time to get rid of the virus. I don´t think this is relevant to the athletes though, but an example on how immune system can have something to say. I´m sure Alysa will be fine, it´s almost a month since she tested positive so. And Tracey Wilson was fine, I saw pictures from her at practice with Jason

Rafa Nadal was very sick with Covid in mid December and he just won the Aussie Open going through seven rounds of competition, a couple of them grueling (the final was nearly 5.5 hours). And he was on crutches mid summer with a degenerative foot issue. And he's 35. Alysa will be fine.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Rafa Nadal was very sick with Covid in mid December and he just won the Aussie Open going through seven rounds of competition, a couple of them grueling (the final was nearly 5.5 hours). And he was on crutches mid summer with a degenerative foot issue. And he's 35. Alysa will be fine.

You know, i´m pretty sure she will be fine, she also has age on her side. But when that said, covid hits very differently and recovery is different. Even for young people. My main concern was not that she will be healthy enough, but more trouble with testing regime in China. But since there is almost a month since she tested positive i´m sure her test will be fine too.

 

[Amei]

Rafa Nadal was very sick with Covid in mid December and he just won the Aussie Open going through seven rounds of competition, a couple of them grueling (the final was nearly 5.5 hours). And he was on crutches mid summer with a degenerative foot issue. And he's 35. Alysa will be fine.

Well Shcherbakova was limping through the end of last season for months after getting sick, she WD from Rostelecom in November, Daniil remarked at Worlds at the end of March that they were still modifying her training.

 

[skatingiscool]

Well Shcherbakova was limping through the end of last season for months after getting sick, she WD from Rostelecom in November, Daniil remarked at Worlds at the end of March that they were still modifying her training.

Kostornaia was sick with COVID and she still not back in the peak form yet. We don't now the impact of COVID on Alysa yet. I'm glad Alysa is not in team event. Alysa needs more rest and focus on individual competition instead. Honestly, people don't remember ladies got bronze team medal from last Olympics. Mirai did great by landing triple axel in team event, that's about it. What people remember is that.....US ladies did very bad in last Olympics with 9th, 10th and 11th finish. There were lots of negative comments and hate towards Karen right after Olympics last time.

Hope Alysa and her team has more realistic goal - top 10 finish and place higher than Karen/Mariah at Olympics. If Alysa is still not back in her peak form, she should do 2A instead of 3A.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Well i am going to toss out the gorilla in the middle of the room.

Putting Mariah in the team event with Adam as her coach is an argument for her to be on Dancing with the Stars.

DWTS almost certainly will want a figure skater next season, which is frankly good PR/advertising for USFS

Mariah, as national champ and newly minted Olympic medalist, but also coached by the post Olympics winner from 4 years ago (Adam) makes for a great storyline.

 

[yelyoh]

Well Shcherbakova was limping through the end of last season for months after getting sick, she WD from Rostelecom in November, Daniil remarked at Worlds at the end of March that they were still modifying her training.

Was Alysa injured recently?

 

[Amei]

Was Alysa injured recently?

No we are speaking of her covid diagnosis, I mentioned Shcherbakova because she had been sick last season and she was having to modify training for months later.

 

[sjchilly]

It's my understanding that team USA needs to name up to two possibly entries in each discipline two days before the event begins. They can then make up to two substitutions between short/required and free/long programs. The team/individual who does the required/short program has to be prepared to do the long/free program if a covid substitution needs to be made. Otherwise the team selection for long/free can be based on projected performance.

 

[Remilia]

I didn´t know that, in that case it makes much more sense. And it makes even more sense that Alysa isn´t doing it if they are not going to split because she should save her energy for the individual after having covid.

We will all find out answers tomorrow. Actually, I prefer Alysa to take some rest and get ready for individual competition instead.

Well...she won't medal in the individual event barring complete meltdowns from the Russian's and mistakes from the Japanese women, so looking at it from the pov of Alysa/her team, forsaking the te to focus on the individual does not, in fact, make sense.

But o well, what's done is done. Fingers crossed that she is in proper form and can have two clean, amazing performances and manage a top 7 finish.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Well i am going to toss out the gorilla in the middle of the room.

Putting Mariah in the team event with Adam as her coach is an argument for her to be on Dancing with the Stars.

DWTS almost certainly will want a figure skater next season, which is frankly good PR/advertising for USFS

Mariah, as national champ and newly minted Olympic medalist, but also coached by the post Olympics winner from 4 years ago (Adam) makes for a great storyline.

At I the only one who thinks it’s kinda stupid? The DWTS part cause Olympics?

 

[ucrgirl]

At I the only one who thinks it’s kinda stupid? The DWTS part cause Olympics?

No you aren't the only one. DWTS is such a weird popularity contest of a show. I keep thinking that every season must be the last. But I guess it is one of the only ways for US figure skaters to make money off their image post Olympics.

 

[Amei]

Well i am going to toss out the gorilla in the middle of the room.

Putting Mariah in the team event with Adam as her coach is an argument for her to be on Dancing with the Stars.

DWTS almost certainly will want a figure skater next season, which is frankly good PR/advertising for USFS

Mariah, as national champ and newly minted Olympic medalist, but also coached by the post Olympics winner from 4 years ago (Adam) makes for a great storyline.

Are you implying that the Fed made their decision based on commercial opportunities/symmetry?

Well I don't wish anyone to bomb, if the Fed made the decision of the team event based on that, it would serve the Fed right if it blew up in their face.