2021-2022 US Women's Figure Skating

[TontoK]

I for one am not side-eyeing or blaming USFS for this one.

This is an excellent reminder that, as fans, we aren't always fully "in the know" about some of these situations.

I'll still engage in wild speculation, though...

Jokes aside, it does sound like the Olympics were a tough situation for the family.

 

[moonvine]

I do not follow the women, but the most logical conclusion for me is that Alysa did not skate the Team Event due to the attempted intimidation from the Chinese government.

Arthur Liu was first targeted in *October*. “We believed Alysa had a very good chance of making the Olympic team and truly were very scared,” So, before any selections were made for Team Event, the intimidation began.

Alysa was not chosen for the TE because Alysa's father was quite rightfully minimizing the amount of time she would spend in China. Some things are even more important than Olympic medals.

I for one am not side-eyeing or blaming USFS for this one.

That also explains why she arrived in the country so late.

 

[el henry]

That also explains why she arrived in the country so late.

Exactly.

If it were just "clueless USFS doesn't pick Alysa", she could have trained and left with the "second set" of (non IAM) Americans, Mariah, Ashley and Timothy and Jason. Instead, she is on commercial plane at the last possible minute.

It seems like the most logical interpretation to me.

 

[LiamForeman]

Makes me wonder what the journalists at the lesson of skating gossip have to say or backtrack about Arthur..... They prolly don't even care. They got their clicks.... Journalism at its finest?

 

[halulupu]

Did Alysa change her coaches again?

 

[macy]

Did Alysa change her coaches again?

she changed after her last GP event.

 

[skatingiscool]

Did Alysa change her coaches again?

It seems like Alysa left her Colarado coach team. Alysa didn't go back to Colorado since Olympics. Alysa Liu went back to her harness coach Phillip DiGuglielmo full time at Bay area. That's why Philip was with Alysa at World championship, not Viktor Pfeifer.

I agree with Jonathan from this and that channel on Alysa's current situation. Is she retiring? "May be". However, winning bronze medal at World may change Alysa's mind. Since USA qualifies for 3 spots next year, Alysa may try to skate one more season before heading to college full time next year. We will see.

Here is Jonathan's comment on Alysa, Mariah and Karen, very on point.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[skatingiscool]

I’m a Mariah apologist but Alysa really delivered today. I suppose there’s a nice poetry to the fact that the season closes with each of the top three ladies enjoying a laurel: Mariah the U.S. title; Karen the Olympic team medal; and, now, Alysa the Worlds podium.

It will be interesting to see what decisions each of the ladies and Bradie make next year. It seems like Mariah peaked technically back in the 2019-2020 season and performances like those today are the cap of her physical capabilities. Almost medaling at Worlds and remaining competitive on the GP circuit without a reliable 3-3, though, are impressive in and of itself. I can see her coming back for another year or two since she would still be competitive domestically for about that length of time, maybe reviving her Chromatica routine and just going for fun programs next year.

Perhaps Alysa may find the medal today a satisfying conclusion to at least this round of her career.

Bradie is currently offering private lessons at Crystal Ice House in Illinois.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbdbGnAPA7b/

Bradie appeared at US championship on March 13.

You can find more Bradie pictures at Robert Ice Crown Center facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robert Crown Ice Center/172607522771353/

 

[moonvine]

It seems like Alysa left her Colarado coach team. Alysa didn't go back to Colorado since Olympics. Alysa Liu went back to her harness coach Phillip DiGuglielmo full time at Bay area. That's why Philip was with Alysa at World championship, not Viktor Pfeifer.

I agree with Jonathan from this and that channel on Alysa's current situation. Is she retiring? "May be". However, winning bronze medal at World may change Alysa's mind. Since USA qualifies for 3 spots next year, Alysa may try to skate one more season before heading to college full time next year. We will see.

Here is Jonathan's comment on Alysa, Mariah and Karen, very on point.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

I feel bad for Alysa. They have been through a LOT. First being anointed at the age of 13 as being the sole skater to save the US Women (same is happening to Ilia right now and I want to slap into next week each person who does it). Then a growth spurt. Then a coaching change apparently forced by her father. Then the whole mess with China. It is a LOT for anyone.

 

[Dogo]

It seems like Alysa left her Colarado coach team. Alysa didn't go back to Colorado since Olympics. Alysa Liu went back to her harness coach Phillip DiGuglielmo full time at Bay area. That's why Philip was with Alysa at World championship, not Viktor Pfeifer.

I agree with Jonathan from this and that channel on Alysa's current situation. Is she retiring? "May be". However, winning bronze medal at World may change Alysa's mind. Since USA qualifies for 3 spots next year, Alysa may try to skate one more season before heading to college full time next year. We will see.

Here is Jonathan's comment on Alysa, Mariah and Karen, very on point.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Idk, Lease always comes off as if he has a personal vendetta with Mr. Liu. Plus, to this day I have to hear him say a single positive criticism of Alysa while praising some of her (big) achievements as well. He is the first to usually complement European skater girls and the last to one to barely acknowledge the effort that skaters with Asian ancestry put as well. This is not to belittle any skater, as I myself am a big fan of many European skaters who have lovely programs, but his skepticism and bias with Asian-American athletes is quite obvious. That said, I'm sure he will be the first to celebrate Liu's retirement as he has being pushing this agenda for quite a while.

I just want Alysa to do whatver is best for her and, if she wants to keep skating, keep her infectious joy in her skating career.

 

[skatingiscool]

I feel bad for Alysa. They have been through a LOT. First being anointed at the age of 13 as being the sole skater to save the US Women (same is happening to Ilia right now and I want to slap into next week each person who does it). Then a growth spurt. Then a coaching change apparently forced by her father. Then the whole mess with China. It is a LOT for anyone.

It seems to me that Alysa's dad was just trying to protect Alysa. Alysa just stayed in Colarado briefly between November (security threat started in October) and Olympics. Once Olympics was over and the arrest was made by FBI, Alysa moved back to bay area. If Alysa's dad is truly a tiger dad, he could force her to go back to Colarado and prepare for World championship. Arthur let Alysa took a week off and hung out with friends before World championship instead. I'm surprised that Alysa won bronze.... given that she doesn't has coach and she didn't spend lots of time on training for World.

https://www.teamusa.org/news/2022/march/25/alysa-liu-captures-bronze-at-her-first-world-championships

"“I took a week off after the Olympics, so I trained immediately after that,” Liu said. “I tried really hard for the little time I had, and it really paid off.”

 

[Dogo]

I feel bad for Alysa. They have been through a LOT. First being anointed at the age of 13 as being the sole skater to save the US Women (same is happening to Ilia right now and I want to slap into next week each person who does it). Then a growth spurt. Then a coaching change apparently forced by her father. Then the whole mess with China. It is a LOT for anyone.

Her previous coaching change may have been related to the threats he got from the Chinese Gov. If he was in contact with the US gov, it's possible they recommended to keep her in a secure location until the Olympics (thus, Colorado being a good opt) and not share info on this with anyone else (including their previous coaches). The changing coaching dates coincide with the first reports he made to the US Gov. We'll see if he was as crazy as some people may have think of him.

 

[skatingiscool]

Her previous coaching change may have been related to the threats he got from the Chinese Gov. If he was in contact with the US gov, it's possible they recommended to keep her in a secure location until the Olympics (thus, Colorado being a good opt) and not share info on this with anyone else (including their previous coaches). The changing coaching dates coincide with the first reports he made to the US Gov. We'll see if he was as crazy as some people may have think of him.

Her previous coaching change may have been related to the threats he got from the Chinese Gov. If he was in contact with the US gov, it's possible they recommended to keep her in a secure location until the Olympics (thus, Colorado being a good opt) and not share info on this with anyone else (including their previous coaches). The changing coaching dates coincide with the first reports he made to the US Gov. We'll see if he was as crazy as some people may have think of him.

I agree. If Arthur is crazy, he could force Alysa to go back to Colorado but he didn't.

 

[moonvine]

Her previous coaching change may have been related to the threats he got from the Chinese Gov. If he was in contact with the US gov, it's possible they recommended to keep her in a secure location until the Olympics (thus, Colorado being a good opt) and not share info on this with anyone else (including their previous coaches). The changing coaching dates coincide with the first reports he made to the US Gov. We'll see if he was as crazy as some people may have think of him.

Ok, but my point was that it was a lot for them. Whether their father changed coaches because he was crazy or because of threats from Chinese government- either situation Is a lot to deal with. The latter probably even more so.

 

[moonvine]

Her previous coaching change may have been related to the threats he got from the Chinese Gov. If he was in contact with the US gov, it's possible they recommended to keep her in a secure location until the Olympics (thus, Colorado being a good opt) and not share info on this with anyone else (including their previous coaches). The changing coaching dates coincide with the first reports he made to the US Gov. We'll see if he was as crazy as some people may have think of him.

It’s still a lot. I still feel bad for them. Either way.

 

[macy]

it sounds like the week off after the olympics was good for her. without it she may have been burnt out at worlds and not have skated as well as she did.

also taken from that article about Karen: “I’m definitely reorganizing my priorities, school will be No. 1,” the 22-year-old said. “It’s a possibility it’s my last competition. I technically still qualify for nationals next year, so I could go. ... I do love what I’m doing. I’m keeping that door open.”

do you think we will see her again?

 

[skatingiscool]

it sounds like the week off after the olympics was good for her. without it she may have been burnt out at worlds and not have skated as well as she did.

also taken from that article about Karen: “I’m definitely reorganizing my priorities, school will be No. 1,” the 22-year-old said. “It’s a possibility it’s my last competition. I technically still qualify for nationals next year, so I could go. ... I do love what I’m doing. I’m keeping that door open.”

do you think we will see her again?

Possibly. 3 World spots in 2023 make all the girls feel excited, isn't? On top of that, there may be just one (or zero?) Russian girl next year. It's very possible for US women to win a World medal next year again. Can Karen be in top 3 at nationals? That's different story. We all know that she lost triple lutz. If you look up Jacky Wong's practice notes, Karen couldn't land triple lutz in practice anymore. 16th at Olympics + 8th at World is pretty bad result for her. I doubt USFS will send her to World next year again.

Is Isabeau eligible for senior World next year? Will ISU increase the age eligibility for World 2023?

 

[macy]

Possibly. 3 World spots in 2023 make all the girls feel excited, isn't? On top of that, there may be just one (or zero?) Russian girl next year. It's very possible for US women to win a World medal next year again. Can Karen be in top 3 at nationals? That's different story. We all know that she lost triple lutz. If you look up Jacky Wong's practice notes, Karen couldn't land triple lutz in practice anymore. 16th at Olympics + 8th at World is pretty bad result for her. I doubt USFS will send her to World next year again.

Is Isabeau eligible for senior World next year? Will ISU increase the age eligibility for World 2023?

it almost sounds like Karen might consider a swan song and try to go out on a high note at nationals. she didn't mention competing on the GP next season.

if the age limit passes it won't raise next season. i think it raises to 16 in 23-24 and 17 in 24-25 so the current juniors turning seniors won't get screwed. i believe Isabeau will be eligible next year.

 

[Jammers]

It's amazing with all the turmoil Alysa went through starting after the GP season when she switched coached then got Covid at Nationals then this incident with the Chinese that she didn't just meltdown on the ice instead she skated 4 mostly clean programs at the Olympics and Worlds and is a world medalist. . If only all US ladies were as tough a competitor as this young lady is. The way she fights on the ice reminds me a lot of Tara who never backed down from anyone not even the defending US and World champion.

 

[skatingiscool]

It's amazing with all the turmoil Alysa went through starting after the GP season when she switched coached then got Covid at Nationals then this incident with the Chinese that she didn't just meltdown on the ice instead she skated 4 mostly clean programs at the Olympics and Worlds and is a world medalist. . If only all US ladies were as tough a competitor as this young lady is. The way she fights on the ice reminds me a lot of Tara who never backed down from anyone not even the defending US and World champion.

Yes. 100% agree with you. I also hope that USFed can treat Alysa better. It's so obvious that Alysa is NOT US fed's favorite for some reasons. Kind of like....Koari is Japan Fed's favorite but Wakaba is not. Alysa got robbed at World (short program) while Wakaba got robbed at Olympics. Both Alysa and Wakaba don't have federations on their back. I won't be surprised if Mariah and Karen got the best GP assignment (Skate America) while Alysa got the worst assignment (NHK Trophy) again.