2021-22 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

[skylark]

Doubling posting, but this time it's warranted:

FigureSkatersOnline

@fsonline
·
3h

From USFS: Chelsea Liu and Danny O'Shea are resting at the hotel after suffering concussions during the long program of the #WarsawCup2021 Friday night.

This seems like good news. I just hope they're being watched and monitored very, very closely.

 

[Seven Sisters]

When US skaters travel to competitions abroad, they do bring a team doctor with them, correct? There are quite a few US skaters at this comp, I would hope that they would travel with support people, including capable medical staff.

If they don’t, they should.

 

[moonvine]

Thanks for the update on Chelsea and Danny. I have said a little prayer for their recovery as Chelsea really came down hard. Poor Danny, also injured, and probably wishing he could have done something more to protect Chelsea. They will be missed.

They will be missed? Have they retired?

 

[Yeslekyelnats]

Thanks for the update on Chelsea and Danny. I have said a little prayer for their recovery as Chelsea really came down hard. Poor Danny, also injured, and probably wishing he could have done something more to protect Chelsea. They will be missed.

They didn’t die…

 

[ladyjane]

They will be missed? Have they retired?

I suspect the 'they will be missed' refers to the time they will be 'out' due to the consequences of this horrifying fall - both with concussions as the most recent report read - and not to retirement persé. That remains to be seen. I hope not, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least after this experience, but I'll be the first to cheer them on if they return. For now I'm just hoping they will take great care and heal.

 

[labgoat]

They will be missed? Have they retired?

Injured when a carry lift hit a rut and both went down. Danny was unable to help break Chelsea's fall - both have concussions but have been released from the hospital. Chelsea took the worst of the fall and was unconscious for a bit and had low blood pressure. Happened at Warsaw Cup FS.

 

[moonvine]

Injured when a carry lift hit a rut and both went down. Danny was unable to help break Chelsea's fall - both have concussions but have been released from the hospital. Chelsea took the worst of the fall and was unconscious for a bit and had low blood pressure. Happened at Warsaw Cup FS.

I know they were injured. When I hear “they will be missed” I guess I take it to mean retirement.

 

[apgold]

I'm sorry what happened to Danny and Chelsea - I hope they both get the rest they need.

I did want to also congratulate Alexa and Brandon on their bronze medal at IDF - Brandon fell on a jump combo in the FS, but the rest of their skate was well done.

 

[skylark]

I suspect the 'they will be missed' refers to the time they will be 'out'

Yes. Chelsea and Danny have been such a shining light in the pairs competitions this season. Chiefly, in my opinion, because they came back, and paired up, for the love of the sport and to reclaim their joy in skating. And they've shared that love and joy with all of us.

 

[mrrice]

I was looking at the predictions for the GPF Pairs and I don't see Alexa and Bradon on any lists. Are they having a bad season? I haven't seen them at all.

 

[moonvine]

I was looking at the predictions for the GPF Pairs and I don't see Alexa and Bradon on any lists. Are they having a bad season? I haven't seen them at all.

They won a bronze medal at the GP in France. This weekend.

 

[mrrice]

They won a bronze medal at the GP in France. This weekend.

That's great! Are they still considered the #1 pair from the US?

 

[moonvine]

That's great! Are they still considered the #1 pair from the US?

Yes.

 

[mrrice]

Yes.

 

[moonvine]

C/J and CG/L are (in my opinion) really close for that 2nd spot.

 

[skylark]

I posted the following in Chelsea and Danny's Fan Fest, but I thought some people who'd be glad to read it here, might not see the FF.


I've been DM'ing with Chelsea via IG for a couple of months now, and I messaged her that I would pass on any news of how they're doing, if she felt up to answering.

She wrote back to say thank you to everyone for their love, prayers and well wishes. She said that they were planning to fly home today (following the team doctor's orders to delay their flight one day) so that they can rest, recover and see their doctors back home. They've both had head injuries before, and they'll "try to figure out the best plan of action for both of us to return to full health."

And later: "Health and safety is our number one priority and we will be sure to get the help we need to recover."

So it sounds to me like their priorities are in the right place. I hope the flight isn't too hard on them. I hope they have plenty of friends and family who can help them out so that they can rest, but also so that they don't get lonely. I recall Gabriella Papadakis saying that was one of the issues for her, along with and worsening the depression that came with her concussion.

 

[Skatingcat]

Thank you @skylark for posting here. I am glad she appears to be mostly okay, and I hope she and Danny will take all the time they need to recover. Glad you told her we are all rooting for her.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I was looking at the predictions for the GPF Pairs and I don't see Alexa and Bradon on any lists. Are they having a bad season? I haven't seen them at all.

K/F look good together and are showing incremental improvements in terms of comfort level with each other as fairly new partners. IMO, K/F should have medaled at the first GP, at home no less (Skate America). They placed fourth at SA. IMO, everyone, including fans and officials seemed more interested in the young Japanese team, Miura/Kihara, getting on the podium at SA. The ISU even sent a rep from the Japanese federation to SA to hand out the medals. K/F need to believe in themselves and boost their confidence. They are a strong team, deserving of higher quality scores on their best elements.

At IDF this weekend, it's too bad that K/F had issues in the sp on the throw in which Alexa could not control her landing. It could have been timing or the amount of force Brandon put into the throw. The timing and rhythm has to be right for the lady to not be overthrown. Throws are their money element, so that was difficult to swallow. But swallow it they did and they came out in the fp with energy and confidence, as well as with a lightness and ease I enjoyed seeing.

Unfortunately, Brandon tensed up on the first jumping pass. These jumps they can do in their sleep. They are very skilled athletically. I so wish for them that all doubts dissipate and they skate with belief, confidence and synchronicity. K/F were worthy of winning gold here over the two Russian teams who placed first and second with tentative errors in their fps. B/K were completely over-scored in the sp based on rep factor. They are clearly not as good as some of the other top Russian teams. Moskvina merely managed to camouflage their weaknesses in their sophomore season. But now, with Moskvina having helped Mishina/Galliamov find their groove last season, B/K's flaws stand out more in comparison. The judges don't care though.

The younger Russian team, Artemeva/Nazarychev were also over-scored a bit as a young team. But they appear to have a bit more potential even than B/K truthfully. K/F and James/Radford should have placed ahead of at least the young Russian team. But honestly both K/F and J/R are more talented and experienced than B/K as well. It's just that U.S. teams and newly paired teams are made to prove more to the judges than Russian teams

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

In terms of medals:

K/F: silver at Cranberry Cup; gold at John Nicks Classic; 4th at Skate America; bronze at IDF

C-G/LD: bronze at Autumn Classic; bronze at Finlandia Trophy; bronze at Skate Canada; 4th at NHK Trophy

C/J: bronze at Cranberry Cup; 4th at Finlandia Trophy; 5th at Skate America; silver at Warsaw Cup (coming in as 2019 defending champions)

Lu/Mitrofanov: 6th at Cranberry Cup; 3rd at John Nicks Classic; 5th at NHK Trophy; Rostelecom TBD

Liu/O'Shea: they skated well at two summer events, LA Open and Glacier Falls Classic (I can't find stats but I believe they were in the top two at both events with good scores); 5th at Cranberry Cup; 7th at Skate America; 5th in the sp at Warsaw Cup before WD after accident in fp

Chan/Howe: 4th at Cranberry Cup; 9th at Warsaw Cup

McBeath/Bartholomay: 7th at Cranberry Cup; 5th at Autumn Classic; 1st at U.S. Championship Series in Henderson, NV in October
M/B also skated well at a couple of local summer competitions

Honestly, this is an excellent, burgeoning record by U.S. pairs teams. Especially in view of the fact that K/F are good enough to have medaled at Skate America, and to have challenged for gold at IDF! No lie. As well, Ash & Timothy deserve kudos for toughing it out with courage and determination to grab three bronze medals at competitions where the judges gave them absolutely nothing, even shafting them in the scoring in their sps. By NHK Trophy, Ash & Timothy had garnered more respect from international judges, and they received a 70+ score in the sp, with not even their best sp performance of the season! Go figure. I mean, obviously that's figure skating. Confounding and frustrating, and I keep coming back for more, because I love the skaters.

A shout out to C/J for their courage and resilience all season and over the past couple of momentum-shattering seasons; it's admirable how they stormed back from miscues at Warsaw Cup to take silver behind perennial judges' faves, Tarasova/Morosov who usually don't skate at senior Bs with lower tier competitors -- this was an easy win for T/M, even with their tendency for mistakes.

 

[labgoat]

I know they were injured. When I hear “they will be missed” I guess I take it to mean retirement.

Sorry for the confusion, with such a bad fall I feel their recovery will take some time.