2025 World Championships Pairs Short Program

[NanaPat]

Didn't this happen to Meghan and Eric before the olympics and they came back for OGB?

I was thinking about that and looked it up. In 2017, Eric was injured but in the end Canada did earn its 3 Olympic spots at 2017 Worlds: Lubov/Dylan were 6th and Meghan/Eric 7th. Then Dylan was injured and Lubov/Dylan came 4th at 2018 Canadians and didn't get to go to the Olympics.

 

[4everchan]

OK... i watched DSD...

that spin is the one element that will be costly.... they are usually so good on it... oh well..

the twist : usually also their best element so not sure what happened ...

jump okay... throw, not great but she saved it...

But they can come back in the LP...

I am hoping for 3 teams for Canada at worlds and olympics... because I really want Kelly Ann and Loucas or even Fiona and Ben to go too...

 

[Sai Bon]

Just caught up on replay. So happy for my children RikuRyu. Standing O! What a strong performance after their struggles with injury! Especially glad that Riku stayed on her feet in the SBS jump and Ryuichi slayed like the samurai that he is. Gutted for my younger children YunaSumi, but hopefully they will chalk it down to experience. They are still baby pairs and have a long way to go. Surprised that the other top teams made mistakes, though the Italians were impressive. What will happen in the free? I can't wait.

 

[4everchan]

I think there are two different interpretations of what you mean by "More spots will be available for other countries at the qualifying competition if these results stand. "

If you mean there will be more Olympic spots to be earned at the qualifying competition, that isn't correct. If the current results hold, there will be 16 Olympic spots given out at this competition and 3 available for the qualifier.

However, if you mean there will be more teams vying for the 3 available spots at the qualifying competition, the answer is maybe.

If team Japan#2 had done better, then Japan would get 2 Olympic spots at this competition, but one other team at the bottom of the results would lose their spot. So in one scenario Japan2 goes to the qualifier, in the other bottom (knocked out by Japan2). The only way there would be more teams at the qualifier is if both the knocked-out team and Japan3 went to the qualifier. Does Japan have a team3 they could send?

If the USA gets 3 spots for Worlds, they would still get 2 Olympic spots at this competition (same as if they got 2 World spots), BUT they would be able to send a third team to the qualifier. So number of teams vying at the qualifier would be bigger (by 1).

If Canada does a bit better at this competition, they could get 3 Olympic spots (instead of 2). So they would knock someone at the bottom out, and that team would presumably try for a spot at the qualifier, so one more team vying for a spot at the qualifier.

If the current results hold after the free skate (which is possible but unlikely),
the Olympic pairs spots will be distributed:

2 spots: ITA, GER, USA, CAN
1 spot with the right to try to qualify one more: JPN, GEO, HUN, AUS
1 spot UZB, GBR, NED, FIN

Also,
let's not forget that there are only going to be 3 spots available at the qualifier right ?

If I am not wrong here, there will be one spot for
ROC for sure
China for almost sure too

So pretty much only one spot would remain. If a country wants to an extra spot, they better do it in the LP as the qualifier for pairs will be hell.

 

[4everchan]

I am going to say it once

JUSTICE for Kelly Ann and Loucas.

They are so often short changed.. .this was a great performance.

 

[TT_Fin]

Finns will not get Olympic spot because Filippo cannot get citizenship in time - not sure if he will get it later either as there are some demands.

Edit, corrected typos and removed my question as it was answered at th Olympic qualification thread.

 

[FlossieH]

I think there are two different interpretations of what you mean by "More spots will be available for other countries at the qualifying competition if these results stand. "

If you mean there will be more Olympic spots to be earned at the qualifying competition, that isn't correct. If the current results hold, there will be 16 Olympic spots given out at this competition and 3 available for the qualifier.

However, if you mean there will be more teams vying for the 3 available spots at the qualifying competition, the answer is maybe.

If team Japan#2 had done better, then Japan would get 2 Olympic spots at this competition, but one other team at the bottom of the results would lose their spot. So in one scenario Japan2 goes to the qualifier, in the other bottom (knocked out by Japan2). The only way there would be more teams at the qualifier is if both the knocked-out team and Japan3 went to the qualifier. Does Japan have a team3 they could send?

If the USA gets 3 spots for Worlds, they would still get 2 Olympic spots at this competition (same as if they got 2 World spots), BUT they would be able to send a third team to the qualifier. So number of teams vying at the qualifier would be bigger (by 1).

If Canada does a bit better at this competition, they could get 3 Olympic spots (instead of 2). So they would knock someone at the bottom out, and that team would presumably try for a spot at the qualifier, so one more team vying for a spot at the qualifier.

If the current results hold after the free skate (which is possible but unlikely),
the Olympic pairs spots will be distributed:

2 spots: ITA, GER, USA, CAN
1 spot with the right to try to qualify one more: JPN, GEO, HUN, AUS
1 spot UZB, GBR, NED, FIN

The above was my understanding, but it seems that was incorrect. This has been posted in the thread about Olympic qualification:

While this is usually how it works out, technically, it is not guaranteed that everyone who made the Free qualifies for the Olympics.

For example, in pairs (yes, I know, fewer spots than FS qualifiers anyway, but definitely the discipline with the largest number of singular entries to exemplify the problem), based on current standings, it could turn out like this:

2 spots - JPN*, ITA, GER, GEO*, USA, HUN*, CAN, AUS*

In this case, every single one of the 16 spots up for grabs here will go to these 8 countries, with 4 spots being added to the Qualification event pool. Uzbekistan, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Finland would not qualify for the Olympics despite placing in the top 16 and neither GEO, HUN or AUS having a second Olympic-eligible pairs team.

 

[TT_Fin]

As this happened at night local time and our commentators are here, this was broadcast without commenting. I am having holiday week so I watched it afterwards and enjoyed it. I think I will watch a part of this again on afternoon with comments. I wish there will time people could choose no commenting but hearing the music. It should be possible today if it was wanted to do.

 

[labgoat]

Just caught up on replay. So happy for my children RikuRyu. Standing O! What a strong performance after their struggles with injury! Especially glad that Riku stayed on her feet in the SBS jump and Ryuichi slayed like the samurai that he is. Gutted for my younger children YunaSumi, but hopefully they will chalk it down to experience. They are still baby pairs and have a long way to go. Surprised that the other top teams made mistakes, though the Italians were impressive. What will happen in the free? I can't wait.

Riku/Ryu were the class of the field tonight - I was so happy for them. I adore your baby pair - so much potential, so much fun and so nice to see they are getting their 3TW down. I hope this is the start of a wonderful career for them.

 

[zebobes]

The above was my understanding, but it seems that was incorrect. This has been posted in the thread about Olympic qualification:

No, your original understanding was correct.

Finland is on the bubble, however, because if any of the Canadians move up enough to get three spots, that spot would go instead to Canada, though I suppose if it is almost impossible for them to get citizenship in time, it's not a great loss if this team loses it's Olympic qualification.

Germany is lucky, as the fact that both teams made the FS, they will be able to almost certainly qualify two spots, even if Hocke and Kunkel remain in 20th place.

The fact that the ISU should have changed the rules for qualification now that there are more pairs in the FS, only the top sixteen would guarantee a place at the Olympics, with those lower down merely giving countries a chance to earn more places at the Olympic Qualifier.

 

[aroundtheworld778]

No, your original understanding was correct.

Finland is on the bubble, however, because if any of the Canadians move up enough to get three spots, that spot would go instead to Canada, though I suppose if it is almost impossible for them to get citizenship in time, it's not a great loss if this team loses it's Olympic qualification.

Germany is lucky, as the fact that both teams made the FS, they will be able to almost certainly qualify two spots, even if Hocke and Kunkel remain in 20th place.

The fact that the ISU should have changed the rules for qualification now that there are more pairs in the FS, only the top sixteen would guarantee a place at the Olympics, with those lower down merely giving countries a chance to earn more places at the Olympic Qualifier.

Can Japan send Nag/Mor to the Sept qualifier or do they have to send a different pair?

 

[Karoltyna]

One more reflection after last night. Ioulia looked very down. I hope Michał is just as caring and friendly to her as he seemed to be. She shouldn't be hard on herself, if they didn't pair in 2023, they both would be probably retired by now and no one will blame her for mistakes.

 

[museksk8r]

Thank goodness, the judges got it right for the judging of the pairs SP. If this had been a repeat of the egregiously corrupt judging that occurred in the women’s SP, I would have been absolutely furious.

 

[TontoK]

Speaking of spot drama, which I don't usually engage in...

5+9=14... so if either American team can climb one spot, while the other holds their current placement... well, honestly, I didn't think it was within the realm of possibility, but USA could qualify three pairs for Milano.

Now, this comes with a huge caveat. I think some teams that would usually place ahead of them had errors that hurt their SP placement... and neither US pair has been a model of consistency in the free programs... but there's a chance, particularly if E/M can replicate their US Nats performance. I have slightly more faith that E/M can climb a spot or two than I do that K/O can maintain their current placement.

It's a crap shoot. We'll see how it plays out.

 

[zebobes]

Can Japan send Nag/Mor to the Sept qualifier or do they have to send a different pair?

Yes, they can. In 2021, when Vincent didn't make the free skate, he came out all guns blazing at Nebelhorn and won a third spot.

For pairs, it's going to be a MUCH harder task to get an extra spot, considering we have a China pair, an ROC pair, and maybe even an Italian or USA pair (depending on the results of the FS tonight) fighting for the three spots that will be given out at Nebelhorn. They've definitely got their work cut out for them.

 

[aroundtheworld778]

Yes, they can. In 2021, when Vincent didn't make the free skate, he came out all guns blazing at Nebelhorn and won a third spot.

For pairs, it's going to be a MUCH harder task to get an extra spot, considering we have a China pair, an ROC pair, and maybe even an Italian or USA pair (depending on the results of the FS tonight) fighting for the three spots that will be given out at Nebelhorn. They've definitely got their work cut out for them.

Agree. Also coming are the North Koreans who beat NagMor at Asian Winter Games. It's gonna be brutal.

 

[aroundtheworld778]

Speaking of spot drama, which I don't usually engage in...

5+9=14... so if either American team can climb one spot, while the other holds their current placement... well, honestly, I didn't think it was within the realm of possibility, but USA could qualify three pairs for Milano.

Now, this comes with a huge caveat. I think some teams that would usually place ahead of them had errors that hurt their SP placement... and neither US pair has been a model of consistency in the free programs... but there's a chance, particularly if E/M can replicate their US Nats performance. I have slightly more faith that E/M can climb a spot or two than I do that K/O can maintain their current placement.

It's a crap shoot. We'll see how it plays out.

I think the Canadians and Italians are gonna come back with a vengeance. Deanna and Max will make it difficult for KO to keep their spot.

 

[TontoK]

I think the Canadians and Italians are gonna come back with a vengeance. Deanna and Max will make it difficult for KO to keep their spot.

My guess would be that Max and Deanna overtake K/O, and I don't think Ellie and Danny can beat any of the four teams ahead of them.

The most likely scenario would be that Alysa and Misha overtake two teams, and if I were absolutely FORCED to make a bet, I'd say the best chance would be Aussies and the Hungarians, while holding off Lia and Trent and the rest of the tightly packed field near their current placement.

On paper, it will be very difficult for USA to earn placements adding to 13... but they don't compete on paper. Athletes actually have to perform, and we haven't seen any of these teams compete a long program at peak condition in AGES.

Still, I think it's more likely that Canada reaches the Magic 13 than Team USA. But there's a chance.... which was the point of my post. Anything can happen.

 

[NanaPat]

I am going to say it once

JUSTICE for Kelly Ann and Loucas.

They are so often short changed.. .this was a great performance.

That's what is so annoying about the underperformance/underscoring of the Canadian teams. Kelly Ann and Loucas did their job, and then some, and they will most likely be the ones left out of the Olympics if Canada doesn't get 3 spots.

 

[Skater Boy]

USA could realistically get three spots but a lot will depend on Canada I think. Will Deanna and Max as well as Lia and Trennt move up passsome of the American teams. USA looks good right now. But these teams are so tightly packed and so many are really good. But NO one is really great. I wonder even with the Chinese retirement of Sui and Han as a team if the war had not happened I think the Russians would be a real threat for 2 of the 3 podium spots. And as much as I like the Japanese and Italians they are not of the same echelon as great teams of he past. Ditto for the Germans. Then you have the Hungarians, Australians, Georgians along with the US and CAnada. It is really hard to watch last year's world champs struggle so much. I always worried that this team was not improving and growing even artistically. They have nothing really "special" tech or artistically wise. Well to be honest while Japan and Italy h ave some nice artistry these teams are not of the tech prowess of yester year. It wasn't long ago you had Meghan and Eric with triple l utzes individuals and a throw quad.