To me, the USFSA is in error when it downgrades its own national championship in the hope of somehow providing a boost for U.S. skaters at worlds. Even on the TV broadcasts, the emphasis is on, Who will qualify for the World team? I would like it much better if the suspense were built around, Who will become the U.S. Champion? Let Worlds take care of itself.
Similarly, at Worlds, I think too much attention was devoted to the question of earning spots at the Olympics. Yes, yes, of course national federations are concerned about this. But the point of the World Championships is to determine the winner of the world title right now. No one can foretell the future, but to be crowned the best in the world at your sport right here, right now -- that's not exactly chopped liver.
I agree with all of this. And, hey, let's stir the pot - even if I don't have a better solution to the dilemma.
Let's address the "spots" drama that occurs every year, but especially in the pre-Olympic year. For example, let's look at the US Pairs situation. We have three Olympic spots next year. OK, that's fine... let's assume whatever pair jumps through the qualification hoops for purposes of this discussion.
Are our pairs REALLY in a position where with a straight face, we can justify Canada (for example) having only two while we have three? Especially when it is possible (if not likely) that our current gold and silver medalists are likely to be ineligible? Sure, that's the way the results at Worlds landed, those are the rules. And I don't really have a beef with that in the sense that those spots were earned on the field of battle and not in a backroom negotiation.
But let's acknowledge that third spot comes at the expense of whatever team is sitting on the 17th qualification, and they may be from a federation with no representation at all. And, sure, I agree that unknown third US pair has worked hard and has Olympic dreams and that's great and all... but so does that team sitting in 17th, who may, in fact, be the better pair.
The proud American in me is waving a flag and shouting "USA! USA!" but the figure skating fan inside is shrugging his shoulders.
And I don't want to be seen as the anti-American American, so I'll ask if anyone knows, without looking it up, the two non-Misha men from Kazakhstan who deserve a trip to the Olympics more than the first man off the Olympic roster?
And remember the annual drama we used to have about which Spanish dance team would get the nod to major competitions? Any reasonably unbiased person would acknowledge that they both deserved it more than the last team that made it through the qualification labyrinth.
As Mathman alludes, the chatter about "spots" is about federations, and athletes only indirectly. It's nationalistic.
Don't remember any Fremen ice skaters though. But they might have existed!
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