Yesterday was open practice while this was Team Event practice. Alysa wasn't on the Team practice, Amber was. That's why I was noting about Amber doing her free for it.
2026 Olympics Team Event speculation
- Thread starter SubRosa
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- Jul 11, 2018
i'm almost sure they're going to split men
Italy need Conti/Macii for both programmes if they want a realistic chance of a medal in the team event. Ghilardi/Ambrosini are too inconsistent and have a lower score potential even if completely clean.
Japan looks to be planning on splitting Men only (Kagiyama short, Sato free).
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- Mar 7, 2015
so they want the big prize !
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
What about USA Men? I assume they're splitting, but who is doing the Free?
From Jackie Wong, Ilia hasn't made a final decision on which parts of the Team Event he'll be doing, so there may not be a split in men.
Would you be able to post what it says? The article is blocked in the EU and UK.
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- Jan 28, 2013
Christine Brennan has an article out today. Ilia will do short, and there's lots of internal USFSA chatter about the long - I think it depends on standings after the short. Of course, she rattles on for a while without really saying anything newsy.
Edit: The general vibe is that everyone would prefer that Ilia not skate the team long, but nobody is committing one way or the other until the short is done. He could water down the team long and still probably get the top placement. Basically, what we've been speculating here for a few weeks.
I can't copy and paste it from my phone. Pretty much Miura/Kihara and Kaori Sakamoto will be doing both portions of the Team Event, along with Yoshida/Morita who can't split anyways.
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- Mar 3, 2014
Thank you @TontoK for pointing me to the article. I am usually no fan of Christine's, but I did like this quote she pulled from Brian Boitano:
“It’s too much responsibility,” Boitano said. “I hope that Ilia doesn’t choose (both) or they don’t try to put pressure on him to do it. I really don’t want him to have to do the short and the long. He’s dependable, he’ll do a great job, he will make the best of it, but at the same time, they have to start trusting these younger skaters. They have made the Olympic team. These guys are playing in the big ball park and you have to start relying on them
www.usatoday.com
Ilia should be looking out for Ilia and not a team medal. I like the team event, I have no doubt he could skate a comp every day of the week, but risk/reward? (and I am not saying that as an Andrew fan, believe it or not.
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“It’s too much responsibility,” Boitano said. “I hope that Ilia doesn’t choose (both) or they don’t try to put pressure on him to do it. I really don’t want him to have to do the short and the long. He’s dependable, he’ll do a great job, he will make the best of it, but at the same time, they have to start trusting these younger skaters. They have made the Olympic team. These guys are playing in the big ball park and you have to start relying on them
Will Ilia Malinin skate both parts of Olympics team event? What we know
Ilia Malinin and his coaches would prefer he skate just the short program in the team event to preserve his body for the men's individual event.
www.usatoday.com
Ilia should be looking out for Ilia and not a team medal. I like the team event, I have no doubt he could skate a comp every day of the week, but risk/reward? (and I am not saying that as an Andrew fan, believe it or not.
)
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- Jan 28, 2013
I should have mentioned that quote from Boitano in my synopsis. And I admit I'd rather he didn't skate the team long. In my case, it's because I want Max, not Andrew, to get the call. Of course, I like them both, but I've been pretty upfront about my openly biased rooting for Max this season, and that's not characteristic of my approach to the sport. I'm much more of a "let 'em skate and see who's better today" kind of fan.Thank you @TontoK for pointing me to the article. I am usually no fan of Christine's, but I did like this quote she pulled from Brian Boitano:
“It’s too much responsibility,” Boitano said. “I hope that Ilia doesn’t choose (both) or they don’t try to put pressure on him to do it. I really don’t want him to have to do the short and the long. He’s dependable, he’ll do a great job, he will make the best of it, but at the same time, they have to start trusting these younger skaters. They have made the Olympic team. These guys are playing in the big ball park and you have to start relying on them
Will Ilia Malinin skate both parts of Olympics team event? What we know
Ilia Malinin and his coaches would prefer he skate just the short program in the team event to preserve his body for the men's individual event.
Ilia should be looking out for Ilia and not a team medal. I like the team event, I have no doubt he could skate a comp every day of the week, but risk/reward? (and I am not saying that as an Andrew fan, believe it or not.
But I'm not changing things up at this late date - so, Go Max!
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- Mar 7, 2015
Well... too much pressure on Ilia ? What about too much pressure on Max or Andrew if their performance is the one that loses gold for the USA ? I think that team USA needs to do the maths after the SP and then make a decision that works in their favour for the gold medal. If they have a secure advantage over Japan, then sure, bring in Max or Andrew. But otherwise, Iia could certainly skate a watered down content and still earn enough points. The advantage in ice dance that the USA has in the RD will be smaller in the FD. Japan is not taking chances by keeping both their former world champions in pairs and women for both programs. It will be interesting but I disagree with Boitano. The amount of pressure Ilia would feel would be much lower to the amount of pressure the 2nd American man would feel... Ilia has more experience and is consistent. It's not the case with the other two skaters.
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- Jan 28, 2013
I don't disagree with a single thing you've said. But, Go Max!
Seriously, from my perspective, the ideal situation is that Team USA has a big lead after the shorts, and Max or Andrew get their shot.
But you are correct. Team Japan ain't playing around.
Sorry 
No such thing. And I believed him in an interview some time ago when he stated in no uncertain terms - he feeds off the pressure and adrenaline to motivate him when he's under the gun. That's a real competitor talking. If USA also needs him in the long to close the deal, I say roll with it.
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- Nov 3, 2012
Okay, so we don't really know yet. I didn't think so, but Japan flat out said already, so...
I think I will leave this thread and wait to see it on the actual start list. I know what I'd prefer, but what I or any outsider prefers doesn't matter.
I think I will leave this thread and wait to see it on the actual start list. I know what I'd prefer, but what I or any outsider prefers doesn't matter.
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- Jan 28, 2013
This seems to be the consensus on the Figure Skating X Community.
Although I've also seen a fair amount of hyperventilating about Ilia's boot laces, so I don't necessarily assign too much authority to that particular community.
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- Mar 3, 2014
I did not take Brian's quote to mean "Oh poor pitiful Ilia" at all. I do agree that it is not Ilia's responsibility to win gold for Team USA. And that that is how I took the quote.
I found the last part most interesting: You selected this Olympic team, USFS, now live with it. You wanted these guys, now use them.
(And so as not to be misunderstood, I have no problem with the Oly selections. I am disappointed and sad about one result, but I can't disagree. )
I have yet to ask my little cousin
I found the last part most interesting: You selected this Olympic team, USFS, now live with it. You wanted these guys, now use them.
(And so as not to be misunderstood, I have no problem with the Oly selections. I am disappointed and sad about one result, but I can't disagree. )
I have yet to ask my little cousin
