2026 Olympics Team Event speculation

[Skater Boy]

THe real battle is for the fifth and final spot. Tomorrow we find out the men's sp. Alot depends on what the erratic French do. They can be one of the best or one of the worst. Though that might describe Gogo boy but he is getting better. Canada might be paying the price though for not getting the breaks ie third in dance or pairs and Madi up in 5th . They are down a spot in each event from what they were maybe hoping. In some ways I am fine with France or Canada making the top 5 because they are no threats. What I'd like to see though is Canada get at least a medal. France is guaranteed at least one. But I really feel the judges have "turned" onPiper and Paul and the injury/accident h as destroyed Deanna and Max.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I’ve always disagreed with the idea of an Olympic competitor “holding out” for the individual event. I’m not buying that these skaters don’t have the stamina to skate multiple programs in a short amount of time. They should be doing just that on a regular basis anyway.

This happens all the time. 400m GOAT Sydney McLaughlin passed on the mixed relay at the last Olympics, costing the US gold to Netherlands. She could certainly have run multiple 400m every day but felt it would prevent her from peaking for her own event. In fact, the hero from the relay underperformed in her individual event. I can’t believe some of you act like skating an Olympic program is equivalent to doing a run through at home.

 

[el henry]

Athletes everywhere in all sports, if they are smart and savvy, conserve their energy for the important events.

Look at me coach put me in I’ll run through a brick wall every day of the week and twice on Sundays is great for the movies. Real life sports, not so much.

If ilia wants to skate both, he should. If he doesn’t, he shouldn’t. With no shame and no side eyes. I like the team event and I like when countries take it “seriously” but only with skater buy-in.

 

[Allikat]

Sarcasm aside, I don't think that IOC knows or cares that much. Rather, it's way simpler than that: the events with lower viewer figures are scheduled early in the games, even before the opener, to save the prime time for events that are popular with the public.

I think you are entirely correct about early scheduled events, etc, but I also feel that the Team SP events could be done in one day, followed by one day off before the Team finals which would occur the third day. (For that matter, maybe it'd be fine to have all the Team SPs one day and all the Team Finals the next day.) Then there would be a decent rest period for everyone, before the individual SPs which wouldn't begin for 5-6 days and which would NOT be scheduled just one per day. That 5-6 days would allow a better break for everyone. The break for Ice Dancers and Men of 'only one day' between Team LP and individual SP seems almost intentionally cruel.

For that matter, why on earth are the individual events ALL scheduled just one per day? If they were scheduled later and were two per day at a time, not beginning until after 5-6 days of rest following the Team events, 'skating LP programs again' wouldn't be much of an issue.

I believe there is a way to decently handle this, for Ilia and whomever else may wish to rest instead of skate the Team long program full out. Skip the interviews, celebrations, parties, etc, after the Team event finishes. Team medals need to be given out RIGHT after the Team event finishes. Then, everyone who skated, go get some rest, find a good masseuse/masseur to rub the muscle kinks out, have a leisurely shower or bath, eat a decent but healthy meal, then sleep, and next day, train 'as usual' which generally means two 45 minute practice sessions per day. Don't kill yourself doing lots of extra off-ice exercises.

Next, prepare for an SP you may not win. You can even change one difficult quad to a triple if necessary. Then, plan your LP to do what is necessary but not more than you can manage that day. Example--seven quad programs are NOT required if you can do better with only five. But go according to how you feel that day of the individual LP. If you feel you can go all-out, then why not do so?

Nobody needs to kill himself or herself trying to do some 'Olympic event moment' Team event; watering Team events down is fine. Not coming in first is also fine--so long as it's no worse than second, or maybe third. It's also okay to 'just say no' even if doing so causes your team to lose a better medal or placement than they would have received. I can almost guarantee that anyone skating in the LP as a 'replacement' skater isn't going to be going all-out in the Team event, either, even if not a real medal threat.

Just some thoughts here. I wish every skater a great skate, and let's face it--the Team event which should be mostly a just-for-fun 'bragging rights' add-on is turning into an Olympic monstrosity. I watched Day 1 on the German channel using my VPN and might get to watch Day 2 and Day 3 IF I can find the proper links. I have the one for Day 1, but I'm not German-literate so I've no idea how to find any other events there. If anyone can help with that I'd sure appreciate it.

 

[readernick]

I’ve always disagreed with the idea of an Olympic competitor “holding out” for the individual event. I’m not buying that these skaters don’t have the stamina to skate multiple programs in a short amount of time. They should be doing just that on a regular basis anyway

Agree. If an athlete is fit enough to be a contender for a medal, they are fit enough to do one additional long program. They are definitely extending more energy in practice every day than they will in one program. Frankly, it's a huge advantage for athletes to perform their programs in front of the same panel that will judge their individual performances. This is why all the top dance teams ( even the ones whose counties are unlikely to medal) did the RD. They want the feedback. Of course, Ilya can make up his own mind about participation, but I don't think the team event is really the physical drain on athletes that fans make it out to be. ( It could be emotionally draining for some, but Ilya does not seem like the type who would be affected in that way by the event).

 

[Mathman]

I think that the Olympic team event is gathering momentum and prestige in its own right. Look at Canada in 2018. They fielded a team with a world champion in every discipline (prospective in the case of Osmond). For one bright shining moment -- no, wait, I mean for the rest of their lives -- they were all Olympic Gold Medalists.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I think that the Olympic team event is gathering momentum and prestige in its own right. Look at Canada in 2018. They fielded a team with a world champion in every discipline (prospective in the case of Osmond). For one bright shining moment -- no, wait, I mean for the rest of their lives -- they were all Olympic Gold Medalists.

It's worth noting that only the dance team won gold in their event, and had a full 7 days between the team event and the start of the ice dance competiton. I think the concern is the compressed timeline for the men, who really should be wrapping up their team skates on day 2.

 

[Magill]

More than half of those I heard interviewed today claimed team event was to them just a warm up, a dress rehearsal before the main competition... The same was the take by commentators repeatedly telling the audience it was such a great opportunity for skaters to gain experience, show themselves to the judges and shake stress off before the main event. It seems that - apart from some feds, maybe - that's the way the team event is widely perceived, like it not, and anything else is just wishful thinking at this point.

 

[EyesOfLove]

I think people who are wary of Malinin skating in both team events are remembering how Lipnitskaya, as one of the gold medal favorites at Sochi, competed in both segments of the team event and did not do so well in the individual. Many people were saying back then how the physical and mental energy she had spent in the prior skates--and everything in between and after--may have contributed to her underperformance.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

I was a bit wound up over possible Team Event choices yesterday, but now I'm fine because the feds and skaters will decide whatever they decide and skate however they'll skate, and I have no control over it anyway. We'll find out what happens soon enough. No need for hand-wringing now; if we must, let's do it later when we know what has happened.

Wishing you all the strength to deal with your nerves as you cheer on the skaters you're rooting for throughout the Olympics.

 

[Mathman]

More than half of those I heard interviewed today claimed team event was to them just a warm up, a dress rehearsal before the main competition...

If this is how they regard the competition, then they should not participate in it. The whole idea of holding an Olympic Event is to have a competition, not just "ho, hum, I've got bigger fish to fry -- who cares about this silly thing?"

 

[4everchan]

I think it's normal for some skaters who have actually no chance of qualifying for the finals or reach the podium to see it as an extra chance to practice in the olympic venue. This being said, Polish skaters, who have no chance of podium or finals were thrilled to be there.

I am not sure why some people are still trying to build up negative around this event.

In ALL sports there are athletes who are taking part in events they have no chance of winning that are prior to their main and favourite event... Whether it is a different distance in a race (cross-country skiing, speed skating etc) or a different style (Super G, Downhill, Slalom etc) in alpine skiing, ( big air, half pipe or Slopestyle in snowboard or acro-ski) there are many many athletes who will compete in events they are less competent with to get a feel of the Olympic venue and audience.

This is just my opinion but those who keep brining negativity about the team event, should just save it for something else. The team event in figure skating is not any weirder or less important or whatever than other events in other sports. It's actually because so many other sports have more than one medal shot for their athletes that team events are created. I think it's great and I love it. And if some athletes do not like it, they don't have to do it...and that's fine with me...but that some fans keep harping on it gets very tiring to me.

 

[readernick]

I think it's normal for some skaters who have actually no chance of qualifying for the finals or reach the podium to see it as an extra chance to practice in the olympic venue. This being said, Polish skaters, who have no chance of podium or finals were thrilled to be there.

I am not sure why some people are still trying to build up negative around this event.

In ALL sports there are athletes who are taking part in events they have no chance of winning that are prior to their main and favourite event... Whether it is a different distance in a race (cross-country skiing, speed skating etc) or a different style (Super G, Downhill, Slalom etc) in alpine skiing, ( big air, half pipe or Slopestyle in snowboard or acro-ski) there are many many athletes who will compete in events they are less competent with to get a feel of the Olympic venue and audience.

This is just my opinion but those who keep brining negativity about the team event, should just save it for something else. The team event in figure skating is not any weirder or less important or whatever than other events in other sports. It's actually because so many other sports have more than one medal shot for their athletes that team events are created. I think it's great and I love it. And if some athletes do not like it, they don't have to do it...and that's fine with me...but that some fans keep harping on it gets very tiring to me.

Yes, agree and if you want to hear the athletes perspective watch Meagan Duhamel on AnythingGOEs podcast. She says she's never heard athletes complain about this event the way fans do. Most athletes love it and don't have a problem with it coming before the individual event. All the controversy is from fans not athletes.

 

[Magill]

Well, I take Guillame Cizeron and others speaking on camera to TV reporters straight from the team event just as representative of themselves as Meghan reporting what she had heard, if not more in fact, lol.
But that's not really negative and I don't get why the offence. Warms up and dress rehearsals are very useful and in fact may be great fun. Tickets are cheaper, atmosphere more relaxed. They're just not that prestigious as prime nights and therefore not taken that deadly serious. But that's obvious that they're not. Otherwise there'd be no discussion of certain skaters "saving themselves" for other Olympic events which are obviously perceived as more important. That's all there is to it, no need to cry negativity.

 

[Mathman]

Here is why I have a bee in my bonnet about athletes who look on the team event as a dress rehearsal, if not indeed an unwelcome burden.

"Dress rehearsals"is not an Olympic sport. You don't get a gold medal for a dress rehearsal. If that's all it is for you, fine, let someone else go for it and you concentrate on individual glory. Maybe there should be a special category, like AIN, for that situation.

For me, this is a good argument in favor of replacing the team event with synchro 12s.

 

[ilovebudgies]

Athletes everywhere in all sports, if they are smart and savvy, conserve their energy for the important events.

Well said. You see this this kind of pressure all the time in pro team sports. People who have never stepped foot on the court/field/ice saying they have to do it for the team, their legacy is on the line, etc. And part of being a savvy athlete is having the strength to resist all that when you need to.

For example, Kevin Durant's Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals. He was still recovering from an existing injury, and he went back and played in the Finals prematurely due to pressure from the media and team, and ended up rupturing his Achilles. It could have been a career ending injury for one of the best basketball players in the game. And would anyone who pressured him have taken any responsibility? No, of course not.

In contrast, when Kawhi Leonard was injured in 2017, he was cleared by his team's medical staff to play, but he disagreed and sought a second opinion. He didn't play for the rest of that season despite all the pressure to play, allowed himself to recover. Then, the next season, he went to the Toronto Raptors and won the championship and MVP.

 

[Magill]

Here is why I have a bee in my bonnet about athletes who look on the team event as a dress rehearsal, if not indeed an unwelcome burden.

"Dress rehearsals"is not an Olympic sport. You don't get a gold medal for a dress rehearsal. If that's all it is for you, fine, let someone else go for it and you concentrate on individual glory. Maybe there should be a special category, like AIN, for that situation.

For me, this is a good argument in favor of replacing the team event with synchro 12s.

Most of them do not get medals for it anyway, not even have a chance, and not necessarily through a fault of their own....

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Here is why I have a bee in my bonnet about athletes who look on the team event as a dress rehearsal, if not indeed an unwelcome burden.

"Dress rehearsals"is not an Olympic sport. You don't get a gold medal for a dress rehearsal. If that's all it is for you, fine, let someone else go for it and you concentrate on individual glory. Maybe there should be a special category, like AIN, for that situation.

For me, this is a good argument in favor of replacing the team event with synchro 12s.

Why not Paralympic Figure Skating? I confess I'm incensed by those perpetual used cars salespeople reasonings by ISU, searching some more "marketable" disciplines/events. What's not marketable and for a reason is themselves. They're supposed to be a Sports governing body and any power comes with duties. They don't seem to realise that. I do believe that Figure Skating with a more ethical governing body would get greater results because athletes and coaches wouldn't be perpetually tortured, because they would have training mates/students with handicaps, nad because I'm sure that Paralympic Figure Skating could become something.

 

[flakyy]

FS team event is still quite new ... perhaps because of that there might be the perception of a "dress rehearsal" still lingering ... and of course the aspect of showing up in front of the judges who are way more important than elsewhere.
Per se I think every athlete should welcome an opportunity to medal and go for it. In biathlon f.e. mixed relay is new ... and for sure not as important as the classical relay or a single medal. That didn't prevent the Boe brothers from going all in in Beijing against the French who went all in as well. And the Boe brothers had a full schedule. And for sure nobody in the race says ... uh, ok, nice to try the slope and the shooting range with spectators and a bib number on ... but ... I did not concentrate that much and missed a few targets. upps, sorry, happens. An Olympic event is something special and a medal is a medal. Figure skagters do not have so very much opportunities ... and they work their whole sports life towards the Olympics. So they should make sure to be able to handle the pressure and the schedule ... and to adapt if necessary.

Of course the ones who came up with this schedule for FS should have thought otherwise. There is some room in the FS schedule to push back the start of individual events 2/3 days. And IF you play around with the common schedule already (ID going first) ... there is no need for men to go second with all of their jumps. Ladies is - from a technical point of view - not so very strong at the moment, but good luck with US broadcasters not to make them the last event. Of course it can be done and had been done by ISU.

 

[FlossieH]

I think it's normal for some skaters who have actually no chance of qualifying for the finals or reach the podium to see it as an extra chance to practice in the olympic venue. This being said, Polish skaters, who have no chance of podium or finals were thrilled to be there.

The British skaters were also openly thrilled to be skating in the Team even, and they have no chance of qualifying to the free let alone getting a medal. I haven't watched all of yesterday's event yet (I am halfway through pairs), but the main skater looking down on the team event seemed to be Cizeron. France are not certain to qualify to the free, and would only have a slim chance of a medal if they did, and anything less than a gold medal always seems to be below him (and always has). I don't think we can take Cizeron's view as being representative of all skaters.