2026 U.S. Nationals Senior Men Free Skate

[Kiki5375]

His parents competed for Russia and he speaks Russian.

Nope they competed for Sowiet Union when Ukraine was still part of it

 

[TontoK]

It's true that the Olympics don't determine spots but I don't think the Olympics are a place you go to get "experience." You get experience at challengers and in juniors.
Additionally, what you are forgetting here is the team event, in 2022 due to COVID-19 there was always a high risk of someone not being able to skate due to illness. They wanted Jason there for the team event. He could easily have been subbed in for Nathan or Vincent had they gotten ill. Ilya was way too risky and had not been getting high scores abroad. The team event has absolutely changed the way Olympic selections are determined and made the US move towards more BOW criteria.

But, anyway, the selection this year for the Olympics is as expected. I'm surprised Jason was chosen for Worlds and 4CC. He is landing beautiful 3As in practice. Maybe, USFS thinks this performance was a result of nerves and not physical limitations. I have some doubts but I hope the best for him.

I concede your point about the Team Event is a good one. I'm still happy with the team as a whole. Top eligible teams at US Nats go to the Olympics.

My complaints about the BOW criteria aren't new. But this event is a perfect example. BOW would cloud the performances of skaters who are rounding into form at exactly the precise moment required, and also those who are fading at exactly the wrong time. The Olympics are a "right here, right now" competition, not a nostalgic glance backwards at what has gone on the previous two years.

I'm happy AND sad about Jason's appointment to 4CC and Worlds. Happy because I don't think he'll skate competitively next year, and I'd absolutely hate for that US Nats long to be his farewell skate. Sad because I don't think his performance in St Louis objectively merited the selections over others.