Allison Reed gets Lithuanian Citizenship at last!

[Skater Boy]

So happy! I fell in love with their FD this season and I'm thrilled to cheer for them on their skating journey to the Olympics.

I wonder how many countries her and her siblings have represented? Did any of the represent the USA?

 

[4everchan]

Out of curiosity how many countries has Allison skated for?

Wiki says 3
Georgia with Japaridze
Israel with Rogov
Lithuania with Saulius

Cathy and Chris Reed did represent the US at the novice level before representing Japan.

3 countries for Allison seem a lot but there are a lot of switcheroos in pairs right now and well.. I don't think we can hold it against her, especially considering how long she's been skating with the same partner.

 

[Sai Bon]

Wiki says 3
Georgia with Japaridze
Israel with Rogov
Lithuania with Saulius

Cathy and Chris Reed did represent the US at the novice level before representing Japan.

3 countries for Allison seem a lot but there are a lot of switcheroos in pairs right now and well.. I don't think we can hold it against her, especially considering how long she's been skating with the same partner.

I don't know why some people give Allison such a hard time. Many pairs skaters and ice dancers have had more than 3 partners, just not from different countries. If she's had a sibling or another skater eligible for Japanese citizenship to partner with, she would have probably skated for Japan too.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I don't know why some people give Allison such a hard time. Many pairs skaters and ice dancers have had more than 3 partners, just not from different countries. If she's had a sibling or another skater eligible for Japanese citizenship to partner with, she would have probably skated for Japan too.

Mervin Tran (world pairs bronze in 2012) skated for Canada, the USA, and Japan, with at least four partners. Although he was born in Canada, his parents were from Vietnam and Cambodia, so if those countries had had federations he could have skated for either of them also.

 

[NanaPat]

I don't know why some people give Allison such a hard time. Many pairs skaters and ice dancers have had more than 3 partners, just not from different countries. If she's had a sibling or another skater eligible for Japanese citizenship to partner with, she would have probably skated for Japan too.

I think it was Georgia that took people aback. She got citizenship very quickly, with no ties to Georgia at all (except her very new partnership). It probably attracted more attention because her brother and sister had switched from the US to Japan.

Nowadays, it's refreshing to think of Georgia being represented by a skater who isn't Russian through and through!

 

[DancingCactus]

That's why in my opinion the whole nationality based organisation is weird. It's most difficult in the paired disciplines where your ideal partner might be from a completely different country you have no ties to.

But even in singles...who gets to represent a country? Why does it even matter? In some countries it's way easier to get citizenship than in others. Many internationally successful skaters don'tlive and train in their home countries anyway etc..

Anyway, It's cool that Allison can go to the Olympics I guess.

 

[Sai Bon]

I think it was Georgia that took people aback. She got citizenship very quickly, with no ties to Georgia at all (except her very new partnership). It probably attracted more attention because her brother and sister had switched from the US to Japan.

Nowadays, it's refreshing to think of Georgia being represented by a skater who isn't Russian through and through!

Doesn't that say more about the Georgian government than Allison? And Chris and Cathy have a Japanese parent, so it makes total sense for them to switch considering the depth of US ice dance.

 

[ladyjane]

It made me so happy to see that message, especially since last time they had won the spot for the Olympics but had to let another couple do the honours. Now, they finally can go themselves!

 

[iluvtodd]

Wonderful news for Allison (and Saulius)!

 

[Karoltyna]

I wonder how many countries her and her siblings have represented? Did any of the represent the USA?

Allison represented 3 - it isn't that uncommon tbh

 

[skylark]

I wonder how many countries her and her siblings have represented? Did any of the represent the USA?

Yes, all 3 had dual American and Japanese citizenship from birth (until age 21 (or 22?)), with an American father and a Japanese mother.

Cathy and Chris represented USA, then Japan on becoming age-eligible for seniors, and competed for Japan for the rest of their careers.

Others answered your question about which countries Allison represented - just 3, not even unusual for pairs or ice dancers, as others have mentioned above. I'm curious: do you just ask the question over and over? I've seen it many times from you. Or do you read the answers too?

 

[NanaPat]

Doesn't that say more about the Georgian government than Allison? And Chris and Cathy have a Japanese parent, so it makes total sense for them to switch considering the depth of US ice dance.

Absolutely.

I'm not unhappy about the Lithuanian citizenship. She has been with Saulius for a long time, and has had to make an effort (both on and off the ice) to get the citizenship. I heard an interview with her where she said she was sorry her partner couldn't go to the Olympics, not whining about herself.

I was just explaining why she gets so much flack. I don't think there were as many country switches then as there have been since.

Reasons to be unhappy about the Lithuanian citizenship: the fact that she has represented 3 different countries, none of them related to her original 2 citizenships.

Reasons to be happy about it: in each case she changed for her partner; she has skated for Lithuania for a long time; their medals at Europeans.

 

[4everchan]

Reasons to be happy about it: in each case she changed for her partner; she has skated for Lithuania for a long time; their medals at Europeans.

This is a very valid point.