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- Feb 27, 2012
So "Russia" is eligible for the team event after all? I don't think that was ever cleared up...
:agree: I think it is premature to assume that an OAR team will be eligible for the figure skating team event.
So "Russia" is eligible for the team event after all? I don't think that was ever cleared up...
So "Russia" is eligible for the team event after all? I don't think that was ever cleared up...
:agree: I think it is premature to assume that an OAR team will be eligible for the figure skating team event.
Wasn't it cleared up in the initial statement where they banned Russia as a state, but allowed Russian athletes, that team OAR would be allowed to participate in the team event.
IMO, the answer is No.
The IOC has not even taken the first step yet -- of naming those who will be allowed to participate as OARs.
After it does, then I will be waiting for a ruling from the IOC and/or ISU as to whether the figure skaters identified as OARs will be allowed to compete in the team event as a team of OARs.
Technically speaking: skaters from Russia had earned qualifying points for the team event for a team representing Russia; not for a team of OARs.
So anything remains possible, IMO. YMMV.
We'll see. But I will be very surprised if there is any problem about fielding a "From Russia" team. As for the "first step" of naming which athletes will be allowed to participate as OARs, how could it be otherwise than to accept those skaters that are put forward by the Russian Figure Skating Federation? Do we expect that the IOC will say, well, you can send some athletes, but not Medvedeva and Zagitova?
Wasn't it cleared up in the initial statement where they banned Russia as a state, but allowed Russian athletes, that team OAR would be allowed to participate in the team event.
It will be announced on the 28th.All bets are off, IMO.
I don't "expect" anything one way or the other.
All I know is that the Opening Ceremony is only twenty-five days away, and the IOC has not yet gone forward with announcing the names of the OARs.
So I am not assuming that "otherwise" is impossible. YMMV.
They are announcing on the 28th. I'm assuming it will be the same as submitted unless any of them have suspicious tests...
Stick with Tennell for both the SP and LP. Karen and Mirai are to much of a question mark and the international judges will be looking for any underrotated jumps from either of them since this won't be US National judges who willing turn a blind eye.
Again, the top 3 teams are locked in for medals. What they should be trying to figure out is how they would most likely be able to win the Gold medal.
If Bradie Tennell is put into the Team event, then the USA's chance of Gold is probably something like 1%, because the only way Bradie will get a good enough placement is if many other Ladies make big mistakes.
If someone less consistent like Karen Chen skates the SP and makes a mistake, then it probably just doesn't matter at all, because it's not going to remove USA"s Bronze medal. Yet, if Karen Chen DOES skate perfectly, then she can beat competitors that Bradie Tennell can not and thus increase the USA's chance of a higher medal placement. Ditto for Mirai Nagasu skating the LP.
We'll see. But I will be very surprised if there is any problem about fielding a "From Russia" team. As for the "first step" of naming which athletes will be allowed to participate as OARs, how could it be otherwise than to accept those skaters that are put forward by the Russian Figure Skating Federation? Do we expect that the IOC will say, well, you can send some athletes, but not Medvedeva and Zagitova?
It would be suicide for Team USA to send Chen in the SP... her GP scores were 59.53 and 61.77. As for the LP, she hasn't scored above 130 internationally and even on home ice at Nationals she was hammered with tech calls. Although I suppose Abbott's SP didn't compromise a better medal for the US last time so perhaps it wouldn't make a difference.
If not Bradie for both programs, Mirai could be a solid choice for the SP given her base value with the 3A in there giving her a boost, but putting her in the LP she is way too much of a question mark.
It makes more sense to go with a skater who won't get nailed for tech calls in both programs and that is Bradie. PCS wise she isn't as good as Karen but she more than makes up for it technically and has clout as US champion. Bradie could get a much needed PCS boost if she competes both team segments, and skates them cleanly as she proved to be capable of.
It makes no sense to keep Bradie out of the team event in lieu of Karen especially after she destroyed Karen at Skate America and Nationals, by over 20 points each time.
But hey, if the US wants a Karen SP and/or a Mirai FS as their team event picks, Canada and Russia are probably more than happy to support that.
As a reminder, I have issued a press release that I will refer to relevant figure skaters as being from "Russia" and not from "OAR" because I think that designation unfairly throws shade at a federation and individual skaters who do not deserve it.
I think USA will split the ladies and men, one for ID and pairs.
Bradie SP + Mirai FS
Chen SP + Adam FS
obvious choices for ID & Pairs.
If Bradie Tennell is put into the Team event, then the USA's chance of Gold is probably something like 1%, because the only way Bradie will get a good enough placement is if many other Ladies make big mistakes.
If someone less consistent like Karen Chen skates the SP and makes a mistake, then it probably just doesn't matter at all, because it's not going to remove USA"s Bronze medal. Yet, if Karen Chen DOES skate perfectly, then ...