Good Morning America-should Kwan Get Bye

[millie]

Well, now we've seen what the next generation are bringing, compared to Kwan (at least in the short program). There is still the LP to go, but Michelle's case just got a big boost, IMHO.

MM

MM, this is one time I agree with you. A healthy Kwan would give them a run for their money. Hype, hype, what it does is try to psyche out the skaters and sometime it works.

 

[tripleflutz]

Kwan has been the skater of the past decade, but then they all have their Olympic dreams, don't they.

I'm glad I'm not on that committee! Those folks are really on the spot!

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Well, now we've seen what the next generation are bringing, compared to Kwan (at least in the short program). There is still the LP to go, but Michelle's case just got a big boost, IMHO.

MM

MM, you are TOTALLY correct! I was so hoping that the skaters last night would at least make it difficult for the committee to make a decision.

Based on last night, any belief in the theory that it would be "unfair" to the next generation to deprive them of the opportunity to compete in favor of Kwan? Um... not so much.

It was less like Nationals & more like Human Zamboni night... A big ol' splat!

 

[IndieBoi]

Really? An "old", injured Kwan could not manage any triples at Marshalls. How is that better than the triples that Bebe and Emily can do (in addition to Meissner)? Michelle was capable of "skating" at Marshall's, but she wasn't competitive at all. The USFS will make whatever decision it wishes, though I certainly hope its decision is fair and not based on the fact that Michelle is a spokesperson for many of the USFS sponsors (similar accusations were made about Miki).

You seem to insist the "Mashalls" Michelle is the one who'll show up at the Olympics while Michelle's said if she doesn't feel 100% she'd yank herself off the team regardless of USFSA's position. And I'd argue that a 95% Michelle is still far more competitive than Bebe, Emily or Meissner (nothing against them).

 

[curious]

We don't know which michell is going to show up in Torino or what she is capable of doing. Is not like the USFS is going to give us proof of michell's progress

 

[FreeKatie]

Based on the short program, the only 'younster' I would feel comfortable putting on the Olympic team would be Emily Hughes - she looked confident and hungry. BeBe was great too but she will have to show me that she can complete 2 clean programs before I'd trust her, she's been too inconsistent in the past. If Kwan is healthy (a big 'if') then I think I'd put my money on her before BeBe, Alissa or Kimmie. She's an experienced veteran and that's worth a lot in my book.

 

[soogar]

Sooger Kwan was not 100% or back to competetive form at Marshall's. She plans to be better by the Olympics.

She *planned* on being better by nationals. This is a body we're talking about, not a car. With the new injury sucking up more training time, there's only so much she can do.

Plus I hope for the other girl's sake that Michelle can equal the number of triple in her test skate that that girl was able to land in Nationals. I hope they won't put her on the team with the hope that she will regain form by the Olympics.

 

[mzheng]

She *planned* on being better by nationals. This is a body we're talking about, not a car. With the new injury sucking up more training time, there's only so much she can do.

Plus I hope for the other girl's sake that Michelle can equal the number of triple in her test skate that that girl was able to land in Nationals. I hope they won't put her on the team with the hope that she will regain form by the Olympics.

That's why they'll keep monitoring her progress. Is there a girl at national last night, giveup FS 4 years, regain her triples back and competed in Nationals? They were talking about the musel memories last night during broadcasting. With Michelle's level and years trainning, once she is cleared to jump, she should be able to regain her triples in no time.

 

[JanJam]

...Plus I hope for the other girl's sake that Michelle can equal the number of triple in her test skate that that girl was able to land in Nationals. I hope they won't put her on the team with the hope that she will regain form by the Olympics.

Based on last night's 'junior' ladies SP performances, among the Nats participants, ONLY Sasha Cohen should be placed on the team. Even an INJURED Kwan skates WAY better than ANY of them; a non-100% Kwan will more likely enter the Olys top ten than any of these junior skaters below Cohen.

 

[Piel]

She *planned* on being better by nationals. This is a body we're talking about, not a car. With the new injury sucking up more training time, there's only so much she can do.

Sooger she didn't anticipate another injury when she planned to be ready for Nationals.:banging: :banging: :banging: She is surrounded by a great team of pros...doctors, coaches, physical therapists all who are probably a lot more qualified than you to make decisions on her ability to compete.

What in the world do you have against Kwan? Did you watch the ladies SP's last night? A clean Kwan would have even beaten Sasha last night. No 3/3 is needed to be competetive, in fact the announcers said that a solid 3/2 is a better bet. Who would you send to Turino?

 

[kyla2]

Michelle

I agree that Michelle's petition to go to the Olympics has even more credibility now. I would not put Sasha and Bebe in the same category as the others however. Bebe has been undermarked for years now and I have no idea why. If she skates in the long like she did in the SP, then she also deserves to go to the Olympics. But Michelle clearly should be given a spot unless she simply isn't able to compete.

 

[FreeKatie]

... and I believe MK can withdraw herself at any time before the short program draw - which is about a month away. Can she get herself in top form in a month? I have no idea, but I would still rather give her the chance because she is a more well-rounded skater (as she should be with all of her experience) than the girls we saw skating last night.

 

[soogar]

Based on last night's 'junior' ladies SP performances, among the Nats participants, ONLY Sasha Cohen should be placed on the team. Even an INJURED Kwan skates WAY better than ANY of them; a non-100% Kwan will more likely enter the Olys top ten than any of these junior skaters below Cohen.

How was Bebe and Emily subpar (or even Sasha)? Emily had a wild landing on her 3 lutz-2 toe but landed the darn thing. Plus Emily's footwork and spins are very high quality- certainly of a much higher quality than the Russian everyone is touting for the OGM. Sasha skated her usual nervous self, which BTW is scored much higher internationally than Michelle's "healthy" skates the past 2 years. Bebe did well as well. The only junior ladies who could top such performances are Mao and Yu Na, and those girls are good enough to topple any top senior skater in the world. Most junior girls would kill to skate like Emily and Bebe - esp since a 3 lutz isn't a jump that the average junior girl lands. Nor are the junior girls at US nationals nearly as polished.

Injured Kwan at Marshall's couldn't manage a triple. She can't come close to what the top three girls in the SP managed. You really don't know how injured Kwan can skate b/c Michelle hasn't skated with a ongoing injury. Even the stress fracture she sustained in 1997 (probably from those crappy boots she changed too) was completely healed by nationals. Also she was 17 years old. Her body didn't have the wear and tear on it that it has now and it appears the injuries she is getting are the result of trying to rush back to training.

Either way, I think it's presumptive to say that injured Michelle can skate better than those three when injured Michelle isn't competing against them. Her condition at Marshall's was promising that she could have gotten better by Nationals. Though the new injury is a huge set back.

As for Mzheng's comment on muscle memory, there still needs to be training to regain it. An injured skater doesn't miraculously walk on the ice and get it. Even Klimkin, who was out for a season, had a few horrible outings before he skated well at Russian Nats. I don't see how you (or anyone) expects Michelle to compete at the Olympics cold and manage a medal.

 

[mzheng]

... and I believe MK can withdraw herself at any time before the short program draw - which is about a month away. Can she get herself in top form in a month? I have no idea, but I would still rather give her the chance because she is a more well-rounded skater (as she should be with all of her experience) than the girls we saw skating last night.

She is trying very hard now.....I just don't understand Soogar's argument.

Even give her a bye, it's conditional, she will be closely monitored by USFSA, the group of (judges, coaches, atheletes, doctors, etc.) They are professionals, they will evaluate her physical and trainning status. All that is about give her a chance - 1 month to prove herself could be in top of the game, and without violate USFSA IC select rules.

 

[nubka]

What in the world do you have against Kwan?

Her programs are semi-empty (unless you like lots of cross overs,) dull, and she's been held up by the judges for years because of the artistic mark.

 

[Mathman]

No, on the contrary, when Michelle skates (as Brian Joubert said in his recent interview with Kathleen Bangs for Golden Skate), "you can't keep your eyes off her."

MM

 

[Piel]

High artistic marks are not awarded for empty programs. Maybe the judges feel Kwans crossovers deserve more merit than her competitors feeble attempts at a more hmm..complete program?

 

[nubka]

She should have stuck with whoever was choreographing her programs in her early career. Those programs were actually interesting...

Gee, I wonder how much a cross over is worth under COP??

 

[IndieBoi]

She *planned* on being better by nationals. This is a body we're talking about, not a car. With the new injury sucking up more training time, there's only so much she can do.

Plus I hope for the other girl's sake that Michelle can equal the number of triple in her test skate that that girl was able to land in Nationals. I hope they won't put her on the team with the hope that she will regain form by the Olympics.

That's why we have alternates... :sheesh:

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, she said she'd pull herself off the team if she's not 100% as *planned* and whoever's competitive enough to be the alternate can take the ice.

 

[swannanoa54]

How was Bebe and Emily subpar (or even Sasha)? Emily had a wild landing on her 3 lutz-2 toe but landed the darn thing. Plus Emily's footwork and spins are very high quality- certainly of a much higher quality than the Russian everyone is touting for the OGM. Sasha skated her usual nervous self, which BTW is scored much higher internationally than Michelle's "healthy" skates the past 2 years. Bebe did well as well. The only junior ladies who could top such performances are Mao and Yu Na, and those girls are good enough to topple any top senior skater in the world. Most junior girls would kill to skate like Emily and Bebe - esp since a 3 lutz isn't a jump that the average junior girl lands. Nor are the junior girls at US nationals nearly as polished.

Injured Kwan at Marshall's couldn't manage a triple. She can't come close to what the top three girls in the SP managed. You really don't know how injured Kwan can skate b/c Michelle hasn't skated with a ongoing injury. Even the stress fracture she sustained in 1997 (probably from those crappy boots she changed too) was completely healed by nationals. Also she was 17 years old. Her body didn't have the wear and tear on it that it has now and it appears the injuries she is getting are the result of trying to rush back to training.

Either way, I think it's presumptive to say that injured Michelle can skate better than those three when injured Michelle isn't competing against them. Her condition at Marshall's was promising that she could have gotten better by Nationals. Though the new injury is a huge set back.

As for Mzheng's comment on muscle memory, there still needs to be training to regain it. An injured skater doesn't miraculously walk on the ice and get it. Even Klimkin, who was out for a season, had a few horrible outings before he skated well at Russian Nats. I don't see how you (or anyone) expects Michelle to compete at the Olympics cold and manage a medal.

Ok, I'm really confused because I taped Marshalls and Kwan landed a 3/2, so if she didn't even "manage" a triple, then I'm darn glad she "managed" a 3/2.

And she hasn't been rushing back to training as far as I understand. She started training throughout the COI tour having added her 3/2/2 to her program and more difficulty. That, to me at least, says she wanted to compete this season, had plans to compete this season, and due to injury, wasn't able to compete this season. What part of that is so difficult to understand?