Gracie Gold: Can she medal at JW (and beyond)?

[silverlake22]

Julia Lipniskaya may have already had a growth spurt but she's still tiny so it hasn't affected her yet. The age when these girls start to struggle is around 14-16 when they have their major growing not just in height but their bodies change to. After all Mira grew about 4 inches between the ages of 13-14 but was still around 4'11 so she wasn't affected as you could tell since she dominated the JGP as a 14 year old. Sound familiar?

I agree with this. Adelina grew around 4 inches before last season and had no trouble, then in the off season she grew maybe one inch in height but has filled out and grown more womanly and now she is having quite a bit of trouble. Julia for sure is much bigger than she was last season, but she's still under 5 feet tall and has a little kid's body. There is a chance she could be built like a lot of the girls we see in pairs and stay so small (Liza too), but a lot of skaters are very tiny at 13 and 14 and then grown to an average height and weight in the following years (examples would be Mirai, Kimmie, Gracie, Kanako, Caroline, Shelepen, Gao...). When this happens it's usually a rough adjustment.

In any event Gracie is probably done growing or nearly done growing. She's been 5'4" for a year or so, and she may have grown to 5'5" by now but her growth has certainly slowed a lot in the past year or so. She's also filled out and gotten a lot stronger looking, added muscle, in the past year or so and it just seems to have made her jumps that much bigger. She's the farthest out of the woods in regards to puberty than the other 3, and Liza and Julia in particular could definitely go through some drastic changes in the coming years.

 

[LeCygne]

A nice feature on Gracie after her Junior Nationals win http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZJgwazj_88

 

[sky_fly20]

with Tukt withdrawing. I ca see Gracie getting the Silver medal

 

[Jammers]

I just hope Gracie skates well and doesn't let the pressure get to her. If she does that i see her on the podium if only because her jumps are so much bigger then what you normally see from a Junior skater.

 

[Serious Business]

A nice feature on Gracie after her Junior Nationals win http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZJgwazj_88

That's a nice report on her family life, but painfully skimpy on actual details of her skating prowess. They could've put in one or two lines about the fact that she is one of the best jumpers in the discipline.

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On another note, I, too, hope the pressure won't get to Gracie. It hasn't yet this season, but maybe it finally will. She seems extremely levelheaded to me, though, so I'm optimistic.

 

[R.D.]

If there's someone else (i.e. another promising skater) who can help "ease" the "burden" off her, it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[mskater93]

On another note, I, too, hope the pressure won't get to Gracie. It hasn't yet this season, but maybe it finally will. She seems extremely levelheaded to me, though, so I'm optimistic.

This girl is like a 30 year old in a 16 year old's body in a lot of respects. Very level headed, very much in her own world and doesn't let her coach's methods, fans, or whatever is going on get to her most of the time. It helps that she skates with her twin, who's also currently in Junior Ladlies and Lexi Verhuslt (Junior Ladies) regularly and they push each other to be better.

 

[Selene]

Video of Gracie talking about a number of skating topics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caPHivHyuXE

She confirms that she will move up to the senior level next season. She says her program will be "much more difficult" - more difficult spins, transitions, and choreography.

As for the pressure "getting to her," she stated that she liked the feeling of skating at Nationals. She said that the energy from the crowd made her confident that she would execute her elements.

 

[sky_fly20]

woah...

so after junior worlds
Garcie will go senior by 2012-2013 season ?
I find Garcie already has a mature skating. it will be interesting with Tukt and Adelina also will be full senior
love her unusual spin positions and they are fast

Go Gracie !!!

 

[dorispulaski]

I think that her goals of Junior Worlds being a learning experience, and top 6 at Senior Nationals next year are realistic goals for Gracie. In fact, she sounds like a very level headed kid.

Thanks for the link to the interview!

 

[sky_fly20]

I think that her goals of Junior Worlds being a learning experience, and top 6 at Senior Nationals next year are realistic goals for Gracie. In fact, she sounds like a very level headed kid.

Thanks for the link to the interview!

exactly. Gracie is such a level headed and smart girl for her age.
makes me like her even more.

 

[christinaskater]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caPHivHyuXE
Interview

 

[Jammers]

I agree. She seems realistic and levelheaded. It's nice to see a top US Ladies skater who seems to have it together at a fairly young age. But next year will be a whole different world competing against the big girls and with much more pressure.

 

[macy]

thanks for the interview! i'm really excited to see her as a senior next year, especially after she said that her programs will be more difficult in pretty much every aspect. its no surprise she likes jumping the best!

 

[sky_fly20]

wait. Im confused I thought she would go senior by next season
so she meant 2013 ???, I was thinking after junior worlds she would go senior competitions already

 

[dorispulaski]

She'll skate seniors at US nationals, but if she doesn't medal at Jr. Worlds, I wouldn't be surprised to see her do a whole JGP season.

 

[silverlake22]

wait. Im confused I thought she would go senior by next season
so she meant 2013 ???, I was thinking after junior worlds she would go senior competitions already

She'll definitely compete as a senior at NATIONALS next season, but her decision regarding GP vs. JGP will likely depend on if she medals at JW next week or not. Where she's only competed at one international event, if she doesn't medal at JW, she could probably only get one GP, and then she could maybe hope to get named to SA, so she could decide to rather do the JGP where she would almost certainly get 2 assignments and likely earn a trip to the JGPF. If she medals or wins at JW though I think she will (and should) chose to do the GP considering she will be 17 this summer and has all the tools for seniors and the ranking points from a JW medal would likely be enough to earn her 2 assignments.

 

[DianaSelene]

Well, I'm pretty sure that she can medal at jw.

 

[silverlake22]

Well, I'm pretty sure that she can medal at jw.

I think so too but the field is so deep that a few mistakes could keep her off the podium if others deliver.

 

[LeCygne]

I think she should do the GP series next season regardless of placement at Junior Worlds. Even if a few mistakes keep her off the JW podium, it won't change the fact that she has all the skills and tools necessary to make her senior international debut. Next season will be crucial for her to gain international experience and build a name for herself on the road to the 2014 Olympic team. Adelina and Elizaveta already have the advantage of one year in seniors. Staying on the JGP circuit next season won't do Gracie any good, even if she wins it all in juniors. Will Julia Lipnitskaia be old enough for the senior GP next season?