Gracie Gold

[Meoima]

I think it's great that she's working on her consistency and that she looks more relaxed and not tense. Her 3+3 were huge but her 3Lo and 2A were lacking in height than usual. Hope her jumps are better in the FS and that she'll be able to skate lights out so that she'll move up to 4th place (3rd place is a bit out of reach unless Yulia falters which seems unlikely) and prove that she deserves to be placed higher than the other skaters.

The ladies event was so wonderful I want all of them get medals. Having said that, I think Gracie's time might be next year, not this year with Mao Asada and Caro still in the lead.

 

[skatedreamer]

I think a more realistic perspective would be that she has an outside chance at a podium finish. 4 points out of 3rd, but, like Olympics, must rely on mistakes from top 3 to sneak in there. Unfortunately I think she's looking at another 4th place finish (sigh, whatever).

Agreed (including the sigh; I'd love to see her on the podium, too). The thing is that the top 3 would have to implode for Gracie to medal and I refuse to wish that on them.

Here's to great skating, honest judging and may the best woman win! :yay:

 

[MidnightSkater]

I have really started to love watching Gracie skate this season but I'm finding it really hard to warm to her personality.
So can someone please tell me a little about her. Thank you !

 

[yyyskate]

Gracie is a beautiful, down-to-earth girl, I met her in person in 2013 worlds, she is so nice, and sign autographs for everyone. Also, I knew people skating at the same rink with her, give her high remarks. She is definitely a warm girl in my mind.

 

[sky_fly20]

Gracie is a beautiful, down-to-earth girl, I met her in person in 2013 worlds, she is so nice, and sign autographs for everyone. Also, I knew people skating at the same rink with her, give her high remarks. She is definitely a warm girl in my mind.

and she always has nice things to say about other skaters on interviews
and her on air and video interviews, she is well rounded and level headed girl

 

[sky_fly20]

Gracie's SP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWkpwt60mmU

 

[louisa05]

All those girls you just mentioned peaked when they were finishing 4th or 5th and were never going to medal even at their best. Gracie hasn't even had a full year with Frank yet and will continue to get better unlike someone like Rachael who reached her peak in 2009-2010 and is a much harder and more disciplined worker then someone like Mirai and isn't as much of a headcase as Alissa. Oh and by the way if Mao,Koster and Suzuki are retiring Gracie would be in 2nd place.

This. I don't think Gracie has peaked yet. She has the tools to keep climbing and is also done growing.

I'm not even much of a fan, but I expect a World medal or two for her in her career. At the least.

 

[WeakAnkles]

This. I don't think Gracie has peaked yet. She has the tools to keep climbing and is also done growing.

I'm not even much of a fan, but I expect a World medal or two for her in her career. At the least.

She's worked with Frank for only a few months and the improvement has been dramatic, except for one area: her jumps are not quite as dynamic as they were before. But I think what Frank is trying to do is teach her control and consistency as well as improve the artistic components of her skating. In a way, it's like the equivalent of an emotional retooling that Mao did with her jump technique, and will take some time to pay dividends. I never thought she would be a serious medal contender this quad. Her time is the next quad, where I think she will be, and consistently.

 

[R.D.]

Agreed (including the sigh; I'd love to see her on the podium, too). The thing is that the top 3 would have to implode for Gracie to medal and I refuse to wish that on them.

It's been personally exhausting to have the US women constantly needing top skaters to implode (which, of course, never happens) to have a chance at a medal...YEAR after YEAR.

I always joke, I wonder how much longer I can take it before I just give up altogether. Anyway, there may be something else that may have me comtemplating walking away anyway - the judging situation and the ISU not doing you-know-what about it.

I would never wish for a skater to fail. That's typically not the way I think when I watch a competition. That said, there are skaters I'm not a fan of AT ALL. Anyway, whatever happens in the FS happens, and I'll read about the results Sat morning (nope, not getting up early to watch it). A good part of it is the anticlimactic feeling I get from it since for me, the season ended with the Olympics a month ago. Anyway, whatever.

 

[R.D.]

Gracie joins another list of high mediocre people who cannot get past 4th and 5th place. Rachael, Alyssa, Mirai,Ashley have all preceded her. Now the chain is unbroken.

As pessimistic as I've been, I would not write Gold off yet. She still seems on an (overall) upward trend. Besides, Worlds isn't even over yet anyway.

Wagner, OTOH - her best days are clearly behind her. She will forever be the Almost Girl.

 

[hyperinflation]

wagner's retiring after this season imo, it's become clear she can't really be competitive with gracie anymore

alissa czisny and rachael flatt welcome her to the 'underwhelming american skating princesses' club

 

[Barb]

Ashley does not need to defeat to gracie to compete, right now Gracie is among the best in the world, it is not fair to say she must to win a gracie to compete, we dont know how polina will react to the weight gain from a kid to an adult, Mirai is not become younger neither, so Ashley is not out of the picture yet.

 

[sky_fly20]

Ashley does not need to defeat to gracie to compete, right now Gracie is among the best in the world, it is not fair to say she must to win a gracie to compete, we dont know how polina will react to the weight gain from a kid to an adult, Mirai is not become younger neither, so Ashley is not out of the picture yet.

Wagners scores have been constantly dropping
it is clear she is not the No.1 US Lady,

Im surprised Wagner still has this fantasy that she should get a higher mark with her fake shock expression

 

[noskates]

I would hardly call Gracie "mediocre" in this her first full year in Senior Ladies. My God, some people have utterly ridiculous expectations and then are totally dismissive and rude when their own expectations aren't met. Do you know how many skaters would love to have Gracie's supposed mediocrity?????? She has 4 years to develop before the next Olympics and she has Frank Carroll guiding her.

We're in a state of transition right now. The old guard needs to move on and the new guard needs to step up. Gracie needs more time with Frank. Polina needs to mature and grow into her technical ability. Not addressing Mirai, Ashley, Alissa (or has she retired) or any host of others who have been trying and trying and not getting anywhere. What will be will be with them.

 

[Poodlepal]

Hope you're right about Gracie, and I hope I'm wrong with my pessimistic prediction. But come on. The top two people from the Olympics are not there and she's down a spot? If Mao and Carolina weren't there, she'd be in second. And if Adelina and Yuna were there, she'd be in 7th.

Still, I will gladly eat my words if they put even a bronze medal around her neck. She's the US's only hope for a medal--this is likely the first year they've been shut out in a long time.

 

[Scott512]

I would hardly call Gracie "mediocre" in this her first full year in Senior Ladies. My God, some people have utterly ridiculous expectations and then are totally dismissive and rude when their own expectations aren't met. Do you know how many skaters would love to have Gracie's supposed mediocrity?????? She has 4 years to develop before the next Olympics and she has Frank Carroll guiding her.

We're in a state of transition right now. The old guard needs to move on and the new guard needs to step up. Gracie needs more time with Frank. Polina needs to mature and grow into her technical ability. Not addressing Mirai, Ashley, Alissa (or has she retired) or any host of others who have been trying and trying and not getting anywhere. What will be will be with them.

After this world championship the ladies will lose Costner and Asada after the great Kim retired after the olympics. Future medals are there to be won by Gracie that's for sure. She can compete with the best Russian ladies now and if she improves she will be able to beat them on occasion.

 

[R.D.]

Hope you're right about Gracie, and I hope I'm wrong with my pessimistic prediction. But come on. The top two people from the Olympics are not there and she's down a spot? If Mao and Carolina weren't there, she'd be in second. And if Adelina and Yuna were there, she'd be in 7th.

Still, I will gladly eat my words if they put even a bronze medal around her neck. She's the US's only hope for a medal--this is likely the first year they've been shut out in a long time.

Whatever happens over the next couple days will happen...and that'll be all she wrote. Honestly, season's end can't come fast enough...At least, can the US women hold onto 3 spots for 2015?

...maybe we'll start a new cycle next year. But even then I wouldn't necessarily be getting hopes up. hwell:

 

[Meoima]

Best dress of the event. :yay:

 

[redfiretrees]

I think it's a bit premature to write off Gracie just because she's in 5th place after the SP. If she skates light out she might be able to reach 3rd place or at least be in 4th place again. It's only her 2nd season as a senior skater and she still has a lot of things to improve on but has potential for sure. If she still hasn't won any international competitions in the next 2 years then maybe that's the time to really panic.

 

[Meoima]

I think it's a bit premature to write off Gracie just because she's in 5th place after the SP. If she skates light out she might be able to reach 3rd place or at least be in 4th place again. It's only her 2nd year as a senior skater and she still has a lot of things to improve on but has potential for sure. If she still hasn't won any international competitions in the next 2 seasons then maybe that's the time to really panic.

It's true, Gracie is not a genius but undoubtedly has lots of talents. And she does have good presence on ice. It's not easy for her to medal this year, but next year she has better chance since Mao and Caro will pull out after this competition.