Gregory and Petukhov Withdraw U.S. Nationals

[chacha]

According to their announcement, they did not plan to continue competing this season. Their doctor wanted them to rest to be able to come back 100% next season.

 

[Tonichelle]

yeah judging by how the article was worded (their quotes) it sounds like we won't see them until next season

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

I really hope that Samuelson and Bates can step up and grab that 3rd spot

 

[gkelly]

I am not sure but I read on another board that since M/D did not skate in the GP series or Nationals and do not plan on going to 4C they would not be eligible for a bye to Worlds.

Gregory and Petukhov could legally be named to the world team. The rules for team selection do not require that the skater had competed in other events during the same season.

The U.S. World Team shall be selected from those athletes who are ISU senior age eligile and shall include the current U.S. champion in each discipline. The remaining selections shall be based upon the results of the two most recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the most recent Wrold Championship, the most recent Four Continents Championship, all other international events and the current International Committee Ranking System placements, however, the International Committee may consider extenuating circumstances.

Gregory and Petukhov do have results from 2007 Nationals and 2007 Worlds that could be taken into account, and if they had to miss 2008 Nationals because of some acute health or equipment problem that could be solved within days after Nationals, they could also be named to 2008 Four Continents. However, that doesn't seem to be the case here.

If they were named to the team, it would not be a bye. Fans say that all the time, but it's an inaccurate use of the word "bye," which refers to competitors advancing to the next round of the same competition structure without competing in an earlier round. Nationals and Worlds are not part of the same structure.

Given the fact that they're not competing at Nationals because they're not ready to compete because of ongoing injuries that are not likely to be sufficiently resolved in time, and given the fact that there are other senior dance teams who could easily fill the spots, I agree that it's very unlikely that they would ask to be considered for 2008 Worlds or that the USFSA international committee would consider them.

 

[demarinis5]

gkelly-Thanks for the detailed explanation.

 

[Mathman]

The remaining selections shall be based upon the results of the two most recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the most recent Wrold Championship, the most recent Four Continents Championship, all other international events and the current International Committee Ranking System placements, however, the International Committee may consider extenuating circumstances.

Grammer aside, that covers just about everything, LOL. I assume the last clause means, "However, forget all that smoke about Four Continents, etc., etc. We can do as we please."

But they never do. Except for injury exemptions (Kwan, Kerrigan), USFS always just sends the top three from Nationals regardless of International Committee Ranking System placements and all the rest. Isn't that the case, or is my memory faulty?

 

[gkelly]

Yeah, USFSA pretty much always just follows the national results for choosing world and Olympic teams, unless they have to skip over national medalists who aren't eligible by age, or by citizenship in the case of Olympics.

They have never, that I'm aware of, passed over someone who competed at Nationals and placed high enough to earn a berth by placement in favor of a skater who placed lower at Nationals. Sometimes they do assign a skater who has been very successful internationally but couldn't compete at Nationals in place of the skater who would have earned the last available slot.

Actually, I can think of one example. In 1992, because Todd Eldredge didn't compete at Nationals and was a reigning world medalist, they assigned him to both the Olympic and world teams and then assigned the silver medalist (Paul Wylie) from Nationals to the Olympics and the bronze medalist (Mark Mitchell) to Worlds. So in that case, the national silver medalist was passed over for the world team in favor of the bronze medalist. But I'm sure they wouldn't have done it that way if there hadn't been two big events that year.

 

[sillylionlove]

Wow sorry to her that they won't be competing. I think that the only sure bet here is Tanith and Ben for first. I think for second and third it could go to anybody!!

 

[Pikachuusb]

I do like Navarro & Bommentre but I think the third spot will go to Samuelson & Bates. I was really looking forward to the battle between G/P, D/W & S/B...sad I hope they are able to come back healed next season.

 

[emma]

I like this team so much, I'm sorry that they had to withdraw. I do hope they get their health in tip top shape and come back to competition!!!!

 

[merrybari]

I like this team so much, I'm sorry that they had to withdraw. I do hope they get their health in tip top shape and come back to competition!!!!

Me too, but that will be a "hard row to hoe" after having missed an entire season. Hope they make it back strong and healthy.