Joesitz, MAO ASADA IS NOT AGE-ELIGIBLE TO GO TO TORINO. She will not be making a debut there. She just turned 14 this past September and won't be eligible for Senior ISU championship events until the 2006-2007 season.
I think Irina may have problems at Torino. Torino, while not in as high an altitude as SLC, is still at a much higher altitude than Moscow. Irina did not skate well in the FS at Europeans in Torino, and was seen by people attending the event to be coughing badly every time she came off the ice. She has a chronic illness that can affect the lungs, which is one reason why she fatigues so easily. Yes, Irina will be a favorite, but no way is she a shoo-in.
I think Irina may have problems at Torino. Torino, while not in as high an altitude as SLC, is still at a much higher altitude than Moscow. Irina did not skate well in the FS at Europeans in Torino, and was seen by people attending the event to be coughing badly every time she came off the ice. She has a chronic illness that can affect the lungs, which is one reason why she fatigues so easily. Yes, Irina will be a favorite, but no way is she a shoo-in.