Keegan Messing returns to competitive skating

[4everchan]

Precisely. And that skater with the equipment issues helped secure three spots for the Olympics and worlds 2026. Sometimes it does work out very well.
P.S. How old is Keegan now?

you beat me to it.

Keegan is pretty up there in age at this point of a skater at 33 years old.
If he qualifies for the games, Canada may have the oldest team ever with Deanna and Max, as well as PIper and Paul.... I don' t think Gabby will get the spot but that would make the average age even higher....

 

[moonvine]

you beat me to it.

Keegan is pretty up there in age at this point of a skater at 33 years old.
If he qualifies for the games, Canada may have the oldest team ever with Deanna and Max, as well as PIper and Paul.... I don' t think Gabby will get the spot but that would make the average age even higher....

As I said let’s normalize skating past 30!

 

[TontoK]

I agree. It's sneaky.

There was a skater last season as well who was out of form early in the season so took a break for equipment issues during the national championship, then was able to go straight into World's without even having to perform or win his spot at Nationals. Kind of a get out of Nationals free card, and it worked.

Sneaky? Should Keegan have asked for permission before deciding what to do? From whom? Is there some figure skating commission that's responsible for determining or approving the timing of these things?

Here's the deal, and I've held back on saying it for concern of getting people up in arms. These athletes are coming back because they've seen what has been on offer since they left the competitive arena, and they're thinking, "That's not so great. I can beat that." And you know what? Maybe they can, maybe they can't... but the current crop certainly didn't step up to such a degree that they slammed the door on that line of thinking.

As for the second sentiment, I actually agree with you on some level. I think that performance in the National Championship should be the sole determining factor for Team USA selection in nearly every case - I'm actually forum-famous for that position. But that's not the thinking of USFSA, and under their selection criteria, Jason Brown had a case, and he made it. And just like I described in my previous paragraph, there is no shortage of US men who COULD have slammed the door on that possibility over the past few years, but they didn't.

So, here we are. Keegan and Roman and Gogo and whoever else should be looking the other guys straight in the eye and say, "You want that Olympic spot? You're going to have to come through me to get it. Game on."

There. I've probably annoyed everybody now.

 

[Ruthypegs]

As I said let’s normalize skating past 30!

Yes indeed - I'm just now setting off to see Valtter Virtanen (aged 38) skating in the Robin Cousins cup.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I agree. It's sneaky.

There was a skater last season as well who was out of form early in the season so took a break for equipment issues during the national championship, then was able to go straight into World's without even having to perform or win his spot at Nationals. Kind of a get out of Nationals free card, and it worked.

This sort of comment, and the one to which it was a reply, is why I am so thankful I competed in the pre-social media days.

 

[Ruthypegs]

Yes indeed - I'm just now setting off to see Valtter Virtanen (aged 38) skating in the Robin Cousins cup.

And this is Valtter's 20th season as a senior competitor [he is truly amazing!], so there's still plenty of time for Keegan to stay on skating after unretiring.

 

[FlossieH]

I think a lot of people have become invested in Roman. A very large number of online fans have been flying high since Cranberry, rightfully celebrating that win. After a roller-coaster of a career, Roman wins his first international title!

And, a week later, with one Olympic spot on the line... Keegan the spoiler comes back. That's what they seem to feel anyway. I think there's also a group who semi-resent Gabby for coming back and threatening Maddie's spot. Just like in America there is some eye-rolling at the Shibs.

I dismiss these opinions entirely. If it's Roman's spot, or Maddie's spot, or Green and Parson's spot, then they'll all go out and prove they deserve it.

I will admit that I am not entirely keen on the trend for skaters returning just so they can do the Olympics. To me, it feels disrespectful towards the rest of the sport and competitors. I have no problem with Alysa Liu's comeback last season - that was not aimed just at the Olympics and she has earnt her way back. I am also okay with Gabby Daleman because, even though she hasn't competed internationally for a while, she had been trying to come back the past couple of seasons and was hampered by injury. Swanning back in at the last minute to grab the spot which others have been working towards feels different to me. One of the skaters has done it for two Olympics in a row now.

 

[TontoK]

I will admit that I am not entirely keen on the trend for skaters returning just so they can do the Olympics. To me, it feels disrespectful towards the rest of the sport and competitors. I have no problem with Alysa Liu's comeback last season - that was not aimed just at the Olympics and she has earnt her way back. I am also okay with Gabby Daleman because, even though she hasn't competed internationally for a while, she had been trying to come back the past couple of seasons and was hampered by injury. Swanning back in at the last minute to grab the spot which others have been working towards feels different to me. One of the skaters has done it for two Olympics in a row now.

I can see your point of view, even though I disagree with it.

As for the "swanning back"... those who are being swanned upon have a defense. They can skater better than the swanners.

 

[niks]

Here's the deal, and I've held back on saying it for concern of getting people up in arms. These athletes are coming back because they've seen what has been on offer since they left the competitive arena, and they're thinking, "That's not so great. I can beat that." And you know what? Maybe they can, maybe they can't... but the current crop certainly didn't step up to such a degree that they slammed the door on that line of thinking.

Actually, I was thinking just the same thing. The fact that so many skaters unretire after many years away from competition and are plainly convinced that they can make it straight back to the very top of the competition, directly to the Olympics and even to an Olympic podium, and the very high odds that they will indeed make it, are a clear sign that the current level of competition is simply not much.

This of course is quite sad for the sport as a whole, but at least in Keegan's case I'm happy about him coming back. He was always an entertaining and engaging skater, so he can add some welcome excitement to curent Men's skating.

 

[TontoK]

Actually, I was thinking just the same thing. The fact that so many skaters unretire after many years away from competition and are plainly convinced that they can make it straight back to the very top of the competition, directly to the Olympics and even to an Olympic podium, and the very high odds that they will indeed make it, are a clear sign that the current level of competition is simply not much.

This of course is quite sad for the sport as a whole, but at least in Keegan's case I'm happy about him coming back. He was always an entertaining and engaging skater, so he can add some welcome excitement to curent Men's skating.

My personal favorite among the two most in the conversation - Roman and Keegan - is Roman. I think when he's on, he's magnificent. But even the most ardent Roman fan has to acknowledge that he could have put the nail in the coffin of any Keegan comeback, and he didn't do it. So now he's in a mighty fight. He has to be better than Keegan - and to be very clear, I don't rule that out. We haven't even seen Keegan, who wasn't a model of consistency himself and hasn't been in the battle for a few years.

And while all the focus seems to be centered on these two, didn't Gogo win the free skate at Cranberry? He's capable of taking that spot, too.

 

[4everchan]

My personal favorite among the two most in the conversation - Roman and Keegan - is Roman. I think when he's on, he's magnificent. But even the most ardent Roman fan has to acknowledge that he could have put the nail in the coffin of any Keegan comeback, and he didn't do it. So now he's in a mighty fight. He has to be better than Keegan - and to be very clear, I don't rule that out. We haven't even seen Keegan, who wasn't a model of consistency himself and hasn't been in the battle for a few years.

And while all the focus seems to be centered on these two, didn't Gogo win the free skate at Cranberry? He's capable of taking that spot, too.

My take on this as of right now.

Gogolev has a much higher base value versus Roman/Keegan because he does 2 different quads.
Gogo's 3 axels are usually more stable than Roman's.

Where Roman and Keegan have an edge : spins but as we know, this is not going to matter much if all quads are landed.

Gogolev had health and confidence issues in the past. He can be shaky but he can also skate clean.

Gogolev received quite low PCS scores at Cranberry. Whether it is because he skated so early having crashed in the SP, or whether it is because he hasn't skated internationally regularly in the last two seasons (with injuries) or whether it is because his program needs improvement, he is NOT usually a 7.0 PCS kind of skater. He is not a 9.0 either but a good skate should get him 7.75-8.0 PCS which brings his score even higher.

So, despite my favourite of the three being Roman, and despite loving the idea that Keegan wants to make a comeback to get what was taken away from him by covid... I would bet my loonie on Gogo for that elusive olympic spot.

Finally, that will teach the boys for losing the 2nd spot in 2024 and not gaining it back in 2025. Keegan is not the one to blame for Canadian men underperfoming two years in a row at worlds.

 

[withwings]

I was very impressed by Gogolev;'s free skate at Cranberry. I d

My personal favorite among the two most in the conversation - Roman and Keegan - is Roman. I think when he's on, he's magnificent. But even the most ardent Roman fan has to acknowledge that he could have put the nail in the coffin of any Keegan comeback, and he didn't do it. So now he's in a mighty fight. He has to be better than Keegan - and to be very clear, I don't rule that out. We haven't even seen Keegan, who wasn't a model of consistency himself and hasn't been in the battle for a few years.

And while all the focus seems to be centered on these two, didn't Gogo win the free skate at Cranberry? He's capable of taking that spot, too.

I was very impressed and surprised by Gogolev's free skate at Cranberry. IMO it is an excellent choreography and music for him. That one spot for the Olympics... let hope it motivates all three of them.
Gogolev's performance skills and engagements with an audience imo not yet there at all.

All the best luck to Keegan.

 

[Dreamer57]

Good luck to Keegan!
Happy to see Gabby back as well.

I don't think any singles skating spot is reserved for just one particular skater. People on social media are just extra vocal because their favourite now has one more rival.

 

[moonvine]

Yes indeed - I'm just now setting off to see Valtter Virtanen (aged 38) skating in the Robin Cousins cup.

Yay! My skating doctor! May my fiancé skate so long

 

[Elyse]

I know when Adam Rippon retired he told WADA he wasn’t competing anymore and they stopped coming. It’s a funny if some what gross story from his book. So they don’t stay in the testing pool. I’m sure he re registered, or will. No one wants WADA dropping by at any hour of the day or night to get samples when they aren’t competing.

Too bad Maria Sotskova didn't think to do that. She was years from competition-level and took a diuretic to fit into her wedding dress, was tested positive, and now banned from the sport to even coach. I assume SkateCanada is helping him with all the logistics.

 

[Elyse]

It makes sense that WADA makes an athlete be tested for six months before joining competition. I hope Keegan has been doing this....

I remember there was a female US swimmer, I can't remember her name but it was Latina-ish, who came out of retirement after eight or so years, who made clear her comeback intentions and made sure she was tested from the moment she started training a year in advance just so no one would accuse her of doping. She was ahead of the game. I hope this is what Keegan did, otherwise his comeback is for nothing if he is out for the next six months.

Dara Torres, that's her name. I'll go look her up.

 

[noskates]

The comment that returning to competition is disrespectful to the sport is ludicrous in my opinion. There are many factors that could be in play with that decision and also many of them that are no one's business but the skater. I still say if a "returning" skater beats out other skaters - more power to them. Countries should field their best skaters in international competition. Isn't that what it's all about? I will say at the risk of bringing wrath down on my head, that Keegan has never been a favorite skater of mine but I admire someone his age coming back to the grind of preparing for competition.

 

[lariko]

Intriguing. I am also having a bad feeling that this means Chui might be away for a while. Unfortunately, none of the younger contenders might be able to rival him for the spot on the team.

 

[Skating91]

This sort of comment, and the one to which it was a reply, is why I am so thankful I competed in the pre-social media days.

Social media is rarely healthy for anyone.

It's not like I'm watching the JGP as I am right now and being critical of amateur junior skaters.

I'm talking about a couple of world renowned skaters, men in their 30's who have put themselves out there in the public domain for many many years, people who know very well what they are doing, who in my opinion (just my opinion they are just words on a glowing screen no-one should ever let it affect their life) are exploiting the loopholes and their political capital within their feds to their advantage. If a skater didn't have to miss out, I'd find it more palatable, but it is a zero sum game.

If it is a close call who to send to the Olympics or include in the team event, let's hope feds reward the skaters who didn't avoid competition, skaters who fought for those Olympic spots.

A fed has to think long term as well and what rewarding skaters who exploit loopholes to their advantage does to morale of their other skaters.

 

[noskates]

I'm still hung up on the phrase "avoided competition!" Skaters retire for a plethora of reasons the least of which is probably avoidance. When you've been on the ice for 20 years or so, spent most of your waking moments practicing or getting in shape and incurred the loss of family time or friendship time or school or a social life and then you decide you need to get on with your life. How is this avoidance? Maybe they're just worn out physically and mentally. Maybe they just need a break! Why is there such a negative reaction to a skater deciding to come back to the ice? Frankly I think they've earned the right to make that decision.