Can anyone tell me in which starting group Mao will be in at worlds?
Her current world standing is 12th, but Kanako and Yulia are in front of her, who wont be at worlds.
I had hoped to see her amazing programs at 4CC and that she could gain some points so that she's not at a disadvantage at worlds for the starting order.
I'm not worried about the starting order.
If she gives a good clean skate, she will score highly, and she will move to the first group for the free skate.
If she makes mistakes, she will score less, and she will probably stay in an earlier group for the FS.
This will happen no matter which group she starts in for the short program.
I'm sure starting group does occasionally have an influence. (And all bets are off if it's an Olympics).
But most of the time, I don't believe it's a factor and it makes little/no difference.
There are countless examples of people with no rep/history scoring big from an early group. But these are either conveniently ignored by people determined to "prove" that their favourite skater is "underscored" or "held back"... or,
another unproven theory is invoked to account for these "exceptions" (eg. "they have a strong fed"). When counter examples for
that theory are also brought up... ever more exotic conspiracy theories must be conjured up and invoked to try and explain them away...
...When actually there is a much simpler explanation: Skaters end up in earlier groups BECAUSE they are low scorers, or they have not skated consistently enough to maintain a high ranking.
In Mao's case, her ranking has dropped due to a year out, and she didn't do any Challenger etc competitions like many other top skaters. So yes, she probably will start in an earlier group.
But I'm not expecting to need the pitchfork or burning torch. Like I said, I'm not worried.
I think her fate is in her own hands, not the group she starts in.
A good rest and good preparation will help, starting in the last group will not, IMO...
