Oh for dog's sake, it happened ONCE at her first SGP event. Knowing this kid like I do, she'll have it together for Nationals...
Maybe, but my point is that no matter how one sees it, can't change the fact that SC happened. For Gold, there are not enough data points (competitions at the top level) to determine/predict how she might perform in such conditions...so in that sense, she IS a question mark. (Hopefully SC will turn out to be an outlier and her average will be much better)
...you have to also remember that the rest of our ladies meltdown pretty regularly and that they ALL feel the pressure at Nationals. Wagner has skated consistently well in the past two years. That's why I think Wagner will win but I doubt she will be at her very best.
Fair point.
Wagner has a chance to stamp her print on American skating if she can win- but it will be no cake walk. Especially with Nagasu and Gao beginning to skate better. Even in the BEST of circumstances it's tough...I'm sure she will feel the nerves and I'm curious to see how she will handle it.
I think people are aware of that but merely have noticed that at least Ashley seems to want to be the favorite as opposed to skaters like Alissa and Mirai who never got comfortable in the position.
Probably the one fundamental difference between them. But remember- WANTING to be the favorite is different from actually BEING the favorite. It concerns mindset. (Think of a potential star who works and works, hungering for the spotlight...and once she actually gets the spotlight, finds out that there's a dark side to it too...)