U.S. 2014 Olympic Team announcement (A) Press conferences & (B) Google+ Hangout

[figure skating fan]

Why not send Polina and Miraii to 4CC and whoever does better goes to Olympics?

 

[aviva_dawn]

Why not send Polina and Miraii to 4CC and whoever does better goes to Olympics?

They couldn't. There was a deadline to announce the team that was before 4CC. Mirai is listed as 1st alternate to the Olympics on the USFS website.
Also, going to Asia and competing then having to be in Sochi literally the next week to compete once again is something that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

 

[mirai4life]

The Olympic Teams have been announced, but not a word about 4CC's or Worlds or Jr. Worlds?
I wonder why USFSA is waiting on announcing the remainder?

They didn't give Olympics spot to Mirai.

That's a bad new. They don't want another bad news at the same time because Mirai didn't make it to Worlds as well it seems.

 

[sweetskates1]

I was so excited when I saw them sit while the conference went on in mute - hahahahaha !!! after the heartbreak that came with the non-inclusion of Mirai - I felt they owed this to the fans.

Well there's no sound on this press conference.

And JEREMY AND JASON just as sound comes on. Yes!

Jeremy talks about being calm and then Jason says "I'm sorry, but I'm not as calm as Jeremy." He's so excited.

 

[yunasashafan]

Here are the assignments for Worlds, Junior Worlds and 4CC.

http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=49829&type=media

No Worlds for Mirai

 

[tulosai]

Here are the assignments for Worlds, Junior Worlds and 4CC.

http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=49829&type=media

No Worlds for Mirai

Arhhhhggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[SquishyDumpling]

Interesting to see that they are sending Max over Jason to worlds.

 

[UnsaneLily87]

Interesting to see that they are sending Max over Jason to worlds.

Maybe this is why the press conference got pushed back. Last minute politicking by Tom Z?

 

[Gigi13]

Here are the assignments for Worlds, Junior Worlds and 4CC.
http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=49829&type=media

No Worlds for Mirai

This devastating ugh why aren't they sending her to worlds omg kill me now, also Jason not going to Worlds is weird I just can't These assignments...no words.

 

[aviva_dawn]

Some (No, really most) of those assignments are just what the heck?

I'm glad that Mirai at least got an assignment, but I'm just *facepalm*.

 

[coolboogie22]

https://www.change.org/petitions/u-...ident-pat-st-peter-send-mirai-nagasu-to-sochi

 

[Gigi13]

Some (No, really most) of those assignments are just what the heck?

I'm glad that Mirai at least got an assignment, but I'm just *facepalm*.

Me too I'm rooting for Mirai, Kanako, and Li that's my dream podium, but dang it I wish Mirai got Worlds ugh

 

[Jammers]

How the heck does Max get to go to Worlds over Jason who just thrashed him by over 10 points? And no Worlds for Mirai? Edmunds should have gone to Jr Worlds and Mirai to Sr Worlds.

 

[starryxskies]

WHAT?!?!?! Mirai didn't even get Worlds??? That's not right. I get putting Ashley on the Worlds team as her and Gracie would most likely be able to keep those 3 spots for them. But Ashley should be bumping Polina off. Not Mirai. Polina should be carrying her Junior momentum back to Juniors Worlds, not Senior Worlds. The point difference between Polina and Mirai was so insignificant.

Also, interesting that they didn't put Max on the 4CC team...

 

[Ziggy]

And C/D won a bronze at a GP event. What is the point of stating that you apply a rule like we are looking at past success of one skater vs another to make the decision and another random set of criteria for another group of skaters? What good does that do the US pairs program on the international stage? If the idea is to build a program what good is that?

This is what is so upsetting.

Same rules should apply to everyone.

D/C had much better GP results than Z/B and finished 0.29 behind them at Nationals. Not going to the Olympics.

Wagner had much better international results than Nagasu and finished 8 points behind her at Nationals. Going to the Olympics.

Logic?

I really wished Nagasu would sue USFS (and win) but it looks like she was scared into silence.

I'm all for consistency but it definitely makes more sense for Ashley to go than D/C if it's only one because she can possibly medal.

A UFO can possibly land in my garden tomorrow, therefore Francesca Chierra should go to the Olympics.

Yeah, Polina has not hit puberty or a real growth spurt yet. Her only chance may well be now before her body changes.

I think she's already had one growth spurt at least, IIRC.

Yeah, I do think Polina's PCS were inflated relative to Mirai's, especially in the short. I would most definitely have had Nagasu in 2nd after the short.

I think the SP is where Edmunds really shined, showing character and skating to the music well.

WHAT?!?!?! Mirai didn't even get Worlds??? That's not right. I get putting Ashley on the Worlds team as her and Gracie would most likely be able to keep those 3 spots for them. But Ashley should be bumping Polina off. Not Mirai. Polina should be carrying her Junior momentum back to Juniors Worlds, not Senior Worlds. The point difference between Polina and Mirai was so insignificant.

Again: Edmunds has both beaten Nagasu at US Nationals and had better scores so far this season. If anybody should get bumped off the Worlds team, it's Wagner who has bombed Nationals.

 

[tulosai]

I think she's already had one growth spurt at least, IIRC.

I think the SP is where Edmunds really shined, showing character and skating to the music well.

Again: Edmunds has both beaten Nagasu at US Nationals and had better scores so far this season. If anybody should get bumped off the Worlds team, it's Wagner who has bombed Nationals.

It is hard to compare jr and sr scores though. When Julia transitioned to Seniors she was flabbergasted at the fact that she was getting lower scores, but this happens to everyone as they transition to seniors.

In person, Polina's SP really did very little for me. I'd have had her and Nagasu at around the same for SS and TR and CH, but definitely have had Nagasu higher for PE and IN, significantly so. I do think she got PCS boost for skating so late in the night.

As for the growth spurt, not sure so I may stand corrected, but she definitely has NO hips or breasts to speak of.

 

[Gigi13]

WHAT?!?!?! Mirai didn't even get Worlds??? That's not right. I get putting Ashley on the Worlds team as her and Gracie would most likely be able to keep those 3 spots for them. But Ashley should be bumping Polina off. Not Mirai. Polina should be carrying her Junior momentum back to Juniors Worlds, not Senior Worlds. The point difference between Polina and Mirai was so insignificant.

Also, interesting that they didn't put Max on the 4CC team...

This. She should go to Junior Worlds this is so messed up :no:

 

[alex2155]

This whole thing is very interesting and frustrating. They are starting to pick the team much like the gymnastics team is picked...except in gymnastics it makes somewhat of sense, because they have a 5 person team and competes as a team and therefore might need to event specialist. They can't just chose the top 5 all-arounders.
The team I wanted for figure skating was Gracie, Mirai, and Ashley. There is no way they could have justified taking Polina off for Ashley though. Based of this competition alone Gracie, Polina, and Mirai earned spots on the team and I think that is how it should be. I do like Ashley and she has done well for the US over the past few years, but she bombed when it counted and that is what really matters.
I was watching Olympic trials for other sports and it doesn't matter what your reputation is, if you don't compete well on the day of trials then its too bad. For example, in speed skating I watched this guy get a qualifying time, but be disqualified because he forgot to put on the ankle monitor that they must wear in every race (He did go on to qualify for the team on a different distance the next day). But one silly mistake and he was out. It was heart-breaking yes! but that is the rule.
Same thing with swimming in the summer. If you swim too slow in trials then your out, even if you are a former world champion, it doesn't matter.

 

[Ziggy]

It is hard to compare jr and sr scores though. When Julia transitioned to Seniors she was flabbergasted at the fact that she was getting lower scores, but this happens to everyone as they transition to seniors.

It can go both ways. Marks at senior events are generally higher. Lipnitskaia's PCS this season have been much higher than her Junior scores last season (but then she's had a strong season and her last season wasn't good so it doesn't necessarily mean much).

In person, Polina's SP really did very little for me. I'd have had her and Nagasu at around the same for SS and TR and CH, but definitely have had Nagasu higher for PE and IN, significantly so.

Why PE and IN?

I see them being pretty even on PE. Edmunds had better posture and lines but her upper body was quite rigid. Nagasu had slightly rounded shoulders and not fully extended lines but much more fluid movement and used her whole upper body and didn't just move her arms like Edmunds. Both seemed to reflect the character of the music decently enough. Edmunds had the wrist and hip movements typical for Latin ballroom dancing though. And I think Edmunds projected better and shown attack but again both did very well in that regard.

As for IN, I thought that Edmunds skated and moved in time with the music most of the time. I am not sure that Nagasu did.

 

[Everettguy]

Congrats to Jeremy and Jason for making it! I hope that Jeremy can rein in his nerves and do clean programs in Sochi. If he does he has as good a chance as anybody to get on that podium. I think jason will be a force in the future once he gets the quad. It's somewhat ironic that for years we looked for men to be able to land a quad and Max lands 3 in total and winds up 3rd. His artistry is growing however he'll always (IMHO) more like an Elvis Stojko type skater - which is perfectly fine.
On another note, I do find some of the assignments to 4CC & Worlds a bit odd...