The thing that puzzles me is not how Jason, Ilia, and Vincent compare. The Olympics is a frill. I love it, but it only yields bragging rights for a country and the skaters who medal. All three skaters are worthy In different ways.
But World's and Junior Worlds are where there is an actual reward for a federation in terms of Worlds and Junior Worlds spots, and JGP slots for the following season, not Olympics. I want to see Ilia at Junior World's especially, because our Junior Men's team could use him. I want Ilia at Senior World's because it will be good for the federation, and he deserves it. Doing all three Olympics, Junior World's, and World's, is too much to ask.
Now what I am more puzzled at is the general assumption that Knierim & Frazier should be a lock for both Worlds and Olympics, and should skate the team event, too.
Despite our familiarity with them, they are a relatively new team. They should get no goody points for achievements with previous partners.
For one example, their triple twist is not particularly good, where Knierim & Knierim were top of the trees in that regard.
As noted earlier in this thread:
World Standings:
7 Ashley CAIN-GRIBBLE / Timothy LEDUC
13 Jessica CALALANG / Brian JOHNSON
15 Alexa KNIERIM / Brandon FRAZIER
17 Audrey LU / Misha MITROFANOV
and in the season standings, CAIN-GRIBBLE and LEDUC are also ahead of KNIERIM/FRASIER
KNIERIM/FRASIER did not even skate at Nationals. (And a case of COVID now does not improve your chances of skating well at the Olympics in a month in the team event.)
If you are arguing for giving the young technical experts the exposure at Olympics, why aren't you all advocating for LU/MITROFANOV to go to the Olympics and get some polish instead of KNIERIM/FRASIER?
And those who want only the top competitors at Nationals (for pairs, only two get to go) to always go, why aren't you advocating for CALALANG / JOHNSON to go rather than KNIERIM/FRASIER?
And why on earth would anyone want KNIERIM/FRASIER to skate the team event when before Brandon got sick, they still rank behind C-G/L despite the early part of their season being affected by Ashley's recovery from COVID?
Call me

and

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