Yamaguchi touts Karen Chen ahead of Worlds

[Mathman]

Here's an interview with Kristi Yamaguchi cheering on the American ladies at the World Championships. Kristi is official USFSA mentor to Karen. Scroll down for a clip of Kristi's daughter Emma skating.

http://www.excellesports.com/news/kristi-yamaguchi-karen-chen-skating/

Kristi's latest children's book

http://www.excellesports.com/product/kristi-yamaguchis-book-caras-kindness/

 

[brightphoton]

I like the headline: Kristi Yamaguchi says an American can win World Figure Skating Champs

but her actual quote is "Ashley, Karen and Mariah [Bell]—if they skate cleanly in both the short and the long, one or two could be on the podium. But they have to skate cleanly."


This news articles also has a lot of those brackets [that explain what the quote means]. I'd say almost every quote [from Kristi Yamaguchi] has those brackets.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

It's hard to imagine two Americans on the podium. Basically, all of the top competitors (Evgenia, Satoko, Anna, Carolina, the Canadians) would have to have meltdowns, a few others (Mai, Maria S) would have to skate poorly, and Karen or Mariah would need to skate perfectly.

 

[Warwick360]

I am still yet to be convinced by Karen Chen. She skates great at Nationals and then is somewhat of a disappointment when she goes international.

 

[mrrice]

I am still yet to be convinced by Karen Chen. She skates great at Nationals and then is somewhat of a disappointment when she goes international.

I feel the exact same way. I don't have anything against Karen but, I certainly don't think she'll be anywhere near the podium. In fact, I'll be happy if she's in the top 10. At this point, I think she will be the lowest placing US Lady. I've seen her skate great exactly 1 time and her latest outing did absolutely nothing to convince me that she's a reliable skater. I don't think it will really matter but, I definitely think our 3rd is in jeopardy. I guess if Ashley can stay in the top 5, there's a chance that Mariah Bell can place 8th and we'll be OK. With Polina and a (Hopefully) rejuvenated Gracie coming back next year, we could certainly use 3 spots going into the Games.

 

[Yatagarasu]

but her actual quote is "Ashley, Karen and Mariah [Bell]—if they skate cleanly in both the short and the long, one or two could be on the podium. But they have to skate cleanly."

Which is very unrealistic, considering the competition.
Always thought statements like those actually do a disservice to athletes. Then their good results turn out somehow 'not good' or disappointing, because the hype pushed things way too far and the pressure is greater. Tone it down, it's better for everyone.

 

[Ares]

No chance for Karen or Mariah to sniff medal let alone to place on the podium even with lots of luck. Top 10 for both would be successful. I wish Mariah can place 6th (but she needs to skate like at SA or better).

 

[Mathman]

Oh ye of little faith! Go Karen!

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

What I want more than anything at Worlds is for the Shibs to surprise most prognosticators by doing even better than predicted. What I want second most is for both Mariah Bell and Karen Chen to skate well at Worlds. These forums have turned me into a huge Bell and Chen fan (I was already a warm to Bell after Skate America and Karen Chen, IMO, blew me away with her artistry and her musicality, creativity, finesse, polish, and respect for executing proper spin positions and centering in her SP and Exhibition at Nationals), and I want nothing more than for them to show all these expert posters up. These threads regurgitating the same negativity over and over about the U.S. ladies losing a spot have been a chore to read.

 

[Amei]

It's nice for her to voice her support but if everyone in the competition skates cleanly it's more than likely no American lady would be on the podium.

 

[noskates]

I am still yet to be convinced by Karen Chen. She skates great at Nationals and then is somewhat of a disappointment when she goes international.

I'm right there with you. I think her skate at 4CCs was indicative of what we've seen from her for the past couple of years. I really hope US Nats wasn't a fluke.

 

[Mathman]

I think we are all missing the point of this article. Which is, Kristi came out with a new children's book in October. (How did I miss it?)

Tip. If you want to get Kristi to autograph your copy, you better show up on time for the autograph session. Kristi is notorious for arriving right on time and leaving right on time.

 

[brightphoton]

I think we are all missing the point of this article. Which is, Kristi came out with a new children's book in October. (How did I miss it?)

Tip. If you want to get Kristi to autograph your copy, you better show up on time for the autograph session. Kristi is notorious for arriving right on time and leaving right on time.

I looked at the Amazon preview, which shows the first 10 pages. I think I'm a little too old for this kind of book

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1492616869/

 

[Figure 8's]

Kristi has always been a class act. I am happy to hear she is mentoring Karen. I wish that people instead of bad mouthing Karen all the time would start cheering for her and wishing her well. She is still a young skater so give her a chance. She won her Gold at Nationals fair and square so get over it.

 

[hippomoomin]

Kristi has been a mentor for Karen for a very long time, at least since Karen's first junior national. It has not helped with Karen's consistency issue, or if she just could identify what Karen's problem is. The boot issue didn't seem to convince folks here.

 

[Skater Boy]

It's hard to imagine two Americans on the podium. Basically, all of the top competitors (Evgenia, Satoko, Anna, Carolina, the Canadians) would have to have meltdowns, a few others (Mai, Maria S) would have to skate poorly, and Karen or Mariah would need to skate perfectly.

Well if the Canadians make mistakes which isn't unlikely considering Osmond has never done well with her fs and Gaby is still probably the lesser of the two; Carolina, Anna are all prone to disasters and Satoko is coming back from injury so it is possible Ashley and Karen or Mariah could podium although it is easily just as possible we have say Ashley in 8th or 9th and the other two ladies out of the top ten (if say 5 out of 6 Japanese/Russians beat Ashley, Carolina and a Canadian or two this could also be probable.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I'm rooting for Karen, but the leniency of the Tech specialist at nationals wasn't doing her or the other girls any favours by ignoring some of their URs. She will continue to get absolutely nailed by international judges unless she skates with more attack and more rotated jumps. She still deserves to go to Worlds on the basis of being the best on the night, but she has to step it up. She is not getting the PCS of top skaters so she absolutely must be absolutely clean technically (including rotations) to make up the difference. It's too optimistic to say two Americans can medal but I can picture someone with decent PCS like Wagner doing it.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Well if the Canadians make mistakes which isn't unlikely considering Osmond has never done well with her fs and Gaby is still probably the lesser of the two; Carolina, Anna are all prone to disasters and Satoko is coming back from injury so it is possible Ashley and Karen or Mariah could podium although it is easily just as possible we have say Ashley in 8th or 9th and the other two ladies out of the top ten (if say 5 out of 6 Japanese/Russians beat Ashley, Carolina and a Canadian or two this could also be probable.

That's essentially what I said While all those skaters (except Satoko) have had meltdowns in the past, the likelihood of all of them doing so and two Americans skating great is low.

 

[Mathman]

All I have to say is, Go Mariah!

 

[shiroKJ]

As much as I love Karen :luv17: it would be considered a successful outing if she stay in the top 10..Same with Mariah.