Tamar Katz: An Olympic Qualifier, but Not in Israel’s Eyes (article)

[agalisgv]

How that piece-of-dog-crap-on-ice Gozeva was ahead of her in the SP is completely beyond me...

Gozeva did a 3lz combo and Katz singled her lz combo attempt, landed badly, and got virtually zero points for it. That's why.

[siouxdonym]

Gozeva did a 3lz combo and Katz singled her lz combo attempt, landed badly, and got virtually zero points for it. That's why.

But Tamar had nice spirals!

[Japanfan]

She earned the spot.

She didn't earn the spot if the rule is that she had to finish in the top 14 at Europeans - regardless of whether or not you agree with the rule.

[Eden]

I believe the Mossad or Shin Bet accompanies all Israeli competitors--not sure who picks up the tab for that.

Shin Bet.

[agalisgv]

But Tamar had nice spirals!

I'll give you that

Shin Bet.

Thanks

Do you know if the Israeli Olympic Committee is responsible for any security related costs for its athletes?

[Eden]

Thanks

You're welcome!

Do you know if the Israeli Olympic Committee is responsible for any security related costs for its athletes?

Not 100% sure here, but I believe that the hosting country is responsible for security costs of all the athletes including those who require more security.

BTW, Both Athens and Beijing games used Israeli experts for security arrangements.

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

Katz wuzrobbed of a medal at Europeans
With the overall abysmal level, a good skate from her should have landed her on the podium. But she got dumped in the SP for being inconsistent. As a fact, last season she was 25th in the SP at Worlds while being completely out of shape, so top 20 is definitely a very realistic goal.

I also think she's a very good package, she has all the triples, Sasha Cohenish spirals and spins, and she's fast across the ice. I honestly think that what holds her down is the nationality and the lack of consistency, so the judges don't give her the full credit even on the rare occasions when she skates well.

Anyway, GOOOO Katz, and I'm completely over the stupid Israeli OC that manages to send 20 officials, but can't find a spot for the athletes who have earned their place otherwise. And it's not only Katz, the same applies to the summer athletes as well, Dudi Sela being the most obvious. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to the Israeli bureaucracy.

[Ziggy]

How that piece-of-dog-crap-on-ice Gozeva was ahead of her in the SP is completely beyond me...

Oh god, Gozeva so shouldn't have qualified.

I guess as Agalisgv said, because she managed to rotate her jumps she made it through. Meh. :/

[kosjenka]

She didn't earn the spot if the rule is that she had to finish in the top 14 at Europeans - regardless of whether or not you agree with the rule.

Tamara qualified Israel for the Olympics under the regulations of her competing category. Tusk she earned her country a spot in Vancouver.

But the spot isn't hers. Israel can send anyone they think is the most fit in that category.

This only explains this situation, but it still sucks. Olympics is THE competition with slogan that it is about participating and representing your country, not winning.

[TAHbKA]

Anyways, here is the IOC data
The Israeli Olympic Committee can be contacted at:
The Olympic Committee of Israel can be reached at nocil@nocil.co.il
Phone, +972 3 649 8385. Fax, +972 3 649 8395

am clueless whether emailing/calling/faxing can change anything, but since right now the status is "not going" it can't hurt Tamar's chances anyway.

email/fax away

[SwingDancer]

I sent an email to pushkin!!!

Tamar deserves to skate in Vancouver!!1

I also sent a compassion filled email to the Israeli IOC listed above

[literaryfreak]

Sent an email to the above email address, hope everyone's emails will make a difference.

[pattern99skts]

It is so distressing to think that everything revolves around politics. Why not be proud of their athlete. Tamar should go.

[leafygreens]

Wow, this is very heartless of the Israeli federation to have a rule like that. I hope they listen to appeals and then change the rule.

[tangerine_dream]

Many countries which are not as competitive as the US have requirements like Israel...if their requirement is to place in the top 14 at Worlds in order to be sent to the Olympics, then that is what it is! Some people may not like the rules, but they are what they are. It isn't like Tamar actually would place in the top 20 at Olympics. She will bring nothing to Israel if she goes to the Olympics, so why should they send money on letting her go?

I also assume the situation would PERHAPS (and I do say, perhaps) be a little bit different if Tamar hadn't trained in the US most of her life. I have spoken to Tamar a long time ago, and perhaps her reasons have changed, but as she was telling it then, the reason she is skating for Israel rather than the US, is because there is more international opportunity for her if she skates for them. She would not be 3-time National champion if she were skating for the US. You also do have to realize that skating federations are not idiots, and do know when they are being a "last resort" for skaters who want international experience. Now, if these skaters bring results, both parties win. But if the skater is turning to said federation for a trip to the Olympics when she has no chance to win anything, and trains year-round in the US since she was 15 years old anyway, what does Israel get out of it? I don't think many people would care if they sent a girl who trains and lives year-round most of her life in the US to the Olympics, especially if she didn't bring back anything.

If she is unhappy with being unable to go, she should focus on bettering her skating so she can place in the top 14 at Worlds next time. It isn't like it is the fault of the Israeli Skating Federation if she bombs at competitions.

[Sylvia]

FYI, this was the follow-up thread on the Tamar Katz situation (where Tamar surfaces and comments -- see her post #128): http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=71147

[paskatefan]

Will Tamar have her chance to compete at Worlds? I hope so!

[tangerine_dream]

New York Times article today: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/30/sp...0olympics.html


Jan. 19, 2010 NY Times article on the Zaretskys that also mentions the Katz situation: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/sp...s/19skate.html

In the end she basically proved the federation right not to send her; she didn't even place top 20 at Worlds, doubt she would have done better at the Olympics. I think her placement is fine, but she shoudn't boast about what placement she can achieve and then use that as a reason for wanting to be sent to a competition, if she can't deliver the results she promised.

http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2010/CAT002RS.HTM

[TAHbKA]

tangerine_dream, according to the world placement Meier and Karademir should had not been sent to the Olympics either. What's your point?

[Quintuple]

Not commenting on if the federation *should* have sent her, but she did say in the original article that she could place Top 20 without even skating her best. So ... if she was giving that as a reason as to why to send her ... she didn't really deliver on her hypothetical qualification.