Should Rachael Flatt & Mirai Nagasu now retire?

[Maofan7]

There has been a lot of talk about whether following U.S. Nationals, in which Flatt and Nagasu finished 6th & 7th respectively, they should now retire?

I think both Flatt and Nagasu can still be successful should they wish to continue. However, there is some hard thinking for both of them to do. Rachael needs to finally find an answer as to how she is going to balance university with skating. Her U.S. Nationals performance was a clear improvement on her grand prix skates, and I think that she can use that as a platform from which to build. Hence, things seem to be going in the right direction. As for Mirai, she has so much inherent talent, that for her to just give up would be a total waste of it. At the moment, she just seems so disenchanted. Accordingly, she needs to work out what the underlying problems are, address them, and resolve them. At the very least, I think she needs to get rid of the crazy commute.

[judgejudy27]

Flatt absolutely should retire and focus on college full time. Her career peak has already happened, her skating has already plateaued even putting in a full effort, and she is no longer a favorite of the USFSA. Her poor decision to skate at Worlds severely injured when there was a more than capable fill in, and her lackluster grand prix performances basically signal the end for her. The U.S has already had enough years of a trial run with her and gotten as much as they were ever going to in 2009 and 2010, and now with a growing abundance of other options building up she wont get near a World team again unless a train wreck of epic proportion occurs. If she stays on she will become another Fumie Suguri, only a decade younger, and that would be sad. Her very strong LP at Nationals is a good note to go out on.

Nagasu is a tougher call. It really depends on her. It is not too late for her but she has to decide she is either going to give it 100% or it is indeed maybe time to move on. If her heart isnt it, if she isnt willing to put in the neccessary work, then there is no point. She needs to analyze if she wants a coaching change, what her plan of attack is going forward, and if she wants it badly enough or not.

[DimaToe]

Only if they want to.

Rachael's LP performance was my favorite from her ever, it had it's weaknesses but it didn't matter, for the first time since she's been around, it felt like she was skating for herself, there was genuine joy in her face, she was just skating for the love of it, and call me crazy, but there seemed to be a connection to the audience that she never had before. If Rachael still has love for the sport, then let her compete for as long as she wants.

Mirai on the other hand seems to not be too into skating right now, maybe she has other things going on in her life, I don't know, but it seemed like her desire to do well just wasn't there. Maybe all she needs is a coaching change and a more stable training environment, maybe it's deeper than that, or perhaps it is time for her to hang her skates. I personally hope that she sticks around and finally lives up to her potential and talent because when that girl is on it's magic, but potential and talent can only do so much,she has to want it, and she has to work for it.

[orbitz]

Nobody wants to be told when he/she should retire from anything. Each should continue to skate if they still have the love for skating and competing. It's up to them.

[julieann]

I don't understand the meaning of the question. Why were they picked to 'retire' because of the place they got at nationals? Does that mean everyone they beat should quit as well?

[Sasha'sSpins]

No, why should they?

[DBZ]

Just from my own personal perspective, I think Rachael should retire. All things considered, I think she's had a very respectable career, but ultimately has maxed out her potential and growth as a competitive skater.

To me, she has always been a pretty average skater--with good basics, yes, but nothing special or exceptional beyond that. The fact that she managed to win a National title and make an Olympic team was a testament more to her hard work and dedication than her talent IMO.

Now that her work ethic and consistency are waning (her one and only strength), it makes little sense to me why she would continue, when it's clear she has other priorities much higher on her list than skating.

If she truly enjoys skating and competing, however, by all means she should continue if she wants to. More power to her, I say.

But it seems like an awful amount of time, money and energy spent to continue meandering in 5th-10th place finishes, which is where I see Rachael placing from now on unless she regains and commits herself 150% to skating again...and I just don't see that happening.

But who knows, stranger things have happened in skating.

As for Mirai, I do not think she should retire. Unlike Rachael, her potential has barely been tapped at this point, and it would be such a shame to see a truly exceptional skater retire before fulfilling any of it.

[judgejudy27]

Just from my own personal perspective, I think Rachael should retire. All things considered, I think she's had a very respectable career, but ultimately has maxed out her potential and growth as a competitive skater.

To me, she has always been a pretty average skater--with good basics, yes, but nothing special or exceptional beyond that. The fact that she managed to win a National title and make an Olympic team was a testament more to her hard work and dedication than her talent IMO.

Now that her work ethic and consistency are waning (her one and only strength), it makes little sense to me why she would continue, when it's clear she has other priorities much higher on her list than skating.

If she truly enjoys skating and competing, however, by all means she should continue if she wants to. More power to her, I say.

But it seems like an awful amount of time, money and energy spent to continue meandering in 5th-10th place finishes, which is where I see Rachael placing from now on unless she regains and commits herself 150% to skating again...and I just don't see that happening.

But who knows, stranger things have happened in skating.

As for Mirai, I do not think she should retire. Unlike Rachael, her potential has barely been tapped at this point, and it would be such a shame to see a truly exceptional skater retire before fulfilling any of it.

ITA with all you said.

[euterpe]

They should retire ONLY IF AND WHEN THEY WANT TO RETIRE.

[dlbarker]

Silly silly question, a knowledge of the history of skating and of the untelevised skaters would help. Placing in the top 10 in the country should not be cause for any athlete to retire. Focusing on college and adult life might be a good reason. Many skaters continue skating and enjoying skating in the untelevised ranks of the national championships for a decade or more.

[The Fly On The Wall]

They should retire ONLY IF AND WHEN THEY WANT TO RETIRE.

^This.

And to those who continue harping on Rachael for skating injured at Worlds when a "more than capable alternate was available," after Mirai's performance last night, how can anyone claim that sending her last year would have made things any different?

[triple_toe]

I kind of got the impression that last night was Rachael's goodbye skate, judging from her reaction.

[euterpe]

I kind of got the impression that last night was Rachael's goodbye skate, judging from her reaction.

If that was the case, she wouldn't have been named an alternate for 4CC.

[The Fly On The Wall]

I kind of got the impression that last night was Rachael's goodbye skate, judging from her reaction.

I had the same impression as well.

[Really]

I think they should whatever they want to do.

[triple_toe]

^I do too, I don't think anyone should be retiring the skaters for them. I just got the feeling that Rachael's long was, in her mind, her last performance (at least for the time being). I know she's been through a lot in the past year but I think there was more to her reaction than just relief. She doesn't usually get so emotional, and that, coupled with a few of her comments leading up to the competition, just gave me the feeling that she had planned it to be her swan song.

[Marco]

^This.

And to those who continue harping on Rachael for skating injured at Worlds when a "more than capable alternate was available," after Mirai's performance last night, how can anyone claim that sending her last year would have made things any different?

Well, in 2010 and 2011, Nagasu improved from her Nationals skate at Olympics (2010) and 4CCs (2011).

From 2009 to 2011, Flatt left her best at Nationals, and her Worlds performance was always worse.

[Cheylana]

^^ Nothing was really at stake for Nagasu at 2010 Olympics or 2011 4CCs. Nobody expected her to bring home an Olympic medal or get Worlds spots for the US ladies. So naturally she skated well. When expectations for Mirai go up, like at 2010 Worlds, she crumbles.

Look at Skate Canada. When everyone expected her to contend for a GPF spot, she bombs at that comp. The one week later, with virtually no chance for GPF, she grabs silver at COC.

[IceAlisa]

^^ Nothing was really at stake for Nagasu at 2010 Olympics...

[Cheylana]

How many media outlets said Mirai or Rachael was expected to medal at the Olympics? Nobody put pressure on them to keep the US ladies tradition of medaling at the Olmpics alive.

Would Mirai have been a better option at 2011 Worlds than Rachael? Sure but no sure thing.