Polina Edmunds has withdrawn from 2016 Worlds, replaced by Mirai Nagasu

[Spun Silver]

It is so great to think of the love she will get from that home audience!!! It will make up for everything.

 

[Aerobicidal]

will TD arena let me hold up a lighter when mirai skates?

Frankly, my dear, I hope they won't give a damn.

 

[Marco]

Bummed for Polina but that was a very classy statement. Wishing her a speedy recovery and keeping that Moonlight Sonata short program.

Ecstatic for Mirai! I hope she has been training well after the high of 4CCs. When Rachael didn't pull out of 2011 Worlds after Mirai medalled at 2011 4CCs, she/ Frank said she was ready and had been training well as the first alternate; and would have done her job if she was asked to compete. This is her chance to prove it.

P.S. - is 6 years the longest gap there is for someone to re-make the world team?

 

[bardtoob]

I hope to see a lot of team spirit among Ashley, Mirai, and Gracie because they should not be competing with each other at Worlds because, let's face it, Medvedeva, Radionova, Pogo, and Satoko are the frontrunners.

 

[Vagabond]

What if it isn't Mirai, but Liam Firus with a change of mind and a very good disguise!

I think we're more likely to see Vivan Le doing Edmunds' Gone with the Wind Free Skate. Fiddle-dee-dee!

 

[aftershocks]

I hope to see a lot of team spirit among Ashley, Mirai, and Gracie because they should not be competing with each other at Worlds because, let's face it, Medvedeva, Radionova, Pogo, and Satoko are the frontrunners.

^^ I was thinking similar thoughts re U.S. ladies. Although I completely disagree that Pogo should be termed a "frontrunner"!

Mirai, Ashley, and Gracie should bring energy and team spirit to the arena. They should try to have fun and skate with no pressure and support and cheer each other on as well!

Happy for Mirai, and I hope Polina heals well and comes back strong with her same sp, and a great new mature-looking fp that shows off her strengths!

I hope Phil Hersh is still going to be at Worlds, since he said in his interview with The Skating Lesson that he was doing reporting on Polina for the San Jose Mercury News at worlds.

Maybe Hersh can contract to report for Mirai's hometown newspaper at Worlds instead.

 

[IceAlisa]

I hope to see a lot of team spirit among Ashley, Mirai, and Gracie because they should not be competing with each other at Worlds because, let's face it, Medvedeva, Radionova, Pogo, and Satoko are the frontrunners.

How is Pogo a frontrunner? She barely made the team.

 

[VGThuy]

I hope Pogo places high enough so she can gets to skate her exhibition. The Boston crowd should not miss out on that awesomeness/craziness.

 

[skatfan]

One sad thing: we will never know if there was a better LP dress made for Polina.

 

[AxelAnnie]

We can only hope there was. . I feel so bad for Polina

 

[bardtoob]

@aftershocks and @IceAlisa

I understand your position. I made my choice of phrasing because the ladies world ranks are currently:

1. Miyahara
2. Tuktamysheva
3. Radionova
4. Hongo
5. Gold
6. Pogorilaya
7. Medvedeva
8. Wagner
9. Lipnitskaya
10. Murakami
11. Nagasu

 

[IceAlisa]

@aftershocks and @IceAlisa

I understand your position. I made my choice of phrasing because the ladies world ranks are currently:

1. Miyahara
2. Tuktamysheva
3. Radionova
4. Hongo
5. Gold
6. Pogorilaya
7. Medvedeva
8. Wagner
9. Lipnitskaya
10. Murakami
11. Nagasu

According to this Tuk is a frontrunner. World rankings are not very informative, are they...

 

[bardtoob]

According to this Tuk is a frontrunner. World rankings are not very informative, are they...

I suppose I could have been Amer-o-centric and discounted Pogo and the reigning World Champion

... It's bad enough I did not mention the powerhouse that is Hongo because I am so Western

 

[lala]

I'm sorry for Polina! But I'm happy for Mirai!!!

 

[Marco]

According to this Tuk is a frontrunner. World rankings are not very informative, are they...

And Medvedeva only 7th when she won/ medalled at every competition she entered last (Jr) and this season (Sr)?!

 

[rhapsody]

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_29677180/u-s-skater-polina-edmunds-withdraws-from-world

She said finishing second was disappointing after Gold rallied to overtake her in the long program.

"We pushed each other, but it was a disappointment to me because it was clear the short program didn't really matter," said Edmunds, who was first after the short routine. "If you're going to just judge on the long why have two programs then?"

 

[bardtoob]

Oh, Polina, you did not need to be the one to say that.

 

[Karpenko]

Polina Edmunds will never forget.

I really do feel for her, but best to not insult any nationals judging at the quad's mid-way point Ms. Sassy-Mcfrass. It'll just bite her at the worst times later on. She really has come a country mile artistically this year though and I hope the LP can show that off next year. I like her.

 

[aftershocks]

I suppose I could have been Amer-o-centric and discounted Pogo and the reigning World Champion

... It's bad enough I did not mention the powerhouse that is Hongo because I am so Western

Hongo, a powerhouse? I think Hongo is a consistent skater who tries hard and gives it her all, but she's not that exciting to watch honestly. Yes she can land the jumps and that makes her competitive with the best in the world. But if everyone skate clean and to their best level, Hongo will not win on PCS.

I'm hoping that Marin Honda and Wakaba Higuchi will shortly be giving especially Hongo and Kanako a run for their money at Japanese Nationals. Kanako is usually a good sp skater, but she has a number of weaknesses, among them the fp is not generally her best showing.

Anyways, World rankings in figure skating don't mean a whole heck of a lot on the face of it. Just a general faulty numbers-centric guide based on wildly fluctuating factors.

If you were basing your phrasing on the rankings list then you were being selective since according to that questionable list, Gold is more of a "frontrunner" than Pogo and Medvedeva.

 

[Jarrett]

Maybe Hersh can contract to report for Mirai's hometown newspaper at Worlds instead.

I sure hope not. The less work for him the better.

 

[bardtoob]

If you were basing your phrasing on the rankings list then you were being selective since according to that questionable list, Gold is more of a "frontrunner" than Pogo and Medvedeva.

I was and I know

 

[aftershocks]

I sure hope not. The less work for him the better.

Yep, gotcha! No need for Hersh's OTT put-down superficial style of writing having anything to do with our Mirai! More like let's have Kirk Wessler come to the 'thoughtful in-depth' figure skating coverage rescue! Please!!!

 

[IceAlisa]

I suppose I could have been Amer-o-centric and discounted Pogo and the reigning World Champion

No, just realistic. Like @Marco pointed out, Med is not a frontrunner according to this list.


Psssst...it's ok to discount the reigning WC if she is not competing.

Oh, Polina, you did not need to be the one to say that.

There is no need to say that, period. It's math. Gold was THAT much better.

 

[MsZem]

@aftershocks and @IceAlisa

I understand your position. I made my choice of phrasing because the ladies world ranks are currently:

1. Miyahara
2. Tuktamysheva
3. Radionova
4. Hongo
5. Gold
6. Pogorilaya
7. Medvedeva
8. Wagner
9. Lipnitskaya
10. Murakami
11. Nagasu

Or you can combine it with the ISU season ranking, as it covers only this season and not the past three. Guess who the top US lady is? (hint: I have conveniently bolded her name in the above list )

Roberta Rodeghiero for a World medal

 

[Marco]

Or you can combine it with the ISU season ranking, as it covers only this season and not the past three. Guess who the top US lady is? (hint: I have conveniently bolded her name in the above list )

Wagner will never top that list for Americans unless she starts doing senior Bs and 4CCs. (I suppose GPF isn't worth that much... )

 

[jlai]

I actually think it's better for Wagner to stay in the pre-ultimate group psychologically speaking

 

[lauravvv]

Sad for Polina - mostly because of how she must feel about not being able to go to Worlds after an overall good first half of the season. Also, I feel like I have seen her lovely SP too few times this season. I would nof mind it if she would keep it for next season.

Anyway, congratulations to Nagasu, of course.

This is actually the first season after 2010 when I kind of like her (Nagasu) and her programs.

 

[Maofan7]

Very sad for Polina. However, the silver lining is that Mirai gets a chance to attend Worlds again for the first time since 2010, after her fantastic performance at 4CC

 

[Carolla5501]

will TD arena let me hold up a lighter when mirai skates?

You are showing your age... I think they hold up cell phones now

I am thrilled for her and glad to hear she's been training!

 

[Erin]

Oh, Polina, you did not need to be the one to say that.

I was wondering how long it was going to be before someone noticed that quote. I was very close to commenting on it myself last night and then decided not to open that can of worms.

I feel like someone needs to sit down Polina and show her exactly why Gracie beat her by 10 points in the free skate. It's not that the SP doesn't matter, it's that it can only do so much when someone (deservedly) creams you in the free skate.

Perhaps Polina thinks it should just be an SP contest? I mean, why bother holding the free program if you think you should just be able to coast on the lead of your SP and not have the FP matter