DO SKATERS PUSH THEMSELVES TO FINISH THEIR PROGRAM?

[FSWer]

Say,I was thinking more today about Ashley Wagner...and this question came to me....DO Skaters actually PUSH themselves to finish their Program,even in the case of feeling pain,just from knowing they will...and to avoid not qualifying for a Competition?

 

[misskarne]

Sometimes. Sometimes they do, and they shouldn't. And other times, it's not physically possible to continue.

Ashley could not physically continue because of the pain in her ankle. Daniel Samohin could not physically continue because his shoulder was dislocated.

Sometimes, if a skater falls in a program and gets hurt, they choose to finish, but it's usually a not very smart idea.

There's no point qualifying for the next competition if you're too injured to skate there.

 

[FSWer]

Ya,but for example...could Ashley have just thought to herself if she wanted to..."HEY!! I'm in pain. But I don't want to be disqualified". Can a Skater's determination to want to make it,and stay qualified help them to outwit pain? Are there any rules saying a Skater can 't do that?

 

[purple skates]

There are no rules that say a skater cannot skate while injured, but it’s always in the best interest of the skater to decide for themselves if they should stop.

In other words, fans aren’t feeling what the skater is feeling, and therefore shouldn’t judge. Not saying you are, but a lot of people were saying bad things about Ashley because she stopped and that’s just not fair to the skater.

 

[FSWer]

....and then in the case on Nancy Karrigan. Makes you wounder if she could have just have said to herself..."HEY....I'm NOT this GUY RUIN my chance to go to the Olympics"!!!

 

[purple skates]

Well, In that case, she did! She couldn’t skate at Nationals, but she worked very hard to heal and be well enough to skate at the Olympics, so USFS sent her.

 

[Japanfan]

Skater's determination and desire to stay qualified frequently drives them to skate while injured or in pain. Injury and pain are part and parcel of being an elite athlete.

In 1998, Elvis Stojko competed at the Olympics with a groin injury, clearly in pain, and managed to stay on his feet (though he couldn't do the quad) and earn a silver medal. He limped his way to the podium on his running shoes. That's one of the most memorable performances by an injured skater that I recall, and then of course the Zhangs in 2006 completing the program after Dan took a horrific fall. And Elena B., came back to competing after a potentially career-ending injury in which her partner's skate sliced through her head (IIRC).

But there are so many other examples as well.

 

[Scrufflet]

Some do, some don't. I think the important thing is to not judge. We don't know the complexity of each injury. Let's just wish them good health and speedy recovery.
I know this is coloured by my own experience. Many years ago, I was severely criticized by work colleagues for "goofing off work and misusing long-term disability". I was in hospital for months, almost died and came close to losing a limb. So I will choose to applaud Ashley for having the good judgment to withdraw.

 

[chapis]

I guess many times they compete super drugged, I mean, wounds in feet, fracture in feet? . I tried to walk with a foot´s wound and this was almost impossible, literally the foot did not respond, pain is a defense mechanism after all. Incredible how they manage to smile, jump, not limping, etc.

 

[jenniferlyon]

Sometimes it's possible to push through the pain, but not always. If the skater is risking further injury by pushing through and finishing the program, then it's better to withdraw. I doubt any of the skaters we're following now would suddenly start faking sick in the middle of a program. Maybe some little kid might do that. But not a Grand Prix level skater, or even a Junior Grand Prix level skater.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

....and then in the case on Nancy Karrigan. Makes you wounder if she could have just have said to herself..."HEY....I'm NOT this GUY RUIN my chance to go to the Olympics"!!!

I think that is more or less what Nancy Kerrigan did say to herself, since she did compete at the Olympics and win the silver medal after the attack causing her injury.

 

[kittysk8ts]

Skater's determination and desire to stay qualified frequently drives them to skate while injured or in pain. Injury and pain are part and parcel of being an elite athlete.

In 1998, Elvis Stojko competed at the Olympics with a groin injury, clearly in pain, and managed to stay on his feet (though he couldn't do the quad) and earn a silver medal. He limped his way to the podium on his running shoes. That's one of the most memorable performances by an injured skater that I recall, and then of course the Zhangs in 2006 completing the program after Dan took a horrific fall. And Elena B., came back to competing after a potentially career-ending injury in which her partner's skate sliced through her head (IIRC).

But there are so many other examples as well.

The Zhangs came immediately to my mind as well.

Also Yuzuru Hanyu at CoC a couple of seasons ago with a concussion/his head bandaged, Meaghan Duhamel and Craig Buntin several years ago continued their program after she kicked him and sliced his hand open, Meaghan Duhamel and Eric Radford kept skating after she broke his nose on the 3Twist, Jeremy Abbott in Sochi after taking a hard fall and staying on the ice for several seconds got up and finished. A less egregious case is Caro skating with a bloody nose and having to pinch her nose in the camel spins to stem the blood flow. I am sure I will think of some others too.

 

[DDNatalia]

Alex Shibutani certainly has a track record of pushing himself through illness and injury.

2012 Four Continents free dance. Alex collapses to the ice at the end after performing at altitude in spite of illness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sKUrWwXlVc

2015 Grand Prix Final free dance. Did not withdraw in spite of severe food poisoning, unable to even warm up. Audience unaware that he is ill, gives standing ovation for performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml-JBlh6Cno

 

[Japanfan]

Meaghan Duhamel and Craig Buntin several years ago continued their program after she kicked him and sliced his hand open, Meaghan Duhamel and Eric Radford kept skating after she broke his nose on the 3Twist,

The way that reads is just . Makes Meaghan sounds like a total liability as a pair partner.

 

[kittysk8ts]

The way that reads is just . Makes Meaghan sounds like a total liability as a pair partner.

Hahahaha!! I know. Poor Meaghan