2021/2022 Canadian Men: News and Updates

[overedge]

Well I think the Russians and Americans are able to medal in the team event at every Olympics so far.

And there are many more countries who have never even qualified a team. Getting into the event at all is an accomplishment.

I can think of Olympic years before the team event when performances from skaters from both of those countries would have dragged down a team's point total.

 

[dramagrrl]

I am not "upset" or "angry" at Roman (I love Team Canada for the most part, but quite frankly, I was half hoping they wouldn't make the team final because I didn't want J/R to get a chance to skate in it), but I'm not at all surprised that he skated badly and I don't think that he should be exempt from being called out for it based on excuses such as not being prepared to skate due to Keegan's absence, never having competed at Worlds, etc. I have always strongly doubted Roman's competitive nerves and agree with those who have said that Chiu would have been a better option, because even if he had placed dead last in every segment in which he competed, at least we would be getting a young skater who has potential for the future some experience on the Olympic stage. For those who are using the excuse that the second spot for Canadian men only existed because of Roman - he barely qualified the spot in an extremely weak field at Nebelhorn and was actually lucky that Team Italy wasn't eligible for another spot, because he wouldn't have gotten it otherwise. I think pretty much any of the more experienced senior men (Nam, Joseph, even Conrad, maybe) would have been able to eek out that result.

I am also in the minority in that I don't think Roman's skating is "so gorgeous", etc. even when he skates decently, but perhaps that is because I don't think I have ever seen him skate a completely clean program. I was at the event live when he won Canadians and I found his winning FS very uninspiring.

 

[TRAxel]

Make sure you’re giving Keegan that credit, too. Keegan was the one who finished in the top 10 at worlds. Without that, there would’ve been no possibility for Roman to confirm a second spot at the Olympic qualifier. Roman confirmed the second spot there by the skin of his teeth because of the awful performance of others.

Obviously that goes without saying, hence why I didn't say it. Also..... it doesn't matter how good/bad other skaters skated, it's always who skates THE BEST on that day in any competition. You're a bucket of sunshine, aren't you? LOL

 

[TRAxel]

Doesn’t seem to have affected 18 year old Madeleine Schizas.

Right, because everyone reacts exactly the same under pressure

 

[TRAxel]

Sadovsky deserves the negative attention. He's known for at least 10 days since they left Vancouver without Keegan, that he was likely going to have to skate in the TE and possibly both segments, and he's known since the beginning of the week that Keegan wasn't going to swoop in to save the day. I'm glad I'm not Canadian because I'd have zero patience with the idea that anyone should accept that he's just such a fragile skater/competitor that he can't handle the pressure. If that's how he is, he probably shouldn't be a competitive figure skater.

I'm sorry but nobody deserves negative attention, and it's not even negative... "fans" get downright hateful, and that is unacceptable, period!

All the Roman naysayers here seem to forget that many skaters implode when they get to the Olympics, even our 4 time World Champion Kurt Browning!

 

[overedge]

And really, if we want to get upset about poor performances from Canadians getting international attention - the Covidiots in Ottawa are doing way more to make Canada look bad than Roman is.

 

[Dobre]

Doesn’t seem to have affected 18 year old Madeleine Schizas.

When she's doing multiple quads & triple axels, we'll revisit.

I think we all know that Roman wasn't expecting to do the team event at all. Maybe Nathan or Kolyada or Aymoz or Zhou or pretty much the entire men's field can offer him a little perspective on using it as a learning experience and growing from it.

I’m not sure what Skate Canada can do.

SC can send him to the major international events he's earned and let him get the experience. They can send Wesley to the events he's earned & let him get some. They are sending Keegan around the world via various airport stops to demonstrate that when you earn a placement, they will be there to help you live out the dream you've earned.

Those top Russian ladies have been through the competitive pressure cooker for years. These are the tippy top competitors that made it through. Plenty of them didn't. If there were comparable competitive guys in the Canadian men's field right now, they'd be here. As it is, it's been an interesting and unpredictable four years. I sure would have loved for Nam to be here, but I'd guess he would be the first person to understand Roman's disappointment after a tough skate. And as for age & timing, look how many years it took Keegan before he earned his way to his first major international. His first senior Nationals was 09-10. You follow your own path, and it takes as long as it takes to get the experience & confidence you need.

 

[tony]

Plenty of skaters have completely imploded at the Olympics. Besides Kurt, think of what happened to Boitano and Petrenko in 1994, Brian Joubert in 2010, think of what happened to Nathan at the last Olympics, Nicole Bobek and Laetitia Hubert in 1998, and so on. There are examples of medal contenders that this happens to each Olympic cycle. Roman is far from the first person to have this happen to him. However, it's also not that unexpected and I don't know why people are all that surprised or even mad. Canada went through how many years of Sandhu?

But, as I'm going to reiterate, Canada was never in the medal picture, even with standout performances across the board. I think team Canada was just hoping to make it into the long programs. Roman had points that helped contribute to getting Canada to the final. He surely didn't want to skate the way he did, but it doesn't really mean anything in the end besides him having to deal with a disappointing performance. Hopefully the individual goes better for him, but he skates first of 30 and he really needs to deliver.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Plenty of skaters have completely imploded at the Olympics. Besides Kurt, think of what happened to Brian Joubert in 2010, think of what happened to Nathan at the last Olympics, Nicole Bobek and Laetitia Hubert in 1998, and so on. There are examples of medal contenders that this happens to each Olympic cycle.

Carolina Kostner, in 2006 (reigning World bronze medallist) and 2010 (just-minted European Champion), too.

 

[screech]

I think a lot of excuses are being made for his situation and having to skate two extra times, but Messing’s situation was known way far in advance of when the articles came out. Roman knew he was going to be put in the position, and if anything, it could’ve been used to get the nerves out for the individual competition. I bet Roman and Beverly Zhu are wishing they just didn’t qualify to the LP at this point.

I think there was a chance they may have always planned on having Roman doing the FP of the Team Event, since he flew out with the rest of the skaters who were taking part in the TE (and those who weren't were on a different flight). But as of about 2 days before the TE SP, he would have known for certain that Keegan wouldn't be there.

And speaking of Keegan, who drew his name for him for the individual event SP? I'm assuming the skaters physically drew their spots as is usually done, so I'm wondering if it was Mike Slipchuk or someone else on his behalf.

If all has gone according to plan with his arrival, he should be arriving in Beijing in about an hour and a half (ETA 9:15 local time). If that's all gone perfectly, I've got my fingers crossed that everything goes well for getting him through any testing on site, and through all customs and everything. And that his skates are with him!! (I'm hoping he packed one pair in his luggage, and a back-up pair in his coach's luggage).

 

[tony]

I think there was a chance they may have always planned on having Roman doing the FP of the Team Event, since he flew out with the rest of the skaters who were taking part in the TE (and those who weren't were on a different flight). But as of about 2 days before the TE SP, he would have known for certain that Keegan wouldn't be there.

No, Keegan was going to do both with MT/M SP and J/R LP being the only split discipline. This I am sure of.

 

[screech]

No, Keegan was going to do both with MT/M SP and J/R LP being the only split discipline. This I am sure of.

That's definitely the decision that makes the most sense. I'm just wondering why they sent Roman out with all the skaters participating in the TE, though. If he'd travelled a few days later with the dance teams, he still would have been there in plenty of time before the men's event.

 

[Karen-W]

That's definitely the decision that makes the most sense. I'm just wondering why they sent Roman out with all the skaters participating in the TE, though. If he'd travelled a few days later with the dance teams, he still would have been there in plenty of time before the men's event.

I assume they sent him out with the first wave because the Men's event is first up after the TE. The USFS did something similar, though Jason did depart a couple days after the first wave.

 

[Colonel Green]

But, as I'm going to reiterate, Canada was never in the medal picture, even with standout performances across the board.

While they would not have been favoured to win bronze, it was a possibility (out of their hands to some extent based on how the Japanese skaters did, as well).

 

[skatingguy]

Sure, hardcore fans like those of us here knew this, but, heck, there were plenty of FSUers who started the TE thinking Canada in the medal hunt, so why would you expect the media, who probably only pay attention to figure skating every four years, would think anything but "of course Canada is likely to get a medal" when they ARE (for another 7 hours or so), the defending Olympic champs in the TE?

Yesterday morning the CBC had a segment on the Team Event, and the host introduced the segment by talking about Canada as being in 6th place, but the defending Olympic Champion, and looking to get back on the podium, etc. Then they brought in Dylan Moscovitch, and Asher Hill to discuss the event. The host started by asking what they thought of our medal hopes, and both Dylan & Asher said, and I'm paraphrasing, 'we don't have any', and the host was like 'okay then, what should we expect', and they moved to discuss the event.

 

[overedge]

There was a thread on Twitter yesterday where some Canadian sportswriters were bashing other Canadian sportswriters for trying to spin the team event like Canada had a chance at a medal. Not bashing in a way that was mean to the skaters, more like "let's be realistic and fair".

They were particularly hard on the writers who portrayed the event like "Can Madeleine keep Canada's golden streak alive", and were saying that was a lot of unrealistic expectations to load on someone at their first Olympics.

So please don't portray "the Canadian media" as all saying the same thing about the team event.

 

[skatingguy]

They were particularly hard on the writers who portrayed the event like "Can Madeleine keep Canada's golden streak alive", and were saying that was a lot of unrealistic expectations to load on someone at their first Olympics who hadn't even been to Worlds yet.

Psst. Madeline competed at Worlds last year - it's Roman whose never competed at Worlds.

 

[rink_mom]

According to Nam's instagram story Keegan has landed in China!

 

[overedge]

Psst. Madeline competed at Worlds last year - it's Roman whose never competed at Worlds.

Fixed, thanks!

 

[screech]

According to Nam's instagram story Keegan has landed in China!

Here's the stories. Kind of adorable that he was keeping track (he also posted when Keegan made it to Italy).
Sportswriter Lori Ewing also reported that Keegan made it.

 

[screech]

From Keegan's official twitter - he's made it to China WITH his skates!

Also, he's headed to Athlete's Village for a final PCR test. And apparently WILL get an opportunity to practice before the short program.

 

[Dave of the North]

From Keegan's official twitter - he's made it to China WITH his skates!

Also, he's headed to Athlete's Village for a final PCR test. And apparently WILL get an opportunity to practice before the short program.

But did his phone make it? Will we see baby pictures?

 

[Sonata]

But did his phone make it? Will we see baby pictures?

Do they have phones lended to them?And two, I hope not. Save those photos for the fluff piece. I thought him showing his photos to the camera were a signal to his wife that he was thinking of her despite the distance. Then I read that she and the baby were with him at nationals. I find holding the phone to the camera to be really weird. YMMV.

 

[overedge]

Do they have phones lended to them?And two, I hope not. Save those photos for the fluff piece. I thought him showing his photos to the camera were a signal to his wife that he was thinking of her despite the distance. Then I read that she and the baby were with him at nationals. I find holding the phone to the camera to be really weird. YMMV.

He's not showing the photos for his wife. He's showing them to the viewers because he's proud of his little guy. IMO it's really charming.

 

[Judy]

Can you all just give Roman a break? Good lord, as if he doesn't feel bad enough all on his own for how he performed in the team event. It doesn't matter what type of male skaters Canada has right now, Roman made it to the Olympics... how many of you can say that? Should we coddle him like a baby... hell no but holy crap... relax on the negativity!

Not a lot of people can say they made it to the Olympics. It’s a huge achievement.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I don't know who's coddling anyone simply by refusing to pile on an athlete. There are skaters who would be raring to compete if you woke them in the middle of the night after a bender. There are skaters who are nervous competitors. Most seem to be somewhere in between, on a sliding scale.

If you want the former, it's got to be worthwhile for the parents to either fork up the $$$ for local training until you start forking up the $$$ to train them as you wish and dump them the minute they show vulnerability. Or it's got to be worthwhile for the parents to send them to an all-expenses paid academy when they are young, like the Vaganova Academy for ballet, where they weed out the kids they no longer want.

Until then, you get volunteers whose families and/or an involved sponsor can afford to get them to an elite level, and who may have more talent than nerves. Skaters who can be quite wonderful, but who owe you nothing.

 

[Karen-W]

Peacock is showing Group 5 of the Men's practice and Keegan is there!!!!

 

[Allskate]

I'm so glad Keegan made it and seems to be in great form:

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/1490582167440674818?cxt=HHwWhMCq7a6lzq8pAAAA

 

[Karen-W]

I'm so glad Keegan made it and seems to be in great form:

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/1490582167440674818?cxt=HHwWhMCq7a6lzq8pAAAA

Yes, the cameraman took focus off of Nathan only for Keegan's SP run-through and he looked pretty good, all things considered. Hoping for great things him the rest of the way out!

 

[Allskate]

Yes, the cameraman took focus off of Nathan only for Keegan's SP run-through and he looked pretty good, all things considered. Hoping for great things him the rest of the way out!

Just before Keegan left the rink, it looked like he took a good look at the rink and those Olympic rings and gave a big sigh. He must be sooooo relieved.

It is fun to see Nathan do all those quads and see Hanyu try some quad axels, but I do wish they would show a little more of the other skaters in the practices.