U.S. Men 2025-26 Discussion - Quad God and the Mere Mortals

[Debbie S]

Google says that 176cm is about 5'8".

Totally outdated he must tower over 6 foot three

176 cm is 5'9", but Lucius is definitely taller than that. I've stood near him in person...granted, he had skates on, which add a few inches, but I'd say 6 feet (w/o skates).

ETA: Actually, ANL may be more accurate. I just saw the pic USFS posted of Lucius and A/V from Abu Dhabi and Daniil, who is listed as 5'11", is several inches shorter than Lucius. So 6'3" might be a better estimate.

 

[ice coverage]

According to the fall issue of Skating, Maxim Naumov earned the 2024-25 Skating magazine Readers' Choice Award! Have they announced this somewhere?

AFAIK, the new Skating magazine article is the (first) announcement naming Max Naumov as winner of the Readers' Choice Award.
I had not seen the news elsewhere, and I got teary when I saw the page from the latest issue of the magazine that was about Max as Readers' Choice. (It was one of the pages that a USFS photographer from Champs Camp shared on her Instastory this week.)
Congratulations to Max!

I searched online and couldn't find any results about Max winning the award (?). It shows Ilia winning for both 2024 and 2025, but it's an AI summary so maybe not accurate. I guess it may not be officially announced until the US Championships.

I think Max would have said something on his instagram if this is official... he did post something when he won that ISU award earlier this year

The news of Max as Readers' Choice winner already is official -- it is in the current issue of an official publication of USFS.
For those who receive hard copies, delivery of the new Fall issue has been happening this week.

IIRC(?), for at least one of the years that Nathan Chen won Readers' Choice, the announcement also was first published in Skating magazine, before USFS ever spread the news more widely on its websites or social media.

Another type of news sometimes has first come to light via Skating magazine as well.
Going back to pre-pandemic January 2020, Skating magazine was the first source of news of the selection of Vegas for Skate America for the second consecutive year.

The article is in the January issue of Skating magazine which some people have received in the mail ... It's really odd that USFS wouldn't put out a press release before the mag was published.

IIRC, selection of Columbus as host of 2024 Nats was another example of a brand-new revelation appearing first in Skating magazine.

 

[panda42]

AFAIK, the new Skating magazine article is the (first) announcement naming Max Naumov as winner of the Readers' Choice Award.
I had not seen the news elsewhere, and I got teary when I saw the page from the latest issue of the magazine that was about Max as Readers' Choice. (It was one of the pages that a USFS photographer from Champs Camp shared on her Instastory this week.)
Congratulations to Max!





The news of Max as Readers' Choice winner already is official -- it is in the current issue of an official publication of USFS.
For those who receive hard copies, delivery of the new Fall issue has been happening this week.

IIRC(?), for at least one of the years that Nathan Chen won Readers' Choice, the announcement also was first published in Skating magazine, before USFS ever spread the news more widely on its websites or social media.

Another type of news sometimes has first come to light via Skating magazine as well.
Going back to pre-pandemic January 2020, Skating magazine was the first source of news of the selection of Vegas for Skate America for the second consecutive year.

​

IIRC, selection of Columbus as host of 2024 Nats was another example of a brand-new revelation appearing first in Skating magazine.

Thanks for the explanation, good to hear! I'm very happy for Max.

 

[ice coverage]

Thanks for the explanation, good to hear! I'm very happy for Max.

Sorry that I forgot to mention two things:

The new article said that 2026 Nats will have a presentation of the Readers' Choice Award to Max. (I think the presentation at Nats is customary.)
I am so glad that Max will be honored in the arena, with the audience surely giving him lots of support at his first Nats without his beloved parents.

My memory is 99% sure that the article had direct quotes from Max, including expression of his gratitude to fans for the Readers' Choice Award.
(I think Max likely also will make an Instagram post at some point, although hard to predict whether in the near future or not until the time of Nats?)

ETA:​

Occurs to me that I don't know what Kiki's post above meant by: "he won that ISU award earlier this year."​

I love Max, and I don't recall an ISU award? Maybe Kiki intended to refer to the 2025 USFS coaching award that he received in May. Max won the Impact Award for Resilience.​

ETA:​

The name of the award is (uppercase in original): "SKATING magazine Readers' Choice of the Year Award".​

Publicity for the voting period for the 2024-25 award said, "The winner(s) will be announced in early August. The skater(s) or team who wins the honor will be presented with the Michelle Kwan Trophy at an upcoming championship event."​

For the 2024-25 award, readers of hard-copies of Skating magazine were the first to learn who won the award that is associated with Skating magazine -- nothing wrong with that, IMO. And if anything, making the winner's name public came later than planned.​

Voting Now Open for SKATING Magazine Readers’ Choice Award - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Voting for the 2024-25 SKATING magazine Readers' Choice of the Year Award is now open and will run through July 13 at 11:59 p.m. MT.

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I misspoke earlier - Ilia came in third in the Readers’ Choice award, not Amber.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

, not Amber.

How dare you?

 

[Kiki5375]

Sorry that I forgot to mention two things:

The new article said that 2026 Nats will have a presentation of the Readers' Choice Award to Max. (I think the presentation at Nats is customary.)
I am so glad that Max will be honored in the arena, with the audience surely giving him lots of support at his first Nats without his beloved parents.

My memory is 99% sure that the article had direct quotes from Max, including expression of his gratitude to fans for the Readers' Choice Award.
(I think Max likely also will make an Instagram post at some point, although hard to predict whether in the near future or not until the time of Nats?)

ETA:​

Maybe Kiki intended to refer to the 2025 USFS coaching award that he received in May. Max won the Impact Award for Resilience.​

Yes exactly that one. I forgot how it was called. So it was USFS.... i just remember it was made out of glas and looked good.

I am very happy for Max. To keep on skating after this tragedy deserves the biggest award of all. If the award will be given to him at Nationals he might not want to tell it right now already.

I am sorry if my comment sounded as if I don't believe your news. I thought there was a small side note and you weren't sure about it. I didn't get that there was a page long article about it.

 

[panda42]

Yes exactly that one. I forgot how it was called. So it was USFS.... i just remember it was made out of glas and looked good.

I am very happy for Max. To keep on skating after this tragedy deserves the biggest award of all. If the award will be given to him at Nationals he might not want to tell it right now already.

I am sorry if my comment sounded as if I don't believe your news. I thought there was a small side note and you weren't sure about it. I didn't get that there was a page long article about it.

Same here, I thought it was announced in the magazine but not "official" until the US Championships. I agree about Max, he deserves full credit for having the strength to keep on skating after such a tragic loss.

 

[haribobo]

Top US Junior Intl Men Scores from JGP/Tayside/Cranberry (updated after Tayside)

Patrick Blackwell 222
Lucius Kazanecki 219
Caleb Farrington 210
Lorenzo Elano 206
Nicholas Brooks 195
Aleksandr Fegan 193
Louis Mallane 165
Zachary Lopinto 165
Vaclav Vasquez 159
Ryan Azadpour 153
Henry Gao 146
Kirk Haugeto 138
Arsen Meghavoryan 137

 

[YukiNieve]

Camden withdrew from Cup of China.

2025-26 International Assignments and Results

2025-26 International Assignments and Results

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[Karen-W]

Camden withdrew from Cup of China.

2025-26 International Assignments and Results

2025-26 International Assignments and Results

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

I think we've all been expecting this. He does have a bye to Nats, but this may very well put the final nail in his shot at making the Olympic team.

 

[Kiki5375]

Well if I had to chose the olympic team I'd take a skater who has been healthy all season sad for Camden but everything else would be unfair for the others who are already competing

 

[mattiecat13]

I must have missed it. Is Camden injured?

And, frankly, I thought his chances of making the Olympic team were pretty slim anyway.

 

[Firedancer]

Camden has a back injury:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1977722109913665812

 

[panda42]

It's a shame about Camden's injury, but maybe he can recover and go to Nationals. I didn't think he had much of a chance to make the Olympic team either since he hasn't competed this season.

 

[Rukia]

I agree with others in that I think that's it for Camden's Olympic aspirations honestly. We have guys who are already medalling internationally, with more competitions to come.

That being said I hope Camden is able to heal up and have a good comp when his body is ready.

 

[her grace]

Well if I had to chose the olympic team I'd take a skater who has been healthy all season sad for Camden but everything else would be unfair for the others who are already competing

It would depend how well those healthy skaters competed all season. Unfortunately for Pulkinen, Torgashev and Hiwatashi have been medaling at their Senior B(s).

I'm actually amazed that Hiwatashi appears to be making a real run for it.

 

[panda42]

It would depend how well those healthy skaters competed all season. Unfortunately for Pulkinen, Torgashev and Hiwatashi have been medaling at their Senior B(s).

I'm actually amazed that Hiwatashi appears to be making a real run for it.

I agree about Hiwatashi, he may be Torgashev's main competition for that third spot based on the scores so far. He would still have a ways to go since he didn't medal at Nationals but we'll see how the GP events play out.

 

[Kiki5375]

I don't think Jason Brown's spot is that save yet, either. I am sure Andrew Torgashev and Max Naumov can improve their scores a lot. They both fell or messed up on jumps that cost a lot of points but if they get through without mistakes their programs are very good.

 

[Karen-W]

I don't think Jason Brown's spot is that save yet, either. I am sure Andrew Torgashev and Max Naumov can improve their scores a lot. They both fell or messed up on jumps that cost a lot of points but if they get through without mistakes their programs are very good.

Well, neither of those guys are a model of consistency and Jason isn't even competing at full tech strength yet. I don't think Jason's spot is in any danger seeing as he's still outscored both of them by a fair amount in the early Challengers.

I know Naumov is a sentimental favorite but he doesn't have enough of a BOW to get the 3rd spot over Torgy or Tomoki yet.

 

[panda42]

Well, neither of those guys are a model of consistency and Jason isn't even competing at full tech strength yet. I don't think Jason's spot is in any danger seeing as he's still outscored both of them by a fair amount in the early Challengers.

I know Naumov is a sentimental favorite but he doesn't have enough of a BOW to get the 3rd spot over Torgy or Tomoki yet.

Even Jason's lower scores this season compared to his PB are still the highest of the men other than Ilia. I can't see him not being named as long as he is healthy when the team is picked. Many of us are rooting for Max, but he does seem to be very much a long shot at least right now.

 

[Karen-W]

Even Jason's lower scores this season compared to his PB are still the highest of the men other than Ilia. I can't see him not being named as long as he is healthy when the team is picked. Many of us are rooting for Max, but he does seem to be very much a long shot at least right now.

Right now, here's how I see the US men & their chances of making the team -

Locked in barring injury - Malinin, Brown

Set themselves up well during the Challenger season - Torgashev & Hiwatashi

Need to prove themselves during the GPs - Ma, Naumov, Sanchez, Kapeikis (should he wind up with the SkAm TBD spot)

Injured but still has a sliver of a shot if he doesn't withdraw from his GP - Broussard

Surprising Jr who may sneak onto the Sr podium if the other guys falter & now has a BOW to consider for the future with his JGPF qualification (still needs to be sent to a Sr B next month for Sr CTES mins) - Kazanecki

If every single one of those other guys falters & he skates a banger at Nats & somehow beats Brown and/or Malinin (ha!) - Pulkinen, Shinohara, Martynov, etc

 

[Private Citizen]

Even Jason's lower scores this season compared to his PB are still the highest of the men other than Ilia. I can't see him not being named as long as he is healthy when the team is picked.

Yeah, at this point even the Brown haters have to admit that his record is undeniable. As much as anyone else, I was rooting for the current crop to displace him, but they haven't despite plenty of opportunity. He's a lock.

Need to prove themselves during the GPs - Ma, Naumov, Sanchez, Kapeikis (should he wind up with the SkAm TBD spot)

Injured but still has a sliver of a shot if he doesn't withdraw from his GP - Broussard

Kapeikis's big jumps have been SO unreliable that I'd put him in the "snowball's chance in hell category." Broussard isn't far behind.

Surprising Jr who may sneak onto the Sr podium if the other guys falter & now has a BOW to consider for the future with his JGPF qualification (still needs to be sent to a Sr B next month for Sr CTES mins) - Kazanecki

Knowing USFS, I suspect they'd still not name him to the team.

 

[ice coverage]

... Injured but still has a sliver of a shot if he doesn't withdraw from his GP - Broussard ...

As of today, Broussard has withdrawn from GP Finland, per USFS assignments page.

I'm sad about Lucas and about Camden. Sending my best wishes to both.

(I think that two newly vacated slots would mean that Tomoki will get a second GP? That would be a silver lining.)

 

[Karen-W]

As of today, Broussard has withdrawn from GP Finland, per USFS assignments page.

I'm sad about Lucas and about Camden. Sending my best wishes to both.

(I think that two newly vacated slots would mean that Tomoki will get a second GP? That would be a silver lining.)

Oh, man, that's a new development as of late this morning and quite unfortunate. I can't see Lucas even making it to Nats at this point then, so no chance at all.

Yes, though, Tomoki will likely get the Finlandia assignment, depending on whether the CFSA has already issued the invitation to Gogolev for CoC. Either way, Hiwatashi and Gogolev will wind up with 2nd assignments - which also clears the way for Kapeikis to probably get the SkAm TBD host spot.

Knowing USFS, I suspect they'd still not name him to the team.

Well, based on 2022, I'm half-incluned to agree with you except we aren't likely to have 3 other men qualify for the GPF and the only guys he needs to beat are a bunch of inconsistent also-rans who have exactly 1 Worlds Top 10 finish (Pulkinen 2022) & 1 4CCs medal (Ma 2025) amongst them to show for all their "work". I could see a situation where the USFS says "eff it" if Kazanecki places 3rd at Nats and send him.

I mostly added him as an unknown variable simply because of his surprise JGPF qualification and the fact that this is US men we're talking about.

 

[Jarrett]

Oh, man, that's a new development as of late this morning and quite unfortunate. I can't see Lucas even making it to Nats at this point then, so no chance at all.

Yes, though, Tomoki will likely get the Finlandia assignment, depending on whether the CFSA has already issued the invitation to Gogolev for CoC. Either way, Hiwatashi and Gogolev will wind up with 2nd assignments - which also clears the way for Kapeikis to probably get the SkAm TBD host spot.


Well, based on 2022, I'm half-incluned to agree with you except we aren't likely to have 3 other men qualify for the GPF and the only guys he needs to beat are a bunch of inconsistent also-rans who have exactly 1 Worlds Top 10 finish (Pulkinen 2022) & 1 4CCs medal (Ma 2025) amongst them to show for all their "work". I could see a situation where the USFS says "eff it" if Kazanecki places 3rd at Nats and send him.

I mostly added him as an unknown variable simply because of his surprise JGPF qualification and the fact that this is US men we're talking about.

Yea I don't think it is that far fetched too. Polina Edmunds anyone?

 

[ChillSkate]

I'm not the biggest Jason Brown fan and have questioned some of his assignments in the past, but I think it is undeniable and well-deserved that he will be on the Olympic team if he remains healthy.

He has gone to the World Championships 3 times this Olympic cycle and placed 5th, 5th, and 8th.

He has been to the World Championships 7 times in his career and has never placed lower than 9th.

We would not have the third Olympic spot if Jason did not do so well at the last World Championships given Andrew Torgashev's dismal performance.

He has absolutely earned his spot on the team.

I hope Jimmy Ma performs well enough this year to be in the mix for the 3rd spot.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Yea I don't think it is that far fetched too. Polina Edmunds anyone?

That year was also the very first year that USFSA deviated from the podium in Olympic selection, except for injury petitions. A lot of things have changed since then.