Winter Olympics Photo Shoot

toddlj

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I've been following https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating and wondering how they chose which skaters would be part of the Olympic photo shoot. So far I've seen mention of Chen, Rippon, Brown and Zhou for the men, Wagner, Chen, Gold and Nagasu for the ladies, the Knierims in pairs and the Shibutanis and Chock/Bates in dance. I suppose they just went with the faces they thought would be the most well known, or the best bets to be on the team. But it is certainly interesting.
 

Sylvia

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This is the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) & NBC Olympics joint photo shoot for selected athletes across all Winter Olympic sports that takes place every 4 years in the spring prior to the next Olympics. Four years ago, 4 ladies, 4 men, 2 dance teams and 1 pair attended the shoot (April 2013 thread in GSD for reference: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/in...dia-shoots-usoc-portrait-photos-in-l-a.87948/ ) and additional skaters were invited to the USOC's pre-Olympic media summit in the fall of 2013.

The Shibutanis, Nathan Chen, Karen Chen, Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner were filmed by NBC on the ice yesterday in Artesia, California - some photos:
Karen: https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/857646977718206464
Ashley: https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/857734779487232000
Gracie: https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/857668684696797184
Nathan: https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/857713313366458368
Alex & Maia: https://twitter.com/AlexShibutani/status/857971475373989888

The photo shoots are taking place today on many different sets in a West Hollywood, California studio. For example:
Karen: https://twitter.com/Karebearsk8/status/858011717036417024
Mirai: https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/858017409390845956
Ashley with Elmo from Sesame Street: https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/858012372367101953
Adam being interviewed: https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/858028150651064322
Alex & Maia being interviewed (30-second clip): https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/858026806082887681
Alexa lifted by Chris: https://twitter.com/Scimeca_Knierim/status/858042691300597762
Alexa holding the golden retriever puppy (clip): https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/858064810268737536

I've been posting links to the promo shoots in the skaters' respective fan threads - so far today (only selected photos end up on Getty Images online), in order of publication:

Getty Images - Jason Brown's shoot (53 photos)
Extra pic not in his gallery: https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/858038216137596931/photo/1

Getty Images - Mariah Bell's shoot (19 photos)

Getty Images - Madison Chock/Evan Bates's shoot (18 photos)

Getty Images - Nathan Chen's shoot (26 photos)

Getty Images - Vincent Zhou's shoot (12 photos)

More links to be added as Getty photo galleries for each skater or team appear online - ETA:

Getty Images - Ashley Wagner

Getty Images - Adam Rippon

Getty Images - Alex and Maia Shibutani

Getty Images - Alexa and Chris Knierim

Getty Images - Mirai Nagasu

Getty Images - Gracie Gold

Karen Chen mid-leap: https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/858038216137596931/photo/2
Karen dressed up and holding her skates: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTdbjmnjKTc/?taken-by=karebearsk8&hl=en
ETA the final photo set that appeared on 4/29:
Getty Images - Karen Chen
 
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Bellanca

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Many seasons ago, there were photos of Alissa Czisny and Caroline Zhang circulating around representing the Olympic team -- U.S.A. Obviously, these 'team photos' are not set in stone and subject to change.
 

misskarne

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So they have five ladies including one who was well off the podium at Nationals, and four men one of whom wasn't even at Nationals?
 

Willin

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I love how Jason looks insanely happy and goofy like usual, Mariah looks a little awkward/starstruck in some of her photos, and Chock/Bates look so professional/serious. Nathan has the funniest mix of awkward teenager photos and serious pro-skater like photos. I love it.

@misskarne I think they're trying to cover all of their bases. They can't possibly pay to fly everyone out, but they can pay to have the most likely candidates for the team (or at least those that USFS/NBC have been heavily promoting in the past or plan to promote the future). It sounds like they don't send out as many Pair's/Dance teams, so maybe that's why H/D weren't there? Even for Sochi, when we had 3 teams, they only had 2 attend the shoot. So maybe for those less popular disciplines they only pay for the ones most likely to get a medal?
 

kwanfan1818

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Bellanca

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I wouldn't read too much (or put a lot of stock) into these photos. At this point, they don't mean much. Solely for publicity. The athletes know this. If your favorite skaters are not included, take it w/ a grain of salt.
 
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Sylvia

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Sylvia already explained that they only invite 2 teams , the top two are S/S and C/B.
No, I merely stated that only 2 dance teams were invited last time in 2013. I wish Hubbell/Donohue were in LA. I don't believe there is an established set of criteria (by USOC/NBC/USFS) to be invited to these pre-Olympic gigs.

ETA: The USOC/TeamUSA Twitter account states that 96 athletes from 13 Winter Olympic and 4 Paralympic sports would be filmed on 21 stages/sets in Los Angeles this week.
 
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Debbie S

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It does seem odd that H/D weren't included, but it also seemed odd that C/B weren't included 4 years ago, when they placed higher than the Shibs at both Nats and Worlds that season. I believe they had their photo shoot at a second mega-shoot that the USOC does in the fall, and I assume H/D will be included in that one this year.

As for the invitees in the other disciplines, I think the correct/most likely skaters were invited.
 

chapis

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No, I merely stated that only 2 dance teams were invited last time in 2013. I wish Hubbell/Donohue were in LA. I don't believe there is an established set of criteria (by USOC/NBC/USFS) to be invited to these pre-Olympic gigs.

ETA: The USOC/TeamUSA Twitter account states that 96 athletes from 13 Winter Olympic and 4 Paralympic sports would be filmed on 21 stages/sets in Los Angeles this week.

I thought you were implying that it was some kind of rule. Anyway, they only invite 2 teams because ice dance is always neglected compared with singles. But I have no idea why Maia and Alex were in 2014 and not C/B. Maybe this is like galas, they invite to who they want. Being ice dance the strongest category in USA they should include the top 3.
 

wickedwitch

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To be more clear... I don't understand why NBC hasn't gotten the picture that ice dancing has been the US's most successful discipline for nearly a decade, and it will continue to be its most successful discipline for the foreseeable future. I've been complaining about the lack of attention NBC has given ice dance for years -- they show men and ladies SPs but not SDs -- so I suppose it was naive to think that Meryl/Charlie's victory changed anything.

Not to mention, H/D are legitimate medal threats, which is more I can say for some of the other skaters invited.
 

blancanieves

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It does seem odd that H/D weren't included, but it also seemed odd that C/B weren't included 4 years ago, when they placed higher than the Shibs at both Nats and Worlds that season. I believe they had their photo shoot at a second mega-shoot that the USOC does in the fall, and I assume H/D will be included in that one this year.

This season has such a packed schedule already. It seems almost cruel to add to it, particularly in the fall when the GP series gets going. I hope you're right though. I'd hate for H/D to miss out on some well-deserved and needed promotion.
 

Sylvia

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Thanks, @katmari!

4 more baby animal photos! Nathan holding the piglet, Chris & Alexa bottle feeding the kid (baby goat), Madison/Evan and Maia/Alex each cuddling pug puppies): https://twitter.com/SRubinroit/status/858118421682110466

ETA:

Another shot of Adam with Pearl the kitten: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTcV5ZPF49r/?taken-by=usfigureskating&hl=en

And Madison/Evan with the pugs: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTcuWyGFP8b/?hl=en&taken-by=usfigureskating
 
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DreamsofBliss

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Here's an article that explains this week. It definitely is a matter of invitation, and I agree with many it's unfortunate Hubbell/Donohue weren't invited. Just one more dance team, I feel like all the other choices were right.
It's been an exhausting day trying to keep up with instagram, twitter, and snapchat for Team USA, US Figure Skating, and NBC Olympics, not to mention all the individual photographers or agents sharing things. Life of a fan! :)
 

sus2850

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I just looked at the Getty photos and wondered about that distracting carpet background, a very odd idea.
I like the open hair and the make up on the female skaters.
 

chapis

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I just looked at the Getty photos and wondered about that distracting carpet background, a very odd idea.
I like the open hair and the make up on the female skaters.

omg, yes, what with that carpet?
 

skipaway

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Disappointed with the Shibs shoot. Too juniorish. Would have liked to have seen them in costume and posing like the other couples.
 

chapis

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