Four sub spots available and none went to top alternates Kim and You? They are victims of their own success, which shows how unmeritorious the GP selection process is.
Definitely agree. I wish at least some thought could be given to providing the best overall fields for the benefit of spectators, and giving the most opportunities to skaters who have earned them.
But I guess we have this conversation every year.
I remember when Mariah Bell won an unexpected silver medal at Skate America in 2016, and put herself in consideration for NHK when another competitor dropped out.
The Japanese organisers could have selected her, but no disrespect to Dabin Choi (who had placed 7th at Skate Canada), went with the Korean skater instead.
I got the impression the JSF were eager to get Satoko Miyahara (who was third at Skate Canada) to the final.
If Bell had competed, medalled, and placed above Miyahara, then she would likely have gone to the final. If Choi had placed above Miyahara (who took silver at NHK), and by combining the points she earned from both events, that scenario would have been much less likely. (For the record, Choi placed 9th at NHK).
It should be noted that NHK was the last of the six Grand Prix events held in the series staged that year.
With a win or 2nd place at NHK, Miyahara would be on the cusp of qualification, and in fact, squeaked in with a sixth-placed ranking heading into the final.
Satoko ended up winning the silver medal at the GPF behind Evgenia Medvedeva.
So it really does perpetuate the theory, any rival nation's athlete perceived as a potential threat to host federations with a vested interest in their own skaters, will likely not be chosen.
I was really hoping she was on the mend...
Do they just announce who they decide to give the open spot to or do they actually ask the skaters first?
