2025-26 US Pairs Discussion - Milano-Bound By Way of Beijing & St. Louis

[A.H.Black]

When both skate clean, I think Efimova & Mitrofanov are a better team than KamO.

I agree with all that you said except this. I think it's the other way around. Each to his own.

 

[ChillSkate]

I'm surprised about the abundance of mainstream media coverage about Alisa's citizenship quest:

Figure skater Alisa Efimova's Olympic dream hinges on last-minute US citizenship approval

Alisa Efimova hopes to represent the United States at the Milan Cortina Olympics, but she needs to become a citizen first.

apnews.com

I thought there was a 0% chance of Alisa getting her passport in time but now maybe there is a 2% chance since Chan & Howe have basically taken themselves out of it

 

[Carolla5501]

I'm surprised about the abundance of mainstream media coverage about Alisa's citizenship quest:

Figure skater Alisa Efimova's Olympic dream hinges on last-minute US citizenship approval

Alisa Efimova hopes to represent the United States at the Milan Cortina Olympics, but she needs to become a citizen first.

apnews.com

I thought there was a 0% chance of Alisa getting her passport in time but now maybe there is a 2% chance since Chan & Howe have basically taken themselves out of it

There is a well orchestrated PR campaign going on, but it’s Thursday.

I mean the Senate has to vote on it tomorrow. The house has to vote on it and then the president has to not be playing golf to sign the bill and if she really does have to have a physical passport somebody has to work late at the state department to produce a passport. My understanding is to get an emergency same-day passport you have to present yourself at the passport office. Unless there’s one in St. Louis, I see this is being a slight problem, considering that she has a championship event to skate tomorrow evening.

maybe all these miracles will occur but I think the only way it works is if US figure skating says “ oh we changed our mind and we are going to give her a few more weeks and we are going to open ourselves up for a lawsuit.”


Don’t get me wrong. I’d love for her to be able to go because I think she’s the best choice we have for the team event regardless of anything else, but they have to bend some rules and hope they don’t get sued.

 

[Karen-W]

There is a well orchestrated PR campaign going on, but it’s Thursday.

I mean the Senate has to vote on it tomorrow. The house has to vote on it and then the president has to not be playing golf to sign the bill and if she really does have to have a physical passport somebody has to work late at the state department to produce a passport. My understanding is to get an emergency same-day passport you have to present yourself at the passport office. Unless there’s one in St. Louis, I see this is being a slight problem, considering that she has a championship event to skate tomorrow evening.

maybe all these miracles will occur but I think the only way it works is if US figure skating says “ oh we changed our mind and we are going to give her a few more weeks and we are going to open ourselves up for a lawsuit.”


Don’t get me wrong. I’d love for her to be able to go because I think she’s the best choice we have for the team event regardless of anything else, but they have to bend some rules and hope they don’t get sued.

I'm sure there is a CIS office in St Louis where Alisa would be able to obtain her passport. I'm also sure that if there was some reason for the USFS/USOPC to believe that a private bill was making its way through Congress and would pass next week, they could name EfiMit to the team conditionally.

As far as a potential lawsuit... I almost sort of hope that ShiNagy wind up as 1st alternates because I think they'd probably be too ashamed of the fact that they were the team that FAILED to secure the 3rd spot in Beijing to even contemplate a lawsuit. Can you imagine how bad they'd look suing the USFS/USOPC after they were given the chance to earn an additional spot and failed spectacularly?

 

[Karen-W]

Lengthy IG post from Chelsea Liu explaining what is ailing her right now.

Chelsea Liu | 刘家希 on Instagram

190 likes, 19 comments - chel.sea.liu on January 8, 2026

www.instagram.com