Sasha'sSpins
Magick 🪄
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Yes but this is in reference to skating at the Gala. It would be strange not to invite the champions of each event whether they're named to the Olympic team or not.They were recognized. At the medal ceremony.
2025-26 US Pairs Discussion - Milano-Bound By Way of Beijing & St. Louis
- Thread starter Karen-W
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Carolla5501
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I expect the athletes are much less disappointed than posters want to believe.
Juniors and first time medalists maybe but the headliners????
Juniors and first time medalists maybe but the headliners????
TanithandBenFan
Author of the Ice and Edge Series
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The media lady at the men’s press conference said each Oly team member will be revealed throughout the show and then perform so the focus is all on “Making the Team.”
Barbara Manatee
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I wouldn't want to skate having won a medal but not made the team, while everyone else is going wild with joy. Remember Mirai performing in tears in 2014? Gutting.
Private Citizen
Anonymous void
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What a horrible idea. Nationals are about more than just making the Olympic team.
Other skaters will go on to Four Continents and Worlds. It's a shame if junior champions are excluded, and wouldn't it be nice for fan favorites like Jason Brown and Bradie Tennell (who presumably won't make the team) to have a chance to skate a farewell? In Brown's case, it could be a really nice opportunity to go out on a higher note.
Other skaters will go on to Four Continents and Worlds. It's a shame if junior champions are excluded, and wouldn't it be nice for fan favorites like Jason Brown and Bradie Tennell (who presumably won't make the team) to have a chance to skate a farewell? In Brown's case, it could be a really nice opportunity to go out on a higher note.
BrightSkates
In my Flop Era
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Its not even about being them being disappointed- which I'm sure they are as it would be pretty numb to win and not be included and have fun with the fans and their teammates all because of a passport. It's about respect, as well as the finale of the competiton, which they were a big part of.
Rukia
A Southern, hot-blooded temperamental individual
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a lot of assumptions are being made about what is going on with no real idea of what is actually happening or the feelings of anyone involved
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So it looks to me that they created this Making the Team program as an unabashed promo for Oly coverage, and NBC wants the focus on athletes that will be there and not those who came up short or are ineligible. (“What a downer,” sez some marketing type.) Hence the NDAs and all that.
What time is this on? This was going to be my first night in four with a normal sleep schedule.
What time is this on? This was going to be my first night in four with a normal sleep schedule.
Wyliefan
Ubering juniors against my will
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2 p.m. Eastern.So it looks to me that they created this Making the Team program as an unabashed promo for Oly coverage, and NBC wants the focus on athletes that will be there and not those who came up short or are ineligible. (“What a downer,” sez some marketing type. Hence the NDAs and all that.
What time is this on? This was going to be my first night in four with a normal sleep schedule.
Carolla5501
Well-Known Member
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It’s on at two eastern, but I’m not bothering to watch. Two hours of interviews with Andrea and babbling on by Tara and Johnny about why they disagree or agree with the selections. I’m sure there’ll be at least one skate from each of the skaters, but the pain to reward ratio is way too high.So it looks to me that they created this Making the Team program as an unabashed promo for Oly coverage, and NBC wants the focus on athletes that will be there and not those who came up short or are ineligible. (“What a downer,” sez some marketing type.) Hence the NDAs and all that.
What time is this on? This was going to be my first night in four with a normal sleep schedule.
Karen-W
Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
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Yeah, it's going to be an obnoxious slog.
BrightSkates
In my Flop Era
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Heard from an insider that they didnt get the citizenship for Alisa.
Rukia
A Southern, hot-blooded temperamental individual
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it was truly the longest of long shots, but it was definitely a chance worth taking
Karen-W
Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
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Cross-posting from the USFS Int'l Assignments thread -
A little surprised the USFS passed over FlorWang for the 3rd alternate spot in favor of LiuBed, though I think that's probably fair & correct since Chelsea's been dealing with her mystery illness & they didn't skate up to their full potential this week as a result. Small bone thrown to @AngieNikodinovLove (ANL), lol.
BrightSkates
In my Flop Era
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To me, Flores and Wang looked like it could have been a goodbye skate. I also heard rumors that they left Meekins and that's why he wasn't there in Kiss and Cry.
Karen-W
Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
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I don't think they've left Meekins - he was with them in the KnC during the SP along with Natalia Mishkuteniok, IIRC.
Karen-W
Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
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About the only surprise here are ShiNagy being named as 1st Alts for Worlds ahead of ChanHowe, but maybe that was the compromise within the committee meeting since ChanHowe did get the Olympics spot.
BrightSkates
In my Flop Era
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I mean maybe they just made Natalia the main coach?
kwanfan1818
RIP D-10
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Plus Howe's military duty might come smack dab in the time they'd need to train for Worlds. There are other alternates if a spot opens if that happens.
Howe is going to be a great recruitment story for the military and a reminder of a role that isn't the first that people think of. NBC is going to fly with this one.
Howe is going to be a great recruitment story for the military and a reminder of a role that isn't the first that people think of. NBC is going to fly with this one.
Karen-W
Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
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Yes - and he's quite notable as, I believe, the first figure skater to be a part of the Army's WCAP. Their current Winter Sports athletes include lots of sledders & biathletes as well as some Nordic combined & one snowboarder, so he may be the first skater (figure, speed or short-track) ever.
OrioleBeagle
AARROOOO!!!
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The army gives him the time he needs to train and compete. Part of his job is to promote the US Army while competing.
kwanfan1818
RIP D-10
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Do they give him all of the time he needs to train? Because for elite skaters, that's all but two-four weeks of the year.
Karen-W
Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
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I'm pretty sure that once he went through basic training the ongoing time commitment becomes more similar to the National Guard with one weekend a month required but don't quote me on that.
That is what they said in St. Louis. Still working with Drew, but more so with Natalia and Eddie Shipstad.
Theatregirl1122
Needs a nap
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That was my understanding. I believe he owes them service mostly after he retires.
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Our poor contractor who did our renovation joined the Air National Guard with the same promise of one weekend a month after training. He’s been at the border since August and his earliest return date is February.
Rukia
A Southern, hot-blooded temperamental individual
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Yeah this happened to the husband of a co-worker of mine back in the day. Signed up for the national guard thinking it would be minimal time needed, ended up in Guam for like 6-8 months. Of course then it hilariousy led to her telling us anytime we asked how he was, "Morale's low in Guam" which is still a part of my vocabulary even today.
Karen-W
Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
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Well, WCAP is a different thing than the National Guard and I don't think the elite athletes serving in WCAP are likely to get activated the same way the Nat'l Guard can be unless we wind up in an actual war.
