2026 Olympics Team Event - Strategy, Predictions & Discussion

Karen-W

Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
Messages
55,151
So, there've been lots of Team event discussions & conversations in a bunch of threads and it seems like a good idea to have a centralized discussion thread for this event since we're heading into the 4th iteration of this unique, once-every-four-years competition.

Countries qualified for the TE -


Country
Men
Women
Pairs
Ice Dance
Quota Spots
USA
3
3
2
3
JPN
3
3
2
0
2
ITA
2
1
2
1
CAN
1
1
2
3
GEO
1
1
1
1
FRA
2
1
0
2
2
GBR
0
1
1
2
1
CHN
1
1
1
1
KOR
2
2
0
1
POL
1
1
1
0

France is still next in line to pick up a Pairs spot (waiting on confirmation that UZB has relinquished their spot). Once that happens, KOR would be next in line for 2 quota spots, however they don't have a pairs team, so POL would then be able to use the last 2 quote spots to enter a dance team for the TE. That will give every country an entry in each discipline for the TE except KOR in pairs.

The Olympic schedule for figure skating is as follows:
Feb 6th - TE RD, Men's SP, Pairs SP
Feb 7th - TE Women's SP, FD
Feb 8th - TE Pairs FS, Men's FS, Women's FS
Feb 9th - Ice Dance RD
Feb 10th - Men's SP
Feb 11th - Ice Dance FD
Feb 13th - Men's FS
Feb 15th - Pairs SP
Feb 16th - Pairs FS
Feb 17th - Women's SP
Feb 19th - Women's FS

Each country can only split the TE segments for two disciplines, so there are some interesting strategic choices facing top countries contending for the medals and even making the FS/FD portion of the TE.

  • If Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron decide to compete in the TE RD will that push FRA ahead of CAN and into the FS/FD?
  • Does ITA split pairs knowing how weak Ghilardi/Ambrosini usually are in the FS?
  • Which disciplines will the USA and JPN split?
  • Do Fear/Gibson compete in the RD or let Bekker/Hernandez have the responsibility for GBR?
  • Same with Cha for KOR's men...
  • Does CAN have a realistic shot at the podium or is it purely a battle between ITA & GEO at this point?
Discuss away!
 
Last edited:
So, there've been lots of Team event discussions & conversations in a bunch of threads and it seems like a good idea to have a centralized discussion thread for this event since we're heading into the 4th iteration of this unique, once-every-four-years competition.

Countries qualified for the TE -


Country
Men
Women
Pairs
Ice Dance
Quota Spots
USA
3
3
2
3
JPN
3
3
2
0
2
ITA
2
1
2
1
CAN
1
1
2
3
GEO
1
1
1
1
FRA
2
1
0
2
2
GBR
0
1
1
2
1
CHN
1
1
1
1
KOR
2
2
0
1
POL
1
1
1
0

France is still next in line to pick up a Pairs spot (waiting on confirmation that UZB has relinquished their spot). Once that happens, KOR would be next in line for 2 quota spots, however they don't have a pairs team, so POL would then be able to use the last 2 quote spots to enter a dance team for the TE. That will give every country an entry in each discipline for the TE except KOR in pairs.

The Olympic schedule for figure skating is as follows:
Feb 6th - TE RD, Men's SP, Pairs SP
Feb 7th - TE Women's SP, FD
Feb 8th - TE Pairs FS, Men's FS, Women's FS
Feb 9th - Ice Dance RD
Feb 10th - Men's SP
Feb 11th - Ice Dance FD
Feb 13th - Men's FS
Feb 15th - Pairs SP
Feb 16th - Pairs FS
Feb 17th - Women's SP
Feb 19th - Women's FS

Each country can only split the TE segments for two disciplines, so there are some interesting strategic choices facing top countries contending for the medals and even making the FS/FD portion of the TE.

  • If Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron decide to compete in the TE RD will that push FRA ahead of CAN and into the FS/FD?
  • Does ITA split pairs knowing how weak Ghilardi/Ambrosini usually are in the FS?
  • Which disciplines will the USA and JPN split?
  • Do Fear/Gibson compete in the RD or let Bekker/Hernandez have the responsibility for GBR?
  • Same with Cha for KOR's men...
  • Does CAN have a realistic shot at the podium or is it purely a battle between ITA & GEO at this point?
Discuss away!
Based on the scheduling, I would be surprised if the US doesn't split men and ID. Ilia men's short; Jason men's long; C/B RD; C/P or Z/K FD; K/O both pair segments; Liu both women's segments.
 
Bronze is really up in the air.

On paper the Georgians should take it but Italy competing at home could be hard to beat (or they could succumb to pressure.)

Canada is really unpredictable.

Maybe knowing they are underdogs, we will see some great relaxed performances or maybe it will go the same way the GP has gone this season with uneven results.

Also, ice is slippery. 🤷‍♀️
 
Bronze is really up in the air.

On paper the Georgians should take it but Italy competing at home could be hard to beat (or they could succumb to pressure.)

Canada is really unpredictable.

Maybe knowing they are underdogs, we will see some great relaxed performances or maybe it will go the same way the GP has gone this season with uneven results.

Also, ice is slippery. 🤷‍♀️
I would love either France or Italy to get Bronze.
 
  • Do Fear/Gibson compete in the RD or let Bekker/Hernandez have the responsibility for GBR?
I'm confident that Fear/Gibson will skate the team event RD. Team GB will absolutely want them (and the union flag dress) out there front and centre in all the Day 0 broadcasts. They're among the more marketable of the (small cohort of) British medal contenders and have been doing plenty of pre-Olympics publicity; Team GB will want that early broadcast moment and to start building hype for the individual event. And they regularly compete back-to-back events so doing two RDs and an FD in a week shouldn't be a concern for them.

Also, I think Lilah and Lewis will want to do it. :)
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top
Do Not Sell My Personal Information