2026 Olympics Team Event - Strategy, Predictions & Discussion

[PRlady]

Or, give the kids who have never been to Worlds some experience before the individual event. Z/K seem rather nerveless but the Olympics have a way of unnerving everybody.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I wonder if C/B have any say in which team would skate the FD in the team event if they choose to only do the SP segment.

There is absolutely no way they do. Why on earth would they?

That being said, I don't see the US decided that they aren't going to win gold and just throwing people out for the experience. Hopefully they will select the teams available to them that they feel will do the best. If ChoBat can't/won't do both, they will have to choose between C/P and Z/K, but I HIGHLY doubt they will be choosing based on ChoBat's preferences OR on which team "needs to get their FD out there."

 

[Spiralgraph]

I didn't think so but at the last Olympics it seemed like C/B and H/D made a deal to share the team event. It was not emphasized in the media that they don't make the final decision, that US figure skating does.

 

[PRlady]

C/B and H/D had been trading results and titles for years. Now, C/B clearly outranks the other two teams and they’re the World Champions. I almost wish the other two teams could split the TE for their own experience, but it would cost points.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

C/B and H/D knew they were the undisputed top 2 so when they agreed that neither would sign up for both segments there was no question which teams would be used.

 

[Karen-W]

There is absolutely no way they do. Why on earth would they?

That being said, I don't see the US decided that they aren't going to win gold and just throwing people out for the experience. Hopefully they will select the teams available to them that they feel will do the best. If ChoBat can't/won't do both, they will have to choose between C/P and Z/K, but I HIGHLY doubt they will be choosing based on ChoBat's preferences OR on which team "needs to get their FD out there."

Well, that's been suggested as a good reason why FBCiz would want to do the RD since their choreo step seq keeps getting a ! call. If it's a valid reason for FBCiz to skate the RD, then why isn't it just as valid to want to give CarPon a chance to put their revised FD in front of the judges? Is it because they're not contending for a medal?

 

[Karen-W]

C/B and H/D had been trading results and titles for years. Now, C/B clearly outranks the other two teams and they’re the World Champions. I almost wish the other two teams could split the TE for their own experience, but it would cost points.

Yes, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, though it would put the US in a position to be vying for silver & bronze with Italy & Georgia, rather than vying for gold with Japan. I can't see the USFS doing that unless ChoBat really want to focus solely on their own event.

 

[Bulletsdad]

Z/K will most likely pull ahead of C/P after 4CC (by placing first). Based on Nationals, BOW and WR, I see no reason why they shouldn't be selected over C/P for TE FD.

 

[Allskate]

C/B and H/D had been trading results and titles for years. Now, C/B clearly outranks the other two teams and they’re the World Champions. I almost wish the other two teams could split the TE for their own experience, but it would cost points.

If they're going to split just to give skaters their own experience, I vote that it be the women, who have the deepest field and best finishes this season and last. And that probably wouldn't cost as many points.

 

[Tinycities]

I doubt ChoBat have any input in who the 2nd team would be if they split. What I could see, if the USFS thinks 'silver it is' and isn't gunning hard for gold, is giving the TE FD duties to CarPon to get their revamped "Perfume" FD out in front of an international panel ahead of the ID competition. They're certainly going to want to do everything they can to ensure all three of our dance teams finish in the Top 10.

This feels like quite a far reach to justify giving it to C/P.

There’s an Olympic medal involved.

 

[tangerine dream]

C/B and H/D knew they were the undisputed top 2 so when they agreed that neither would sign up for both segments there was no question which teams would be used.

Another factor was the Shibutanis deciding to do both segments of the TE in 2018 (a decision many considered selfish) even though H/D were the national champions and all three finished within one point at nationals (H/D 197.12, Shibs 196.96, C/B 196.60). Given H/D and C/B were both left out in 2018 I think most people agreed they would want to split it in 2022. IIRC H/D were considered the slightly stronger team in 2022 but C/B won Nationals.

 

[MacMadame]

Well, that's been suggested as a good reason why FBCiz would want to do the RD since their choreo step seq keeps getting a ! call. If it's a valid reason for FBCiz to skate the RD, then why isn't it just as valid to want to give CarPon a chance to put their revised FD in front of the judges? Is it because they're not contending for a medal?

It's a valid reason for both teams to want to do the TE. It's not a valid reason for USFS to pick who does the TE.

It's not a valid reason to pick FBCiz either but there is a valid reason to pick them so it's irrelevant.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Well, that's been suggested as a good reason why FBCiz would want to do the RD since their choreo step seq keeps getting a ! call. If it's a valid reason for FBCiz to skate the RD, then why isn't it just as valid to want to give CarPon a chance to put their revised FD in front of the judges? Is it because they're not contending for a medal?

That's why FBCiz might decide to do it. Team France would pick them because they have a strong chance of winning the RD and, if not, would come in second.

I didn't think so but at the last Olympics it seemed like C/B and H/D made a deal to share the team event. It was not emphasized in the media that they don't make the final decision, that US figure skating does.

They were clearly ranked 1 and 2. If whoever was 1 said they would split, than the other one would be second. If that hadn't been true, they wouldn't have been able to make such a deal.