Great skaters who never made a world team

[Vagabond]

By far the most forgotten / obscure lady who landed ratified Triple Axel.

And for good reason!

 

[overedge]

There were a lot of fantastic women in the US in the mid-80s, some of whom never even got onto the podium at Nationals because the field was so strong.
Here's one of them, Jill Frost:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FevF03YQFk

 

[Aceon6]

I was going to say Jill Frost. Being from the Northeast, she never got the benefit of USFS politics.

 

[RockTheTassel]

I'll second the person who said Agnes Zawadzki. She had consistency issues, but her triple Lutz was one of the best in the business at the time, and in general her jumps were giant and gorgeous when landed. It's unfortunate that the two times she placed third at nationals were years when there wasn't a third spot.

 

[Areski]

And for good reason!

You mean that factor. I can't say no ...

 

[Areski]

I'll second the person who said Agnes Zawadzki. She had consistency issues, but her triple Lutz was one of the best in the business at the time, and in general her jumps were giant and gorgeous when landed. It's unfortunate that the two times she placed third at nationals were years when there wasn't a third spot.

It was a shame, she was a great skater and her family had to make lots of sacrifices to facilitate the best training possible for her. She was not exactly well-off unlike some other US skaters in much more favourable position.

 

[Vagabond]

You mean that factor. I can't say no ...

We need Simon Cowell to join the two of us as a panelist on a new show called "The Factor"

 

[Cleo1782]

It was a shame, she was a great skater and her family had to make lots of sacrifices to facilitate the best training possible for her. She was not exactly well-off unlike some other US skaters in much more favourable position.

Yeah, I think I was the first one to mention her (not sure). She was never my favorite skater, but when she hit she was very good. I always felt bad that she was an 'almost' girl like Gao. Both of those two girls probably would have a solid chance to make the Olympics now with their content if they were skating. It most be so difficult to have your family make all these sacrifices knowing you are pretty much a lock for that 3rd world spot, only to bomb. I think she went on to cruise ships, so I hope she is happy.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Katherine Healey was an anomaly in the skating world. She never really competed and was a trained ballerina as well. Thanks to her dance background, her skating performances were exceptional.

Below is one of my favourites as Kitri, from Don Quixote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8d2ov28Y2A

 

[Seerek]

There were a lot of fantastic women in the US in the mid-80s, some of whom never even got onto the podium at Nationals because the field was so strong.
Here's one of them, Jill Frost:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FevF03YQFk

Those were the years that ABC assigned Jim Lampley and Al Michaels for Olympic coverage. My how things have changed.

 

[Vash01]

Justin Pekarek ( Jr. world champ ice dance with Jamie Silverstein). I don't think they went to Senior worlds. Correct me if I am wrong.

Ryan Omeara skated with Jamie in the Olympics but didn't go to worlds.

By the same token Jamie didn't go to senior worlds if the above statements are correct.

 

[Deleted member 19433]

Justin Pekarek ( Jr. world champ ice dance with Jamie Silverstein). I do t think they went to Senior worlds. Correct me if I am wrong.

Ryan Omeara skated with Jamie in the Olympics but didn't go to worlds.

By the same token Jamie didn't go to senior worlds if the above statements are correct.

Silverstein & Pekarek did compete at worlds in 2000 (finishing 12th).

 

[Twilight1]

Tanja Bingert for sure and Ben Ferreira. I really liked them both

 

[screech]

Tanja Bingert for sure and Ben Ferreira. I really liked them both

Ben went to 3 worlds (00, 02, 04) and placed 19, 15, 13 (respectively).

IIRC 2004 was the year Jeff Buttle missed the spot for Worlds, because he was still recovering from the food poisoning that made him withdraw from the GPF. I believe some people had wanted Jeff to get the spot over Ben, but Ben rightfully earned it (coming 2nd at Canadians).

 

[honey]

Tanja Bingert for sure and Ben Ferreira. I really liked them both

Ferreira went to worlds several times. 2000, 2002 and 2004.

 

[Twilight1]

I was thinking more the Olympics with him

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Ferreira went to worlds several times. 2000, 2002 and 2004.

Ben was one of those unfortunate men cursed with Rod Black's 'The Next One' syndrome.

 

[Coco]

Small world because Irina Yelchin, mentioned on p. 2, choreographed Yebin Mok's 2003 SP that was linked to earlier.

 

[Loves_Shizuka]

Um, Tatiana Basova?

I mean she did reach a JGP final once and was a RUS senior Nats medallist.

 

[blue_idealist]

I believe Balde made the World Team in 2014 after Chan skipped the event.

That's right, I forgot.

 

[Ananas Astra]

Um, Tatiana Basova?

I mean she did reach a JGP final once and was a RUS senior Nats medallist.

Same with Oblasova. Won Jr. Worlds in 2001, went to Euros once and nuffin.

 

[coppertop1]

Forgive me for bumping a dormant thread but here are some that come to mind.

Liam Firus: An odd case. He did earn his spot at Nationals(3rd in 2014, 2nd in 2016) still never got to go. He didn't have the TES in 2014, and in 2016 he gave his spot to Nam (still confused about that, was that him or Skate Canada? It was an odd decision)

Putnam/Wirtz: They seemed to be locked in third in the post-SLC/pre-Torino quadrennial when Canada was sending two pairs.

Lesley Hawker: She was a stronger skater overall than Mira Leung, but lacked Leung's consistency and finished third most of time behind Leung.

Jayson Denomee, Fedor Andreev.

Ben was one of those unfortunate men cursed with Rod Black's 'The Next One' syndrome.

Yep. That's why I'm not calling Gogolev "The Next One". Don't curse him! I worry about Alysa Liu falling victim to this.

 

[clairecloutier]

I know the article you are talking about. Carlo said she would have won Worlds and the Olympics. She was the most talented skater that never was. Very interesting story.
Cindy Bortz was another talented US Junior World Champion who went nowhere after growing. I also like Jeri Campbell and more recently Katy Taylor and Christina Gao.

Christina Gao is probably my favorite U.S. ladies skater in recent years who never made the World team. It's such a shame because she definitely had the talent, but it never quite came together. I had such high hopes for her at 2014 Natls and am still disappointed it didn't happen.

Other names that come to mind would be Samantha Cesario, Alex Johnson, and Tim Dolensky. I'm sure there are more.

 

[Spun Silver]

I hope it's premature to say Polina Tsurskaya but I fear it's not.

 

[coppertop1]

I hope it's premature to say Polina Tsurskaya but I fear it's not.

If she skated for another country, it would be but with Russian Ladies Figure Skating being so insanely deep, it probably isn't. I worry that the same is true for Marin Honda.

 

[Rock2]

Can't think of many in Canada outside of Tanya Bingert. There are other names that have been mentioned (e.g. Denommee) but Bingert's short in 1994 nationals would have made world top 10 for sure. Hard to ignore one of the biggest 3Z in the world at the time. So to me she would have unlike others been successful at world's and not just making it.

Nothing much coming to me from outside of Canada except US ladies where there have been a ton. Too bad we lost Cindy Bortz after winning junior world's in 1987. Liang, Anne-Patrice, there are tons already mentioned. My shoutout goes to Jessica Mills. Would have loved to see what this program would have scored had she gone clean. I remember loving it at the time....and still do!

 

[Sylvia]

... Liang ...

Beatrisa Liang got to compete at 2008 Worlds and placed 10th (she was fifth at U.S. Nationals that year; Nagasu 1st, Flatt 2nd and Zhang 4th were all too young): http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00005324.htm

 

[SkateGuard]

Can't think of many in Canada outside of Tanya Bingert.

Agree with you about Tanya Bingert, but two other skaters that come to mind are Cheri and Dennis Pinner - Canadian pairs champions in 1977. The CFSA decided to send Sherri Baier and Dennis Cowan, who had won the previous season's World Junior Championships, to that year's Worlds. The frustrated Pinner's retired.

 

[barbk]

Ye Bin Mok has become even more beautiful with age:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJMnYOxbbfg

Wow -- that spread eagle with those arms. Incredibly gorgeous.

 

[coppertop1]

Mai Asad (Mao's sister).

is it too soon to add Yuna Shiraiwa? I would normally not count out young skaters but for the incredible depth of the Japanese Ladies. Same with so many young Russians.