I think it's all the media attention and expectations. Mirai needs to remember how it feels to land the 3-axel just right, which is hard to do with everyone buzzing. There needs to be a way to zone out all of that stuff in order to focus. All the requests for interviews is a bit much when athletes still have to go about their business and compete. There's just too much OTT media intrusion IMO. But I guess that's the way of it these days.
Hopefully, Mirai will feel some pressure taken off and just go for it to do her best in the fp for herself. There's no chance for a podium spot here, not with the rampant politics having put the podium out of reach except for a select few. One of the problems is how poorly Mirai is rated on PCS in comparison to Daleman and Sakomoto, which is completely unfair. Mirai should be in the 8s right along with those two skaters, but no, they pushed Mirai down to high 7s. That's inaccurate.
http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1718/owg2018/SEG003.HTM
And look at the 9.71 scores given to Med! And mid 9s also for Zagitova! There's nothing either of them do that justifies such high PCS. Even Kostner and Sakomoto are lower 9s. If those two are lower 9s, then Med and Zag should be rated lower than both of those ladies on PCS. Osmond is rated lower 9s too. I think Osmond should be slightly higher than Med and Zag, and slightly lower than Kostner and Sakomoto on the interpretive categories. SS are a different matter. I do not think that Med or Zag have the best skating skills. They are good and consistent jumpers, not blade wizards. Plus they need to mature before being thrown such marks, as if they are great artists. Where do they have left to go, when they are being told they are so perfect and wonderful?!
There's absolutely no pressure on Med and Zag when they are given scores so far out of reach. If Osmond doesn't tank in the fp, the podium stays the same. If Osmond falters, Miyahara might slip in there with a perfect skate. Sakamoto and Kostner have an outside shot. I really don't think anyone else has a chance realistically, looking at the numbers.
I found it interesting that Eteri looked upset for Medvedeva when Zagitova's scores came up.
With going for a 3-axel and just missing on the landing but doing everything else well, I feel Mirai should be in at least 6th or 7th place. It's purely politics that has Mirai down in 9th, IMHO.
Really good recovery though
<3 Be kind Phil Hersh and the rest of the press! 
There's always worlds.
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Dabin Choi skated fairly clean but did not have the same difficulty, and there's nothing that special or notable about her skating either. It must just be partly due to Choi being South Korean and the judges being influenced by the crowd's excitement. Choi has apparently never scored that high before. Choi should be in front of Karen Chen perhaps, but not in front of Mirai.
