U.S. Ladies [#25]: Method in the Madness

[GreatLakesGal]

Gracie Gold Today Show Interview

 

[eurodance2001]

Gracie Gold Today Show Interview

What honesty and directness from Gracie.. I really hope she continues on her path..

 

[skatesindreams]

Enlightening and impressive.

 

[Maximillian]

Ugh, I live in Europe and can't get access to the vid. Could anyone give me the gist? TIA

 

[Spun Silver]

Ugh, I live in Europe and can't get access to the vid. Could anyone give me the gist? TIA

It started when a coach told her "Look at your butt" and spiraled into a "game" of how little could she eat. She is taking responsibility for her mistakes though. She is thinking about 2022 but would love a World medal even more. Nothing about her current training. Recovery is ongoing.

 

[B.Cooper]

Not sure this was brutal honesty on Gracie's part... as recovery from depression and eating disorders is a long process, not something, as she pointed out, is "fixed" instantly. But glad she is telling her story. Her quick wit is still readily apparent ;-) The better interview, in my opinion, would have been a larger story, detailing the pervasiveness of eating disorders and mental health issues in skating. There have been number of athletes that have come forward in the last few years who have talked about restrictive eating as well as full blown eating disorders, and the mental health component as well. Gracie acknowledged that the judges are looking for a certain "phenotype" ie physical look, and her descent into her disordered eating started with an off-hand comment from a coach about the size of her le derrière...and how that one comment started the snowball. As this sport tends to draw perfectionists to its ranks, it doesn't surprise me that one comment could derail an athlete. If I am not mistaken, there was a PSA or USFS seminar in Detroit that was presented to coaches on eating disorders, IIRC. But, the acknowledgment by USFS of how pervasive disordered eating is in their sport...not sure that will ever happen.

 

[Frau Muller]

Wonderful interview. Nothing wrong with dreaming towards 2022.

 

[clairecloutier]

I think it's interesting that Gracie cited a desire to win a World medal as something almost closer to her heart than another Olympics. It makes sense. She did the Olympics in a Sochi, won a team medal, did very well in singles. The World medal is something that was so close, almost in her grasp, from 2014-16, something everyone was just waiting for and expecting, but it never quite happened.

I'm glad, though, that she says "medal" now, not winning Worlds, as she did in fall 2016, before Boston Worlds. I'm convinced the pressure she put on to win in Boston ("I need for this to happen") led to her downward spiral. I take it as a sign of healing that a sense of reality has returned and that she recognizes, with the incredible level of competition right now, that any World medal would be a triumph.

In other news, Polina Edmunds tweeted today that it's the 5-year anniversary of her senior debut in Sochi: https://twitter.com/PolinaEdmunds/status/1098692715305267200.

I thought about that tweet and realized that Polina only skated one full senior season in her whole career. Which was the year after Sochi, 2014-15. At least, her career to date.

 

[Yazmeen]

And nothing wrong with the concept that a Worlds medal would mean more than another trip to the Olympics. Excellent and honest interview, I hope she can come back strong, but mostly that she can be happy with herself.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Gracie Gold Today Show Interview

I loved it.

I think her generation is able to be more honest and blunt more than mine.

Whatever happens I wish her the best and selfishly Id love to see her compete again!!!

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

At her high point she was one of my favorite skaters. At the time people were asking was she the next Michele Kwan? Story goes there was tremendous pressure from USFS - a return to US dominance in the ladies. Not recognized was that the sport changed. There would be no more Michele Kwan's dominating for a decade. IJS 3A's and 4's among juniors will probably eliminate the 3/3 gals; it just won't be enough.

It would be great for Gracie to have another successful competition or 2. But, it's a big job. I hope she can keep things in perspective.

 

[Debbie S]

At the time people were asking was she the next Michele Kwan? Story goes there was tremendous pressure from USFS - a return to US dominance in the ladies.

Yes, and something we should all keep in mind when thinking about the current crop of up-and-coming U.S. ladies. It's a long road and a career is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be bumps in the road, no one can be perfect all the time (not even Michelle), so let's enjoy their performances and celebrate their accomplishments without expecting them to be the next OGM.

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

Another interview with Gracie at Access Online:

https://www.accessonline.com/videos...pression-i-remember-feeling-like-such-a-loser

 

[Tinami Amori]

Gracie Gold Today Show Interview

I love it! she is not blaming anyone.. "it is not skating, it's my own decisions that i made while skating".

If one has the physique/body type where, in order to stay competitive/do the required tech content, one has to eat 1 apple and drink two coffees as day..... quite and do something else, or skate for fun. don't cut off your toes to fit that one glass slipper. there any other glass slippers out there that fit your size...

Gracie looks much better, good for her.

 

[AxelAnnie]

And it was skating. Not that skating made her do it, but she did it because she had something to communicate. Something she needed people to listen to. And her forum was skating. What she rebelled against was skating. Smart girl, actually. She was crying for help, and used a place where she was beloved to make her point.

 

[natsulian]

Both our top two Intermediate ladies, Lindsay Thorngren and Isabeau Levito, are moving up to Juniors next season. Lindsay confirmed that she is going to be a Junior next season on Instagram and Isabeau stated that she was moving straight up after Nationals. Both ladies already have multiple 3-3’s and Lindsay said that apart from the 3A, she wants to learn even harder combos and jumps.

 

[IloveFS]

Wonderful interview. Nothing wrong with dreaming towards 2022.

I think that Gracie (in top form), and assuming that the US has 3 ladies spots, has a legitimate shot of making the 2022 Olympic team.

 

[Jammers]

I'm not sure Gracie will ever again reach the level she was at in 2013-16. If she could get back to that level she would be hard to keep off the team but i don't see it happening.

 

[Ena Grins]

I love when she acknowledges that recovery isn't a magic wand, it's a process. I love seeing her intelligence and humor come out. I hope she will continue doing the things that make her happiest and healthiest.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Ugh, I live in Europe and can't get access to the vid. Could anyone give me the gist? TIA

Try youtube one, it is not blocked (imo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO1PdhaT4jI

Both our top two Intermediate ladies, Lindsay Thorngren and Isabeau Levito

I am very much looking forward to watching Levito in juniors...

 

[Frau Muller]

I think that Gracie (in top form), and assuming that the US has 3 ladies spots, has a legitimate shot of making the 2022 Olympic team.

It depends on who’s coming up. THIS COULD CHANGE — three years to go — but right now I see Liu, Tennell and Harrell (or Ting) as America’s team for Beijing. Of course, Gracie might prevail due to her POTENTIAL brute strength in jumps. Let’s see. She needs to forever throw the “pretty princess thing” out the window.

 

[overedge]

Yes, and something we should all keep in mind when thinking about the current crop of up-and-coming U.S. ladies. It's a long road and a career is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be bumps in the road, no one can be perfect all the time (not even Michelle), so let's enjoy their performances and celebrate their accomplishments without expecting them to be the next OGM.

We should think of this about ladies from all countries, not just the US. Maybe you could post this in the Canadian ladies thread too, to counteract the "oh no, nobody has a triple Lutz, all the senior ladies suck" narrative

 

[natsulian]

Challenge Cup Ladies Short Program:
1. Amber Glenn, 70.25 with a 3F-3T, 2A, and 3Lo layout and all Level Fours
3. Starr Andrews, 64.76 with a 3T-3T, 3Lo, and 2A layout and three Level Fours and one Level Three

 

[Joubabe]

Challenge Cup Ladies Short Program:
1. Amber Glenn, 70.25 with a 3F-3T, 2A, and 3Lo layout and all Level Fours
3. Starr Andrews, 64.76 with a 3T-3T, 3Lo, and 2A layout and three Level Fours and one Level Three

Amber is ahead of Rika Kihira and Wakaba Higuchi!!! Bring it in the long Amber!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Challenge Cup Ladies Short Program:
1. Amber Glenn, 70.25 with a 3F-3T, 2A, and 3Lo layout and all Level Fours
3. Starr Andrews, 64.76 with a 3T-3T, 3Lo, and 2A layout and three Level Fours and one Level Three

Oh Dear... do you have me a link to the results pages? I didnt realize this was happening.... My girl Amber nailed a SP again? But its the free..... that goes south....

Does this accrue ISU points?

(BTW where has @Sylvia been these days?)

 

[Frau Muller]

Amber is ahead of Rika Kihira and Wakaba Higuchi!!! Bring it in the long Amber!

Maybe Amber will finally put together two clean programs?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Maybe Amber will finally put together two clean programs?

SAY WHAT NOW? lol

OK, I gotta go find me the link..... This is fax worthy to ANL!!!!! Feel free to call me in the middle of the night with news such as this.

found: http://kunstrijden.knsb.nl/2018-2019/20190221/SEG001.HTM

Amber is ahead of world silver medalist, Wakaba and the GPF winner, Kihira? Hope she gets a SkAm slot with Bradie in Oct.....

 

[Frau Muller]

SAY WHAT NOW? lol

OK, I gotta go find me the link..... This is fax worthy to ANL!!!!! Feel free to call me in the middle of the night with news such as this.

found: http://kunstrijden.knsb.nl/2018-2019/20190221/SEG001.HTM

Amber is ahead of world silver medalist, Wakaba and the GPF winner, Kihira? Hope she gets a SkAm slot with Bradie in Oct.....

On the flip side...Mae Berenice Meite seems to have underperformed again.

 

[natsulian]

The link to the protocols for those looking:

http://kunstrijden.knsb.nl/2018-2019/20190221/

Challenge Cup does gain points towards overall placement as Waka’s Challenge Cup results are listed on her ISU season’s page.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

On the flip side...Mae Berenice Meite seems to have underperformed again.

Well as they had been talking about in the #TTW thread Laurine was already assigned Worlds 2 days ago, without waiting for these results first.