U.S. Men 2025-26 Discussion - Quad God and the Mere Mortals

[tangerine dream]

@tangerine dream I fully expect Jason to withdraw, unless he's going for a redemption skate. But who knows - he was in Milan making content and it's entirely unclear if he was training at that time. He also hasn't posted any skating/training content beyond Nationals aside from two sponsored posts.

He's certainly the most likely to withdraw, but who knows?

 

[beckab81]

Adding a 4th alternate for Worlds makes me think someone is going to withdraw.

I'm thinking it's because Tomoki said he was retiring, and if he's stopped training they might still want 3 realistic reserves. Who knows what Jason, Torgy & Ilia are going to do.

 

[Allskate]

Psychologists have their limitations.

Of course they do. But, he didn't even use one at all. More significantly, I think the idea that Ilia would have been fine if only he had gone to a previously Olympics ignores the scope of what he was dealing with in Milan.

@tangerine dream I fully expect Jason to withdraw, unless he's going for a redemption skate. But who knows - he was in Milan making content and it's entirely unclear if he was training at that time. He also hasn't posted any skating/training content beyond Nationals aside from two sponsored posts.

I think he's likely to withdraw as well. I think he did post one that wasn't sponsored, though that was before the Olympics I think. His coach was in Milan the first week of the Olympics and Jason didn't create content in Milan until the second week, so I supposed it's theoretically possible that he did do some training there. But, I think it's much more likely that he was in Milan because of the commitments he had made to Hershey and to visit the Ronald McDonald House there. And why not have some fun and watch some Olympic events with some friends while he was there?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I can’t see Ilia withdrawing and I don’t see why Torgy would unless he’s retiring.

I agree that it could be the fact that Tomoki has actually retired

 

[Karen-W]

Of course they do. But, he didn't even use one at all. More significantly, I think the idea that Ilia would have been fine if only he had gone to a previously Olympics ignores the scope of what he was dealing with in Milan.


I think he's likely to withdraw as well. I think he did post one that wasn't sponsored, though that was before the Olympics I think. His coach was in Milan the first week of the Olympics and Jason didn't create content in Milan until the second week, so I supposed it's theoretically possible that he did do some training there. But, I think it's much more likely that he was in Milan because of the commitments he had made to Hershey and to visit the Ronald McDonald House there. And why not have some fun and watch some Olympic events with some friends while he was there?

To be fair, she was a bit busy doing commentary for NBC at the last minute.

Jason doesn't always post a lot of training content, at least not on his IG, so I don't know that him not putting anything out there for consumption between Nationals and when he popped up in Milan is indicative of a plan to withdraw. He is, though, IMO, the most likely to withdraw - I've got him right up there with Adam Siao Him Fa as the two most likely now that Shaidorov has passed on going to Worlds. It's only a few more weeks and we'll know for sure.

 

[Allskate]

To be fair, she was a bit busy doing commentary for NBC at the last minute.

Yes. And possibly in meetings even on days when she did not do commentary. Like I said, it was theoretically possible. Also, he's very experienced and disciplined. He posts about his workouts and cross-training (and very routine healthy meals) even when he is on the road. It's not like he couldn't practice on his own or with others like Brian Orser. But, as I said, I think there's a very good chance that he will withdraw.

I've got him right up there with Adam Siao Him Fa as the two most likely now that Shaidorov has passed on going to Worlds. It's only a few more weeks and we'll know for sure.

Why Adam? I thought that he had said that he was going to Worlds and was going to continue after this season.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I think Ilia actually wasn't entirely wrong about how not being allowed to compete in the last Olympics probably cost him a medal in Milan (even though, in retrospect, he undoubtedly regrets saying it in front of a live mic). He had no context for just how different it would be.

All I know is that several of the US men's Olympic figure skating gold medallists have all but said as much in various articles or on camera interviews (already posted around this forum).

Hayes Allen Jenkins said that he discussed what happened to Ilia with his wife Carol Heiss and his brother David, Scott Hamilton and Brian Boitano also felt the same. Their respective first Olympics they had no pressure or expectations of winning. By their next Olympics, each WERE considered favorites for gold, there was still pressure but each were better prepared for that unique Olympic atmosphere. Likely Evan Lysacek and Nathan Chen probably feel the same too. Their first Olympic experiences, quite disappointing for some, not too bad at all for those who actually won a silver or bronze medal at their first Olympics, but overall, most of them seem to feel that Ilia would have benefited quite a bit if he'd been sent to Beijing four years ago. I strongly agree with them, although yes, some like Michelle Kwan never quite reached that golden ring, or sadly like Kurt Browning, never even reached silver or bronze. With Ilia, I still SMH all of these years later at the thought that they left such an obvious talent home, especially as he was the silver medallist. But it's done. On to Worlds and beyond.

 

[Karen-W]

Why Adam? I thought that he had said that he was going to Worlds and was going to continue after this season.

I admit I haven't kept up with the post-Olympics interviews, etc, but given the injury he was dealing with, I just figured he'd decide to withdraw from Worlds and heal up ahead of next season if he's continuing.