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

[peibeck]

Torgy was 8th in the SP and 9th in the FS. The weird "menning" of the whole event is what lead to the 12th overall placement.

Regardless of how he and Jacob do, it wouldn't have been wise for Jason to go if he's nursing injuries. He's done plenty, but at a certain point his health has to come first, and the baton has to be passed on.

It wasn't the end of the world to only have 2 US pairs teams at the Olympics. It won't be the end of the world if only two US guys get a chance at Worlds next year.

 

[Vagabond]

It  is the end of the world if you are a Brown uber and see every post about him that isn't an encomium as a personal attack on your belief system.

 

[sheetz]

Jackie mentioned Jason's withdrawal (35:18) and it doesn't sound like there were any injuries involved in the decision.

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[Kiki5375]

It's strange that Jason doesn't say anything about it on social media. I feel sorry for his fans who bought tickets booked flights and hotels just to see him

 

[Wyliefan]

I do too, but that's always the risk whenever you go just to see one person. I once went up to NYC to see a particular singer in an opera at the Met, and she was sick and dropped out. Happens all the time.

 

[Karen-W]

It's strange that Jason doesn't say anything about it on social media. I feel sorry for his fans who bought tickets booked flights and hotels just to see him

It is VERY strange. Especially since it looks like he had a scheduled post in support of the Special Olympics appear about an hour ago on his IG.

Jason Brown on Instagram: "One of the most inspiring communities I’ve ever been around is the athletes of the Special Olympics. Their passion, joy, and love for sport remind me why I fell in love with skating in the first place. That’s why I’m proud

709 likes, 11 comments - jasonbskates on March 23, 2026: "One of the most inspiring communities I’ve ever been around is the athletes of the Special Olympics. Their passion, joy, and love for sport remind me why I fell in love with skating in the first place. That’s why I’m proud to support...

www.instagram.com

 

[Rukia]

It's strange that Jason doesn't say anything about it on social media. I feel sorry for his fans who bought tickets booked flights and hotels just to see him

if you are going to the world championships just to see one skater then you have made a very misguided decision

I'll give him some space on not posting on social media. This season has been a very difficult one for him, and it sounds like he fully intended on going to worlds. Idk what changed but I feel sure it wasn't a decision he made lightly.

 

[PRlady]

I’m a cynical type but I’m wondering if making him alternate ahead of Jacob came with a deal, ie a skating monitoring session close to Worlds to see what shape he’s in. It may be that USFS pulled the plug. Given how everyone leaks, we’ll know eventually.

 

[Karen-W]

I’m a cynical type but I’m wondering if making him alternate ahead of Jacob came with a deal, ie a skating monitoring session close to Worlds to see what shape he’s in. It may be that USFS pulled the plug. Given how everyone leaks, we’ll know eventually.

Making who alternate? Jason was named to the Worlds team at Nationals, ahead of Max (3rd place, 1st Alt), Tomoki (5th place, 2nd Alt) & Jacob (4th place, 3rd Alt).

I do think naming Jason to the team could have come with the condition that he undergo a monitoring session closer to Worlds, but I don't think Jacob was in the conversation to be named to the team outright. Had Jason not been named to the Worlds team, it would have been Max, IMO with Jason as 1st Alt, just like the Olympic team.

 

[PRlady]

Making who alternate? Jason was named to the Worlds team at Nationals, ahead of Max (3rd place, 1st Alt), Tomoki (5th place, 2nd Alt) & Jacob (4th place, 3rd Alt).

I do think naming Jason to the team could have come with the condition that he undergo a monitoring session closer to Worlds, but I don't think Jacob was in the conversation to be named to the team outright. Had Jason not been named to the Worlds team, it would have been Max, IMO with Jason as 1st Alt, just like the Olympic team.

Sorry, pronouns weren’t clear. Jason was named ahead of Max, Tomoki and Jacob. Independent of which one of them would go (and the USFS didn’t foresee Max and Tomoki declining), they might have required a monitoring session for Jason and he didn’t meet their standards, whatever they were.

Just speculating.

 

[Jonas]

I'll be even more cynical and outright shady here.

There was absolutely no justifiable nor objective reason for the USFSA to name Jason Brown to the World Team, but it did so anyway. No monitoring, no questions asked -- think this was a ceremonial thank you from the USFSA. Jason is NOT stupid and I think he recognizes this.

Similarly, I very honestly don't think that Jason was seriously training after Nationals because I don't believe he had any intention of competing at Worlds. The USFSA is NOT stupid and I don't it was the least bit surprised at the news of this withdrawal.

Your thoughts...

 

[kwanfan1818]

It makes little sense that this was planned in advance. We already knew that Hiwatashi was transitioning to a new job, and Naumov wasn’t planning to go to Worlds, even though there’s been speculation about Brown not competing from about two seconds after he was named to the team.

I know this is USFS, but why with the subs list down to one would they force a decision point, ie, if there was monitoring, so close to Worlds and not let Sanchez know to avoid a recreational activity where he might have injured himself? Same question, if Naumov hasn’t made a decision, and they thought they could convince him otherwise?

 

[Karen-W]

It makes little sense that this was planned in advance. We already knew that Hiwatashi was transitioning to a new job, and Naumov wasn’t planning to go to Worlds, even though there’s been speculation about Brown not competing from about two seconds after he was named to the team.

I know this is USFS, but why with the subs list down to one would they force a decision point, ie, if there was monitoring, so close to Worlds and not let Sanchez know to avoid a recreational activity where he might have injured himself? Same question, if Naumov hasn’t made a decision, and they thought they could convince him otherwise?

Is there anything verified out there about Max not planning on going to Worlds (apart from being 1st Alt)?

The USFS did name a 4th Alt (Liam Kapeikis) when it submitted its entries for Worlds and the Worlds deadline was after the Olympics, so they must have had some reason to believe there would be at least one withdrawal. Ilia had already said he was going to Worlds and there was no reason to think he'd be the withdrawal given what happened in Milano.

If Jason being named to the team was nothing more than a public "thank you for your years of service" from the USFS then I tend to think the withdrawal would have come sooner than the Saturday before Worlds. That's the sort of planned/expected withdrawal that would have come three weeks ago. The timing alone makes me lean toward @PRlady's theory rather than @Jonas'. Just because no monitoring session was publicly announced doesn't mean it wasn't stipulated.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Is there anything verified out there about Max not planning on going to Worlds (apart from being 1st Alt)?

I could be mid-remembering this, and skaters have been known to say that the Olympics were the culmination and then after a few weeks decide to go to Worlds, but I thought Naumov indicated indirectly that the Olympics were the goal, and he was going back to coaching.

It was his dream with his late parents, and it was a great ending to his competitive story.

 

[Jonas]

Max did say that the Olympics were the ultimate goal, but are we sure that he would've outright declined Worlds if he was assigned there outright like the USFSA absolutely should have??

 

[Karen-W]

Max did say that the Olympics were the ultimate goal, but are we sure that he would've outright declined Worlds if he was assigned there outright like the USFSA absolutely should have??

Oh, I expect he would have gladly accepted the Worlds assignment had he been assigned outright. But I don't believe he indicated he wouldn't accept the Worlds assignment had it come about due to a withdrawal either.

 

[skateboy]

And if they guys don't earn three spots, that too will be a learning experience.

I will not be the end of the world nor figure skating if the men don't secure three spots for next year. We're going into a brand new quadrennial.