U.S. Women [#7]: Make Me a Believer!

olympic said:
I assume we won't see full Russian teams in any discipline until 2027 Worlds at the earliest. They have to qualify x amount of slots starting at 2026 Worlds. I assume that they will compete 1 per discipline at 2026 Worlds if they single entries at the Olympics?
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Whenever Russia is allowed back, they'll only have 1 entry at the next Euros, Jr Worlds & Worlds. They'll have to go from there to rebuild back up to a full team in any discipline.
 
olympic said:
I assume we won't see full Russian teams in any discipline until 2027 Worlds at the earliest. They have to qualify x amount of slots starting at 2026 Worlds. I assume that they will compete 1 per discipline at 2026 Worlds if they single entries at the Olympics?
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I don't think that it's a given that any Russians will compete at next season's Worlds. Russian athletes have the opportunity to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes ("AIN") at next season's Olympic Qualifying Competition and, depending on how they do there, they may be allowed to compete at the Olympics in Milan. To compete in ISU events, skaters must represent a federation, and the Russian Federation is currently suspended.
 
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Vagabond said:
I don't think that it's a given that any Russians will compete at next seaon's Worlds. Russian athletes have the opportunity to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes ("AIN") at next season's Olympic Qualifying Competition and, depending on how they do there, they may be allowed to compete at the Olympics in Milan. To compete in ISU events, skaters must represent a federation, and the Russian Federation is currently suspended.
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Welllllll, I think it's more likely now than it was a week ago since the IOC President-elect, Kirsty Coventry, has stated she does not believe in banning any countries. We'll see if the ISU Communication from December holds or if any restrictions are loosened/lifted before the Olympics next year.
 
Vagabond said:
I don't think that it's a given that any Russians will compete at next seaon's Worlds. Russian athletes have the opportunity to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes ("AIN") at next season's Olympic Qualifying Competition and, depending on how they do there, they may be allowed to compete at the Olympics in Milan. To compete in ISU events, skaters must represent a federation, and the Russian Federation is currently suspended.
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Thanks. I assume that despite how anyone feels about RUS that they will likely qualify in each discipline just due to talent?

So, I understand that with the ISU it's a totally different ballgame; the RUS federation would have to be readmitted?
 
olympic said:
Thanks. I assume that despite how anyone feels about RUS that they will likely qualify in each discipline just due to talent?

So, I understand that with the ISU it's a totally different ballgame; the RUS federation would have to be readmitted?
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AIN can qualify no more than one spot per discipline at the Olympics, just like any Federation that doesn't earn a spot at Worlds this week.

With the ISU, the problem isn't readmission but lifting the suspension. Fortunately, there is a very easy solution. All Russia has to do is lay down its arms, withdraw from Ukrainian territory, and recognize Ukraine's sovereign right to its territory. :)
 
olympic said:
Thanks. I assume that despite how anyone feels about RUS that they will likely qualify in each discipline just due to talent?
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Presumably. It would be hard to imagine they don't. They seem rather soft in ice dance after StepBuk, but that's like CAN or USA #3 level soft, which should be capable of beating out the rest of the field at the OQE.
olympic said:
So, I understand that with the ISU it's a totally different ballgame; the RUS federation would have to be readmitted?
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The ban would have to be lifted for RUS/BLR to be allowed to compete in anything apart from the OQE. I don't think that's all that likely until the IOC lifts their own restrictions completely. If/when that happens, then it wouldn't surprise me if any spots earned at the OQE by RUS/BLR athletes are re-designated as belonging to the federation rather than the individual athletes who earned them, and it wouldn't surprise me if RUS is allowed to participate in the Team Event if they have enough points to do so - which is a whole different kettle since they're not going to earn a lot of points on either the JGP or GP next season unless they're allowed back before the end of August so they can try for alternate places by winning some Challenger events.
 
Alysa was asked in the press conference after the short program if, when she thinks about her 16 year-old self, who made the decision to retire, do moments like this make her think that she made the right decision to come back? She said that moments like this make her realize that it had been the right decision to retire at 16 because she wouldn't be where she is if she hadn't retired for a little bit. Great way to look at it. She seems so happy now.

Isabeau mentioned in the press conference that the sport is equally mental and physical. Phil Hersh asked her if, after competing in Milan last month, she foresaw being able to get this far back by today and being able to skate like she did. She said that her coaches foresaw it and she just closed her eyes and trusted them. I hope this gives her some confidence. She's inspiring me. I injured my hip doing yoga and it's painful to walk, preventing me from doing things I love to do, and a source of worry and frustration, so I need to trust in the recovery process. I'll keep her short program in mind while I'm doing my physical therapy.

I feel bad for Amber, but am so glad that she was able to fight through the program after her problem with the triple axel. It's a bummer after being undefeated this season, but she still can move up quite a bit in the standings.
 
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Allskate said:
Alysa was asked in the press conference after the short program if, when she thinks about her 16 year-old self, who made the decision to retire, do moments like this make her think that she made the right decision to come back? She said that moments like this make her realize that it had been the right decision to retire at 16 because she wouldn't be where she is if she hadn't retired for a little bit. Great way to look at it. She seems so happy now.
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Is there a video of this press conference anywhere?
 
olympic said:
So, the USFS made a good decision about Isabeau (and Jason) ?
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There is a big difference between the short program and long program when it comes to stamina. But, I think the USFS is very well aware of how she has been doing. One of the Worlds articles about Isabeau indicated that a federation medical team had been treating her and assured her that she really was completely healed. (She was very scared the pain would come back.) Of course, knowing that her foot is healed is different from knowing that she is physically ready for competition, but it sounds like the USFS has been keeping very close tabs on her and would know whether she was physically ready to compete at Worlds.

And there's also the mental side of things. Isabeau's interview with Andrea Joyce, as well as her comments at the press conference, showed how nervous Isabeau was about competing after a long break. Hopefully, the short program gave her confidence and she won't be too hesitant or nervous in the long program.
 
I think Isabeau and Jason were in different boats in terms of proving themselves here. The primary concern with Jason was making the top 24 in the LP and that Ilia and Torgy would do the heavy lifting of garnering three spots by their placement in the LP. I think with Isabeau it was about assisting in the garnering of the three spots. Right now with her and Alysa's placement in the SP (and to be frank) the lack of depth in the field, three spots should be a thing, but not necessarily a certainty.
 
What a great day for the American women!

Congrats to Alysa! That long program has not been my favorite, but it was such a fun way to end the competition, and the crowd clearly loved it.

I can't believe Isabeau was able to skate that well after missing three months of training. Only one missed jump between the two programs. She should be very proud.

I know Amber will be disappointed after going undefeated all season, but she didn't crumble after the mistake on the flip. I hope she can come away from this season and this competition proud of herself. She's really taken a huge leap forward.
 
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