Should Michelle Kwan Automatically Go to the Olympics?

[DisnyMama]

I heard last week that Michelle Kwan withdrew from the U.S. Nationals Competition due to a groin injury that will tell who makes the U.S. womens olympic figure skating team. Her doctor says the injury will heal in time for the Olympics but not for the Nationals.

Michelle is going to petition the USFSA commitee to be appointed to the team without competing in the Nationals. Due you feel this is fair or unfair to the other skaters who are competing for that spot or is Michelle such a high calliber skater and automatically deserves to be on the team whether she competes or not. The commitee will be making their decision after the ladies long program on Saturday night.

 

[LJC1861]

Let me start by saying that I have been a huge fan of Michelle ever since she first came on to the skating scene. She has handled herself with dignity and grace in many many situations that other skaters would not have. She has never spoken down to or badly against another skater. She has aknowleged and accepted her own faults and mistakes as her own and not tried to blame anyone but herself.......now on to the issue at hand......

I personally feel that even though she is one of the greatest American skaters of all time that she should not be given a spot on the Olympic team this year. I just don't feel that she has skated enough under the new system, or demonstrated that she has the difficulty in her programs to compete and have a chance to to well under the new scoring system. If she had been competing all season and this injury sidelined her for this competition that would be different, but we haven't seen her but once this year at a minor competition at that.

The last time an American woman petitioned for a spot it was Nancy Kerrigan....who had been competing all year Ironically, the skater she displaced for a spot on the Olympic team was Michelle Kwan. The skating world was a bit different then and Michelle went on to have 2 More Olympic Games....although not with the results that she desired.

I feel that with the new scoring system and the physical demands that it places on young bodies, these girls skating this week might have one Olympic games....at the most 2 before their bodies get the best of them. Already, alot of them are skating with major injuries.

Although I feel that Michelle will in fact be granted the petition she desires, I do feel that other skaters should be given the chance to compete at the Olympic games. I can only hope that Michelle is a woman of her word. She has stated publicly that is she receives this petition and is named to the team that she will take heself off and give the spot to the alternate if she is not 100% ready to skate.

Although I love Michelle and feel that she has contributed enormously to the sport it is time for her to pass the torch on to her successor.

Linda

 

[Melrosgirl]

No. She's had her chances. I hope she recovers soon, but she doesn't deserve special treatment in this case.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

if she is healthly i think they will send her
she was knocked off the team by Kerrigan when the whole tonya nancy thing happened
i watched the shorts last night and many of the younger skaters said they felt like there were only 2 spots as they assume if Micheel is healthy she will go and they believe she should go
cohen said nationals feels empty without her
I think it also depends on how the girls skate saturday night, who wins, who comes in 2 and 3rd and micheeles health all very interesting also if it was the old rules I would say send her for sure
but under these rules unless shes gonna pull some triple triples she cant win in turino without some help ie falls and mistakes of other skaters

 

[AMcaptured]

NO!! Enough of Michelle Kwan, I actually think her quest for a gold medal is bordering on pathetic. If everyone else has to qualify, she should have to also.

JMO

 

[Cass]

if she is healthly i think they will send her
she was knocked off the team by Kerrigan when the whole tonya nancy thing happened

The seems so long ago! hard to beleive she is still skating (at olympics level)

 

[LBAK]

No, I think you need to skate to get into the olympics. Everyone else trained hard to get there and they should get a fair shot.

 

[DisneyStar006]

I like Michelle too, but I don't think she should be given a spot on the Olympic team. Her artistry is certainly beautiful, but I don't think she can compete on the technical level that the other skaters can anymore.

 

[pixiemomma]

I adore her but no I don't think she should recieve an automatic bid.

 

[CheshireVal]

It's a shame she's injured, but I don't think she should get a free pass.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I don't think she should be going. She has had many injuries and has not been training. Now I think the committee will send her.

 

[Pop Daddy]

yep, shes ran into a lot of bad luck, lets give her a break

 

[bananiem]

I think the situation with Nancy Kerrigan was different. She most likely would have been 1st at Nationals that year. She was healthy and skating great until "whack-job Tonya" sent in her goons.
Michelle is my dd's favorite skater so I'm sure she wants her to go to the Olympics. Personally, I think she should withdraw her name for many of the reasons stated by other posters.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Her artistry is certainly beautiful, but I don't think she can compete on the technical level that the other skaters can anymore.

speaking as a I only watch Skating once every 4 years casual observer - I felt that way LAST Olympics. She is a beautiful girl and is lots of fun to watch skate, but she just didn't seem to be performing at the speed and difficulty of everybody else.

I'm really not in favor of giving anybody automatic passes - skating, gymnastics - whatever. I think it has to be just devastating to go out there and skate well enough to place on the team, but then have your spot taken away by a big name just because they can.

If it is supposed to be a competition, then let them compete.

 

[Donnask8pro]

Just up my alley. I'm, not quite sure how I feel about it. But I can tell you she she absolutely up to par with others. With the new rule changes we are going to see much different programs we have seen in the past. Spins matter far more now than before. Clean doubles are more important than a 2 footed triple. The deductions are huge for mistakes now, if they do something that is not 100%. Michelle has worked her butt off for years. But that elusive gold.....

 

[Tigger_Magic]

NO!! Enough of Michelle Kwan, I actually think her quest for a gold medal is bordering on pathetic. If everyone else has to qualify, she should have to also.

JMO

 

[puffkin]

She is a proven competitor and stuck it out for four more years instead of going pro and earning tons of money. I say she should be given a spot if she is healed and 100%. They can still take an alternate and replace her at the games if she isn't healed in time.

With the new rules in place, I think Michelle has a great shot at winning, more so than some of the younger talent. I think it is a shame an injury like a pulled groin would stop her from skating. Plus, having such experience at the games will only help the other skaters on the US team, not just the females but all the skaters.

If it was another skater who has not had the experience or attitude of Michelle, I would probably feel differently. But she is the epitomy of a class athlete, and I think she has earned this consideration.

 

[diskids2]

Regardless of what I think, which is that she should have to compete in the Nationals and rank to get a chance to go...........the Olympic committee will send her if they feel that she has a better chance of winning or will draw more attention to the sport.

 

[cardaway]

Yes. IMO she would otherwise fall victim to the crazy way they handle who qualifies. It's bad enough as it is, even worse if it results in one of the best skaters not being able to go.

 

[bananiem]

I think it takes "something I can't type on the Disboards " to basically say "I'm a better skater than the 3 that will be chosen, even though they haven't skated yet, so I should get a spot." Also, it's a very subjective sport. If one judge doesn't score somebody highly it could potentially move them from an Olympic spot. But that person doesn't get to protest or appeal to the USFSA for consideration to the Olympic team. Yet somebody who didn't compete in the qualifying event DOES get to appeal? I think it's goofy.