Should Michelle Kwan Automatically Go to the Olympics?

[missypie]

I think that Michelle will get to go. Last night, the only one who really shone was Sasha. I love lots of the other girls to death, but I don't think they had the polish to make it to the Olympic podium. If Michelle is "ON" she could. Oh what agony to be someone like Bebe who will get 3rd then not get to go!

I guess it's the mom in me, but I just want to cry when those girls get out on the ice...whether they do good, bad or in between, I see how badly they want it, think of how much they and their families have sacrificed...they are all impressive.

 

[Keggy]

I believe Michelle should go. It is her last shot.

Obviously, Sash Cohen is going to go.

For the third spot there are a number of other skaters who could go. I DVR'ed last nights programs, I wasn't able to watch them yet, but have heard that only Sasha skated well. Personally, as a BGSU alum I would love to see Alissa Czisny go - but not over Michelle Kwan.

Kelly

 

[shamrock30]

I think Michelle should get to go. No way she would have placed outside the top three at Nationals. Experience counts, and Michelle is a great competitor. She has a better chance of medalling at the Olympics than the girls who place two and three after Sasha.

 

[goodeats]

I thought she was done the year she lost to Tara Lipinski. She's a beautiful skater, but her skating just doesn't show guts.

That's just coming from a couch critic though! But no, I don't think they should send her.

 

[dmfuru]

They'll send her because she's by far the most recognizable lady figure skater in the US (that means ratings/advertising/etc).

 

[HoneyPooh]

I love Michelle but she's been out of competition pretty much all this season, it's not just Nationals that she's had to cancel out of for this groin injury. She was out of the competition I went to all the way back in October for the same injury. If she's not ready by now, will she be ready in February? I certainly don't think she should go because "it's her last shot" or something. Hey, can I go? It would be my only shot . I think they will give her the spot, I just hope that if she decides she can't do it that she makes that decision in time to give the alternate enough time to mentally prepare to compete. I guess deep down, although I love to watch her skate, I think she's not up to the level of competition (technical not artistic) at this point and it's time to let the new generation have their go at it now. A lot of the time at this point I think Michelle gets credit for simply being a nice person and a class act. Unfortunately that doesn't win you the olympic medal. Sorry Michelle

 

[Toby'sFriend]

So let me ask this because as I said, I'm really just a casual observer of skating.... If Michelle Kwan is given a chance to go to one more Olympic, does she really have a chance?

My personal view is that as an artist - she is unsurpassed. At the same time however, my personal opinion of her is that the main reason you very rarely see her bottom on the ice is that she just doesn't take the chances that the other skaters take. She doesn't skate as fast, she doesn't jump as high, and she doesn't do nearly as many triples/quardruples or whatever. She just doesn't push herself to the edge of that envelope. I especially felt that way in Salt Lake City, where I thought she was lucky to get third.

And in my opinion, that probably has a good deal to do with why she never won the Olympics in the past -- and even if she is given a shot, I doubt she'd win it this time. Sure I'd like to see her win it because she seems like such a great person and she certainly has worked hard and dedicated her life to skating, but I just don't think it is likely.

So at some point, isn't it also fair to let another skater get the Olympic experience and develop on the world stage?

 

[icebrat001]

So let me ask this because as I said, I'm really just a casual observer of skating.... If Michelle Kwan is given a chance to go to one more Olympic, does she really have a chance?

If she wasn't ready for Nationals because of an injury, I don't think she can be ready for the Olympics. She may be mentally prepared, and she has great artistic qualities, however technically, I don't see how she can pull it off. She hasn't been able to train 100% in a while because of this injury and the one prior. She'd be cutting it pretty close.

Our US team needs to go to Torino strong, and prepared and injury free. I don't think she's going to be ready. I wish she didn't petition.

 

[missypie]

If she wasn't ready for Nationals because of an injury, I don't think she can be ready for the Olympics. She may be mentally prepared, and she has great artistic qualities, however technically, I don't see how she can pull it off. She hasn't been able to train 100% in a while because of this injury and the one prior. She'd be cutting it pretty close.

Our US team needs to go to Torino strong, and prepared and injury free. I don't think she's going to be ready. I wish she didn't petition.

I agree. Last night they said that they were not sending an alternte to Torino. So if Michelle is on the team and then can't compete, the alternate would have to jump on a plane, deal with the time change, etc. That seems silly to me.

 

[Michelle2]

I saw this thread and groaned because I have been thinking about this lately, and frankly do not know what to think. I have been a Michelle fan, and have been since she entered the skating scene as well.....but I am doubtful under this new judging system that she has much of a chance to medal. I was very sad to see the first time she has NOT medaled at World's for who knows how long!!

In my opinion, the committee will send her. Forget about whether she deserves it or not, like any other show, it will be great PR. People know her, people will tune in to watch how she does, especially since it is her 3rd try at that elusive gold, and now especially with getting a "by". She has an immense fan base, and I think they will just assume that everyone wants her there.
And to the others that say let the other girl have their shot? Please! Have you seen the other US skaters? Usually the others that rank 3rd at nationals besides Sasha, has no better chance of medaling as Michelle does...they are pretty average, at least in my opinion they are.

I agree with the other posters that said she had skated way too conservatively at the other 2 Olympics, always letting a little one-fluke-wonder take the gold because they let it all out that night. I would hope that with this being her last shot, that she lets it all out, and hold nothing back. Afterall, she has nothing to lose...so go for it! I would be very happy to see her there again. But with this injury, I agree with everyone else who doubts she will be ready. I can wish all I want, but she just has not had the competitive season(s) to help prepare her. And in an Olympics year, she NEEDED that....

 

[Toby'sFriend]

And to the others that say let the other girl have their shot? Please! Have you seen the other US skaters? Usually the others that rank 3rd at nationals besides Sasha, has no better chance of medaling as Michelle does...they are pretty average, at least in my opinion they are.

No, I haven't seen the other girls so you may have a very good point. But my question is -- isn't getting the experience part of the process of becoming a better skater?

So if the choice comes down between Michelle Kwan, who is injured and really not able to skate well, and another younger skater who might have a shot at developing into something special 4 years from now but needs to start getting out there in front of the World Judges, when does it become time to move onto the next generation?

Let me ask this, wasn't that girl who won in Salt Lake City - Sara Hughes I think? -- wasn't she also considered a very long shot? It seemed to me that she got almost no attention at all until she won the thing.

 

[icebrat001]

Let me ask this, wasn't that girl who won in Salt Lake City - Sara Hughes I think? -- wasn't she also considered a very long shot? It seemed to me that she got almost no attention at all until she won the thing.

Yep, not a lot of attention and then she won the gold and then she got 6th at Worlds and retired. It makes you wonder.

 

[missypie]

Yep, not a lot of attention and then she won the gold and then she got 6th at Worlds and retired. It makes you wonder.

Yes, while the skating goddesses were crumbling around her, 17 year old Sarah, with nothing to lose, skated the program of a lifetime and won the gold. What a wonderful story...she retires, goes to Yale, and lives happily ever after. I feel a bit sorry for her sister, having to follow in those footsteps, but it seems like a pretty grounded family.

 

[LJC1861]

Sarah Hughes was an incredible long shot for the 2002 Olympics. The only reason she won was due to the scoring system in place at the time. She was in 4th going into the long program, so theoretically she had no chance of winning...unless a complicated series of events took place. Sarah skated the performance of her life and actually WON the long program that night. But....due to the fact that she was in 4th place going in, that was not enough.

In the old scoring system, if you were in the first 3 spots going into the long and won the long you won the gold. If any one of the lower skaters beat you, you would take a lower medal. If the person in 4th place won the free program and the person in 3rd going into the long beat the person in 2nd the person in 4th place won the gold. Complicated, I know.....but that is exactly what happened in Sarah's case, and it was extremely rare to have happened.

Irina Slutskaya skated very well, beat Michelle Kwan in the long, but Sarah won the long and due to the fact that Irina beat Michelle in the Long, Sarah won the gold.

Fluke...yes. Did Sarah deserve it...probably--she was the best at that particular moment on that night. Was she the best overall that year...or the 4 years preceeding it--probably not. She got incredibly lucky that night. Should she have retired so early? That is a question that only she can answer. I do know that the Hughes family is very grounded and a good education is very important to all of them. Sarah always had a dream of going to college and she made the decision to pursue that. I admire her for having priorities and making them happen for her. Will we see her skate again, I certainly hope so!

Linda

 

[missypie]

Icebrat, let me ask you (and any other skaters) a question: Is competing/medaling at the Olympics THAT MUCH more special than competing/medaling at the Worlds? I always think that it would be so much fun to be in the opening and ceremonies of the Olympics, but quite a few of the atheletes skip those.

We look at our Olympic Champions as being the best of the best ever...but they were really just the best THAT YEAR...if you peak the year before or year after, too bad...

Do the skaters themselves think that an Olympic gold medal is that much more special than a World gold medal?

 

[JennyMominRI]

Sarah Hughes was an incredible long shot for the 2002 Olympics. The only reason she won was due to the scoring system in place at the time. She was in 4th going into the long program, so theoretically she had no chance of winning...unless a complicated series of events took place. Sarah skated the performance of her life and actually WON the long program that night. But....due to the fact that she was in 4th place going in, that was not enough.

In the old scoring system, if you were in the first 3 spots going into the long and won the long you won the gold. If any one of the lower skaters beat you, you would take a lower medal. If the person in 4th place won the free program and the person in 3rd going into the long beat the person in 2nd the person in 4th place won the gold. Complicated, I know.....but that is exactly what happened in Sarah's case, and it was extremely rare to have happened.

Irina Slutskaya skated very well, beat Michelle Kwan in the long, but Sarah won the long and due to the fact that Irina beat Michelle in the Long, Sarah won the gold.

Fluke...yes. Did Sarah deserve it...probably--she was the best at that particular moment on that night. Was she the best overall that year...or the 4 years preceeding it--probably not. She got incredibly lucky that night. Should she have retired so early? That is a question that only she can answer. I do know that the Hughes family is very grounded and a good education is very important to all of them. Sarah always had a dream of going to college and she made the decision to pursue that. I admire her for having priorities and making them happen for her. Will we see her skate again, I certainly hope so!

Linda

You could say the same thing about Alexei Urmanov in 94..He never achieved those heights again.I don't think the best skater always wins..The best skater that day does

 

[monsterkitty]

First, Kwan has said many times it is not about winning Olympic God, it's about competing. Shannon Miller, the gymnast, always said the same thing.

Kwan beat Sasha at a competition last month. She had only been skating a few weeks due to a previous injury and she beat Cohen.

I doubt that any of us are USFSA judges, therefore we don't know the rules like they do.

Kwan has stated that if she is named to the team, but feels she is not ready she will then give her spot to someone else.

Kwan did not "choke" at the past two Olympics. She won a silver and a bronze medal. Where are the skaters who did win gold? Both retired because they only wanted the Olympic medal. They have both said that in interviews.

This new code will be the death of hips to the present skaters. Our best two skaters in the country, Sasha and Michelle, have had to withdraw from competitions due to hip injuries. There have also been male skaters and skaters from other countries that have had the same injuries.

To the person who said Michelle doesn't have a triple triple. She doesn't need one in the new code as she can make the points up in her spirel sequences. A triple double is worth only a little less than the triple triple now. A skater would lose more points by not making a triple triple when attempted than only trying a 3x2. Few women skaters are consistently hitting the 3x3 so it is a dangerous risk.

Finally, the USFSA has rules in place for a reason. They know, as they are the experts and we are only Monday morning quarterbacks, what the best team will be for the Olympics. While I do not want to see the skating Olympic process to turn into the womens gymnastic process, I would like to see more than one competition play a role in who makes the team.

Even if Michelle does go and doesn't win a medal, I want to see her artistry and love for skating one final time.

 

[Deb in IA]

Sentimentally, I had hoped that she would go.

She had made it no secret that she wants desparately to win an Olympic Gold. And it seems somewhat unfair that while she is still skating beautifully (when not injured) if not with the technicality needed to win anymore, the two American women who beat her out (Tara Lipinski and Sara Hughes) promptly up and retired shortly after winning their golds.

But realistically, no, I don't think she should go. I'm pretty much a stickler for rules, and if she doesn't place in the top 3 for Nationals, sadly, she doesn't make the team.

 

[LJC1861]

One thing that has ALWAYS impressed me about Michelle Kwan is her grace under pressure. At the Nagano Olympics in '98 the person interviewing her after Tara won asked her, in front of Tara "How did you feel about losing the gold?" Michelle replied " I did not lose the gold, I WON the silver." In that interview she said nothing negative about Tara at all...ever. She accepted the fact that she was good enough to win a silver medal and expressed gratitude about that.

I wish her well, whatever the decision is. She is a true champion and will always be one of the greatest skaters to step on the ice....Olympic gold medal or not.

Linda

 

[icebrat001]

Icebrat, let me ask you (and any other skaters) a question: Is competing/medaling at the Olympics THAT MUCH more special than competing/medaling at the Worlds? I always think that it would be so much fun to be in the opening and ceremonies of the Olympics, but quite a few of the atheletes skip those.

We look at our Olympic Champions as being the best of the best ever...but they were really just the best THAT YEAR...if you peak the year before or year after, too bad...

Do the skaters themselves think that an Olympic gold medal is that much more special than a World gold medal?

I think Nationals, Worlds and the Olympics are all very important. However, when you start skating at a young age, you are told about the Olympics and how great it is, so you set your site at that medal, it's a major honor. As you grow older, I think you really aim to just make it to nationals or worlds and making it to the olympics is a huge honor. A lot of skaters don't make it there because a lot of skaters get skater burn out, look at AP and Jenny Kirk. It's really easy to get burnout.

I remember I was so burn out and couldn't even watch skating on tv. After a while, i started coaching at Berkeley Iceland but I was still burnout. It is a tiring sport and you have to give it your all.