Should Michelle Kwan Automatically Go to the Olympics?

[icebrat001]

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

Very true

 

[va32h]

I'm seeing some misinformation in this thread that needs correcting.

First, a skater petitioning to be placed on the US team due to injury is not a "just-for-Michelle" rule. Todd Eldredge was placed on the US Olympic Team in 1992 even though he was unable to compete at Nationals. Although it is traditionally the top 3 skaters at Nats who go on to compete at Olympics and Worlds, this is not an actual "rule". The team is always chosen by the USFSA.

Second, Michelle would not be "automatically" placed on the team. She will have to skate in front of a committee, and prove her worthiness. The Olympic team is not named ten minutes after the long program ends. There is a deadline, and if Michelle can't prove she is healthy enough to compete by that deadline, she won't get a spot.

Third - the Olympics is not a reward for one's performance at Nationals. It's an international competition, to which the USFSA wants to send the team most likely to place best. Nancy Kerrigan wasn't put on the team because they felt sorry for her, or because it would make a good story, but because she was more likely to place well than the silver medal winner (who was at that time, Michelle Kwan).

I don't know what to say about the mean-spirited personal comments directed at Michelle, except to say that my daughter and I were lucky enough to meet her at the US Nationals in Dallas, three years ago, and she is incredibly nice, friendly, and gracious. In the skating world, she is absolutely beloved. I can't think of anyone I know in skating who would call Michelle Kwan selfish, washed up, or anything of that sort.

Consider this as well - the current World Champion, Olympic Silver Medalist, and favorite for Turino is Irina Slutskaya, who is older than Kwan, and has come back to competition from a life-threatening auto-immune illness.

Age (although my goodness, Kwan is all of 25!) and illness are not obstacles to the athlete who is determined to succeed.

 

[ugadog99]

I'm seeing some misinformation in this thread that needs correcting.

First, a skater petitioning to be placed on the US team due to injury is not a "just-for-Michelle" rule. Todd Eldredge was placed on the US Olympic Team in 1992 even though he was unable to compete at Nationals. Although it is traditionally the top 3 skaters at Nats who go on to compete at Olympics and Worlds, this is not an actual "rule". The team is always chosen by the USFSA.

Second, Michelle would not be "automatically" placed on the team. She will have to skate in front of a committee, and prove her worthiness. The Olympic team is not named ten minutes after the long program ends. There is a deadline, and if Michelle can't prove she is healthy enough to compete by that deadline, she won't get a spot.

Third - the Olympics is not a reward for one's performance at Nationals. It's an international competition, to which the USFSA wants to send the team most likely to place best. Nancy Kerrigan wasn't put on the team because they felt sorry for her, or because it would make a good story, but because she was more likely to place well than the silver medal winner (who was at that time, Michelle Kwan).

I don't know what to say about the mean-spirited personal comments directed at Michelle, except to say that my daughter and I were lucky enough to meet her at the US Nationals in Dallas, three years ago, and she is incredibly nice, friendly, and gracious. In the skating world, she is absolutely beloved. I can't think of anyone I know in skating who would call Michelle Kwan selfish, washed up, or anything of that sort.

Consider this as well - the current World Champion, Olympic Silver Medalist, and favorite for Turino is Irina Slutskaya, who is older than Kwan, and has come back to competition from a life-threatening auto-immune illness.

Age (although my goodness, Kwan is all of 25!) and illness are not obstacles to the athlete who is determined to succeed.

 

[missypie]

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.

I have such mixed feelings about the "Olympic Dream." I have a little competitive gymnast. I go to the meets and there are hundreds of little girls, all with the Olympic Dream. And I know that across town at the same time there is another meet going on with more girls with the same dream. And I know that only the youngest among them at their level will go ANYWHERE...yet they all train 12-15 hours a week...many of them are home schooled and train 30-35 hours a week...and this is the lowest levels.

Is it good for them to work so hard at something? To make so many sacrifices? Or is it bad?

Do you regret the time you devoted to skating, or are you just glad it's over now?

 

[va32h]

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?

The Olympics are not the only occasion a young skater has to skate before internationl judges.

The Grand Prix series runs from Oct - Dec every year and consists of competitions in France, Russia, Canada, the US, China, and Japan. International judges preside at all events, as well as the Grand Prix Final. There are also smaller international comps during the season as well.

And someone else mentioned being a stickler for "the rules". As I said before, it isn't a rule that the top three finishers at Nationals go to the Olympics. It is merely a tradition. And the number of competitors a country can send to international comps is dependent upon how well the skaters from that country did last year. This is why the "team" aspect of the Olympic team is important.

 

[mickeymo]

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

woo hoo! Also a BG alum, too ('89) cheering Alissa...

Don't know have an opinion on if Michelle should be appointed, although I loved it when the pros, especially Torville and Dean reapplied to skate - even though they didn't fare as well under the (then) new rules...

The name vs talent is evident in the U.S. Men's basketball "Dream " team.... - names don't always win the gold...

 

[monsterkitty]

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.

The rules state that only the first place person at Nationals is guaranteed a spot in the Olympics. The rules also state that the other two spots will be filled by skaters who have have shown their capabilities at one of the listed competitions. The 2005 World Championships is one of the competitions listed. Therefore, the rules state that Michelle can go to the Olympics even if she doesn't skate at Nationals. SHe is not breaking the rules with a petition.

Kwan took fourth overall because of a bad qualifying round. She was third in the short and third in the free skate and fourth overall. If she can't skate in the new code, how did she place so high at Worlds?

 

[icebrat001]

I have such mixed feelings about the "Olympic Dream." I have a little competitive gymnast. I go to the meets and there are hundreds of little girls, all with the Olympic Dream. And I know that across town at the same time there is another meet going on with more girls with the same dream. And I know that only the youngest among them at their level will go ANYWHERE...yet they all train 12-15 hours a week...many of them are home schooled and train 30-35 hours a week...and this is the lowest levels.

Is it good for them to work so hard at something? To make so many sacrifices? Or is it bad?

Do you regret the time you devoted to skating, or are you just glad it's over now?

I trained 5 days a week. I was homeschooled to pursue my dream. I skated hours and hours a day, and then you have ballet and weight classes. My only friends were the friends I made on the ice. In real life, I'm horrible at making friends, if you don't count my SO and coworkers I have 1 friend and I have lived here for 5 years, although I attribute that to me being home schooled.

I think it was good for me to focus on something and work so hard at everything. Sure I made sacrifices, as do your parents, it's an expensive sport $1500 plus a year for new skates, plus ice time, coaches fees, costumes, travel fees, competition fees, well over $25,000 a year. As a skater I think we are aware of the cost per year and the sacrifices our families make to help us obtain our dream. It's a sacrifice for a lot of people. I feel happy that I had to opportunity to skate for over 10 years and that my parents paid that much money. It makes me appreciate them for that, even though they turned their back at me for being gay when I turned 18.

I don't regret the time I spent training. For a while (many years) I was burnt out and I hated the sport and I questioned things. Now, years later, I haven't set foot on ice for 2.5 years and I'm starting to miss it again. I want to start back, but I am too old 22.5, it would have to turn into a recreational thing, but I still have the competitive edge and sometimes I think, Hey, I can train hard for another 2 years and get the 3 triples that I am missing (triple loop, flip and lutz) and maybe I can make it to nationals. But i'm too old, it's too expensive, I have to move on. Hopefully, my children will want to skate and I will hope them pursue their goals.

 

[teacherforhi]

I'd like to add that I believe Jenni Meno and Todd Sand placed on to the 1998 Olympic team in pairs when they had to withdraw from Nationals due to an injury, so it isn't something incredibly rare that Michelle is asking for.

I watched the short program last night and while Sasha Cohen was amazing and Emily Hughes and Beatrisa Liang did well, I think Michelle would have easily taken first or second. She's one of the best American skaters ever and she's really lucky that she's been able to continue for so long.

 

[LJC1861]

Malaysia,

You are NOT too old!!!! I did not take my first skating lesson until I was 28 and skated hard every day until I was 40! I had all my singles and stopped just short of having a double. You already have those jumps and coming back would probably not be as difficult as you think. There are Adult Nationals after all! Think about it, I bet you would be fantastic.

Linda

 

[we3disneygo]

hey icebrat......I took my first lesson at age 39 my dd skates, im in basic level 9 my dd and I compete in family spotlight and have a blast.....

 

[icebrat001]

Maybe I'll try to get back into it in the fall and work on my edges and moves in the field and once I feel comfortable start jumping again.

It's so expensive.

 

[SandiH]

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.

The rules only state that the national champion is an automatic berth, the other two are determined by the Olympic Committee. Granted, almost always is it the one's ranked at nationals.

 

[Galahad]

I don't understand the being "sick" of her. What's to be sick of?

 

[JennyMominRI]

I Can't believ no one has mentioed the Belbin and Agosto situation,which has caused a lot of controversy in the USFSA

 

[Alicnwondrln]

whats there deal
isnt he a us citizen now

 

[JennyMominRI]

whats there deal
isnt he a us citizen now

She was the issue,she was a canadian citizen and as such they were not olympic eligable.... The American dance couples were very upset that that team might potentially take the place of one of them..In fact the mother of one of the other american teams wrote some letters to the gov trying to convice them not to give the bill special treatment

ST. LOUIS — As the ice was being resurfaced Monday, David Mitchell and Loren Galler-Rabinowitz said all was smooth in their long friendship with fellow ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.

David Mitchell and Loren Galler-Rabinowitz say there is no bad blood between them and fellow dancing pair Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.
By Ivan Sekretarev, AP

With Olympic spots on the line, Mitchell and Galler-Rabinowitz are focused on this week's U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Last fall Mitchell's mother made the national news with a report she was campaigning against Canadian-born Belbin's U.S. citizenship effort.

"We've talked with Ben and Tanith and maintained and continued our strong friendship. ... We cleared the air," said Mitchell, 23, of Cortland, N.Y.

Added Galler-Rabinowitz, 19, of Brookline, Mass., "They're great. They're great competitors."

Belbin became a citizen Dec. 31 after passage of a bill that included an amendment introduced by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.

Levin said he wanted to fix an "anomaly" in the law because Belbin, classed as an "alien of extraordinary ability" in her 2000 visa, would have been a citizen already had she begun the process under 2002 changes to the law.

In November, ESPN reported it had a letter sent to U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., by Lynn Mitchell, David's mother.

ESPN quoted the letter: "No team where both are U.S. born citizens should risk not getting an Olympic spot because the rules were bent or changed to help someone who is not currently a citizen."

Mitchell and Galler-Rabinowitz said the letter was news to them.

"The first time we heard about it was during the ESPN interview right after our free dance (at a Grand Prix event) in Russia," Galler-Rabinowitz said.

Belbin insisted she followed the rules at every step: "We never felt like we were demanding any kind of special treatment. ... We're just trying to do the best we can."

Mitchell said his parents will be in St. Louis this week: "We've had wonderful support from our parents over the years and continue to have that, and we'll have our whole group either in person or in spirit."

Galler-Rabinowitz was uncertain about her family attending. Her grandmother, Eva Galler, 84, passed away last week in Dallas. A survivor of the Holocaust, she was flooded out of her New Orleans home by Hurricane Katrina.

"My grandmother was very inspirational to me. I think she is going to be here watching me and cheering me on," said Galler-Rabinowitz, who has Harvard on hold while skating this season.

In 2004, the partners won bronze at nationals. They didn't skate at nationals last season after Mitchell had shoulder surgery.

Ice dancing begins today with the compulsory dance and original dance competitions. Belbin and Agosto, the 2005 world silver medalists, are favorites — and friends with Mitchell and Galler-Rabinowitz.

"David and Loren have been competing alongside us since we started dance in the U.S. When we did our first national championship and won juniors (in 2000), they won novice," Belbin said.

"So we do feel close to them. ... It's silly to think something like this would come between us. ... Our friendship comes first."

 

[mom2kazkids]

Another interesting tidbit with all the Michelle Kwan discussion is that Mark Mitchell a former men's competitor is a member of the Olympic selection committee. He was the one that was removed from the Olympic team the year that Todd Eldrege was unable to compete at Nationals and was named to the team.

Barb

 

[mom2kazkids]

Sorry slightly off topic but, GET THE D@@M BASKETBALL GAME OVER WITH AND GET SKATING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to see Pair and Ice Dancing.

Ok vent over..............

Barb

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i agree i just checked again and the game is still on