2022 Olympics Team Event Day3: Women's Free Skate

[4everchan]

I think that the decision had been taken before day 1. May be that's the reason why S/B stayed in Russia. There is a stupid rule that limits the number of replacements. Why 2 only? It should be either 0 unless there is a proven medical condition after SP or any number you like . Why 0? In the current case, take girls - Anna or Sasha? Neither of them is likely to get individual gold but the one in the team is assured one. Why demotivate the one who is left out? Ok, life is unfair. Why any number? This one is easier - because there is no logic behind just 2 replacements. If Russia used 2 replacements and if M/G had a fall in SP, T/M or B/K would have to replace them. Then if at the same time Nikita's back became a problem and he insisted on the rest, then D/S would become Olympic champions while Anna and Sasha would not. It makes 0 sense to me.

well no matter how many replacements, there is a SP and a LP... so one (or two) of the girls was always going to be left out. Same with the pairs. It is quite rare that a a team will have 3 entries valid of a podium sweep... Only Russian women this time around. Even in 2018 it wasn't the case. So, it really doesn't matter in the end Someone gets left out. We could compare this to Medley relays in swimming. You are allowed 6 swimmers but there are four styles of swimming. What if you have 3 backstroke specialists??? Only two will be able to swim in the relay. That's just what it is. I feel this is very anecdotal. It's sad for the Russian women but they can still get an individual medal and who knows, keep skating for another 4 years if they absolutely want that gold.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

A couple tech caller things to talk about. First off, I heard someone here say the 4Toe Kamila fell on should have been called under. It most definitely should NOT have, that was actually one of the best 4Toe's she's done in terms of rotation, because she pre-rotated it less. And that is exactly what caused the fall. She went straight back on her toepick and up into the air without doing over 1/2 turn on the ice, which threw her off since she's used to cheating the takeoff more. That right there shows the difficulty in doing actual quads as compared to "Eteri quads". Their consistency would go way, way down if they had to do them with proper technique. It needs to be addressed in the rules better.

And the other thing is this very incorrect call on Karen Chen's 3Loop:

Takeoff (1/2 turn pre-rotation):

Landing (earliest possible point it could be called):

That is absolutely not even 1/4 short! Her free leg came down low while landing and she skidded a bit, but the rotation of the jump was there. Clearly the caller just went "hurr durr, I see a turn on the ice, must have been under". Needs to stop. These things must be measured more scientifically.

If you showed the the take off at 1/2 turn complete (with pre-rotation) that means the actual takeoff occurred with her back to the wall. Meaning she should have landed with her back to the wall. It looks to me like she landed right on the quarter.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Has the medal ceremony already happened? I tuned into the medal ceremony stream our country has, but only four events are getting medals and Figure Skating wasn't one of them.

 

[museksk8r]

I have never understood why gymnastics Olympic team alternates actually attend the Olympic Games and train on-site while in figure skating, Olympic team alternates stay back home. Is it an issue with lack of ice time and availability and financing for those additional athletes? What’s the incentive of being an alternate in figure skating if it’s too late to substitute an athlete when an unexpected issue like Vincent’s positive test occurs? At least the first Olympic alternate in line should be able to attend with their delegation. Now a nation like the US could potentially lose an Olympic spot that the nation earned fair and square. Insane!

 

[museksk8r]

They just copied Canada's strategy last time which was to use their best skater/ team for all events. It worked for Canadian, I think Russia was spooked after day 1 when the US was leading.

That’s not true. In 2018 Team Canada used Osmond in the SP and Daleman in the LP. At the time, both were reigning World medalists (Osmond, silver; Daleman, bronze).

 

[4everchan]

That’s not true. In 2018 Team Canada used Osmond in the SP and Daleman in the LP. At the time, both were reigning World medalists (Osmond, silver; Daleman, bronze).

but arguably, back then, Kaetlyn was the best SP skater and Daleman the best LP skater.

 

[4everchan]

I have never understood why gymnastics Olympic team alternates actually attend the Olympic Games and train on-site while in figure skating, Olympic team alternates stay back home. Is it an issue with lack of ice time and availability and financing for those additional athletes? What’s the incentive of being an alternate in figure skating if it’s too late to substitute an athlete when an unexpected issue like Vincent’s positive test occurs? At least the first Olympic alternate in line should be able to attend with their delegation. Now a nation like the US could potentially lose an Olympic spot that the nation earned fair and square. Insane!

there are rules about covid right now for these games.
It says : a skater who has participated to the team event and then tests positive will not be replaced.
Also, when the draw for an event is done, there is no alternates possible. The draw had been done already.
So on all counts, even if the alternate skater would have been sleeping in a tent outside the rink, he would not have been allowed in.
Finally, we do not yet know for sure that Vincent will not skate. False positive happen and it is possible that he may be cleared to skate by the medical committee.

 

[museksk8r]

She looks so miserable, in need of a hug. I hope they are not making her skate through injury or sickness.

I’m sure the sad look on her face was due to her personal disappointment in falling on that 4toe. These Russian athletes are put through endless repetitions of jump drills in training in search of perfection. This rigorous intensity in training resulted in injuries for all of Anna, Sasha, Alena and Daria this season in their quests to make the Russian Olympic team. I would be surprised if there is any skater competing currently that isn’t nursing some kind of injury.

 

[Scott512]

Kamila will become the first singles skater ever to win 2 Golds at one Olympics. And she will do so after skating both segments of the Team Event. I don't want to hear a word from anyone going forward about how it's not possible for a singles skater.

This will be the only time it gets done as well.

 

[Scott512]

I was really glad to see Sasha Galliamov back in the K&C with Nastia and the rest. He looked like his normal self again. I hope the doctors are monitoring him closely.

There was no need for him to even be competing in the free state. It was a ridiculous choice to risk injury for the top pairs team of Russia in the most dangerous discipline and the top lady of Russia up by six, seven or eight points or whatever it was. Now the top Russian pairs team chance to win the Olympic gold medal have been significantly reduced by the fall and injury. It was a ridiculous move to skate them and fortunately KV was not injured by her fall but she looked exhausted at the end of one the most exhausting free skates in the history of ladies figure skating. Only Sasha's 5 quad free skate is more demanding.

The question I have moving forward is how does Anna handle this when she seemed like a certainty for free today whether they were tied or up one or up six points going into the free skate of the team event? She was always going to finished ahead of Karen. Did Annas coach go to the Russian Federation and try to get Anna a team gold medal or did she throw Anna under the bus in favor of the KaMissile?

Man Eteri could have gotten her first daughter and third daughter team gold medals and Russia still would have won the team event by six or seven points but neither got one. I suppose being a daughter ain't what it used to be.

 

[Scott512]

I agree with this. For all the talk about Kamila being “replaced”, I don’t see an up and comer that stands out to me the way Kamila did in juniors. Her lines and posture are so exquisitely beautiful. She clearly had the PCS skating to rival the seniors and once she had 2 consistent quads and a 3A it sealed the deal.

Akatieva has nice posture but so far I don’t see the flexibility, grace, and utter elegance of Kamila. I do think Akatieva could rival her but I don’t see a clear cut replacement scenario yet. She would have to add another quad I think, which is definitely possible.

This of course assumes Kamila keeps her ultra-Cs (which Sasha and Anna have, maybe not Kostornaia).

While I generally agree with your comment you do know that the Rusfed kept SA at home at senior Russian Nationals for a reason. And while she may not have been able to get too close to KV in that competition she had a good chance to finish second ahead of Sasha and Anna and they didn't want the Supergirl to upset things.

I think Kamila has improved a lot between turning 15 and 16 the same will probably happen with Sofia. For instance KV expressions and maturity have improved a lot in the last year.

 

[jenaj]

I have never understood why gymnastics Olympic team alternates actually attend the Olympic Games and train on-site while in figure skating, Olympic team alternates stay back home. Is it an issue with lack of ice time and availability and financing for those additional athletes? What’s the incentive of being an alternate in figure skating if it’s too late to substitute an athlete when an unexpected issue like Vincent’s positive test occurs? At least the first Olympic alternate in line should be able to attend with their delegation. Now a nation like the US could potentially lose an Olympic spot that the nation earned fair and square. Insane!

But they couldn't substitute for Vincent under the rules because he has already skated.

 

[Martins123]

Anyone know where I can watch replays either of the event or of individual skaters? I can only find Valievas online

 

[elektra blue]

catching up with women:

- Zhu Yi taking the final pose in tears just broke my heart

- Maddie was great and deserved every single point she got!

- will Kaori burn her bra in her final performance of this program?

 

[skylark]

I have to admit, I had a tear in my eye at the end of Karen Chen's skate. I have followed her a long time and have seen her live several times. She's a beautiful skater and has so many wonderful qualities. I'm so happy that she will leave here with an Olympic medal.

I was impressed that she committed to her normal layout, because she didn't have to in order to clinch the silver for the US. I'm really glad she did that performance for both the US and herself.

I love this post. The only thing I disagree with is the sentence about the medal.


What about the other beautiful US skaters with so many wonderful qualities like Mariah, Alysa, Ashley and Timothy, Kaitlin and Jean-Luc? In all likelihood, they may leave here without an Olympic medal. They're just as deserving. [ETA: I've seen them all, including Karen, in person, several times.] So I prefer to keep my eyes and heart on the value of the experience.

The medals are not the only thing the skaters are skating for. They value the experience of being part of all kinds of athletes from all over the world getting together to compete and show their abilities. They're happy when they put out a performance, or wow, two performances, that show what they're capable of doing. They're happy when they make people happy (Karen herself mentioned a couple of days ago.)

 

[skylark]

And the women get until they are 15-16 before they get tossed aside..

You know, I keep coming back to what one of my book-group people said in 2002 when 16-year-old Sarah Hughes won the Olympics. And a reminder, she sparkled and had a moment, but also, she did technically what no other woman had ever attempted: 2 triple-triples in the long.

My friend said, as some were sad @ Kwan: "I don't care who you are. There are things you can do when you're 16 that you can't do later."

This was from a regular, once-but-no-longer athletic woman in middle age. If you look at all the women's OGold medalists since 1994 -- when it really kicked in that the competitors hadn't grown up with having to do Figures -- it absolutely holds up.

It has been exactly what Carlo Fassi predicted, about doing away with Figures. "it'll be little girls jumping, and where's the beauty in that?"

I think the women still have very beautiful qualities, if they reach OGM status. But they get there, more so, because of jumping.

 

[Scott512]

Anyone know where I can watch replays either of the event or of individual skaters? I can only find Valievas online

It's absolutely terrible. I think Wakabas was on YouTube too.

 

[jaylee]

I love this post. The only thing I disagree with is the sentence about the medal.


What about the other beautiful US skaters with so many wonderful qualities like Mariah, Alysa, Ashley and Timothy, Kaitlin and Jean-Luc? In all likelihood, they may leave here without an Olympic medal. They're just as deserving. [ETA: I've seen them all, including Karen, in person, several times.] So I prefer to keep my eyes and heart on the value of the experience.

The medals are not the only thing the skaters are skating for. They value the experience of being part of all kinds of athletes from all over the world getting together to compete and show their abilities. They're happy when they put out a performance, or wow, two performances, that show what they're capable of doing. They're happy when they make people happy (Karen herself mentioned a couple of days ago.)

Thanks for the respectful disagreement. Actually as a skating fan, I've always cheered when a skater simply puts out a performance that they're happy with -- even if it's not on the Olympic or Worlds stage. I've lost track of the number of times when I've watched an event and a skater I'm not familiar with puts out a surprising performance and wins the audience. I always applauded, regardless of the nationality or name recognition. I'm happy for any skater that delivers what they wanted to do.

I agree that an Olympic medal is not everything or the only thing to applaud. At the same time, it's not nothing, either. Just like going to the Olympics is not everything, but it's not nothing, either. By celebrating Olympians, I am not dismissing the majority of skaters who never get to go to the Olympics. Personally, I am happy that Karen Chen got an Olympic medal. But I am not saying that other US skaters who didn't get an Olympic medal are not beautiful or not deserving. So I hope my position doesn't conflict too much with yours.

 

[skylark]

Thanks for the respectful disagreement. Actually as a skating fan, I've always cheered when a skater simply puts out a performance that they're happy with -- even if it's not on the Olympic or Worlds stage. I've lost track of the number of times when I've watched an event and a skater I'm not familiar with puts out a surprising performance and wins the audience. I always applauded, regardless of the nationality or name recognition. I'm happy for any skater that delivers what they wanted to do.

I agree that an Olympic medal is not everything or the only thing to applaud. At the same time, it's not nothing, either. Just like going to the Olympics is not everything, but it's not nothing, either. By celebrating Olympians, I am not dismissing the majority of skaters who never get to go to the Olympics. Personally, I am happy that Karen Chen got an Olympic medal. But I am not saying that other US skaters who didn't get an Olympic medal are not beautiful or not deserving. So I hope my position doesn't conflict too much with yours.

I've bolded the parts that I particularly agree with, and are things I've actually always done as well.

I like to see all of our posts here more as conversations expanding and opening up the universe of ideas, rather than as arguments pointing out errors or limitations. So no, I don't feel your position conflicts much with mine. Or at all.

 

[Artemisa]

Anyone know where I can watch replays either of the event or of individual skaters? I can only find Valievas online

You can use vpn for canada and watch everything in cbc