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| Nathan Chen, left, Vincent Zhoou and Adam Rippon will represent the U.S. in men's figure skating. |
TWO ASIAN/AMERICANS were named to the 2018 U.S. men's Olympic figure skating team.
Nathan Chen, 18, simply the best male figure skater in the world, was a given to make the team. The drama was which two skaters would join him.
Bay Area native Vincent Zhou, 17, who placed third in the scoring, had a strong showing in the US Figure Skating National Championship in San Jose, California, made the team.
Ross Miner, the second-place finisher Saturday night, was dropped in an intricate selection process that includes criteria that includes season-long performance. His spot on the team, instead, went to fourth place finisher Adam Rippon, 28.
The selection committee vote for the men's team selection was 11-1 for team that was selected, a nearly unanimous decision said Sam Auxier, president of U.S. Figure Skating, Sam Auxier. He noted that Miner’s average competition scores in recent competitions was among the lowest in the pool being considered for the Olympic team. Miner was named as the second alternate, behind Jason Brown, who finished sixth last night.
The men's team selection controversy was the second time in during this competition when the judging panel's decisions were questioned.
Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth behind third-place finisher and current U.S. champion Karen Chen, was furious at her scores, which she felt should have been higher.
"I think all these girls delivered when they needed to, but I want to be on that Olympic team and I'm really mad that I'm in this position again," said Wagner, 26.
Asked whether she believes she should be selected to the Olympic team, Wagner emphatically said, "Yes, I do."
The scoring controversies, something that seems to crop up for figure skating, shouldn't overshadow the performances of the eventual team members, Nathan Chen, America's best chance for a gold medal in figure skating.
Chen, outfitted in his all-black Vera Wang-designed costume, opened with a quad flip-triple toe loop combination at full speed and never looked back.
Ross Miner, the second-place finisher Saturday night, was dropped in an intricate selection process that includes criteria that includes season-long performance. His spot on the team, instead, went to fourth place finisher Adam Rippon, 28.
The selection committee vote for the men's team selection was 11-1 for team that was selected, a nearly unanimous decision said Sam Auxier, president of U.S. Figure Skating, Sam Auxier. He noted that Miner’s average competition scores in recent competitions was among the lowest in the pool being considered for the Olympic team. Miner was named as the second alternate, behind Jason Brown, who finished sixth last night.
The men's team selection controversy was the second time in during this competition when the judging panel's decisions were questioned.
Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth behind third-place finisher and current U.S. champion Karen Chen, was furious at her scores, which she felt should have been higher.
"I think all these girls delivered when they needed to, but I want to be on that Olympic team and I'm really mad that I'm in this position again," said Wagner, 26.
Asked whether she believes she should be selected to the Olympic team, Wagner emphatically said, "Yes, I do."
A day earlier, Jan. 6, it was announced that two Asian/American women made the women's figure-skating team, Mirai Nagasui and Karen Chen. The third member of the team is Bradie Tennell, who finished first in over-all scoring.
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SCREEN CAPTURE
Nathan Chen topped all skaters at the U.S. National Championships Saturday night (Jan. 6). |
The scoring controversies, something that seems to crop up for figure skating, shouldn't overshadow the performances of the eventual team members, Nathan Chen, America's best chance for a gold medal in figure skating.
Chen, outfitted in his all-black Vera Wang-designed costume, opened with a quad flip-triple toe loop combination at full speed and never looked back.
“I’m very happy with tonight. I laid out a five-quad program, which I haven’t been able to do all season,” Chen said. “Obviously I made a mistake on the axel, and I’ll have to address that at some point back home. Ultimately, I’m very happy with tonight, and I think I really did my job here.”
Watch Chen's performance here:
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