Milano Cortina 2026 - Team USA - Figure Skating

[Bear Hollow 9]

Ok, I am going to state what I think is pretty obvious…..our American athletes are really struggling with the mental side of things this Olympics.  I know Shiffrin struggled 4 years ago and based on the team event, nothing has really changed.  Stoddard was a force during the WC season and wasn’t able to hardly complete a lap.  Now tonight.  Honestly for the last 30+ years of Olympic watching I have watched Americans rise to the challenge and perform when the pressure was greatest.  Something has changed.  I’m not knocking our athletes, but I think we need to examine our mental preparation.  Something really feels different.  Thoughts?

[bmo 230]

7 minutes ago, Bear Hollow said:

Ok, I am going to state what I think is pretty obvious…..our American athletes are really struggling with the mental side of things this Olympics.  I know Shiffrin struggled 4 years ago and based on the team event, nothing has really changed.  Stoddard was a force during the WC season and wasn’t able to hardly complete a lap.  Now tonight.  Honestly for the last 30+ years of Olympic watching I have watched Americans rise to the challenge and perform when the pressure was greatest.  Something has changed.  I’m not knocking our athletes, but I think we need to examine our mental preparation.  Something really feels different.  Thoughts?

Ehhh... I wouldn't generalize it like that. Shiffrin, Malinin and Stoddard like you mentioned are struggling with the pressure of expectations.

 

But, there are plenty of athletes/teams that have responded to the pressure (women's hockey, Chock/Bates, Stolz, mixed doubles curling, women's moguls). 

 

Sure, there are individual examples of failure under pressure. There will be individual examples at every Olympics. But, I don't think that's a big enough sample size to generalize it to "American athletes".

[Bear Hollow 9]

Your examples are duly noted….and yes those are good example of success.  For example look at Diggins…injury and all mentally willed herself to a podium.  Watching Ogden at the start line of the sprint..you could see that dude was getting on the podium.  I’m not saying it’s an epidemic but something is different than the past and it’s more than just one athlete.  My observation goes even deeper than favorites not medalling, they have almost looked paralyzed.  Honestly I watched Stolz first race while standing waiting for something to happen and if you watch and even heard him in his interview at 600m he was in trouble in his pair but then he flipped the switch.    Even watching a number of those not as favorites struggle when the pressure gets on more than usual.  Performing your best and not winning a medal at the Olympics is something to be proud of for sure.  I’m watching body language, facial expressions, there’s trouble for many of them.  I’m used to seeing a determined confidence.  

Edited February 13 by Bear Hollow

[clemsonbeav 438]

Finally managed to watch.  That hurt.  (Happy for Shaidorov .)

[Triplecast 212]

13 minutes ago, clemsonbeav said:

Finally managed to watch.  That hurt.  (Happy for Shaidorov .)

I feel for Ilia (who wouldn't).  I'm glad I saw it live, but it probably now ranks highest in Olympic events I never want to see again.  

[clemsonbeav 438]

It just sucks, too, because Ilia has skated beautifully this whole season.  Never a mistake.  Finally saw a mistake in the SP of the Grand Prix Final, and then of course this...just the pressure got to him.  He is human after all, as we found out.  I'd just want to crawl in a hole and not come out for a good long while...

[Triplecast 212]

1 hour ago, Bear Hollow said:

Ok, I am going to state what I think is pretty obvious…..our American athletes are really struggling with the mental side of things this Olympics.  I know Shiffrin struggled 4 years ago and based on the team event, nothing has really changed.  Stoddard was a force during the WC season and wasn’t able to hardly complete a lap.  Now tonight.  Honestly for the last 30+ years of Olympic watching I have watched Americans rise to the challenge and perform when the pressure was greatest.  Something has changed.  I’m not knocking our athletes, but I think we need to examine our mental preparation.  Something really feels different.  Thoughts?

I want to fully respond on this.  Quickly though, Ever since Saturday, I feared that something like this could happen to Ilia, after his short program in the team event. As for Shiffrin, when she was in the start house, she seemed to be very uptight and constantly banging her poles around - not the look of someone who is confident about the upcoming race,  Maybe she does that all the time anyway, but right after she finished, NBC said she looked very tight.  

 

Stoddard, I don't know enough about her, and I hadn't penciled her in for anything.  C&B  and Chloe did their best, and it just wasn't their day.  I do have some questions about the judging for C&B and I feel badly for them.

 

To be continued ...

 

[clemsonbeav 438]

Final thoughts on Figure Skating...

 

Another whirlwind of emotions.

 

1) Team Event - I mean, everyone did exactly what they needed to do.  Even Kam/O'Shea performed when they needed to to get the points we needed.  (Hopefully that gave her some confidence!). Chock/Bates showed out, as they always do.  Amber was so great, Ilia was good (but a little shaken), and Amber...well...she continued to be inside her head too much unfortunately...but I'm glad she ultimately could get redemption in the Free Skate in the individual event later.  I really loved the team element here...my first time paying attention to the event.  (And don't let Japan find some ice dancers, or we'll really have to be scared.)

 

2) Pairs - I was glad to see Chan/Howe have a good event overall, eventually leapfrogging over Kam/O'Shea.

 

3) Men - Emotional time for Max Naumov in his short program.  (I actually missed his long program, but I think he fell a time or two).  And Ilia...well...I saw his interview after the Gala, and I hope what he said was true, that he realized his purpose is to bring joy to the viewers...so hopefully he can take a cue from Alysa, get out of his head, and go out there and do what we all know he can do.

 

4) Women - Ok, yes, Isabeau and Amber are good...but Alysa...what a moment.  The top two Japanese ladies were so good, and just like at the GPF, they made just small mistakes that allowed Alysa to end up on top.  A great moment for US Ladies Figure Skating!

 

5) Dance - Chock & Bates are the greatest.  'Nuff said.  (Their Gala performance was also stunning.)  (And yes, Cizeron/Beaudry Fournier are also fantastic.  Let's not complain that there's too much good art happening on the rink.)  (My wife is already saying that she hopes Chock/Bates make cute little ice dancing babies. )

[bmo 230]

1 hour ago, clemsonbeav said:

Final thoughts on Figure Skating...

 

Another whirlwind of emotions.

 

1) Team Event - I mean, everyone did exactly what they needed to do.  Even Kam/O'Shea performed when they needed to to get the points we needed.  (Hopefully that gave her some confidence!). Chock/Bates showed out, as they always do.  Amber was so great, Ilia was good (but a little shaken), and Amber...well...she continued to be inside her head too much unfortunately...but I'm glad she ultimately could get redemption in the Free Skate in the individual event later.  I really loved the team element here...my first time paying attention to the event.  (And don't let Japan find some ice dancers, or we'll really have to be scared.)

 

2) Pairs - I was glad to see Chan/Howe have a good event overall, eventually leapfrogging over Kam/O'Shea.

 

3) Men - Emotional time for Max Naumov in his short program.  (I actually missed his long program, but I think he fell a time or two).  And Ilia...well...I saw his interview after the Gala, and I hope what he said was true, that he realized his purpose is to bring joy to the viewers...so hopefully he can take a cue from Alysa, get out of his head, and go out there and do what we all know he can do.

 

4) Women - Ok, yes, Isabeau and Amber are good...but Alysa...what a moment.  The top two Japanese ladies were so good, and just like at the GPF, they made just small mistakes that allowed Alysa to end up on top.  A great moment for US Ladies Figure Skating!

 

5) Dance - Chock & Bates are the greatest.  'Nuff said.  (Their Gala performance was also stunning.)  (And yes, Cizeron/Beaudry Fournier are also fantastic.  Let's not complain that there's too much good art happening on the rink.)  (My wife is already saying that she hopes Chock/Bates make cute little ice dancing babies. )

2 golds and a silver is pretty good.

 

Obviously, Ilia was disappointing in the free skate, but it is what it is. He'll bounce back and be even better in 2030. 

 

Alysa Liu was the breakout star in America for these Olympics. Love her attitude and her skating.

 

Still think Chock & Bates deserved gold. Regardless, great Olympics for them.