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Comments by: YACCS

 
I'm just updating my sidebar template. The offseason means I'm watching a lot less skating. It's touring season. Champions on Ice is winding its way around the United States for a zillion cities. Stars on Ice is almost finished with the American leg of its tour, but will do a similar one of Canada.

In an piece of skating news, Michelle Kwan won the AAU's Sullivan award for her accomplishments in 2001. Only Dick Button has won this honor among American skaters.

The ISU will be having a hearing in April to investigate the charges against Marie-Reine La Gougne in the pairs scandal at Salt Lake City. Her lawyers are concerned because they're not allowing the entire judging panel from Salt Lake City to be witnesses, just certain people. The ISU may also be investigating the French skating president Didier Gailhaguet of attempting to manipulate the voting. A former French judge has sent a letter to the ISU saying that Didier Gailhaguet actually instructed him before a major competition on how to vote. Certain skating officials shrug and claim that's what you do if you want to support your skaters. Others are aghast, saying *this* is why skating receives the reputation it enjoys amongst the general population.

I just have to ask the French and Russian federations -- just how much faith do you have in your skaters that you need to negotiate for votes in the first place? Is it worth it? Can a skater really look down at their medal and know "I earned this" if they know their federation has been pulling strings all over the place?


posted by Julia at 7:16 PM