U.S. Figure Skating announces World, Four Continents and Junior World team

Have you caught your breath yet from all the excitement from the 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland? Now that it's all over, get ready for another major competition right around the corner -- the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, which will be held in Vancouver from February 4 - 8. Coming up after Four Continents are the World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles from March 22 - 29. The juniors also have their World Junior Figure Skating Championships soon -- in Ostrava, Czech Republic, from February 23 - March 1. 

So with Nationals over, U.S. Figure Skating has announced the skaters going to these events for ladies, men's, pairs and ice dancing. All I can say is, coach Tom Zakrajsek will be racking up lots of frequent flyer points in the near future. He's got students Jeremy Abbott, Brandon Mroz and Rachael Flatt going to Worlds and Four Continents. No huge surprises in the selections. I did note that Johnny Weir is a first alternate for Worlds, bumping Ryan Bradley who came in fourth at Nationals. And ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto will be going to Worlds even though they didn't compete in Cleveland due to Ben's back injury. But the most successful ice dance team in U.S. history received consideration from the committee that makes the decision and they are going to Los Angeles instead of bronze medalists Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre.

There will be a lot of pressure on Alissa and Rachael at Worlds. The two must have placements that add up to a combined thirteen or better in order for the U.S. to secure three spots for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. For example, Alissa can finish sixth and Rachael can finish seventh (6+7=13), although I suspect they want better placements. Otherwise, the U.S. will send two ladies to the Olympics, the first time that's happened since 1924. With the heavyweights going to Worlds from other countries, including Mao Asada from Japan, Yu-Na Kim from South Korea, Laura Lepisto who just won the 2009 European Championships, and others, it will be an exciting event.

2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Ladies: Alissa Czisny, Rachael Flatt
• Men: Jeremy Abbott, Evan Lysacek, Brandon Mroz
• Pairs: Caydee Denney/Jeremy Barrett, Keauna McLaughlin/Rockne Brubaker
• Ice dancing: Meryl Davis/Charlie White, Emily Samuelson/Evan Bates, Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto

2009 FOUR CONTINENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Ladies: Alissa Czisny, Rachael Flatt, Caroline Zhang
• Men: Jeremy Abbott, Evan Lysacek, Brandon Mroz
• Pairs: Caydee Denney/Jeremy Barrett, Keauna McLaughlin/Rockne Brubaker, Rena Inoue/John Baldwin
• Ice dancing: Meryl Davis/Charlie White, Emily Samuelson/Evan Bates, Kimberly Navarro/Brent Bommentre

2009 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Ladies: Mirai Nagasu, Ashley Wagner, Caroline Zhang
• Men: Curran Oi, Adam Rippon, Ross Miner
• Pairs: Brynn Carman/Chris Knierim, Marissa Castelli/Simon Shnapir
• Ice dancing: Madison Chock/Greg Zuerlein, Madison Hubbell/Keiffer Hubbell, Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani

(See complete list here including alternates)

Comments

[Shana]

Although I can understand why the three skaters that got the spots on the world team got them, I really hate that Johnny's poor performance at Nationals cost him a spot on the world team. He has done so well over this past year up until now, and his third place finish at worlds last year secured that third spot for this year. Instead of taking the easy way out, he tried to fight through two programs at Nationals, and it cost him. It's really a shame...I hate to have to essentially hope someone else will get injured in order for him to get to go.

[Dawn]

I don't want anyone to get injured but it does seem strange that they excluded Johnny. No wonder he feels more love for other countries.