Nicole Watt - Saskatoon StarPhoenix

[Mazurka Girl]

http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/story.asp?id=2BB391B2-88DF-41A7-90A0-0D4BA60A40CB

[AxelAnnie22]

She is so delightful to watch. Anyone know if she has a shot at Worlds?

[Bailey]

This article is a promotion for Canadians. It's too bad they don't really discuss her pre-season or her programs, I guess we will just have to wait for Canadians...

[iceboy]

She is so delightful to watch. Anyone know if she has a shot at Worlds?

In one word - NO!

She has tiny very little small jumps. I have never seen her land a 3lutz, and her flip and loop are cheated very often. She just doesn't have the power, jumps or speed needed to qualify for Worlds. Her GPrix results speak for themselves...

[Lise]

I agree with iceboy with this one..she needs to clean her jumps and master the lutz to make the National team, never mind the world team. I sometimes wonder if she would have benefitted more by skating in junior ranks before moving up to seniors...

[jp1andOnly]

it wasa very good strategic move on her teams part. She moved up to senior at a time where we were going thru a lag. Skate Canada was looking for a little kid to be named our next superstar, someone who could rival the US kids. So she didn't have all the technical elements, but she was cute and young and a new face.

I remember last Canadians she was practising before the competition began. There were a lot of elite skaters on the ice. She skated around and around like a lost puppy. I dont think she landed or even attempted many jumps. There was a lot of pressure put on her to be the next one. I don't think she will be it, but she gave a little spark to women's skating and encouraged younger skaters who maybe would get lost in the junior shuffle to head up into seniors.

[Annes]

It should be interesting to see Nicole after a year. Perhaps her jumps have improved. I wouldn't write her off so quickly; her spirals and spins are quite good, and she is very consistent.
She could possibly stay on the national team, but because of all these new skaters, she may have difficulty doing so. It's a shame this has to happen in her hometown. She seems like such a nice person (last year in Hamilton I shared a breakfast table with her grandparents, who were wonderful people).

[Mazurka Girl]

Check out latest update. Looks like she may be withdrawing due to injury:

http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSports/ts.ts-12-31-0103.html

[Catherine M]

That's too bad, if indeed injury will force her to miss out on skating at Nationals on home ice. Doesn't sound good at all for her to skate as Ladies Q-rounds are just 5 days away.

[AxelAnnie22]

How really awful. I wish her well. And hope she recovers quickly. :lol:

[irene2020]

I hope she recovers well also.

Nicole has arthrithis (long-term). She undergoes a lot of pain even when she is not skating. It is a great achievement for her to get to such a level. :D I think she would have gone even further without arthritis. Well, she is still young, maria didn't win her word until she was about 26 :D Nicole is only 17. But I think the arthritis is a big factor. :(

[KMK0902]

The link doesn't work for me. Could someone please tell me what Nicole's injury is! How long will she be out ?
Thanks
Kat

[Lise]

The articls said that her knee was swollen (as an effect of her arthritis (sp) and may force her out of Nationals next week.

[Lee]

I heard some time ago (a couple or three months ago? and no, I can't remember where...) that her arthritis had flared up again and that she'd been having a lot of pain.

I think it's phenomenal that she's been able to accomplish as much as she has with this debilitating condition. I hope she IS able to skate next week, but if not, all the best -- hopefully things will go into remission for her again...

[Mazurka Girl]

Here is another article about Nicole Watt & her current status:

http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSports/es.es-01-09-0096.html

[AxelAnnie22]

What a lovely young lady! I am now thoroughly inspired.

[Lee]

I just about cried all the way through her short program tonight...she's soooo elegant on the ice. Life just ain't fair sometimes, ya know? But yes, she's an incredible inspiration and role model on how NOT to give up in the face of adversity.

[Bailey]

Watching Nicole tonight made me very sad. She looks very ill - during her interview you could notice that her face was a little puffy which is often a side-effect of arthritis medication. During her performance, she looked very serious and very cautious - looking down to the ice instead of projecting to the audience. I'm not saying that she could challenge top 5 this year because the field is very strong, but it always makes me sad to see a skater compete when they are not healthy. It's just unfortunate - everyone should be able to compete at their best with the best chance to show what they are capable of skating!! Hoping for a better skate this weekend for Nicole.

[irene2020]

:( :(

I didn't watch any skating. I went to bed at 9 and then woke up at 5 to do work. Could someone give me more details about how she skated?

Winning is not very important. She does her best, that's all it matters :D :D :D

[olivia]

I'll be cheering and praying for Nicole.

O-