SOI article and a question

[leap of faith]

http://www.tsn.ca/figure_skating/news_story.asp?ID=39124&hubName=figure_skating

my question comes from the part where it talks about Elena and Anton possibly returning to compete and that Jamie and David cannot because they have competed in events that make them ineligible.

"While Sale and Pelletier have participated in events that make them ineligible for future International Skating Union competitions, including world championships and Olympics, and have no desire to return to the top competitive scene, the Russians are contemplating an attempt at a third world title."

What events have they done exclusively for pros? I've been thinking and keep drawing a blank.

[bleu]

None other than endorse the WSF.

But hey, when you are counting your sixth sponsor for a cause dear to sick kids in hospitals across the nation, who cares about the O and worlds.

j/k.


I think the writer made a mistake. Jennifer Robinson is doing the CSOI and Sears Open and yet she is still eligible. The only other competition that they have done is the Hallmarks.

[jcspkbfan]

I remember someone posted awhile back (around December, long before the WSF was created) that S&P lost their eligibility because they competed in two pro-ams (Canadian Open and the Hallmark Skating Championships) without skating in any GP events this season. B&S, OTOH, are still eligible because they haven't competed in any pro-ams this season. Alexei Yagudin competed in Canadian Open and the Hallmark Skating Championships, but can still return to eligible competition next season because he competed in 2002 Skate America.

Makes perfect sense, doesn't it...not!! :roll:

[Debbie S]

Actually, the rule about not skating in pro-ams if you haven't done the GP series (if you want to keep eligibility) only applies to skaters who are seeded - those who finished in the top 6 at Worlds the previous year. S/P didn't compete at Worlds in 2002, so the rule should not have affected them. Yagudin still has his eligibility b/c he missed his second GP event due to injury - so he was excused from the rule about doing the GP series (meaning at least 2 events). Michelle could have lost her eligibility if she had competed in pro-ams like Hallmark or the Canadian Open, but she only competed in the USFSA invitationals, which were set up as amateur-only comps with an LP, as opposed to an interpretive free. I imagine the USFSA set up these comps that way on purpose, so MK could compete.

Sarah was able to keep her eligibility even though she skated in the Hallmark comp b/c she had an injury excuse to miss her GP assignments, and actually, the rule didn't apply to her b/c she wasn't at Worlds in 2002.

It's possible S/P lost their eligibility by doing a sponsorship deal or a tour that was not approved by Skate Canada, but Skate Canada usually gives their skaters permission to do most anything, so I can't imagine S/P had any difficulty with that.

Maybe the writer means that S/P will not be competing in the Olys or Worlds any more by choice and B/S have left themselves open to that, but I don't think S/P wouldn' t be allowed to come back.

[skate talker]

I may be way out in left field here, but I am wondering if it is more a case that Sale & Pelletier did not actually REQUEST permission from SkateCanada and therefore entered the competition on their own as professionals, (even if SkateCanada would probably have given permission if asked).
:?:

[erin_m]

I'm pretty sure that Salé & Pelletier haven't done anything to officially lose their eligibility but they have made it clear that they are not thinking about returning to amateur competitions at any point. I'm thinking that the writer just got their facts a little mixed up or didn't quite understand the situation. Maybe I'm wrong though but I'm pretty sure that if they wanted to S&P could return to amateur status.

[dmr65]

Even as a person who does not follow S&P that much, I understood S&P intentionally gave up their amateur status, waaaay before WSF..


B&S stated clearly before the 2002/2003 season started, they were not giving up their amateur status.. Also, the Russian Federations rules are different.. I don't know about Canada's, but maybe they have a rule which agree that if you skate in pro competitions, you can't go back to amateur status..



Denise..