Chen, Rippon, Zhou picked for team
SAN JOSE, Calif. Two-time national champion Nathan Chen, veteran Adam Rippon and rising star Vincent Zhou were selected Sunday to represent the United States at the Pyeongchang Olympics next month.
A U.S. Figure Skating Committee chose 2016 U.S. champ Rippon, who came in fourth at the national championships on Saturday night, instead of second-place finisher Ross Miner. The committee takes into consideration a number of criteria, including overall performance for the season.
It will be the first Olympics for all three.
Rippon's inclusion at Miner's expense isn't unprecedented; the committee has made such moves in the past involving Michelle Kwan and Ashley Wagner, for example.
On Twitter, Rippon said: “When I found out what the Olympic team was, I texted Ross Miner and I told him that I was proud of what he did yesterday and how well he skated. He texted me right back and told me he was very happy to me.”
At 28, Rippon was the oldest competitor in the men's field. By contrast, Chen is 18 and Zhou is 17.
Chen has won every competition he's entered this season and, with his repertoire of quadruple jumps — he did five on Saturday night in his free skate — has pushed the envelope on technical skills in skating. He will be among the favorites at the Olympics.
With no time to return to the hotel after Sunday morning's practice, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue found a quiet spot at a Whole Foods market near SAP Center to visualize and discuss their free dance for one of the final times.
“Be present.” Do not notice the animated crowd. Just skate beautifully together.
So when the music stopped hours later, they could finally release all of the emotions from years of hard work — and then, they had an upset national championship to show for it.
With an entertaining and seductive performance that could practically have melted the ice, Hubbell and partner Donohue pulled off an ice dancing spoiler to close the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
The team beat out twotime defending champion sibling tandem Maia and Alex Shibutani with a score of 197.12, edging the Shibutanis' 196.93.
Hubbell and Donohue, each 26, should be headed to their first Olympics. Later Sunday, a federation committee was set to decide the three duos named to the team going to South Korea.
“Before the free dance, Zach and I made an agreement that despite any marks, our win tonight would be to be present and not be distracted by the audience and all of their amazing support and just keep it in our control,” Hubbell said, fighting tears. “So as soon as the music finished, we realized we already won in our mind, so that was kind of our moment to let in everything and thank the audience for their support.”