U.S. Figure Skating Announces 2014 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team
U.S. Figure Skating announced today the female athletes who will compete at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games as part of the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team. All U.S. Olympic Team nominations are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
The ladies singles team is Gracie Gold, who won her first U.S. title Saturday at the 2014 Prudential U.S.
Figure Skating Championships; Polina Edmunds, the 2014 U.S. silver medalist; and Ashley Wagner, 2012 and '13 U.S. champion.
JThe pairs teams are two-time reigning U.S. champions Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, and Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay, 2014 U.S. silver medalists.
Representing Team USA in ice dance are six-time U.S. champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White; two-time reigning U.S. silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates; and two-time reigning U.S. bronze medalists Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani.
U.S. Figure Skating also confirmed that each member of the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team is eligible to compete in the inaugural Olympic team event. U.S. Figure Skating will work with athletes and their coaches to determine if the athlete will participate in the team event. Per ISU rules, the figure skating team event short program/dance entries must be received by 10 a.m. Sochi time on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Each team will have 10 minutes after the short program to submit free skate entries.
Each team will consist of one lady, one man, one pairs team and one ice dance team to be selected from athletes who have qualified in their individual disciplines. Each team, however, will be allowed to make up to two exchanges after the short program/dance. Selected athletes named to the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team will compete in their respective disciplines in the team event. The team event will consist of the 10 best national teams from NOCs/ISU members. The five teams with the highest number of points after the short program/dance will qualify for the free skate/dance. In the team event, athletes will receive points based on their finishes in each segment of competition.
The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will take place Feb. 6-23, in Sochi, Russia. Later tonight, U.S. Figure Skating will announce its men's singles Olympic, World, World Junior and Four Continents teams, as well as the athletes selected to compete in the Olympic team event.
2014 U.S. Olympic Team - Pairs Nominations Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay Alternate No. 1 - Caydee Denney and John Coughlin Alternate No. 2 - Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim Alternate No. 3 - Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier
2014 U.S. Olympic Team - Ice Dance Nominations Madison Chock and Evan Bates Meryl Davis and Charlie White Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani Alternate No. 1 - Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue Alternate No. 2 - Alexandra Aldridge and Daniel Eaton Alternate No. 3 - Lynn Kriengkrairut and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt
