2014 US Nationals-Mirai Nagasu LP [HD]

[@Alchamei]

I always cry when I see it. That happiness at the end, only to be marred by the decision.

[@cagr4665]

I used to cry when coming to watch this performance. I was very happy for her but believed the commentary negative and biased against her then believed she was robbed of Olympic dreams again. Now, yrs ltr when watching, I cry, that against the odds, she TRIUMPHED getting the medal at Olympics it doesn't always end this well, especially after setbacks such as this terrific performance but I LOVE TO SEE IT. She always had heart and thankfully this audience and now an Olympic champion what a journey.

[@rlopen13]

And even though it wasn't necessary in the grand scheme of things when she had to skate it wasn't exactly clear if the US was going to get that team medal! But she stepped up to the plate, nailed that triple axel, and secured the medal for the team and herself!

[@JonathanBickford]

The last double axel to the music gives me chills every time!

[@joker_season]

is it just me? I have impression commentator was nipticking her at the beginning and changed their tone once audience started cheering her up near end.

[@joaocampelo3725]

Yes!

[@jessenelson5616]

Yes it is just you…

[@sgeetha7350]

@@jessenelson5616 nope

[@Brenda-ny1gw]

Most people don't have a spine. If the whole world cheers, they cheer too. Just look at what happened to Yuna and Adelina

[@scottibrown3274]

Thinking back to the 2014 Olympics, I saw a comment (not on this video, another one) that got me thinking. The comment went along the lines of when it came to selections for the US Olympic team, Ashley was already a clear choice for the team and that the decision was whether to send Mirai or Polina as that third lady; as we all know, Mirai was left off the team. So one of US Figure Skatings requirements is the body of work. Let’s think about this for a second. Looking at her Senior career up into the 2014 Nationals, Mirai had a National title, a Four Continents Bronze medal, two Silver medals and two Bronze medals won on the Grand Prix series, and placed fourth at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Polina, up into the 2014 Nationals, had won two Gold medals on the Junior Grand Prix Circuit that season (2013-2014) and placed fourth at the Junior Grand Prix Final; competing as a Senior at Nationals she won Silver. So, looking at this small analysis, if one of the terms for Olympic selection is “body of work” as listed by US Figure Skating, then Mirai clearly should have been to one to go to Sochi over Polina. Don’t get me wrong, Polina is a beautiful skater, and was successful on the Junior level, but had no Senior skating experience at all, especially on the international level. Maybe it was that she had a successful Junior career that US Figure Skating decided to risk it on Polina, but this is just my opinion.

[@cynthcorcor126]

Olympic ended in 1967.

[@cynthcorcor126]

Olympic ended in 1967.

[@cynthcorcor126]

Olympic ended in 1967.

[@ruthblackstone4842]

I love her skating! She is truly talented and has beauty on the ice!

[@benjaminhuang4733]

To have skated like this and then be passed over! One of the worst calls in the history of the Olympics! And Bravo Mirai for not throwing in the towel! You are a true inspiration, a shining example for everyone pursuing the Dream.

[@barkingtree88]

I hope she brings this program back again!

[@russiaboy58]

I'm so happy to see others posting in favor of Mirai over Ashley for the team. I was in attendance that night and Mirai's skate was one of those magical performances that gives you chills; with all the jarring changes to the sport in the last decade these moments happen almost never. Anyways, Mirai finished 4th at the previous games and if that's not a testament to her ability to compete when it counts, I don't know what is. It's all good though bc Ashley showed her true colors in Sochi and if anyone wanted to know, going into these Olympics, if Ashley would finish on the podium - you could have asked me at any point following Boston I could have squashed that notion assuredly. Could Mirai have grabbed a medal; we'll never know thanks to the f'ed politics in skating:(

[@tumicduguar2583]

LOL Mirai would have been lucky to finish in the top 10 in Sochi. She sure as heck wasn't going to medal. The podiium was Sotnikova's fraudelant win and Kim and Kostner (2 all time great skaters) skating their very best. As if Mirai could come anywhere near a perfect Kim and perfect Kostner, even with her best skate. Gold was light years ahead of her at Nationals, and she was a super distant 4th at the Olympics even though she skated great.

[@russiaboy58]

@@tumicduguar2583 And your point is? This post was about sending Ashley over Mirai. Ashley didn’t end up medaling either sweetie

[@tumicduguar2583]

@@russiaboy58 She came 7th which is still higher than Mirai would have. I would be willing to bet money Mirai doesn't even make the top 10. Even when she skates well internationally her PCS and GOE were super low. Even in 2018 when she gained the triple axel and improved a ton from the slow, plodding, skater she was in 2014, still struggled to try and make top 10.

[@scottibrown3274]

The real question wasn’t whether or not to send Ashley instead of Mirai. It was whether to send Polina over Mirai. One of the requirements, according to US Figure Skating, is the body of work. Ashley was already a clear choice for the 2014 Olympic Team because up until the 2014 US Nationals, she was already a two-time National Champion, won the Silver Medal at the 2012 Grand Prix Final, and won the Bronze Medal at the 2013 Grand Prix Final, not that long before the US Nationals Championship. Ashley had a lousy skate at Nationals but going in, you can argue that she was potentially a medal contender (at least for the Bronze).

[@BlaineAlisonClark]

I get the feeling that Scott Hamilton already knew what the OLYMPIC Team Outcome would be and he was really negative in his commentary. I am very disappointed in Scott.

[@alexak1183]

No, I actually agreed with him, the choreography was a little sparse in areas not having a lot of transitions. And he did say she was "likely to go to the olympics", so obviously he didn't know they were going to chose Ashley instead.

[@johnjackson3735]

I agree. Scott has played politics before as he did with his biased commentary after the Vancouver SP, ignoring most of Mao's great qualities after the Vancouver SP where Mao was highly underscored. He also said that Adelina Sotnikova was the first woman to do a one handed Biellmann in the Olympics, even though he was announcing when Mao did it in 2010. This leaves a negative impression. Also, Scott did not say that Mirai was likely on the Olympic team. It was the other announcer.

[@jacobmcintyre6174]

the choreography had issues

[@tejidopauline]

@@johnjackson3735 I've lost all respect for Scott when he called the Sochi Olys and he said Sotnikova deserved the gold over Yuna 😂😂 (he still believes it to this day, per his recent interviews). He played favorites during Sochi, clearly campaining for Sotnikova and subtly dissing all the other skaters, nitpicking Yuna's and Caro's performances in particular.

[@grantgoffin4774]

@@johnjackson3735 Mao was not really underscored. Fair or not a triple axel-double toe has a slightly lower base value than the triple lutz-triple toe Yu Na did. Considering the quality of Yu Na's jumps, atleast the triple lutz-triple toe quality vs Mao's triple axel-double toe quality, and the triple flip quality, were much higher than Mao's, the points made sense. The two of them scored about equal in everything but jumps.

[@sumimimi0]

I think there is no problem of ashley going to olympics. She skated so well except nationals so, considering she is consistent, she had to be sent. On the other hand, mirai is inconsistent. But I must say mirai should have went and not polina

[@MsJubjubbird]

polina was sent for different reasons than gracie and ashley. polina is a future investment. she wasn't going to make the podium this year with the european and asian skaters but there's a chance she could make it next olympics. these olympics were like a test run and a development exercise for her. whereas mirai is a bit too old and experienced to have development. at this stage in her career she's expected to deliver, which she hasn't been doing. even here ashley lost and mirai was average. and gracie is the best skater in the US so they couldn't not send her.

[@HydrogenAndOldLace]

MsJubjubbird Polina had no experience and is anything but consistent I love Polina but she was way riskier than Mirai. Four years is a long time, and sending Polina to the olympics doesn't guarantee that she'll do well. If anything, she's getting spoiled young by all this media attention. Kimmie M. was her age when she won worlds and got fifth in the olympics, she started flopping a year later and didn't even make it to the next Olympics.

[@MsJubjubbird]

She was but inexperienced but they sent her for a different reason than ashley or gracie. Ashly and gracie were sent to make outside bids for the medals should the big names falter, help with the team event and snap at the heels of the big names- giventhey finished 4th and 5th at worlds the year before. At the very least make sure the US was featured twice in the top 10. Polina was not sent to win but for professional development. She was going to be lucky to make the top 10 and they knew it. They sent her because she's only 15 and come the 2018 games she'll be 19 and full grown and if she's already been to one olympics there's less chance she'll be overawed.That spot was a future investment spot. Skating is a sport, like gymnastics where athletes do hit heights very young. Only a few make it past puberty. Everyone made a huge deal of Mirai when she was 16-4th at the olympics but then she hasn't delivered.

[@HydrogenAndOldLace]

If that's why they sent Polina, then their idiots. I'll give you two names. Tara Lipiniski and Kimmie Meissner. You said it yourself, Polina didn't have a chance to medal. Tara and Kimmie both won Worlds in their early teens. (And both placed high at the Olympics.) They each only had a solid year and a half of competing and retired before the next Olympics. They were grooming Kimmie like crazy to win the 2010 Olympics, but she could barely place. All you get by putting all your eggs in one 15 year old basket is disappointment. And, might I add, the ages of the women on the podium at the Olympics and Worlds? Adelina (who was 17, and the majority of people believe that her gold medal was fixed because her performance was terrible), Yuna and Carolina. (both flawless, mature performances done by women well into their 20's.) At Worlds? Mao (23), Yulia and Carolina(27). (And let's be frank, Polina is no Yulia. Even though I do like Polina.) They don't learn from their mistakes. At all. They just want to have pretty, blonde princesses selling cover girl and NBC ads. Meanwhile, interest for skating in the US is at an all time low. I miss Sasha, Michelle, Debi, Kristi, Nancy and Tonya. I love Mirai too, even though I will admit she chokes sometimes in competitions. The decision was dumb. Not fair to Mirai at all. Gracie, Polina and Ashley are all inconsistent as well. I hope that there are some kick as 12 year olds working on their triple triples right now, because we sure as hell need them.

[@MsJubjubbird]

That's just it. They didn't expect her to be Kimmie or Tara and win. They expected her to get experience. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Some skaters peakat 16 some peak at 20. It's awhole range of factors. Ashley came 4th at worlds and won a grand prix event so she earned her spot. Gracie came 5th at worlds and did as well as expected at the olympics and was the best chance. Mirai was being groomed in 2010 for 2014 but she failed to live up to that expectation after Vancouver. Mirai did a pretty average skate anyway.

[@JonathanBickford]

Would love to see the exhibition as well. Just the thought of her doing this amazing crowd pleasing performance at the Olympics makes me so sad. It's a tragedy.

[@uzdfs2510]

2014 US Nationals-Mirai Nagasu EX [HD]

[@akaijin]

She has skated so well.

[@annag886]

Is there a puddle on the ice?!

[@HRHPrincessBrenda]

125.3? What the heck? That program deserved a 130 approx. and Mirai the silver medal.

[@zb6070]

Nope. So many pauses and little choreography. blank face.

[@brendaizquierdo5695]

This is so unfair. To be honest I think Polina's LP was overscored while Mirai's was underscored. But Ashley got scores she did not deserve at all. Samantha Cesario was ten times better than her. Agnes Zawadski was wronged too, just because she skated right after Ashley.

[@SonOfAGun1814]

the real olympian....

[@JonathanBickford]

My favorite by far!! This performance makes me emotional.

[@akaywololo]

M8 That was nowhere near Olympic caliber...

[@JonathanBickford]

I never realized she actually beat Ashley by 8 points.

[@HRHPrincessBrenda]

Polina and Ashley clap but inwardly they tremble in fear. I hate Ashley's smug face, she knew she was on the team.

[@baamtrazona2608]

the superv performance of Mirai...

[@wilkun17]

ashley really has been the stronger american skater, along with gracie gold. my problem is that at BOTH the 2010 and 2014 nationals she fell flat. when it comes down to it, she fell under pressure. this years nationals she should have won considering she the was the defending champ. it really doesnt matter how well you've done in the past. whats important is how well you handle the one moment where it does matter, in this case the olympics and she couldnt handle it. say what you want about mirai's program but the thing she skated well and honestly like she had something to prove and in my eyes, she should have gone to sochi.

[@psychstudentrip]

herrodooky Honestly speaking, Wagner was the 2012 Four Continents champion, qualified twice for the Grand Prix Final prior to the 2014 Nationals, winning silver and bronze, had a top 5 finish at 2013 Worlds(which was why the USA could send 3 ladies), and was the 2-time National champion prior to 2014 Nationals, all in between 2010-2014. If that doesn’t justify going to the Olympics, I really don’t know what does. Compare that to Mirai’s 11th place FS at 2010 Worlds and 7th place at the 2012 and 2013 Nationals, the only thing that could stand on two feet at the time was the bronze at 2011 Four Continents. Mirai may have handled the “one moment when it counts”, but Ashley handled 4 seasons in spectacular fashion coming in. Mirai’s one bronze at this Nationals doesn’t stack up when you consider all the accomplishments Ashley achieved in 4 seasons. No doubt it was an amazing program by Mirai, but Ashley clearly blew Mirai out of the water when it came down to the past season accomplishments. I really need them to qualify for 2018 Olympics to make my life complete.

[@101saintsfan]

"And likely to return to the Olympics" Yeah, one would think 😒😒

[@ShelbyMcWeeb]

2018 THO.

[@snowsnow5404]

she always seems to get lower PCS than what I'd expect

[@jessieksk8ter]

i have much respect for ashley's work ethic but her smug face @ the end of mirai's results just pisses me off.

[@Brenda-ny1gw]

She knew there was no way the 3rd place finalist would be going!!

[@acuison1]

She was robbed

[@createchaosgossip]

You really had to put an ad in the middle of the program?

[@meithengwong7835]

I wanna see her National's exhibition.!! Any links.?

[@uzdfs2510]

2014 US Nationals-Mirai Nagasu EX [HD]

[@boyishcharmz]

Me toooooo

[@laletradetuvida8056]

WOWWW DOBLE AXEL!!!!! realmente merece ganar

[@lovegoodxo]

WUZZROBBED

[@cynthcorcor126]

Gracie Gold ❤️ 🦁 Olga Nadia

[@anne91276]

Polina Edmunds should wait until she gets enough experience. Even though she is exceptionally mature with her graceful skating, she is not old enough to qualify for the Olympic debut. And we don't need to keep on sending younger skaters without knowing firsthand of a risk involved. Nagasu has so much understanding of the sport and has so much experience than do Edmunds. So it does NOT make sense to me.

[@ainedempsey7614]

I love this skate and she was robbed that year

[@jessenelson5616]

Ashley didn’t deserve the spot at all. Completely robbed

[@sasaanwar951]

but some music cut remind me of Yuna... :")

[@jorgebonilla2234]

Nitpicky and negative? She took a giant pause for four seconds before the bonus, everything was labored, she made no attempt to interpret the music in a sustained way, went over time, and she even tripped to boot.

[@jorgebonilla2234]

The funny thing is that if she had been slightly cleaner she might've passed Polina, who then probably would have been the one left off. Maybe.

[@herm712]

Just think about how well she would have scored here if she'd been skating like this all season long! It's sad that she waited until the last minute to start skating strongly. She needs to bring this kind of energy and determination to all of her competitions...not just nationals in an Olympic year.

[@zigzaggyp746]

Just think if scoring actually reflected what was happening on the ice at any particular moment, regardless of the moment. Ah, thus is.....figure skating.

[@francoroman210]

i love mirai, been following her since she won in 2008, she has great spins, and a presence like no one, but I do admit and for the sake of her career she needs to lose some weight! and put more effort in practice, since she part ways with Frank Caroll, the very next year I noticed the change in fitness wich obviously makes her slower and the spins are not as they used to be plus her endurance like you can tell here is not the same, please baby for you and your fans .. get in the best shape like you were before and show those people that hurt you what you can do !!

[@user-pe2nm4wb1k]

she is awful in second mark

[@bluedasher74]

This program's theme was way too similar to Yuna Kim's 2010 Olympic short program. It's better that Mirai didn't get chosen for the Olympic team.

[@ManuelPabloArnao]

All the comments here are ridiculous. There is no choreography in this program at all!!! Ashley was right pick and deserved to go. Had Mirai gone she would placed outside the top 10. Heck, she went this year and barely got 10th place.

[@tumicduguar2583]

The artistry of this program was so beautiful though. And such powderful jumps.

[@ManuelPabloArnao]

@@tumicduguar2583 Jumps were underrotated. Long pauses and lack of choreography don't equal good artistry.