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Sports

Ashley Wagner fails to

make U.S. figure skating
team in early start to
Olympic drama
By Chelsea Janes January 6

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Mirai Nagasu’s name.

SAN JOSE — Women’s figure skating holds marquee status at the Winter Olympics for its athleticism, artistry and
beauty — and, occasionally, for the drama that extends beyond the ice.

By those measures, the Games scheduled to begin next month in South Korea got an early start at this weekend’s U.S.
Figure Skating Championships.

Ashley Wagner, a three-time national champion and 2014 Olympian, was supposed to be one of the most endearing,
most familiar female athletes representing the United States at the PyeongChang Games. Instead, she will not be there,
giving way to a new wave of talent with no well-established star.

Wagner, 26, stood a few feet away and a few feet below the podium Friday night at the conclusion of the women’s
singles competition at the sport’s national championships, a noticeable distance between her and the winners of the
three medals. The image could also linger as the uncomfortable end of an era in American figure skating. Hours after
Bradie Tennell, 19, completed an unexpected run to her first national championship, a committee of U.S. Figure
Skating officials announced that Tennell, nationals silver medalist Mirai Nagasu and bronze medalist Karen Chen will
comprise the U.S. Olympic women’s figure skating team.

The 13-member committee’s decision came despite a selection process adjusted in recent years to allow deference to
skaters such as Wagner with more substantial international track records. Four years ago, the Olympic selection
committee chose Wagner, who finished off the podium at the national championships, over Nagasu, a 2010 Olympian

who finished on it. This time, Tennell and Nagasu left them little choice for two of the three spots, and Wagner did not
who finished on it. This time, Tennell and Nagasu left them little choice for two of the three spots, and Wagner did not
provide as strong an overall season as she did then.

“The discussion between Karen and Ashley was pretty academic,” U.S. Figure Skating President Sam Auxier said.
“Karen was fourth last year” at the world championships. “Ashley was seventh. And then third versus fourth at this
year’s U.S. championships. It was a very straightforward, clear criteria for selecting Karen as the third member of the
team.”

Those criteria to which Auxier referred are relatively new. U.S. Figure Skating officially changed the rules for Olympic
selection a year ago, outlining the use of a skater’s recent body of work (including his or her results in the most recent
world and U.S. championships) as opposed to simply choosing the top three finishers at the national championships, as
had been done in the past and is still the method used in many other sports.

This year, the criteria couldn’t save the former resident of Alexandria, Va., who attended West Potomac High School.
She needed a strong performance at nationals to cement an Olympic spot after a season curtailed by injury but entered
Friday night’s free skate, the more heavily weighted portion of two-part figure-skating competitions, in fifth place. She
skated as if undaunted by the pressure, unaffected by having only a month of training for her program performed to
music from the movie “La La Land.”

She wasn’t perfect, but she was initially pleased with her performance, enough to hide her face in her hands in the
immediate aftermath, overcome with emotion. When her free-skate score of 130.25 appeared, the spunky veteran
shook her head in pointed disagreement. She had not erred much. Her passion was palpable. She thought she deserved
better.

When it was all over, Wagner told reporters she was “absolutely furious,” the latter a word she repeated over and over.

“For me to put out two programs that I did at this competition as solid as I skated and to get those scores,” said Wagner,
whose third-place finish in the free skate improved her overall standing only slightly, to fourth, “I am furious.”

Wagner’s program was not designed to score as many points based on technique or athleticism as Tennell’s or Nagasu’s,
but she has never been known as one of America’s best jumpers. Instead, Wagner’s trademark is her skating quality, her
performative skills, her transitions — in other words, the little artistic elements measured as “component scores.” For a
“La La Land” program that looked strong in all those ways, Wagner earned a component score of 68.00 for her free
skate. Tennell, a strong technical skater who lacks Wagner’s polish and maturity in the more subtle aspects of her
skates, earned 69.71.

“I understand her disappointment and reaction,” Auxier said. “As an ISU judge, frankly I agreed with the judging. I
think when she reviews what she did, her mistake in the short program was very costly. Missing a level in the free skate

on a spin at the end, those points made the difference.”

Whether the points should have come, whatever the reason they didn’t, Wagner’s Olympic dream — and probably
Olympic career — is over. The three-time national champion and 2014 Olympian was supposed to be one of the most
familiar women representing the United States in South Korea. In her place will be Tennell, 19; Chen, 18; and Nagasu, a
relative veteran at 24 with perhaps the most compelling tale of them all.

Throughout this week, Nagasu was asked over and over about what happened four years ago, when the committee
chose Wagner despite a disappointing nationals that season. Between then and now, the organization clarified its
position, outlining clear criteria for Olympic selection that weighted the past year and a half of results in tiers. Asked
whether she thought the committee should simplify its selection process and select the top three finishers at the U.S.
championships in an Olympic year, Nagasu paused before smiling.

“That’s a tough question,” she said.

This time, she rendered the selection procedures irrelevant to her case. Nagasu, the second American woman to land a
triple axel in international competition, is as technically advanced as anyone who could have represented the United
States in South Korea. She is as experienced as anyone. She will be the only Olympic veteran on the women’s team.

“It’s hard for me. I’m ecstatic for myself because this was my goal and my dream,” Nagasu said. “But at the same time, a
part of me really feels for [Wagner] because she is an amazing skater and one of our strongest competitors.”

Whether fairly or not, whether she was ready or not, Wagner’s Olympic career likely came to an inglorious end Friday
night, when she stood just outside the podium, smiling in the face of deep disappointment, then railing against it, faced
with the frustrating reality of her Olympic near-miss.

Read more Olympics coverage:

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Snow big deal: Olympic Alpine racecourse will be tended to by ‘a magician’

At 47, the Pied Piper of U.S. speedskating is making one last run at the Olympics

Two years ago, he clung to life, fighting a mystery illness. Now he could win Olympic gold.

A new Russian film takes us back to the U.S.S.R. to celebrate a Soviet Olympic miracle

† 604 Comments
 † 604 Comments

Chelsea Janes covers the Nationals for The Washington Post. ™ Follow @chelsea_janes

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All Comments (665) Viewing Options

arizona bill 5 hours ago

Judging athletic performance where artistry is important involves both subjective and objective
thought.
That’s true from the raw beginnings of that type of athletic competition to what typically
concludes with “retirement”.
Live by the sword/ Die by the sword.
It’s just the way it is.
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xmontreal1 17 hours ago

Some people don't know when to get off the stage with a gracious bow
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vanceod 1 day ago

Judges judge and sometimes in their judgement you win or you don't...it is not logical...it just is a
judgement...Ms Wagner can find strength from this or be consumed with blaming others and self
pity.
Onward...
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dingobear 1 day ago

I've enjoyed Ashley's skating over the years, but she's acting as if she is Michelle Kwan--five
world championships, two Olympic medals, nine US championships--instead of well, Ashley
Wagner. Other than Worlds 2016 where Ashley did win a silver medal, she's not done
particularly well against international competitors in recent years. Assuming they compete, the
top Russian ladies, Mevedeva and Zagitova, are likely to get two of the three Olympic medals.
That means Ashley would have had to beat several other strong contenders for the third medal.
That was highly unlikely. Barring meltdowns and/or withdrawals by almost all the other top
contenders, the best Ashley would have placed was among the top ten.

I think Ashley may look back and regret that she didn't put on a gracious face in front of
reporters and show the sportsmanship to congratulate the others who beat her. I hope she can
reflect and realize her mistakes cost her a spot on the team.
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fedten 1 day ago

Wagner is a sore loser. If this proves to be the end of her skating career, it's not a good way to go
out. Not a good way to be remembered.
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chubby227 1 day ago

She has always been a sore loser, and she will be remembered as exactly that - the poor sport
she is. Not a team player, EVER. It's all about her.
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javachip 1 day ago
Also, count me in the Mariah Bell fan club. I find her much more engaging to watch on the ice
than Wagner. Now if she could just nail down the technical consistency...
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javachip 1 day ago (Edited)

I think one thing that people are missing is that it was not a question of whether Wagner should
go instead of Nagasu, but whether the third spot should have gone to her or Karen Chen, who's
younger, less experienced, and not as technically solid as the top two. But having watched both of
them, I gotta say that in terms of artistry, I think Chen blows Wagner out of the water and
definitely deserves her spot on the team. In terms of technical consistency, she has work to do,
but so does Wagner - and Wagner's *had* her chance. Multiple chances. She just hasn't been
able to bring it on the Olympic stage, and has given no indication that would change this time.
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dingobear 1 day ago

Ashley has a nice style on the ice, but her chances of getting a medal at the Olympics were
slim. Assuming they show up and skate relatively well, Medvedeva and Zagitova seem to
have two spots sewn up. That leaves the rest fighting for the third podium position. Ashley
would have to beat Osmond, Daleman, Miyahara, all of her US team mates, and others to just
get a podium spot. Given her technical issues and lack of training time this season, that would
have been very unlikely. I know Ashley must be terribly disappointed, but I'm looking
forward to seeing the women on the US team skate at the Olympics.
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hypocrisyistheopiateoftheleft 1 day ago

Read Christine Brennan's piece about Wagner where she gushes over Wagner's outspoken
criticism of Putin, Trump and other threats to liberal theology and you'll understand why much
of media is making Wagner's failure the story rather than focusing on the success of Tennell,
Chen, and Nagasu each of whom richly deserve their selection as Olympians. On the men's side
Adam Rippon (who has actually been selected this morning over second place finisher Ross
Miner) was very gracious after his poor performance last night stating that while he felt his
record merited selection he would accept the committee's decision. The three athletes selected
earned their spots, represent the best opportunities for the US to medal, and are proud to
represent their nation.
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vox rationis 1 day ago

Huh! Turn off the Fox News. Yea, Christine Brennan is often over the top, but the reason it is
 Huh! Turn off the Fox News. Yea, Christine Brennan is often over the top, but the reason it is
a big story is because Wagner was marketed as one of the potential stars of this Olympics. Of
course she was upset about the judging, fair or not, her failure to make the team cost her a ton
of money outside of the rink. Sponsors had their money ready, now that is gone.

Good for her speaking out anyway. That is every Americans prerogative and if you have a
platform use it. Americans better wise up or we are in for big trouble. Trump is a threat to
America, not to "liberal theology".

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The Negotiator 1 day ago

Wagner is a spoiled brat quite frankly. Her attitude is child-like, selfish and boring. Take some
advice and get on with your life.
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macpoto 1 day ago (Edited)

The committee cheated Nagasu out of the spot she earned to put the entitled spoiled brat in
the Olympics instead -- and then Wagner performed just as she had in the past -- badly. Now
she is mad because they didn't cheat another better skater out of an Olympic spot.
Wagner may get a sympathetic article in the WaPo because of the "local girl makes good"
aspect, but her horrible, entitled behavior shows that she is in no way a champion.
And all that blather about her "artistic" merit? Nonsense. She's always been a crude,
heartless skater. Mirai Nagasu was beautifully artistic in 2014 but that counted for nothing in
the committee's decision.
This year's committee did the right thing.
Go away, and shut up, Wagner.
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yodawg 1 day ago (Edited)

Will WaPo and the mainstream media be celebrating two women of color on the Olympic
women's individual skating competition team? Or will celebration of Asian people of color be
erased yet again by the mainstream media as if their identity as Asian persons of color does not
exist?

Let's celebrate Asian communities of color, not marginalize them. Stop normalizing erasure of
strong, powerful Asian women of color!
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The Negotiator 1 day ago
You had to go there didn't you. These young women are all Americans. That's what's
important here "yodawg"!
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hypocrisyistheopiateoftheleft 1 day ago

Well said. Liberals DESPISE Asians because they defy the liberal stereotype of downtrodden
people of color dependent upon the noblesse oblige of magnanimous liberals ("oh, you speak
very good English...where are you from?"). When blacks (or hispanics) achieve notoriety they
are African Americans but Asians? Nope, they're just plain old Americans. Fun facts
guaranteed to enrage the left - highest average income and education level in the USA?
Asians. And Asian women earn more than white males. Oh dear, so much for liberal
stereotypes.
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javachip 1 day ago

As an Asian American liberal, I can tell you have no idea what you are talking about.

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ewkshk 1 day ago

As a Dutch-Asian-American, I concur.
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hshope 1 day ago

Go peddle your whackjob assumptions someplace else.
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suzian star 7 hours ago

WRONG! How would you know what liberal people feel? Give me a break. Your comment
reveals your own bigotry, clearly delineated by your FALSE opinion wherein you accuse all
people of a group (Liberals) as being the same in a negative way. Your hatred for liberals is
as bad, or worse, as the incorrect accusations you made that Liberals despise Asians.

Your accusation against liberals is a bald face lie.

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anne of cleves 1 day ago (Edited)
How long have you been watching this sport yodawg, about 10 minutes? Michelle Kwan was
beloved by fans and media alike throughout a decade of brilliance, and her Asian heritage was
celebrated all along in the coverage.
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yodawg 20 hours ago (Edited)

"Michelle Kwan was beloved by fans and media alike throughout a decade of brilliance"

You're correct here, but her Asian of color heritage was marginalized. The heritage of
Asian communities of color today, more than a decade later, is not merely marginalized but
erased.

Again, the media need to stop normalizing erasure of strong, powerful Asian women of
color.
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