So, I have a confession to make. I really like reality television. In fact, it makes up a large percentage of the television I watch. So, last week I was watching The Learning Channel (probably Trading Spaces or What Not To Wear— I’m not really sure which) when I saw a preview for a new show— Ice Diaries. It follows the stories of four Olympic hopeful figure skaters- Alissa Czisny, Danielle Kahle, Beatrisa Liang, and Sandy Rucker.
Now, Sandy Rucker is on Team B for the U.S. Figure Skating Team. (Team A consists of Sasha Cohen and Michelle Kwan.) She was Junior National Champion last year, but she’s been battling a back injury. On the show, she seems tired and burned out. But she’s the most experienced and well-known of the four and therefore, you would think, a favorite to make the 2006 Olympic team. However, she is not listed to skate at Nationals, so I don’t know if that means she is injured and not planning to compete or if she didn’t make Nationals.
The other three are from Team C. Of the three, Alissa Czisny seems the most driven. Danielle Kahle is a doll and the typical girl next door. I have a soft spot in my heart for her. Her Mom is a single mother and has five children. Since I have five children, I can identitify. Beatrisa (or Bebe, as she’s known) is the one that I feel like I know the least about.
From checking the U.S. Figure Skating site, I know that Bebe and Alissa competed in Skate America after Sasha Cohen and Michelle Kwan withdrew with injuries. I’m horrible about waiting for results of shows, so quit reading if you don’t like spoilers: Alissa finished 2nd and Bebe finished 4th. Alissa went on to skate at Skate Canada and finished first. Just from watching the show, I thought she was the most driven and, therefore, the most likely of the four to end up at the winter Olympics with a medal hanging around her neck.
We’ll soon know who will be competing, as the U.S. Nationals started yesterday. You can watch coverage on ESPN starting later this week. The Senior Ladies short program is on Thursday, followed on Friday by the long program. The Senior Men compete at the end of the week, as well. So, we should know the Olympic team by next weekend.
[...] lead in the U.S. Championships after the short program. Behind Cohen are Emily Hughes and Bebe Liang. Liang, in third, is a surprise contender for the third place on the Olympic team. [...]
Hello… Who was the winner(s) to go to the olympics out of Alisa, Sandy, Bebe and Danielle.. I love watching Ice Diaries i used to be a figure skater and I love watching it.. Figure Skating is hardly heard of it seems, because its all about hockey.. PLease let me know who got to go onto the Olympics as I missed the last few episodes because i was busy!!
Unfortunately, none of them made it to the Olympics. Bebe was in third going into the free program at Nationals, but did not skate a clean program. I think she had a couple of falls. Alissa was skating well in the weeks leading up to Nationals but did not skate up to her potential. I don’t believe the other two made it to Nationals, at all. I know Sandy didn’t.
The Olympic team will be Sasha Cohen, Kimmie Meissner, and Emily Hughes (who will replace Michelle Kwan, since she is unable to compete). Look for them later this week.
Danielle also skated at Nationals. She ended up in 12th. She just didn’t have the difficulty of the other skaters. Sandy placed 10th at her regionals, which means she didn’t make it to sectionals, making it impossible for her to qualify for Nationals. Which is too bad, because she could have been great. Actually right now I’m trying to find out whether she is even going to continue skating.
Thanks a bunch for filling me in about the who made the olympic team or in this case whodidn’t.. thanks! Ive been watcing the figure skating olympics. its great