Exceptional Skaters

I'd like to take a minute to preview some of the U.S. figure skating medal hopefuls for this year's Olympics. We're fielding some good skaters this year, but some have qualified for the event in rather unorthodox ways. As is frequently the case in such situations, there are a number of grumblers and naysayers. But as Stephen Colbert recently noted, "People who are good at something are exempt from the rules." (Go here and click on 'T.O.') In this case, however, it may be more appropriate to say that people who are good at something have special rules just for them.

First, consider the U.S. ice dance team of Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto. They're the reigning national champions. Belbin and Agosto also won the silver medal at last year's World Championships, America's first world medal in ice dance in 20 years. But until recently they were not eligible to represent the U.S. at the Olympics because Tanith Belbin was not a U.S. citizen (she's Canadian). Although she was in the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship, it would not go through in time for them to compete in Torino.

At least, that was the status of things until a few months ago. In December, during the waning days of 2005, Congress changed the law to speed up the naturalization process. In short, the legislation decreases the waiting period (from five years to three years) for "aliens of extraordinary ability." As a result, Belbin was sworn in as a U.S. on December 31. Now that Belbin and Agosto can compete on Olympic ice under the U.S. banner, America has its best chance at an Olympic medal in ice dancing since the sport's debut at the 1976 Games in Innsbruck. I didn't realize that U.S. Figure Skating had such a powerful lobby in Washington. But based on the timing and speed which this bill was passed and signed, it's pretty clear that the entire intent of this law is an attempt to grab a few extra medals later this month. For more on the inequities of the new law, check out this article.

The other U.S. figure skater who qualified for Torino in an unusual way was none other than Michele Kwan. She's the most decorated skater in history, and has won at every event save one -- the Olympics. Kwan's competed twice in the Olympics, earning silver and bronze medals. She has nine national titles and five world titles. Her mark on the sport may be second only to Sonja Henie. And now she's going to make one last bid for Olympic gold.

So what's the controversy? Michelle didn't compete in this year's nationals, the qualifying event for America's Olympic team, due to an injury. Instead she petitioned to be added to the U.S. Olympic team by what amounts to a medical bye. Usually the top three finishers at nationals will advance to the Olympics; Michelle basically asked U.S. Figure Skating to bump the bronze medalist in favor for placing her on the team. Such medical byes, while not commonplace, are certainly not unprecedented. The most famous example was the medical bye given to Nancy Kerrigan for the 1992 Lillehammer Games. Kerrigan won the silver that year, but success from a medical bye is the exception rather than the rule.

U.S. Figure Skating accepted Michelle's petition subject to a review of her abilities in late January. Last Friday, the five member team met to watch Michelle perform her short and long programs, and they ultimately agreed that she may compete later this month in Torino. I'm sure that being Michelle Kwan didn't hurt her case.

While it will be undoubtedly exciting to see big names like Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto and Michelle Kwan competing for the U.S. later this month, I can't help but feel for the alternates. There will always be people who can say, "That could have been me," but these athletes have a slightly stronger claim to the sentiment.

Just as an interesting aside, I know two of our Olympic competitors. Back when I used to compete, I actually competed against Ben Agosto (who had a different partner at the time). And Marcy Hinzmann, who will represent the U.S. in pairs with her partner Aaron Parchem, used to skate out of my home rink in Columbus as a member of the Columbus Figure Skating Club. Marcy and Aaron have a website that you can check out here.