In third place, Mirai Nagasu could be left out of Sochi Olympics

BOSTON – For the past four years, Mirai Nagasu has been the can’t miss kid who missed. After finishing fourth in the Vancouver Olympics, her struggles have been epic. Until now.

Skating to music from the James Bond movies, Nagasu pulled off the unexpected, finishing third at Saturday’s U.S. championships. The U.S. will send three women to Sochi, but for Nagasu, it may not be a trip to Russia With Love.

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After winning her first national title, Gracie Gold will most likely be off to her first Olympics. Polina Edmunds, who finished second, is the star of the future. Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth, will almost certainly make the team because of her body of work. So where might that leave Nagasu? Left out.

Nagasu pointed out she’s the only one of the top four skaters who has Olympic experience.

“I think I did my best and hopefully they pick me to the team because I haven’t always been the most consistent skater, but I know that under pressure I am pretty good most of the time. Like at the (last) Olympics I skated last,” she said.

And if she’s not picked for the Olympic team headed to Sochi: “Well, the only thing I can brag about now is that I ‘m the only person with Olympic experience. So I know how hard it can get, and I don’t know what my federation will do. But all I say is I did what I had to today. … I’ll have to respect any choice that they make.”

After her skate, Nagasu was emotional.

“I am so happy, I’m really at a loss for words,” Nagasu said. “It’s how I wanted to skate. It was a really, really great skate. The crowd… hearing the crowd like that. I’m just so happy. I’m a little bit speechless. I didn’t know if I would be able to get to this. I’m just at a loss for words.”

While the results of U.S. nationals are important, the top finishers aren’t guaranteed an Olympic spot. The team will be selected by U.S. Figure Skating’s international committee, based on a skater’s past season.

“The belief was that with the new scoring system it was important to look at overall performance, not just one event,” said executive director David Raith, adding that consistency is the most important criteria.

Besides these championships, a skater’s results in the last Grand Prix Final, world championship, Grand Prix series, Four Continents Championship, last year’s national championships, world junior championships and junior Grand Prix Final are considered.

Nagasu, 20, entered nationals as an afterthought, years removed from all that promise and that little girl from ages ago won gold at the 2008 U.S. championships when just 14. After the Vancouver Olympics, she then missed making the worlds teams the past three years.

As she wiped tears from her eyes on the medal stand, none of that mattered much. Words weren’t needed. When the team is named Sunday, Nagasu will once again be a dark horse for the Olympic team. And perhaps if left off, rendered speechless.

via In third place, Mirai Nagasu could be left out in cold.