Ashley Wagner rips into judges after 4th-place finish at U.S. Figure Skating Championships
Figure skating knows drama. Ashley Wagner is the reigning U.S. drama queen.
The 2016 World silver medalist and 2014 Olympian was awarded fourth place at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships after what she clearly believed was a podium-worthy performance.
And she ripped into the judges after the competition.
“I’m furious. I am absolutely furious,” Wagner told reporters. “For me to put out two programs that I did at this competition as solid as I skated and to get those scores, I am furious.
“I want to be on that Olympic team, and I’m really mad that I’m in this position again.”
Wagner knew at that point she was a long shot to make the U.S. Olympic team for the PyeongChang Games next month. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships results don’t determine the three-woman Olympic team, but they play a big role in who gets selected.
On Saturday, Bradie Tennell, Mirai Nagasu and Karen Chen, were named to the U.S. team — the trio took home gold, silver and bronze in that order in San Jose on Friday. Wagner was selected as first alternate.
As an athlete, I'm allowed to be mad. As a senior competitor with over 10 years of experience, I'm allowed to question things. At the end of the day, I laid out my best and I'm going home proud! Congrats to the lovely ladies of the team, you've got me in your cheering squad now!
— Ashley Wagner (@AshWagner2010) January 6, 2018
Lastly Twitter, before you eat me alive, don't forget there is a real person on the other end of your tweets. ❤
— Ashley Wagner (@AshWagner2010) January 6, 2018
Considered one of the best American skaters heading into the 2014 U.S. Championships, Wagner had another disappointing finish ahead of the Sochi Games.
But the U.S. Figure Skating International Committee, which ultimately determines Team USA, overlooked her fourth-place performance on the national stage, judged her on her previous performances and sent her to Sochi where she earned a bronze medal in the team competition.
The odd woman out in 2014 was U.S. Championships bronze medalist Nagasu.
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