Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:57pm EST
Figure skater Ashley Wagner walks offstage after being introduced as part of the United States' women's figure skating team for the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics, during a news conference at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Boston, Massachusetts January 12, 2014.
Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder
<span id="articleText"/> (Reuters) - Ashley Wagner was gifted a spot on the U.S. Olympic figure skating squad for the Sochi Winter Games on Sunday after finishing fourth at the national championships.
<span id="midArticle_0"/> Wagner, a two-time national champion, bungled her free skate at the U.S. championships on Saturday, dropping into fourth with only three Olympic berths on offer.
<span id="midArticle_1"/> But a nine-member panel still selected her for Sochi, based on past performances.
<span id="midArticle_2"/> Gracie Gold earned her Olympic ticket after capturing her first national title while 15-year-old sensation Polina Edmunds took second, locking up two of the three spots.
<span id="midArticle_3"/> Mirai Nagasu, who was fourth at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, placed third and had looked set to grab the final position only to see it awarded to Wagner.
<span id="midArticle_4"/> "I'm disappointed in the decision," said Nagasu in a statement. "Though I may not agree with it, I have to respect the decision the federation made.
<span id="midArticle_5"/> "And I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me and look forward to what comes next in my skating career."
<span id="midArticle_6"/> While the U.S. Olympic squad is selected largely on the results of the national championships, a nine-member selection panel has the final say and has the power to consider past results and other factors in making a decision.
<span id="midArticle_7"/> The nominations still must be approved by the United States Olympic Committee before becoming official.
<span id="midArticle_8"/> "I'm at a loss for words right now," said Wagner on Sunday after learning she had made the team. "It's been a really rough four years and I've been working really hard.
<span id="midArticle_9"/> "It wasn't my night last night but I'm so extremely pleased.
<span id="midArticle_10"/> "I'm happy that my federation was able to see beyond one bad skate, and I can't believe that I'm going to be able to represent the United States in Sochi."
<span id="midArticle_11"/> The other nominations were more straight-forward.
<span id="midArticle_12"/> Ice dance world champions and Vancouver Olympic silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White claimed their sixth U.S. title and head to Russia as the United States' best chance for a figure skating gold.
<span id="midArticle_13"/> They will be joined in Sochi by two-time reigning U.S. silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates and the brother/sister partnership of Maia and Alex Shibutani.
<span id="midArticle_14"/> "This is a dream come true for us," said White. "Obviously we're going into these Games with very high expectations.
<span id="midArticle_15"/> "We've had a lot of great momentum over the last four years since the 2010 Olympics and we think we've put ourselves in a great position to bring home a gold medal."
<span id="midArticle_0"/> The pairs competition will be represented by two-time reigning U.S. champions Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, and Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay.
<span id="midArticle_1"/> With defending Olympic champion Evan Lysacek unable to defend his men's title, American gold medal hopes will rest with Jeremy Abbott, who won his fourth U.S. title on Sunday, and runner-up Jason Brown.
<span id="midArticle_2"/> Squad:
<span id="midArticle_3"/> Men
<span id="midArticle_4"/> Jeremy Abbott; Jason Brown
<span id="midArticle_5"/> Women
<span id="midArticle_6"/> Gracie Gold; Polina Edmunds; Ashley Wagner
<span id="midArticle_7"/> Pairs
<span id="midArticle_8"/> Marissa Castelli/Simon Shnapir; Felicia Zhang/Nathan Bartholomay
<span id="midArticle_9"/> Ice Dance
<span id="midArticle_10"/> Meryl Davis/Charlie White; Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani; Madison Chock/Evan Bates
<span id="midArticle_11"/> (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto, editing by Gene Cherry)
<span id="midArticle_12"/>
Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder
<span id="articleText"/> (Reuters) - Ashley Wagner was gifted a spot on the U.S. Olympic figure skating squad for the Sochi Winter Games on Sunday after finishing fourth at the national championships.
<span id="midArticle_0"/> Wagner, a two-time national champion, bungled her free skate at the U.S. championships on Saturday, dropping into fourth with only three Olympic berths on offer.
<span id="midArticle_1"/> But a nine-member panel still selected her for Sochi, based on past performances.
<span id="midArticle_2"/> Gracie Gold earned her Olympic ticket after capturing her first national title while 15-year-old sensation Polina Edmunds took second, locking up two of the three spots.
<span id="midArticle_3"/> Mirai Nagasu, who was fourth at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, placed third and had looked set to grab the final position only to see it awarded to Wagner.
<span id="midArticle_4"/> "I'm disappointed in the decision," said Nagasu in a statement. "Though I may not agree with it, I have to respect the decision the federation made.
<span id="midArticle_5"/> "And I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me and look forward to what comes next in my skating career."
<span id="midArticle_6"/> While the U.S. Olympic squad is selected largely on the results of the national championships, a nine-member selection panel has the final say and has the power to consider past results and other factors in making a decision.
<span id="midArticle_7"/> The nominations still must be approved by the United States Olympic Committee before becoming official.
<span id="midArticle_8"/> "I'm at a loss for words right now," said Wagner on Sunday after learning she had made the team. "It's been a really rough four years and I've been working really hard.
<span id="midArticle_9"/> "It wasn't my night last night but I'm so extremely pleased.
<span id="midArticle_10"/> "I'm happy that my federation was able to see beyond one bad skate, and I can't believe that I'm going to be able to represent the United States in Sochi."
<span id="midArticle_11"/> The other nominations were more straight-forward.
<span id="midArticle_12"/> Ice dance world champions and Vancouver Olympic silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White claimed their sixth U.S. title and head to Russia as the United States' best chance for a figure skating gold.
<span id="midArticle_13"/> They will be joined in Sochi by two-time reigning U.S. silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates and the brother/sister partnership of Maia and Alex Shibutani.
<span id="midArticle_14"/> "This is a dream come true for us," said White. "Obviously we're going into these Games with very high expectations.
<span id="midArticle_15"/> "We've had a lot of great momentum over the last four years since the 2010 Olympics and we think we've put ourselves in a great position to bring home a gold medal."
<span id="midArticle_0"/> The pairs competition will be represented by two-time reigning U.S. champions Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, and Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay.
<span id="midArticle_1"/> With defending Olympic champion Evan Lysacek unable to defend his men's title, American gold medal hopes will rest with Jeremy Abbott, who won his fourth U.S. title on Sunday, and runner-up Jason Brown.
<span id="midArticle_2"/> Squad:
<span id="midArticle_3"/> Men
<span id="midArticle_4"/> Jeremy Abbott; Jason Brown
<span id="midArticle_5"/> Women
<span id="midArticle_6"/> Gracie Gold; Polina Edmunds; Ashley Wagner
<span id="midArticle_7"/> Pairs
<span id="midArticle_8"/> Marissa Castelli/Simon Shnapir; Felicia Zhang/Nathan Bartholomay
<span id="midArticle_9"/> Ice Dance
<span id="midArticle_10"/> Meryl Davis/Charlie White; Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani; Madison Chock/Evan Bates
<span id="midArticle_11"/> (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto, editing by Gene Cherry)
<span id="midArticle_12"/>
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