Campbells Classic & Japan International lineups!

[JunJohn21]

USFSA has posted a new article on Cambells.
www.usfigureskating.org/e...p?id=30414 (http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=30414)

For the ladies: MK, Sasha, Kimmie, Emily, and Irina have confirmed. Fumie, Miki, and Carolina were sent invitations, but haven't accepted yet.

Too bad Joannie Rochette wasn't invited:( . It could be due to her Worlds showing because Arakawa also placed low at Worlds and wasn't invited.

For the men: Tim Goebel, Evan, Johnny, Plush, Brian Joubert, and Jeffrey Buttle have confirmed.

[JunJohn21]

According to FSU, the Japanese International lineups have been announced.

Ladies: Shizuka, Miki, Fumie, Irina, Julia Sebestyen, and Susanna Poykio.

Men: Nobunari Oda, Daisuke Takahashi, Takeshi Honda, Evgeny Plushenko, Jeffrey Buttle, and Johnny Weir.

It'll take place on Oct. 1st, a week before Campbells.

P.S. Mao Asada will make an appearance.

[chipso1]

That Campbell's line-up sounds exceptional! :) I'm so excited now!

[honey827]

Great line up8) . Although I would have liked Jenny K to get an invite. I really wanted to see her program. Oh well I like both Kimmie and Emily.

[GMAN]

Jenny and Bebe both weren't invited:( Oh well. It's a good line-up I agree! They must be deciding it based on jr. and sr. worlds results from last year.

I think it'll be hard for some of the skaters to keep up their energy who are going to both the Japan and USA internationals. Aren't they separated by only one week?

[kwanluv]

yep

[patsue]

Wow--Irina is really pushing herself this season! In addition to 2 GPs, a possible GP final, two comps within a week of each other, Russian Nats, Euros and Olys--guess steriods really do help.

[kwanluv]

I don't know about her meds helping, if anything, they hinder her...but I'm no doctor. It seems to me she may be pushing herself too hard. She could peak early and burn out by the end of the season...that's a heavy schedule and a ton of travel.

But we all know she needs the money and has a lot of medical bills to pay, both for herself and her mom, and this year will most likely be the last year of many major $$$ opportunities for her.

[GardenKitty]

We don't know that Shizuka and Joannie (and other skaters) weren't invited. It's possible they were invited and already turned it down. Especially if Shizuka is doing the Japanese invitational, she may not want to travel again for the US one.

[shellyfan]

Irina needs the money and the payout is good.

[SamChez]

Chipso,

Me too...In fact, I'm so excited even I'M doing the pepper dance!

PepperChez

[gratefulmkfan]

Believe me, prednisone helps! If I took it every day, I could run around doing what I wish and not have pain the next day. As it is, that isn't the case. It definitely prevents the inflammation and pain that repetitive movement causes... until it turns against you, and then it's more problems than it's worth. But, Irina needs it for her disease, and she seems intelligent enough to have learned the effects of long-term use, so I would guess she is making the most of it while she can. Who wouldn't do the same?

[chipso1]

Sa-weet! :b

Good to know that it doesn't traumatize you anymore . . .;)

[SamChez]

Oh, I'm traumatized...I'm just dancing it off.

DancingWithTheChez


Traumatized by moving avatars.

[EigthAv]

It'll take place on Oct. 1st, a week before Campbells.P.S. Mao Asada will make an appearance.<!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END-->Too bad they won't let Asada attempt a Lipinski. I guess Tara's youth records are safe. Irina seems to be back up to 100%. When she is clicking on all 8 she never turns down a competition.I'll go out on a limb and predict Little Hughes to win the Yank event and Suguri to win the Japan event. The Hughes sisters will probably even do a corny Campbell's Soup commercial during the ABC broadcast.:lol ...........don'tcha love it?

[Katie]

Why is it that there are no Americans in the Japanese International?

[AZSkateFan]

Where are our 4th and 5th place finishers from U.S. Nationals, Jenny Kirk and Bebe Liang? I think both of the girls should have been invited.

Remember, at the Marshall's event at the end of last season, Jenny beat Kimmie who beat Emily who beat Bebe.

You would think Jenny would at least get the invite.

[EigthAv]

That big World Junior medal plus the name are getting Little Hughes in positions to leap into the top 3 of the USFSA.Emily did win the Liberty event recently over a tough field. If she wins the Campbell's event ......:eek be afraid..... be very afraid.

[JunJohn21]

violinstarfish, Johnny is going to be at thr Japanese Event.

JamieBlanchard, I have a feeling Jenny and/or Bebe could go to Campbells as a last minute replacement. Fumie, Miki, and Carolina haven't accepted yet and it's unlikely that all three of them will accept the invitation. Remember last year, Irina and Carolina were supposed to be at Campbells, but canceled their invitation and were replaced by Kimmie and Julia Sebestyen. Then at the Winter Marshalls, Shizuka canceled and was supposed to be replaced by Yoshie Onda, who also canceled and was finally replaced by Alissa Czisny.

[iloveskating]

Emily earned her invite with her results at Jr Worlds. Furthermore, we really don't know if the other girls may have been invited and had to decline for a reason unknown to us.

[MKGrace]

From WebMd.com:

USAGE: Prednisone is a corticosteroid hormone (glucocorticoid). It decreases your immune system's response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions. It is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood disorders, breathing problems, certain cancers, eye problems, immune system diseases, and skin diseases.

Anabolic Steroids are synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. They do have legitimate medical uses. Sometimes doctors prescribe anabolic steroids to help people with certain kinds of anemia and men who don't produce enough testosterone on their own. Doctors also prescribe a different kind of steroid, called corticosteroids, to reduce swelling. Corticosteroids are not anabolic steroids and do not have the same harmful effects.

Actually anti-inflammatories can do more harm than good in that people may push themselves harder because they're not feeling the pain as much and then end up injured. I would say the risks and benefits cancel each other out. Plus the stuff can make you feel sick too (I've taken Prednisone).

[Tejada1981]

Thank you for pointing out the inaccuracy of patsue's, er, remark.

[toutestgrace]

Thanks MKGrace. Prednisone may get you through the inflammatory process, but it does not build muscle mass. If anything, it leads to misplaced fat deposits and muscle atrophy. Irina is a wonderwoman for remaining competitive on the stuff.

[patsue]

Tejeda--I don't appreciate your inaccurate um "remark" in the least. Yes, Irina does take a steroid--I never said it was to build up muscle mass--just that the steroid she is using is enabling her to skate. For someone so ill to be able to skate the way she does the steroid is helping to keep her on the ice. Maybe next time you shouldn't be so quick to jump on someone else's opinion.

[uglygreekgoddess]

well now we know that bebe isn't even considered in the running for the 3rd olympic spot, it's between kimmie and emily for sure. go bebe! prove all of them wrong at nats!

[kwanluv]

MKGrace,
Thank you for pointing out in better detail what I did after patsue's first post. Prednisone is "nasty" stuff and personally I don't know how Irina can function on it as long as she has. The long-term side effects can be really horrible.


As to the US invites, I think most likely Emily and Kimmie were invited due to their combined high placements at both Nationals and Junior Worlds last year.

[Krista]

Prednisone causes weight gain sometimes as well. She's lucky it hasn't affected her that way.

[Tejada1981]

patsue, you read a lot in my one sentence reply. I wasn't jumping on your opinion. Here are a few more side effects of Prednisone. It can wreak havoc on your metabolism, cause ongoing upset stomachs and even lead to cataracts. Nothing helpful about all that! ;-)

[berthesghost]

Irina look fabulous these days and seems to have gotten things under control (right doasge, combo, whatever).

Live at Dotmund she looked artifically bloated. My SIL once took roids after a car accident and she had that same artifical bloating.

[mr pru]

Pru gives small doses to her (baby) Shih-Tzu dog.

Neither one of them know that Shyla is a D-O-G.

[Vinluvskwan]

Gosh, Irina is certainly keeping herself just as busy as, heck even busier than, last season. I hope she earns enough $$ for her and her mom's health, and her family. You forget that Terri emphasized the cost of her mom's kidney tx ($50K) at Worlds, and Irina's $40-45K price would not even suffice. I hope she doesn't let herself burn out as I'd love for her to be healthy enough to compete at Torino, she no doubt she will.

But still, go Michelle for the OGM!!!

[gratefulmkfan]

I've wondered myself how Irina has managed to not just stay thin on predisone, but actually look thinner than ever before last season. I think there's a European diet we Americans don't know about, as many European skaters slimmed down last year. I wish they would share their secret.

I don't think the negative effects of prednisone have caught up with Irina yet, which is kind of amazing, considering she's been taking it for well over a year now. I'd like to know how just so I can take it and do daily chores - have a life - rather than spending my time sitting, lying down, sitting, lying down, due to my illness. Of course, when I take prednisone, I feel like super woman, but my doctor is stingy with it, for my own health, so he says. I'm starting to wonder what's the point of spending so many days in pain - given the choice, I'd pick fewer days altogether, if the days were pain free. Thank God for Michelle's skating videos :) . They take me to another place for a while, and it's kind of comfy there.

[taf]

Tejeda1981-your post regarding Patsue's "remark" was snarky, and no air of innocence is going to fool anyone.

I too have been on Predisone and it is definitely a big help as far as stamina & energy are concerned. When I first heard Irina was on it and they were allowing her to compete while using a banned substance I couldn't think of one skater (other than Plushy) who might be allowed the same consideration. How else do you explain the fact that physically she is getting better, not worst, as she ages and despite her illness? Mind over matter only takes you so far. I think it is a disgrace, but no big surprise considering all the other cheating going on.

[mzheng]

Well, if you have watched her all LPs before 2003, she always got puffed up and worn out by the end of her LP. But now ? ....

[attyfan]

As I understand it, the IOC does allow athletes to compete while taking Prednisone with a prescription. The rules about what drugs or medicines can or cannot be used for Olympic athletes is set by the IOC, not the ISU -- and affects a lot of athletes, not merely skaters, and is decided by a lot of countries, who don't give a rats a** about skating. Is this true? I somehow doubt that Russia can make the IOC let a skater compete using a substance that is completely banned.

Banned or not, I think any "advantage" given to Irina by the Prednisone is outweighed by the threat posed to her by the underlying medical condition -- and the other ladies, such as Michelle, who don't have vasculitis are fully able to adjust.

As to Irina looking tired and worn out after her free skates -- Irina still looked tired to me after her GP events, and, was so tired after Euros that she went to her doctors. She didn't look tired after Worlds, but skating in her home town would give her an energy that she wouldn't normally have)

[SGuntur]

More information on prednisone -
While prednisone is antiinflammatory, it is also immunosuppressive, therefore patients on prednisone are very susceptible to infections. Therefore, doctors try to keep patients on the lowest dose possible (and alternate day therapy) to prevent infections from flaring up. It does have really nasty side effects; increased appetite and weight gain, increased thirst and urination, muscle wasting, gastrointestinal problems to cite a few. It is most often used for allergic problems that are not responding to antihistamines. It is also used as an immuno-suppressive agent in immune-mediated diseases (I think what Irina has is an immune-mediated vasculitis). Like Kwanluv said, the doctors consider it nasty stuff and try to minimize its dosage as much as possible but the patients love it because it alleviates signs like a magic drug and they want more and more of it. Also, prednisone suppresses your body's own production of corticosteroids, which is why doctors wean off prednisone slowly so the body starts producing again in normal amounts.

ETA - One other thing, when used for prolonged time periods, it can cause liver damage, therefore, liver values needs to be checked frequently inorder to continue refills on prednisone.

[attyfan]

Here is a link to an article on another Olympian who competed while taking prednisone, and why prednisone is a great competitive disadvantage:

www.drmirkin.com/fitness/9891.html (http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/9891.html)

[EigthAv]

Acetaminophen,which is the active ingredient in Tylenol,can cause liver damage.I've been taking a "store brand" version of it lately for muscle pains.What are you going to do???? Any and everything you put in your body could cause some sort of undesired effect.It's your choice.I'll take the risk because the pain can get intolerable.Taking a couple of weeks off to rest the leg and foot is not an option. <!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END-->I see that Kostner is in the ladies rooster.So,we will get a dose of how Carolina stacks up early.

[SGuntur]

Thankyou attyfan,I think this is the most relevant article to this discussion on prednisone and does it offer a competitive advantage?

[SGuntur]

In response to you Mike, long term use and inappropriate use of a drug can cause the risks (side-effects) to outweigh the benefits sometimes; which is why doctors need to fine-tune the dose and keep it to the minimum where the benefits are there but side-effects are mininum.
Liver damage was one of the reason celebrex was taken off the market.

[Tejada1981]

"When I first heard Irina was on it and they were allowing her to compete while using a banned substance I couldn't think of one skater (other than Plushy) who might be allowed the same consideration. How else do you explain the fact that physically she is getting better, not worst, as she ages and despite her illness?Mind over matter only takes you so far. I think it is a disgrace, but no big surprise considering all the other cheating going on."

You took the words right out of my mouth. No big surprise here.

[Tejada1981]

attyfan,
Great article. Thanks for the link. 8)

[mzheng]

As to Irina looking tired and worn out after her free skates -- Irina still looked tired to me after her GP events, and, was so tired after Euros that she went to her doctors. She didn't look tired after Worlds, but skating in her home town would give her an energy that she wouldn't normally have)

There are different forms of the medicine she takes. It is said the inhale form usually give the spurt of energy after a few minutes taking it. (Sorry can't find the link right now). IIRC, after the QA or SP at worlds, she said she was so nervouse she forgot inhale her medicine before she stepped on ice.

Besides different body/person reacts differently to the same medicine (I had personal experience with some other medicine, which most ppl would have strong side react on such as vomit, dizzy, etc. But it worked perfect for me)....Like some others mentioned, just hard to explain or comprehensive where those extra energy come from, not only in competetion, but also the time spend in daily practice for one as sick as she'd let ppl know.... Or maybe the morden medical play wonders.

[patsue]

good points mzheng!

[MKGrace]

Thanks attyfan - it's always appreciated to hear an M.D.'s perspective. I found this particulary noteworthy.To keep his body from rejecting the liver, he must take prednisone, a drug that markedly slows recovery of muscles from hard exercise.So it can be said that Irina is at a disadvantage in that she can't recover as quickly from intense practicing. I thought she looked exhausted throughout Worlds, including at the end of her LP. I think she completed the program through will power and crowd support.How else do you explain the fact that physically she is getting better, not worst, as she ages and despite her illness? Mind over matter only takes you so far. I think it is a disgrace, but no big surprise considering all the other cheating going on. Exactly! It's a big conspiracy by Speedy, Putin, the IOC Pres. and the drug companies. :rolleyes :| 0]

[Ice So]

This subject *again*? How many times has this been discussed in the past and various sources, from doctors/nurses to people who took the medicine themselves and others who researched for information, have explained that she is most certainly not in advantage? Talk about being sceptical! :lol