GREENSBORO: Tired of doubters telling her she is past her prime, newly-crowned US champ Ashley Wagner delivered a stern message to her critics Saturday — telling them to “shut their mouths.”“It shows every single person that doubts me, that thinks I am too old, that they need to shut their
By our correspondents
January 26, 2015
GREENSBORO: Tired of doubters telling her she is past her prime, newly-crowned US champ Ashley Wagner delivered a stern message to her critics Saturday — telling them to “shut their mouths.” “It shows every single person that doubts me, that thinks I am too old, that they need to shut their mouths and watch me skate,” Wagner said after claiming her third career title at the US Figure Skating Championships. The 23-year-old Wagner, who took a five-point lead into Saturday’s long program, earned a record 148.98 points in the free skate to easily beat defending champion Gracie Gold. She became the oldest woman to win a US title since Michelle Kwan did it at age 24 in 2005. Wagner earned a 221.02 total while Gold, who won the crown as an 18-year-old last year, finished second with a score of 205.54. Rising star Karen Chen took third place with a score of 199.79. It was Wagner’s first US title since the second of her back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2012. “Of my three titles this one tastes the sweetest. It means the most to me,” Wagner said. Despite finishing fourth at last year’s nationals, organizers allowed Wagner to bump third place finisher Mirai Nagasu off Team USA for Sochi. Wagner failed to take advantage of her free pass, finishing seventh in Russia. “After last year’s nationals, then I had a so-so Olympics and Worlds. I felt like people were starting to write me off,” Wagner said.
