NBC figure skating analysts Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir recently shared their men’s and women’s podium picks for this week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
We’ll have Lipinski and Weir analyze the contenders later this week, but for now here are their predictions from NBC Sports’ preview show and in an interview.
Men
Tara Lipinski’s Picks
Gold: Jason Brown (2014 U.S. silver medalist))
Silver: Jeremy Abbott (defending and four-time champion)
Bronze: Max Aaron (2013 U.S. champion)
Lipinski was quick to note that reigning U.S. junior champion Nathan Chen is a dark horse who could win it all as a 15-year-old.
Johnny Weir’s Picks
Gold: Jason Brown
Silver: Max Aaron
Bronze: Nathan Chen
Weir had Abbott finishing fourth, though he pointed out that the U.S. Championships have a tendency to bring out the best in Abbott, a four-time national champion.
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Women
Tara Lipinski’s Picks
Gold: Ashley Wagner (2012-13 U.S. champion)
Silver: Gracie Gold (2014 U.S. champion)
Bronze: Polina Edmunds (2014 U.S. silver medalist)
Johnny Weir’s Picks
Gold: Ashley Wagner
Silver: Gracie Gold
Bronze: Mirai Nagasu (2014 U.S. bronze medalist)
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