Alternate history: Czarist Russia
Chilly8
I was reading one alternate history scenario where the Tsar wins the
Russian civil war and regains the throne in the 1920s, and world
history takes quite a different turn, especially in WWII
Unlike in OTL, fascists do come to power in Britain, Canada,
and France, as well as in Germany, leaving Czarist Russia the
only U.S. ally in Europe during WWII.
But what results after the war would have, in my opinion,
altered the history of figure skating. Canada being annxed
to the United States, as well as Britain's Caribbean posessions,
and Cuba and Jamaica later becoming U.S. states would have
changed skating.
Unlike OTL, North Americans and US nationals would have
never merged, and I think that the USA and Canada one
nation, it would have radically changed skating history
First, I think that Barbara Ann Scott, who won Olympic
gold for Canada in 1948 in OTL, would have easily been
US national champion in this scenario.
Not much would have changed in the 1950s, but I think in
the 1960s, is when you would have really seen a difference.
I think that Petra Burka would have won US Nationals over
Peggy Fleming, from 1965 through 1968 (though Peggy would
have still likely beaten her at the Olympics).
With a sucessfull overthrown of Castro in ATL, and Cuba
and Jamaica (Jamaica being ceded by the Britush in ATL
WWII to Cuba), a number of Cuban skater, but American
in the ATL would have won Nationals. I think that that
Beatriz Shuba would have won US nationals 1969-1972.
I do think that Karen Magnussen (who won the world title
for Canada in OTL) would have been US national champ
in the 1970s, and would have won the Olympic gold in 1976
instead of Dorothy Hamill.
In the 1980s, Catarina Witt, being American (instead of
Cuban in OTL) would have been a 7-time US national
champion, and would have been America's fourth ladies
gold medallist in 1984. I think Catarina would have
won US nationals from 1982 through 1988, and
would have still won the gold medal twice. There
is not ONE American skater that would have beaten
her. Even Roz Sumners (competing for America in
this timeline, instead of Britain) would have never
beaten Catarina.
And I think the 1990s would have been quite
different. I think the Tonya/Nancy scandal would
have never occurred, becuase Tonya would have
likely remained in Australia, and never emigrated
to the USA.
I think that Josee Chouinarde, as an American
would have won nationals She would have beaten
Michelle Kwan in the mid and late 1990s, and
I think she would have gotten the gold medal
in 1994, Michelle Kwan winning 1998, Sasha
Cohen winnning in 2002 and 2006, and Joannie
Rochette being a contender for 2010
In the 2000s, in this ATL, Joannie Rochette,
I think would be the regning US national
champion now. I dont think that Alyssa, or
Rachel would have ever finished ahead of
her.
In the alternate timeline, this is how I think
US nationals would have been, from 1982
onwards. ATL US state where skater would
have been born noted in parenthesis
1982 Catarina Witt (Cuba)
1983 Catarina Witt (Cuba)
1984 Catarina Witt (Cuba)
1985 Catarina Witt (Cuba)
1986 Catarina Witt (Cuba)
1987 Catarina Witt (Cuba)
1988 Catarina Witt (Cuba)
1989 Caryn Kadavy (Mannitoba)
1990 Lisa Seargent (Yukon)
1991 Josee Chouinarde (Quebec)
1992 Josee Chouinarde (Quebec)
1993 Josee Chouinarde (Quebec)
1994 Josee Chouinarde (Quebec)
1995 Michelle Kwan (Florida)
1996 Michelle Kwan (Florida)
1997 Michelle Kwan (Florida)
1998 Michelle Kwan (Florida)
1999 Michelle Kwan (Florida)
2000 Sasha Cohen (Cuba)
2001 Sasha Cohen (Cuba)
2002 Sasha Cohen (Cuba)
2003 Sasha Cohen (Cuba)
2004 Sasha Cohen (Cuba)
2005 Sasha Cohen (Cuba)
2006 Sasha Cohen (Cuba)
2007 Joannie Rochette (Ontario)
2008 Joannie Rochette (Ontario)
2009 Joannie Rochette (Ontario)
All told,. I think the US ladies Olympic gold,
under this ATL scenario would have been
1948 Barbara Ann Scott
1960 Carol Heiss
1968 Peggy Fleming
1972 Beatriz Shuba
1976 Karen Magnussen
1984 Catarina Witt
1988 Catarina Witt
1992 Caryn Kadavy (lose to Josee at Nationals, but win Olympics)
1994 Josee Chouinarde
1998 Michelle Kwan
2002 Sasha Cohen
2006 Sasha Cohen
2010 Joannie Rochette
In in mens skating, the US, in this scenario, would certainly have had
more mens titles. I doubt a Czarist Russia would be implenented the
"skating machine" that the Communists did, and they would likely
have not been a factor. I think that Todd Eldridge might have won
1998 and 2002 Olys, and with Barbados being a US territory,
Johnnie Wehr would have won the gold for the USA in 2006.
St Kitts being a U.S. territory in this scenario would have gotten
another champ in Evan Lysacek (skating for St Kitts in OTL).
The USA Olympics golds, in this scenario, would likely have
been
1948 Dick Button
1952 Dick Button
1968 Tim Wood
1980 Charles Tickner
1984 Scott Hamilton
1988 Brian Boitano
1992 Kurt Browning
1994 Kurt Browning
1998 Kurt Browning
2002 Tim Gable
2006 Johnnie Wehr
2010 Evan Lysacek
The "European Union" nations, of ATL would have dominated
ice dancing until 1998. I think, in this scenario, Tanith and
Ben would have been reigning world champs in ice dance
for several years now, with no Russian competition. They
would have won 2006, and would be favorites to win
2010.
I think Punsulan and Swallow would have won the 1998 and
2002 Olys.