Duskova/Bidar have split!!https://www.instagram.com/p/BiEiWPsjwrV/
Duskova/Bidar have split!!https://www.instagram.com/p/BiEiWPsjwrV/
I've already posted my reaction in their Fan Fest, but I wanted to add something here as well.
On the one hand, this sounds plausible. But, Anna in particular had invested a lot in this partnership, giving up a promising Singles career to concentrate on Pairs with Martin. Of course, Martin also gave up a Singles career. But he freely admitted that he wasn't that into Singles as much as he was into Pairs. So, it seems strange that it would be her holding back from taking the next step.
On the other hand, it is understandable that Anna would want to see out her last year in school at home. And it is strange that Martin does not want to wait for her. So, I suspect that although this probably does play a part, that there are other underlying reasons.
I wonder if it is simply a case that they had outgrown each other physically. Like, both of them have changed so much over the past few years from the 2 kids that wowed us in Juniors. Anna is now a lot taller, whereas Martin is now built like a tank. Their new body shapes may simply not suit each other any more.
Let's try to be positive. If everything goes the right way, you could end up with 2 very good Pairs partnerships. Like, when Hurtado / Diaz split, we were all upset. But now Spain has 2 very good Ice Dance partnerships.
EDIT: Martin's post about the split indicates that there may be 2 Czech partnerships coming out of this.
Still going to miss this partnership, though...
CaroLiza_fan
Lucie MYSLIVECKOVA / Lukas CSOLLEY have "ended their common career"
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh60djYjc_Z/?taken-by=lukascsolley
I am not sure if both or one of the 2 will continue.
I'm just so frustrated right now sorry guys.
There's another article today. Ufff. The drama continues.
The article states that there might have been also some relationship struggles between the two of them. Martin had arguments with his coach Eva Horklová and Anna's mother. It speculates that the arguments might have reached their top after Pyeongchang. Martin wanted to spend most of the season abroad with Gautier, and not the 6 weeks they stayed there for now. Horklová and Dušková's family (I'm not sure if her parents only or she as well) were against it. Anna also wants to study medicine, with is very hard to combine with training. He also moved out from her parents at the beginning of March (he lived with them so he wouldn't have to travel too far to Prague for training). The rest of the team was also against this. On the 28th Match Anna's parents sent a letter to the federation Anna and Martin had split.
This situation is not looking good at all. I don't think Anna and Martin are on bad terms, but they weren't best friends either. They talked about this before, Anna is the ambitious one who led the partnership and Martin was more introverted and their personalities slightly crashed, but there weren't any big problems as far as I know. But it could have played a part. I also blame our dumb federation partly, since they didn't try to listen to Martin's wishes. They could have done something.
The training condititions in Czech Republic are **** and I know that. Gautier himself said in interview with a Czech newspaper that it should be improved! But I can't help but feel Martin could have waited for year until Anna completed high school. Maybe they could find a compromise, however, now knowing she wants to study medicine, it probably wouldn't help anyway. I feel like this split could have been avoided if the federation listened to Martin or had better training conditions. However, maybe there were some problems between Anna and Martin, but I don't know that, so I can't judge by this fact. If there were, I understand the split.
I'm just so frustrated right now sorry guys.
These are the two articles I talked about:
https://sport.idnes.cz/krasobruslen...-pfp-/sporty.aspx?c=A180427_183401_sporty_ald
https://oh.idnes.cz/richard-gauthie...i.aspx?c=A180215_235421_zoh-krasobrusleni_rou
As I stated above, my dream pair is Duskova/Kotlarik. He skated pairs too and Horklova was his coach. I think he is more talented than Bidar.
Kotlarik skated with Kratenova a couple years ago.That's another option. My guesses were Radek Jakubka (one year younger than Anna competing at Junior Level with Edita Hornakova) or Jiri Belohradsky (Single skater but with previous experience with Pairs at Novice Level).
But all three guys are "newbies" with Pairs
Kotlarik skated with Kratenova a couple years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J271Eg463ec
Yup, me too, I can relate. Brezina has, what, two more competitive seasons ahead of him at the most, and I cannot see anyone else who's GP caliber in any other category. Except for the dance couple, Mansour/Ceska, but I just don't get their scores which aren't too promising. Sigh, and I had so much hope for this lovely pair... Thank you for all the information, and I feel that not only Martin could have waited one year till Anna finishes her school, but at the same time, university studies can always wait whereas one's competitive career, not so much. If Anna is supposedly the ambitious one (supposing it was said in relation to her skating ambitions), I don't get why she would prioritize her studies and proximity of her family, and inadequate training conditions when they seemed to thrive under Canadian tutelage. It just doesn't make sense to me, and I feel there's something else there. But hey, what do I know, it's happened, and the only thing left for me as a fan to do, is pray at least 1 of the partnerships is successful and represents their home country (I don't have my hopes high for Martin in the latter). That's all.
@Jana
That's the question if he wants to leave Amodio in Hackensack. He has surely ambitions to be Czech No. 1 in singles.
Most skaters wait until they are finished their competitive careers before they go into higher education. But, it is very competitive to get into medicine courses. And if that is what Anna ultimately wants to do as a career, then she could find it very difficult to get into a course if she waits until she is finished her skating career. So, in terms of what she wants to do in the rest of her life, going to Uni straight after school rather than delaying it is probably very wise.
I'm talking from a UK viewpoint, so this may not be exactly the same in the Czech Republic. But, it shouldn't be too different.
Medicine is a different animal to other University courses. Not only is it more intensive in terms of workload, the total length of the course is also a lot longer. Like, 5 years rather than 3. So, if Anna is intending on studying medicine, I can't see how she will have the time for training at the same time.
However, don't forget that Lucie Myslivečková took a few years out from competing to concentrate on her studies, and she came back and got to the Olympics. So, it can be done. But, it is a gamble.
Thinking about it, if Anna is going to be taking a break for a few years, then now would be the best time for the partnership to end. It would enable her to concentrate on her final year exams (because medicine has very high grade requirements - the Uni I went to currently requires 3 A's in your A-levels, as well as an A in a fourth subject at AS level), and also let Martin get straight into working with his new partner.
If you take this long-term view, them splitting now makes sense.
Still doesn't mean I won't miss them.
CaroLiza_fan
It's very common in CR continue to Uni immediately (you need to take entrance exams, they don't care about previous marks). Medicine last 6 years at our universities. And it's really hard and time-consuming. Probably she should decide medicine or skating.
Lucie studies "something easier" and there is a big difference between pairs and ice dance (ice dance is "easier").