It should be spoken of truthfully, but it shouldn't be used as cannon fodder against her. She, Liza, Alena, and the Russian fed need to put Worlds behind them and focus on starting the Olympic season strong. Some Senior B's definitely wouldn't hurt.
ETA: I think Adelina's portrayal as the savior of the Russian ladies is more due to her POTENTIAL than anything else. Even as a junior, she had massive jumps and impressive interpretation, and fans/the fed latched onto that. A similar situation exists in the US, with Gracie Gold, who--despite not having any major international titles or medals on the senior level--is an obvious future star.
At this point sotnikova has been Russian champ three times so it may be a little past potential. If you are discussing who will be on the team in Sochi the facts of each skater need to be mentioned. Worlds 2013 at wtt are the most recent examples of how she is when she competes. You can talk about the skaters in total generalities like Liza has good technique and sotnikova has big jumps and Alena won silver medal at a worlds or that sotnikova almost won euros but the competition will decide who goes to Sochi not total generalities.
At this point sotnikova has been Russian champ three times so it may be a little past potential. If you are discussing who will be on the team in Sochi the facts of each skater need to be mentioned. Worlds 2013 at wtt are the most recent examples of how she is when she competes. You can talk about the skaters in total generalities like Liza has good technique and sotnikova has big jumps and Alena won silver medal at a worlds or that sotnikova almost won euros but the competition will decide who goes to Sochi not total generalities.
Does Russia even have a leading lady who can consistently land clean triples? Adelina, Liza, Julia, Alena, Elena...none of them.
Yuna Kim.Sorry, I meant consistently.
Says the poster who managed to ignore not only Leonova's recent past competitions, but her entire season's performances, in post after post, merely focussing on her being (then) reigning WSM...
I agree that the competition will determine it, but I think the whole point is to make predictions based on generalities. Obviously skaters can improve for next season (or decline) and we won't know until they hit the ice. But as far as Leonova and Makarova go, it's really not looking very good for either of them. Russia's field is deep, but prone to errors internationally.
I am not sure about this because when it came to euros i was saying she should go because she was eligible and gosviani was not because of isu minimums. She was beaten by a point by gosviani anyway. Then Russia went totally out if it was to get gosviani eligible but they still had the Russia cup final where Leonova beat gosviani. So the world silver was a part of it but not the only reason that you are implying.
At this point sotnikova has been Russian champ three times so it may be a little past potential. If you are discussing who will be on the team in Sochi the facts of each skater need to be mentioned. Worlds 2013 at wtt are the most recent examples of how she is when she competes. You can talk about the skaters in total generalities like Liza has good technique and sotnikova has big jumps and Alena won silver medal at a worlds or that sotnikova almost won euros but the competition will decide who goes to Sochi not total generalities.
I think not sending Leonova to Euros was a mistake. She could have used the extra practice in preparation for Worlds and being left home probably affected her confidence. Everyone knew Gosviani would not be competitive at this level yet, but maybe in the future she can be a champion.
Could you blame the Russian fed considering Leonova's abysmal nationals? Had Leonova not gotten that world silver or medalled you can bet she would have been an afterthought. So sad if she's actually starving herself though.
I agree with CSG--what else can we base our predictions off of, if not generalities? The Russian ladies have had some bad competitions--heck, all skaters do. Liza's excuse is most viable, as she never really got accustomed to her post-puberty body, which skewed all of her jumps and slowed her down. From what I hear, Alena is intentionally starving herself by eating one meal a day, which is wreaking serious havoc on her jumps. Adelina's problem is a technical one; I wouldn't be surprised if her inconsistency has some root in self-doubt about not being able to rotate her jumps. And Julia, as of now, can ONLY be spoken of in generalities, since we have absolutely no idea how puberty will treat her.
It's important to remember that, since RN is only open to Russian skaters, all of whom have their own weaknesses, their issues will be judged on a lesser-evil basis. That is, is it better to have a UR'ed triple than no triple/a triple with cringe-worthy technique? Is it better to be fast and inconsistent, or slow and cautious? What does "artistry" really mean? This is what will determine the Olympic team.
Again: :disapp:I believe this was mentioned in the thread immediately after Worlds concerning Tuktamysheva's results. Now I can't remember who provided the information, but it was confirmed on Alena's blog.
In this post, she says that all she ate in the leadup to Worlds were Starbucks breakfasts and green apples, which caused her to tire quickly during practices.
http://en.alena-leonova.ru/blog/the_green_one_flies_to_london/2013-03-13-47
Yuna Kim.
Anna Pogorilaya landed 3Lz+3T 8 times at 4 competitions (both in SP and FS) JGP Final, SrNats, JrNats, JrWorlds.
1 URed (at JrNats when she was in bad state after JGP Final and SrNats because of fatigue), 2 step out or bad exit, 5 clean on positive GOE. Is it consistent enough?
While she is age eligible to ISU Senior Championships 2013/2014, she is very young - born 10 Apr 1998.
At her age Sotnikova was consistent with 3Lz+3Lo.
Nobody knows will Anna consistent in future or not.
BTW, Radionova is better jumper than Pogorilaya but less consistent. The same Sakhanovich and other very young Russian female skaters.
(Radionova is really better than Pogorilaya, of course, and it gives her wins.)
Only Radionova and Pogorilaya of all Russian female skaters stably (almost always) skated Free Skate at Season 2012/2013 (Radionova's inconsistency is mostly at Short Program).
Sothikova at last competitions of season URed all second triples in combos.
Tuktamysheva and Sakhanovich may skate very good, and may not so good. Also Sotskova, Kolomiets and other "born at 2000-2001".
Yuna Kim.
Anna Pogorilaya landed 3Lz+3T 8 times at 4 competitions (both in SP and FS) JGP Final, SrNats, JrNats, JrWorlds.
1 URed (at JrNats when she was in bad state after JGP Final and SrNats because of fatigue), 2 step out or bad exit, 5 clean on positive GOE. Is it consistent enough?
While she is age eligible to ISU Senior Championships 2013/2014, she is very young - born 10 Apr 1998.
At her age Sotnikova was consistent with 3Lz+3Lo.
Nobody knows will Anna consistent in future or not.
[...]
The original claim referred to senior ladies who could land the 3Lz+3T consistently. There are many young junior jumping beans who can pull off more difficult combos than Yuna. How many of them can still do so with consistency after they go through puberty?
Pogorilaya will be senior age eligible.