Plush in or out of CoR??

[Doggygirl]

My concern with Evgeny is the knee. How is that? He should not be down trodden over Joubert and Weir. Evgeny has a style, something Brian should work on. Evgeny has more than one quad, something Johnny should work on at least one quad.

This is sad news, and whatever it is that is keeping him from all these competitions, I hope he gets over them. Hope, too, he makes Euros. He's too good a champion not to be in the mix.

Joe

It seems more logical that the knee is a problem than needing his head shrunk is the problem. He's been such a consistent competitor over the years that somehow him all of a sudden having fears of competing and getting beat. But of course, logic doesn't always apply, and I'm not his doc or his shrink or his sister.

Now if the same article talked about E-man needing his head shrunk, that would make more sense. (and BTW I LOVE E-man's skating when the great skater shows up!!) This just doesn't seem to fit Plushy.

Makes me wonder if something else (i.e. the knee) is going on.

mbi00 - thanks a million for taking time to translate this article and share it with us!!

DG

[Doggygirl]

Can anyone think of any top Sr. skaters that had years worth of consistent performances, and then suddenly became head cases? The most noteable head cases coming to my mind right now I THINK were head cases the whole time they were "top potential" seniors. (i.e. Bowman, Niclole, etc.)

I realize many top athletes do utilize sports psychologists along the way to help them deal with issues along the way, etc. So if Plushy is seeing a sports psychologist, I don't find that shocking, as many athletes do. I'm just questioning him pulling out of a competition in some fearful sort of way. Just doesn't seem like him.

DG

[euterpe]

Plushenko has been a top skater since he was 15 years old and won bronze at Worlds. He more than made up for his losses at the GPF and Europeans by winning Worlds 2004 decisively. A headcase? I don't think so.

I think what has happened is that Plushenko wasn't doing a competitive program while on tour, and has had little time to get those programs in shape. It's a matter of pride that he doesn't want to lose to Joubert (especially Joubert!) or to Weir.

OTOH, I don't think he needs to worry much about BJ. Weir trounced Joubert at LeBompard rather easily, mostly because Joubert seems to be regressing rather than improving. I think a 60% Plushenko could beat Joubert with no trouble at all, and could still beat Weir. Plushenko has been getting PCS scores as high or higher than Weir, and he has the quad. What Plushenko lacks in smoothness and refinement, he more than makes up with speed and power.

Interestingly, I have heard rumors that Weir may not be going to CoR. There have been rumblings that he's been having visa problems. The competition begins Thursday, and if Weir hasn't resolved the visa problem, he won't be going to CoR OR the GPF.

If both Weir and Plushenko skip CoR, there could be some interesting results, and a very unexpected man could slip into the GPF picture.

[mbi00]

Doggygirl and mathman, you're welcome

I don't really understand why you're are necessarily considered weird if you consult a psychologist, I know I would use a team of them if I was a figure skater of that level maybe that is just me . Besides, the performance in general would be much higher at big competitions if more figure skaters used help. It is such a shame when talented skaters do mistakes simply because of their nerves...just remember the olympics 2002.

As to Plushenko participating at CoR or not, is it anyone besides me who finds the reason unacceptable? "We can't participate because we haven't trained enough" Sound to me very much alike the classic "my dog ate my homework" .I mean, an injury is serious but laziness...? Well, it’s his loss.

[sk8m8]

I am afraid that all of this makes sense to me (and that has me worried! )

If I am correct in understanding, many Russian skaters don't practice complete run throughs of complete programs until they are near the time of competitions. Instead, they do "element" work...that is to say that they work on the componants and "piece " them together working their way up to many of the connecting steps and moves and eventually "assembling" a complete competitive program. I also seem to catch some of the Russian "ideology" that comes through culturally. It is natural for most Russian atheletes to desire to DOMINATE their respective sports.

That being said, if Zhenya has not been allowed to perform so he could tweek these programs with elements that are to included in full run-through programs, then his training method would have generally worked against him in a major way. It would certainly shake my "confidence" if I hadn't been able to train full out and in a manner I'm used to.

I don't think he's afraid of losing TO the other skaters as much as losing THE DOMINANCE of the Sport. His last two defeats were due to either injury or technicality. That being said, the next loss could likely be viewed as his loss of legitimate dominance in his sport. Zhenya has multiple world titles and all colors of World's medals along with a hotly contested Olympic Silver. However, like Michelle Kwan, he has a passle of kids (really really GOOD kids) standing in his shadow, ever admiring him and also willing to dethrone him at any turn. His only saving grace is the lack of depth at this time of the men's Russian teams. Something that Klimkin and Greizev(sp?) are both looking to fix.

As for a sports Psychologist, hmmm. Maybe it would help, maybe it wouldn't. EP seems more like the self contained type to me, but lord knows, he also seems bright as they come and perhaps some more of that Russian culture is coming out in that it's ok to "do" something, as long as you don't talk about it. OR...if Mishin can find a way to legitimately call it something else, perhaps "cognitive correction practices" with a "coach" lol

I do agree with the poster that say he'll either do both or he'll do neither. My guess is that since he's lost money on a bunch of these ventures and because he truely loves to win in Russia, I think he'll skate both.

[PrincessLeppard]

According to a Russian friend, the author of the article has gotten all sorts of information wrong in the past, and is known to make up quotes. So please take the entire thing with a grain of salt.

Merci.

Laura

[Vash01]

I think not doing the two shows in Europe really hurt him. He had a chance to practice his programs before an audience but could not, thanks to Speedy. I suspect he is not ready and does not want to compete against other top skaters when he is not ready. I would hate to not see him in COR, but I would hate even more to see him lose there and be downgraded to a 'has been'. That could hurt him at worlds.

Vash

[BittyBug]

Vash - In the unlikely event that Plushy were to skate and not do well, I still don't think that he would be downgraded to a "has been." He is the reigning world champion (for two years in a row), Olympic silver medalist, and he's Plushenko for goodness sakes! He has an amazing ability to deliver when it counts, so my bet would be that if he skates, he'll do very well.

[euterpe]

If it's true this writer takes liberties with his interviews to 'spice up' stories, then I agree--take it with a grain of salt.

A 50% Plushenko could win this event, and I'm sure he's more than 50%. If he's seen Joubert's performances, he has to know he has nothing to worry about. Moreover, I think the RFSF would be pretty peeved if Plushenko didn't skate. Then he'd have not only Speedy mad at him, but his own federation---a tricky position to be in just 15 months before Torino.

BTW, for those who were worrying about Weir and his visa--he got it. He will arrive in Moscow tonight.