Russian Ladies Team for EC 2015: facts, speculations and drama

[Snow63]

I think Eteri is mostly right... that Adelina's first skate shouldn't be Euros... but Eteri's comments were way more rude. Eteri was likely triggered by Yulia being mentioned by name by the official(If she's in 3rd, not a good skate.)... but her concerns should have been addressed in a better manner.

I disagree. Her comments were challenging, maybe even aggressive a bit. But not rude.
Moser on the other hand called Eteri weak and unprofessional. Very rude statement in my book. I'm not even going to mention her sarcastic remark about Yulia herself.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Personally I think it's best if we just watch how Nationals turn out. Well see soon enough what decision the fed makes and what efforts the skaters put in. I still think all this drama is just a ploy to increase the ratings. Am I all alone in thinking so?

 

[Alba]

My feeling is that Julia still would have competed on the GP circuit, even if she knew she had a bye at Nationals to Euros. After all, the GP is where you develop clout on the world stage, not just amongst Russians.

True. But Eteri is being ironic in saying that. She isn't suggesting that Yulia should've stayed out of GP circuit.

After her season so far? I suppose anything is possible, but I wouldn't bet on this. She can't even do her free skate cleanly in practice.

False.

 

[LRK]

I'm a bit curious as to why Nina Moser chose to make a statement(/was asked to comment) at all? Isn't she a pairs coach?:scratch: Just curous...

 

[Alba]

I'm a bit curious as to why Nina Moser chose to make a statement(/was asked to comment) at all? Isn't she a pairs coach?:scratch: Just curous...

Doesn't matter, she is a coach. Journalists as usual, the more the merrier.

 

[Big Deal]

Just one note of mine:
This Mr. Lakernik WAS the technical specialist at the Olympic ladies event deciding levels of Sotnikova vs. Yu-Na Kim........
He HAS to save and strenghten the image of Sotnikova that she rightly won there (which I strongly doubt to say the less.......)

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I'm a bit curious as to why Nina Moser chose to make a statement(/was asked to comment) at all? Isn't she a pairs coach?:scratch: Just curous...

I thought the same thing. What's she got to do with this other than posturing for her own skaters to return in a similar late season fashion but its really two separate issues when looking at the fields. Major lolz.

I really don't care at all and think its a whole lot of nothing. FWIW I don't remember people dumping on Liza like this last season (I certainly didnt) and her season was way worse. Skaters will have ups and downs. What's the big deal. Even if Yulia still isn't in top form by Nationals she'll still be one of the highest ranked female skaters in the world. That's not a bad place to start a new season next year. If she has a good skate at nationals and makes even one of the big events she could still have a respectable season after all is said and done. Sheesh...even Mao had a terrible GP following the Vancouver Olympics.

The only strike I hold against Adelina is she bailed on the WC last season and Anna and Yulia were left to secure a third spot at Worlds that other Russian ladies had failed to do themselves in the past. If there is a third spot open and either Anna or Yulia are skating well I'd think it would be more than fair to give one of them the place that they earned but then again fairness and figure skating don't go hand in hand.

For me I'd say Liza and Elena earned a trip to worlds this season and any of the top six at RN's can put up a strong fight for a sweep at Euro's. If not...oh well. The world kept turning last season when Leonova did poorly.

Too much drama

 

[LRK]

Well, as I recall, mostly last season people were writing Liza off and saying she was done. And remember the "weight issues"? That's what anyone mostly ended up talking about - whether we wantedd to or no - about her. At least be glad nobody is suggesting that Julia should lose a few kilos... and they really can't, so people have to look for other thins to say, don't they?

 

[Cherryy]

How much time does the Russian Federation have to make the decision about who is going to Euros? Will it be the same day the free skate ends or they have more time to think about it?

 

[Snow63]

How much time does the Russian Federation have to make the decision about who is going to Euros? Will it be the same day the free skate ends or they have more time to think about it?

Not before 12th of Junuary, according to Lakernik, after New Year's holydays in Russia.

 

[Ayeshoo]

I don't understand the "the whole conflict began then" though.

But anyway, is the event in Poland simply for the federation to decide if Adelina can be qualified for Euros? Or are the other Russian skaters also allowed to compete there? Say for example, the would-be third placer in Nationals...

Shine|

 

[buch]

1. There is like 90% probability that Liza and Elena take two first places - YOU know that, Russian feds know that, Russian coaches know that and the judges know that.
So please don't try to act pretty or pretend to be neutral - it is the choice between Adelina and Anna, Julia, Alena, and it's choice for now.
It's a basic, but not pretty choice and for 90% it will not become prettier after RusNats.

2. I would love to see Tsareva's face, after Anna finished 3rd with 198 score and very good clean skate.
She got perfect momentum to support Eteri, but she just ain't got that brave Georgian blood in her.
:disagree:

3. Personally I agree with 2/3 of 8200+ figure skating fans voting on Russian portal - 3rd place should go. Level of competition is absolutely too high to give free passes.

 

[Lipea]

I agree that Olympic champions deserve respect, and in any other country right now, there would be no question of sending the defending Olympic champion to Euros and Worlds without having competed at Nationals. The problem is that Russia isn't any other country right now, and the depth of the field doesn't allow room for any free passes, even for the defending Olympic champion, especially when there are in fact two defending Olympic champions.

If the top 3 skate lights out at Nationals, there should be no difference between the bronze medalist and the gold and silver medalists. If 3rd place has a not so great skate, then you could consider allowing Adelina to go, provided she shows that she's ready in a test skate or something. Something tells me Adelina won't end up competing this season anyway, so the Euro/World team will be Liza, Elena, and Julia regardless.

Completely agree with you. The situation in ladies skating in Russia should not allow such things as giving an exception to anyone. With Plushenko, it was rather normal: they were not a single Russian male skater at that time who could definitely pretend on Olympic podium, and his record was truly outstanding. Here, any of the top 4 or even 5 Russian ladies definitely pretend on win or podium at EC. That could be understandable if, for example, Adelina would be on the same preparation level as other top girls, compete at GPF and then get an injury - so here I totally agree with Eteri's point. However, she didn't and she cannot be physically in the same shape and preparation as others. Whom would they victimize: Liza, who just won GPF, the hardest competition this season, Elena, who got the highest combined total points out of all this season, Yuliya, who is defending European champion and also an Olympic champion? AND (not even OR) Anna who can shine and be the best, but lacks the confidence not having enough Federation/team support, and for whom going to Euros could give a huge psychological kick forward? Just because Adelina had never won Euros and wants to prove now something to everyone.
In this situation I really hope that Adelina and her coach will soon realize that her chances on getting gold in Euros with the kind of preparation she had this season are really slim, competing with two teammates. Getting silver would be not as great for the Olympic champion in singles, and she already has two silvers. I also have a feeling that she just will not compete this season at all.

 

[Lipea]

1. There is like 90% probability that Liza and Elena take two first places - YOU know that, Russian feds know that, Russian coaches know that and the judges know that.
So please don't try to act pretty or pretend to be neutral - it is the choice between Adelina and Anna, Julia, Alena, and it's choice for now.
It's a basic, but not pretty choice and for 90% it will not become prettier after RusNats.

2. I would love to see Tsareva's face, after Anna finished 3rd with 198 score and very good clean skate.
She got perfect momentum to support Eteri, but she just ain't got that brave Georgian blood in her.
:disagree:

3. Personally I agree with 2/3 of 8200+ figure skating fans voting on Russian portal - 3rd place should go. Level of competition is absolutely too high to give free passes.

Tsareva does not have enough establishment with only Anna as Eteri does with all her young generation of incredible skaters. If she would join Eteri's opinion it could reflect badly on Federation's attitude towards Anna. So her position is totally reasonable. Anna also mentioned before, that Tsareva is insisting on Anna to train more to have better and more stable results; she thinks that Anna does not train enough, and probably she is right.

 

[adelia]

I thought the same thing. What's she got to do with this other than posturing for her own skaters to return in a similar late season fashion but its really two separate issues when looking at the fields. Major lolz.

I really don't care at all and think its a whole lot of nothing. FWIW I don't remember people dumping on Liza like this last season (I certainly didnt) and her season was way worse. Skaters will have ups and downs. What's the big deal. Even if Yulia still isn't in top form by Nationals she'll still be one of the highest ranked female skaters in the world. That's not a bad place to start a new season next year. If she has a good skate at nationals and makes even one of the big events she could still have a respectable season after all is said and done. Sheesh...even Mao had a terrible GP following the Vancouver Olympics.

The only strike I hold against Adelina is she bailed on the WC last season and Anna and Yulia were left to secure a third spot at Worlds that other Russian ladies had failed to do themselves in the past. If there is a third spot open and either Anna or Yulia are skating well I'd think it would be more than fair to give one of them the place that they earned but then again fairness and figure skating don't go hand in hand.

For me I'd say Liza and Elena earned a trip to worlds this season and any of the top six at RN's can put up a strong fight for a sweep at Euro's. If not...oh well. The world kept turning last season when Leonova did poorly.

Too much drama

"Liza got fat", "Liza let herself go", "she's done", "hopeless", "she never was that good", "she should leave Mishin... just like Artur did", "Mishin should dump Liza, she's a lost cause", "Mishin is outdated and clueless" etc. Along these lines. And of course, who could forget, "Mishin has Nugumanova, he doesn't need Liza".

 

[Amei]

Weren't you all about 'fairness'? Anna did better than Yulia in the GP series. If Adelina gets no special consideration for being the Olympic champion (and injured), then Yulia shouldn't get any for being European champion.

Note: I don't even disagree with the point you're making. I think it's a decent reason to send Yulia if Anna doesn't do notably better. Just pointing out the discrepancy here...

I didn't say if everyone does comparable the spot should go to Yulia but that it would probably go to Yulia. I really think that they should go with the 1-3 place finishers at Nationals or the 3 highest placing finishers that are age eligible (since a junior or 2 might sneak into the mix). It's the decision process that would be least likely to start any issues.

My initials posts about ways for them to determine the team - weren't about 'fairness' - though I will say its unfair to give someone a free ticket to a major competition who hasn't competed at all this season but it's also a huge gamble for the 'team' - there's a big difference between competing at a small event where you are the big-time skater and a huge event with better competition like Nationals or the GP.


*One thing I wonder - does anyone think that this type of speculation or statements - where it sounds like the Fed is saying they will pick someone based on past seasons, like send Adelina since she is the OGM even though she hasn't competed at a major event all year, will cause some skaters to start looking at and considering changing to a different country?

 

[sabinfire]

*One thing I wonder - does anyone think that this type of speculation or statements - where it sounds like the Fed is saying they will pick someone based on past seasons, like send Adelina since she is the OGM even though she hasn't competed at a major event all year, will cause some skaters to start looking at and considering changing to a different country?

Heh, at this point I would advise any Russian lady to change federations as soon as possible, if they are allowed to do so. By the way, changing the country you represent imposes an ISU "waiting period" before you can compete again, usually lasting at least one season.

I thought when Anna Ovcharova switched from Russia to Switzerland, she'd be likely to compete internationally, since the Swiss aren't known for their dominance in figure skating -- unfortunately, that hasn't worked out too well for her, as she lost the Swiss National title to Eveline Brunner, who's now heading off to Europeans.

 

[whatif]

More drama: Mozer attacked Eteri and Yulia: Не считаю нужным комментировать ситуацию, в которой тренер пытается создать конфликт, показывая свою слабость и непрофессионализм. У меня сейчас такая же ситуация, как у Сотниковой. Татьяна с Максимом (Волосожар и Траньков – прим. Sports.ru) лечатся и пропустят чемпионат России.

Мне не нравится то, что происходит, и я не хочу участвовать в этих ненужных спорах. У меня негативное отношение к таким вещам. Надо выходить на площадку и доказывать. Никто не мешал той же Липницкой выиграть Олимпийские игры, если она такая великая. Вся эта конфликтная ситуация началась именно там»,

I do not want to comment the case when the coach is trying to create a conflict showing her weakness and the lack of professionalism. I feel negative towards stuff like that. One has to go and prove at the rink. No one prevented Lipnitskaia from winning the Olympics if she is so great. This whole conflict began then.

http://i.imgur.com/Ng9sPUc.gif

And the turf wars commence. Something tells me this drama is more than just about Julia/Adelina. The sports funding squeeze is showing now.

Stop it, Nina, you are strong!!!

 

[Amei]

http://i.imgur.com/Ng9sPUc.gif

And the turf wars commence. Something tells me this drama is more than just about Julia/Adelina. The sports funding squeeze is showing now.

Stop it, Nina, you are strong!!!

I agree with what someone else mentioned - Mozer is also in Adelina and her coach's spot with Volosozhar/Trankov possibly getting a ticket to Euros/Worlds without competing at all this season. So she probably feels that any hint of an attack at Adelina or the position Adelina is in, will hurt her skaters as well.

 

[whatif]

I agree with what someone else mentioned - Mozer is also in Adelina and her coach's spot with Volosozhar/Trankov possibly getting a ticket to Euros/Worlds without competing at all this season. So she probably feels that any hint of an attack at Adelina or the position Adelina is in, will hurt her skaters as well.

Judging by Trankov's updates on his social media, it's highly unlikely, they are going to risk competing this season. That injury will need much more time to heal and there is absolutely no reason for them to show up at Worlds just to lose badly to Meagan.

This has more to do with the behind-the-scene drama over the funding cuts being made across all sports programmes in Russia. And of course TAT's mastery in this type of games.