Pogorilaya Left Off of WTT Contingent

[Daniel1998]

https://scontent.fykz1-1.fna.fbcdn....=34a154a0da1aeb474a5b694649b7bae3&oe=59607F78

Above is a link to a google translation of a post by TSL that portrays a Russian journalist(Elena Vaitsekhovskaya)'s take on Anna Pogorilaya being left off the WTT contingent from Russia.
She notes that some believe she was left off the team because of her free skate implosion, but that others believe it was because of the way she handled herself immediately after the skate, kneeling on the ice and weeping.
She notes as well that the argument that Anna's placement was the reason does not add up when you consider Kovtun, who is headed to WTT, finished no better than Pogorilaya at worlds.

Essentially she is suggesting that the world championships were a failure for the Russian contingent in the eyes of the Federation, and that Pogorilaya has become the scapegoat.

I sincerely hope that the Russian Fed does not drop Pogorilaya completely because of her performance last week, and that Anna will be able to prove herself through next year's GP series and performance at Nationals. She is far too good a skater to not be headed to the Olympics next year.

 

[frida80]

It's started.

 

[SkaterX]

She notes as well that the argument that Anna's placement was the reason does not add up when you consider Kovtun, who is headed to WTT, finished no better than Pogorilaya at worlds.

She may be right in thinking Pogo is the scapegoat but this particular argument doesn't really hold water since the ladies field is much more talented than the men's field.

 

[whatif]

I believe the official reason stated is that RusFed is afraid for her mental wellbeing at this stage and want her to take some time off.

 

[Li'Kitsu]

Was this gossip article really worth it's own thread? I like to speculate as much as anyone else, but as long as there is no further proof of this, I think making so much noise around this is unnecessary.

And especially since it's TSL who posted it. We know from how they went about that 'Adelina doping "scandal"' how much they just post sh!t for drama... (if we didn't know that before).

 

[NaVi]

Maybe they just want to better insure the people that pay for the event get their moneys worth.

 

[WeakAnkles]

She may be right in thinking Pogo is the scapegoat but this particular argument doesn't really hold water since the ladies field is much more talented than the men's field.

I guess even Russian penchant for drama has its limits.

 

[tulosai]

Isn't this all rumors basically, other than the fact that we do know she's not going? Isn't it possible (at least in theory) that she just didn't want to go?

Also, I think that in general among the 'wider' skating public there can be very little doubt Radionova is more popular than her. Maybe that influenced the Fed's decision. Granted that's still a little drama inducing I guess, but for an essentially zero stakes event like this that's just for fun why shouldn't they be allowed to consider that?

I do agree with whoever already said that comparing it to the men in general is extremely disingenuous too, it's not like they really have so many other awesome men to send whereas honestly, any of 5+ ladies could do a decent enough job here.

 

[DiamondDust]

Can't really trust what TSL says. tsk3

 

[Amei]

If true - this is what you point to when someone *cough Weir *cough comments about her reaction after her FS. The Russian ladies are so deep, its understandable that Anna could be afraid that a bad meltdown skate the Worlds before Olympics could scar her chances of going to the Olympics.

I sincerely hope that the Russian Fed does not drop Pogorilaya completely because of her performance last week, and that Anna will be able to prove herself through next year's GP series and performance at Nationals. She is far too good a skater to not be headed to the Olympics next year.

She is a really good skater, however Russia has a lot of really good female skaters and most of them will not be in Korea next year

 

[linkintank]

Can't really trust what TSL says. tsk3

TSL is all about gossip, they are the wannabe TMZ of figure skating, and not much about figure skating. They really need to get back on message and even then I won't watch anymore - they have burned to many bridges for me.

 

[StitchMonkey]

I swear i saw rumors she was dealing with an injury...

Besides, she was not top ten, so she is not a "has to go" skater. Noting wrong, or even unusual, about spreading the love around in terms of assignments.

 

[Baron Vladimir]

I sincerely hope that the Russian Fed does not drop Pogorilaya completely because of her performance last week, and that Anna will be able to prove herself through next year's GP series and performance at Nationals. She is far too good a skater to not be headed to the Olympics next year.

We will see how she skates on next nationals. They wouldn't 'drop' her just like that. They would replace her for that exact competition like they replaced Sotnikova and Tuktamysheva, like Japanese replaced Asada, and like Americans replaced Gold... So nobody dropping anybody in any of that case, they just choosing the best they have at some exact point of time...

 

[Meoima]

Well if Anna deliver next year she still has a chance, but of course it is very slim.
And please don't trust TSL :disapp:

 

[TontoK]

Whether this is true or not, this is exactly the sort of thing that Johnny Weir said was possible following her Free Skate.

Of course, he was speculating, too. So this is rumor + speculation. And I'm reading it on the internet.

So, it must be true.

 

[andromache]

Uh, I don't feel the need to bash someone for providing a translation of a gossipy article that they didn't write. No doubt this would've ended up shared/translated on here anyway with or without TSL. They aren't responsible for the actual content of the article, so calm down.

Unless everyone is implying that TSL is fabricating the journalist and article...?

Anyway, Elena has always been a RussFed darling, and they want to give her a chance to skate again. With all her charisma, a fluff event like WTT is her scene. Anna probably does need a break - or rumors of injury might hold water.

She was never RussFed's favorite, but it seems like there is at least one open spot on that Olympic team for next season (let's assume Evgenia and Alina will be #1 and #2.) If Anna skates as well on the GP as she did this season, and everyone else falters like they did this season, I don't see how RussFed could hold her back.

 

[mrrice]

I hope there is more to this story. Lords knows, after the way that Ashley performed at Worlds, some could say that she needs a "Mental Break." The same could said for Gracie. My problem with decision (If it's true) is that Popo has a World Medal and unlike Gracie, is a member of the World Team. Unless Pogo herself requested she be replaced due to injury or fatigue, this doesn't sit well with me. Of course, I still think there's more to this story and I'm going to wait until there's an Official announcement.

 

[aa456]

I don't know... As much as I like Anna, she has had bad performances before, including at worlds. Yet the RF didn't just drop her. She still skated well at nationals and managed to get on the Euro team. She's the only Russian female skater to make it to the last 3-4 WC back to back. I would like to think if she delivers at Nationals she can make the team again, but will definitely get no favors.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I guess even Russian penchant for drama has its limits.

I felt bad for her after the program, but the complete breakdown on ice was unnecessary and uncomfortable to watch. She isn't the first skater to implode at an important event, and she should have conducted herself with a bit more composure IMO.

 

[Jennifer Lyon]

I swear i saw rumors she was dealing with an injury...

Same here. I even did a little fishing around the Internet to see if I could find confirmation/details. But I couldn't find anything. This doesn't mean there is nothing to be found, just that I couldn't find it.