Pogorilaya Left Off of WTT Contingent

[noskates]

Someone posted on this board that she had been dealing with a leg injury - don't remember who, and nothing was cited as the source.

 

[lyverbird1]

I'm happy I'll get to see my Elena skating again this season, but I'd never have wanted it this way. Anna may not be my favourite but I really feel bad for her...

 

[viennaskater]

Anna has been performing superbly the entire season and just because of this, they drop her. OK, so she cried - she is HUMAN, for heaven's sake! She was for sure dealing with an injury. At least she actually got through the LP and didn't give up half-way through.

As for Kovtun, he should not be in the Russian team in my opinion. They should have sent Voronov. He may be old but I think he would have been more likely to pull off a good performance and finish higher than Kovtun. He is more exciting to watch as well.

 

[sarama]

First of all maybe SHE didn't want to go. Secondly she had a LONG and EXHAUSTING season with injuries as well, so maybe Russian Federation is thinking of her well being. I wouldn't call this action a scandal

 

[Camillo]

Lakernik answered the question about Anna not going to WTT.
https://youtu.be/7PhvZgN51p4?t=14m41s
Rough translation.

Q:... Today I've read the decision about Pogorilaya, does it mean she also has no guts (seeing what happened to her at Worlds)?
L: You know, she had a lot of competitions during this and previous seasons. And to say: "She has no guts"? Well, she had a meltdown right now...
Q: Ran out of steam?
L: Maybe ran out of steam, maybe broken down because for some reason she is judged quite severely, and maybe she understood she needed to do everything [at FS], so when the first jump failed it started the chain reaction. Maybe that was the reason. Maybe she was just tired because GPF, Russian Nationals, tough selection process, Europeans and Worlds... I would give her an opportunity to take a breath and regain her composure. Push her to the next competition right now?.. :noshake: That is why we decided to give it a try and send Radionova to the WTT. It was collective decision, because she started the season poorly, however at the end she is in good form now, we saw it. And in this situation it's better for us to have not only three girls and close the list but have more, so in the next season we could see what will happen.

 

[Ares]

This decision makes sense, but I would not read that as dropping Pogorilaya.

 

[MaiKatze]

No guts....this isn't even worth answering.

This girl is a fighter. Oh how I wish she will come back next season and show them all the middle finger, by winning it all.

 

[OS]

Lakernik answered the question about Anna not going to WTT.
https://youtu.be/7PhvZgN51p4?t=14m41s
Rough translation.

Q:... Today I've read the decision about Pogorilaya, does it mean she also has no guts (seeing what happened to her at Worlds)?
L: You know, she had a lot of competitions during this and previous seasons. And to say: "She has no guts"? Well, she had a meltdown right now...
Q: Ran out of steam?
L: Maybe ran out of steam, maybe broken down because for some reason she is judged quite severely, and maybe she understood she needed to do everything [at FS], so when the first jump failed it started the chain reaction. Maybe that was the reason. Maybe she was just tired because GPF, Russian Nationals, tough selection process, Europeans and Worlds... I would give her an opportunity to take a breath and regain her composure. Push her to the next competition right now?.. :noshake: That is why we decided to give it a try and send Radionova to the WTT. It was collective decision, because she started the season poorly, however at the end she is in good form now, we saw it. And in this situation it's better for us to have not only three girls and close the list but have more, so in the next season we could see what will happen.

Hahah Yup, no conflict of interest at all. How can the ISU chairman of the technical committe decide which 'We' = Russian federation skaters should be sent?

Lets not even pretend the whole purpose of creating the WTT was to ensure Russian skaters get a final PCS boost in front of Sochi home crowd to ensure a high chance of a gold if it doesn't work out at other events. In effective, he is the guy that has the power to decide which flutz get over looked, decide on the technical levels, which UR will not be penalised at which competition by strategically appointing 'strict/lenient' technical judges. The very one who decide on rules changes and bonuses that 'shockingly' just happen to benefit 'Russian' skaters the most, and be influential enough to have these practically 100% European Judging panels for ladies event for 3 years post-Sochi so Russian ladies can optimise their chance for success. Seriously... if people are still remain blind to the fact they are really competing at the Russian/European nationals the last couple of years when they should be competing at a WC, then there's no hope.

 

[madison]

Hahah Yup, no conflict of interest at all. How can the ISU chairman of the technical committe decide which 'We' = Russian federation skaters should be sent?

Lets not even pretend the whole purpose of creating the WTT was to ensure Russian skaters get a final PCS boost in front of Sochi home crowd to ensure a high chance of a gold if it doesn't work out at other events. In effective, he is the guy that has the power to decide which flutz get over looked, decide on the technical levels, which UR will not be penalised at which competition by strategically appointing 'strict/lenient' technical judges. The very one who decide on rules changes and bonuses that 'shockingly' just happen to benefit 'Russian' skaters the most, and be influential enough to have these practically 100% European Judging panels for ladies event for 3 years post-Sochi so Russian ladies can optimise their chance for success. Seriously... if all other federations/skaters still remain blind to the fact they are really competing at the Russian/European nationals the last couple of years when they should be competing at the WC, there's no hope.

I love Anna and I don't want to see her like a victim. This is the tendency the fans are going.
The truth is that she's really talented, but not very strong emotionally. I totally understand the Russian Fed. They need consistent and extremely stable skaters, especially for the Olympic season. They cannot allowed a skater, in women, to bomb like Anna did at this Worlds, at the Olympics, in single, and especially in team event.

 

[MaiKatze]

I love Anna and I don't want to see her like a victim. This is the tendency the fans are going.
The truth is that she's really talented, but not very strong emotionally. I totally understand the Russian Fed. They need consistent and extremely stable skaters, especially for the Olympic season. They cannot allowed a skater, in women, to bomb like Anna did at this Worlds, at the Olympics, in single, and especially in team event.

But this is not about the Olympics at all. As you can probably see from my posts, I'm a massive Anna supporter and what happened broke my heart. Depending on the next season, I would absolutely understand if they left her at home in favour of a more stable skater. But Russian federation has to ask themselves why this happened? And why Maria also has been showing nerves during these latest competition? And will Zagitova be like Medvedeva? Or will she show nerves in her debut season? We don't know, at this point. At this point it is simply about WTT. And if Anna wanted to go, she should have been able to.

 

[tikse]

As much as I like Anna I must say on this particular stage of her career she resembles a flawed timebomb. You just never know when it's going to blow up. As if there's some kind of Schrodinger device triggering her total meltdown.
IMO all things being equal there's no reason the RusFed should pick her over the more stable ladies to go to main competitions such as WC or OG. As for WTT selection I think RusFed has a more or less sensible explanation why they chose Radionova.

 

[tulosai]

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.

While I suppose I agree with you on some level I highly doubt that would have been how she'd have chosen to react if she could have reacted a different way. In the heat of the moment, her emotions got the best of her. It was uncomfortable to watch but I don't quite feel right judging her for her honest reaction that I don't think she could control. It's not like she was screaming obscenities about other skaters or crying and refusing to wear a medal on the podium or whacking someone with a club. While you're also right that she isn't the first to implode, she's also actually not the first to have some kind of meltdown afterwards either, especially if we take into account some of the more dramatic KnC moments over the years...

 

[Tutto]

Just to put an end to speculations -Anna did want to go:

https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1049975083.html

''I would have liked to go to WTT, it was the Federation's decision''

Sambo's director' view of the situation (and I think he has a point):

https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1049977105.html

''I think that Anna is rushing her development. She wants to prove to everyone that she is the best and to achieve the highest result at once. In sport it is better when things happen gradually. I think the mistake was in mental preparation.'' said Renat Laishev.

I like Anna very much more than any other Russian girl but I am beginning to feel a bit tired of the constant drama, of Anna being a victim, a sort of Cinderella of vicious stepmother, RusFed. The facts disapprove - she is the only Russian lady who went to 4 (!) Worlds in a row. Okay she had to fight for it but so had other girls.
I think her conduct after the skate did her more damage than the skate itself. Do I feel for her and sympathise with her? Absolutely! But I do remember other disasters and other girls e.g Kaetlyn Osmond who fell practically on every jump at SC 2015 but found the strength to smile bravely and give the audience the due bows in four directions as is the custom. Anna's behaviour was totally unprofessional and I can see where the Fed's decision coming from (not that I necessary agree with it).

 

[xeyra]

Sambo's director' view of the situation (and I think he has a point):

https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1049977105.html

''I think that Anna is rushing her development. She wants to prove to everyone that she is the best and to achieve the highest result at once. In sport it is better when things happen gradually. I think the mistake was in mental preparation.'' said Renat Laishev.
.

I feel like this is their 'excuse'. I am not entirely knowledgeable of what the Russian Federation does or does not do, but it seems to me the depth in their female division is so strong that you're either mentally tough and cutthroat or you're going to be left behind if you don't produce results. They don't seem to be particularly nurturing and the bloodbath seems to be encouraged. There is really no time for 'things to happen gradually'.

 

[Tutto]

I feel like this is their 'excuse'. I am not entirely knowledgeable of what the Russian Federation does or does not do, but it seems to me the depth in their female division is so strong that you're either mentally tough and cutthroat or you're going to be left behind if you don't produce results. They don't seem to be particularly nurturing and the bloodbath seems to be encouraged. There is really no time for 'things to happen gradually'.

I think what he was trying to say is that if you are mentally not prepared to make a mistake because you feel you are the best it puts a lot of pressure and then yes one error turns into disaster. BESP guys said a few times that they watched her practice that morning and that it was just perfect. It didn't look like she was injured. So it seems to be a mental issue entirely.
I noticed that Anna looked so surprised at her scores in the K&C this season like she was expecting much higher marks. As I said I love Anna but I can see many areas she could improve - her spins, her extensions, jumps telegraphing etc. Maybe it is not a very healthy attitude to expect more instead of looking for things to work on?

 

[MaiKatze]

Just to put an end to speculations -Anna did want to go:

https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1049975083.html

''I would have liked to go to WTT, it was the Federation's decision''

Sambo's director' view of the situation (and I think he has a point):

https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1049977105.html

''I think that Anna is rushing her development. She wants to prove to everyone that she is the best and to achieve the highest result at once. In sport it is better when things happen gradually. I think the mistake was in mental preparation.'' said Renat Laishev.

I like Anna very much more than any other Russian girl but I am beginning to feel a bit tired of the constant drama, of Anna being a victim, a sort of Cinderella of vicious stepmother, RusFed. The facts disapprove - she is the only Russian lady who went to 4 (!) Worlds in a row. Okay she had to fight for it but so had other girls.
I think her conduct after the skate did her more damage than the skate itself. Do I feel for her and sympathise with her? Absolutely! But I do remember other disasters and other girls e.g Kaetlin Osmond who fell practically on every jump at SC 2015 but found the strength to smile bravely and give the audience the due bows in four directions as is the custom. Anna's behaviour was totally unprofessional and I can see where the Fed's decision coming from (not that I necessary agree with it).

I agree with tulosai on this. It wasn't something she was able to control. That's why it makes no sense to compare this breakdown to whatever Kaetlyn Osmond did at her home GP in 2015 because Anna is not Kaetlyn Osmond. I do agree that this did her damage, but she probably wasn't even thinking clearly. It's such an exposure to be out there and failing so miserably, everyone is watching, it is the biggest stage of all. I think when she'll look back at this she will kick herself hard, but it was a human reaction and totally understandable and in tune with her character.

 

[demarinis5]

I was looking forward to seeing Anna at WTT! This is a fun competition and I think it would have done Anna a world of good
to be in a happy often times silly team competition atmosphere with a big monetary payoff for all of the skaters as a bonus.

I don't know if I understand the real reason why her federation did not name her to the team.

 

[Hannah555]

I don't know if I understand the real reason why her federation did not name her to the team.

Off-topic: Congrats on your 6000 post !!! :clapper:

 

[demarinis5]

Off-topic: Congrats on your 6000 post !!! :clapper:

Thank you I did not even notice it lol! Love your avatar!

 

[Meoima]

I haven't been able to watch Anna, it's too much sad... I am afraid her chance of going to Olympic has gone. Unless she goes to next season winning everything behind Zhenia which is difficult because Zagitova is coming.