The greatest female Russian singles skater

[Skater Boy]

WHO IS THE GREATEST RUSSIAN FEMALE SINGLES SKATER???

Russia traditionally has had a very strong figure skating team, Ladies singles skating was their one weak area (relatively) and it took them a long time before they produce an olympic gold medallist skater in ladies - Sotnikova.

I believe a skater by the name Elena Vordorzeyva (trying to remember her name) won a world bronze medal first - I think she may have been a child prodigy, and had some injury or health problems then won a bronze and faded into the background - now coaches? with a married name. She was followed by I believe Kira Ivanova who became a school figures specialist and then tragically became an alcoholic and was murdered in a heinous act. There was the very beautiful skater Anna Kondrosheva, Maria Butyrskaya who was the first Russian World Champion I think and Yulia Soldatova, Irina Slutskaya probably the most singles medals, Elena Sokolova, Adeline Sotnikova -- no world medal but the big one - oly gold , Yulia Lipnskaya, Evgenia Med, Anna P, Elena Rad, I probably missed some world medallists There was a skater with huge potential and won many euro bronze but no world medal Viktoria Volchkova and Ksena Makarova who had hope, So many of the Russian ladies faded in the end.

I think Maria B had a wonderful style. Adeline is hard to deny because of the oly gold. Yulia's red dress skate is probably the most epic program for ladies. Med has such consistency. Irina has her strength and many medals over a long period of time (relatively). Kira was really the one who got Russia noticed probably for ladies including a OBM.

 

[Elsie]

You forgot a very important one: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (European and World champion, also the most gorgeous triple axel). But I think it's hard to compare them all as we're talking about different generations. I can't even decide who's the best Russian right now, despite Medvedeva's consistency and winning just about everything (she's not my cup of tea, and part of her consistency is sadly also consistent over-scoring and consistent ignoring her technical faults by the judges).

I have a thing for Butyrskaya, as others may have noticed by the thread on her that I started. But I'm fully aware of her shortcomings and her often disastrous performances (in terms of jumping). It's just that for me she's the most memorable. I couldn't care less if she fell or not and whether or not her jumps came through, I just couldn't take my eyes off her whenever she skated. There has never been anyone like her, and I'm hoping to see someone new with a similar level of elegance.

I believe Slutskaya won the most medals and had a very long career so maybe for now she should be considered the best Russian figure skating in history. But anything can happen.

 

[tars]

Yulia Lipnitskaya enchanted whole Russian and half of the world population.
She transformed reception of figure skating in Russia from nice, one of many sports for girls to a widely respected and recognized life adventure and no.1 choice sport in most girls lives.
You skate? Skate like Yulia. Spin like Yulia. Wear hair like Yulia. Dress like Yulia. You can't skate? Support Yulia and and other girls live and on-line. You can't skate and have daughter? Bring her to the rink, she may become next Yulia.
Not only girls got Lip-fever: they tried to name buildings and streets after Yulia (she always refused), they named a star after Yulia, invited Yulia to municipality, legislature, for visiting schools, public speeches, educational and sporting events, national tv talk-shows, youth magazines, radio, etc.. Artists created paintings, poems, music on Yulia, one of film directors said in interview, he immediately left the skating arena right after Yulia's exhibition skate, because he knew he was not going to see anything comparable and wanted to keep the impression unblemished(!). On her birthday fans jumped on parachutes with her banners and national TV greeted her in the news.
I can only recall few of the things I've read three years ago, but it was an utter national love and madness. I'm very curious about population of girls names born in 2014 in Russia. I bet there are many 15yo Yulias coming at you in 2029.

More than that, she also changed the way RUSSIA ITSELF is perceived by many. She has immense fan-base around the world, which by following her, learned a ton not only about Russian skating, but also Russian language, way of life, culture, arts, mentality even. If Yulia is so cool, Russia can't be that bad, right?
This girl has been one of the greatest Russian ambassadors in history, even if she doesn't know or ever wanted it.

Isn't it "greatness"? :agree:

 

[Seren]

I think Med's definitely making a case for herself as one of the greats of the sport, period.

That said, I always had a soft spot for Slutskaya, even back in my Michelle Kwan obsessed days. She definitely should get credit as a pioneer in Russian ladies skating.

 

[solani]

My younger self has to root for Slutskaya. In my heart she'll always be the first Russian Olympic champion. arty:
My older self appreciates many of those great Russian skaters listed above ... but I'll go with my younger self.
Slutskaya is still the greatest of them all!
And, by the way, my younger self found Kwan absolutely boring. I only learned to appreciate her years later.

 

[russianfan]

I don't think we need to put labels on them like "the greatest" or anything... I personally love all of them (may be someone more, someone less, but still). Be it Yulia, Evgenia or anyone else, they are all special in their own way

 

[mrrice]

My younger self has to root for Slutskaya. In my heart she'll always be the first Russian Olympic champion. arty:
My older self appreciates many of those great Russian skaters listed above ... but I'll go with my younger self.
Slutskaya is still the greatest of them all!
And, by the way, my younger self found Kwan absolutely boring. I only learned to appreciate her years later.

This is exactly how I how felt about Michelle Kwan. I had seen her live at Worlds in 1999 and she did not make a good impression on me. In fact, I think her SP from that year is the worst SP she ever had. She was like a different skater by the time I saw her again at Worlds in 2001. Enough about Michelle, I would like to give a shout out to Alena Leonova. I have a lot of respect for her and her longevity. With all the talent in Russia, I fully expected her to be retired by now. I know it's a long shot but I hope she skates well and though I don't think has a chance to make the team, I hope she performs well and enjoys what I'm sure will be her final season.

You know who else I really liked....Elena Sokolova. She always had a smile on her face she was fantastic at Worlds in 2003. http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/05b61ec55...after-her-performance-at-the-world-gyet96.jpg

 

[Barb]

Yulia or Adelina

 

[voolfee]

WHO IS THE GREATEST RUSSIAN FEMALE SINGLES SKATER???

Slutskaya of course, with no options. She is a two-time World champion (2002, 2005) and six-time medalist, two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 2002, bronze in 2006), seven-time European champion (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006), a four-time Grand Prix Final champion (2000–2002, 2005) and nine-time medalist. Slutskaya was the first female skater to land 3Lz-3Lo. She is also known for her trademark double Biellmann spin with a foot change, which she also invented.

 

[OS]

Greatest Trailblazer
Irina Slutskaya

Greatest Program
Julia Lipnitskaya: Schindler's List

Greatest Technician
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva

Greatest Phoenix
Anna Pogorilaya

Greatest Babe
Elena Radionova

Greatest TanoRippon scorer
Evgenia Medvedeva

Greatest Backloader
Alina Zagitova

Greatest Steal
Adelina Sotnikova





There ya go

 

[Blades of Passion]

I think Sotnikova would have been the greatest if she had stayed in competition and been motivated. We'll never know since 2014 gave her sudden fame and fortune, knocking her off the horse. Her skating skills continued to develop though, as did her presentation. She had better quality jumps than the current Russian ladies and more magnificent spins and flexibility. It's too bad we missed out on 4 years of her as a serious competitor and never got to see her full potential.

 

[[email protected]]

I believe a skater by the name Elena Vordorzeyva (trying to remember her name)

She comes as Buyanova these days - former Sotnikova's coach.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

It's hard to say. Medvedeva's records and consistency and difficulty make her an obvious choice. So does Tukt with her 3A but she had no longevity. Or Butyrskaya being the first World Champ.

But for me, Irina Slutskaya stands out for all her accolades and the way she skates. Her skating felt very personal but also stayed true to classic Russian skating. And she was a jumping machine too.

 

[OS]

Yulia Lipnitskaya enchanted whole Russian and half of the world population.
She transformed reception of figure skating in Russia from nice, one of many sports for girls to a widely respected and recognized life adventure and no.1 choice sport in most girls lives.
You skate? Skate like Yulia. Spin like Yulia. Wear hair like Yulia. Dress like Yulia. You can't skate? Support Yulia and and other girls live and on-line. You can't skate and have daughter? Bring her to the rink, she may become next Yulia.
Not only girls got Lip-fever: they tried to name buildings and streets after Yulia (she always refused), they named a star after Yulia, invited Yulia to municipality, legislature, for visiting schools, public speeches, educational and sporting events, national tv talk-shows, youth magazines, radio, etc.. Artists created paintings, poems, music on Yulia, one of film directors said in interview, he immediately left the skating arena right after Yulia's exhibition skate, because he knew he was not going to see anything comparable and wanted to keep the impression unblemished(!). On her birthday fans jumped on parachutes with her banners and national TV greeted her in the news.
I can only recall few of the things I've read three years ago, but it was an utter national love and madness. I'm very curious about population of girls names born in 2014 in Russia. I bet there are many 15yo Yulias coming at you in 2029.

More than that, she also changed the way RUSSIA ITSELF is perceived by many. She has immense fan-base around the world, which by following her, learned a ton not only about Russian skating, but also Russian language, way of life, culture, arts, mentality even. If Yulia is so cool, Russia can't be that bad, right?
This girl has been one of the greatest Russian ambassadors in history, even if she doesn't know or ever wanted it.

Isn't it "greatness"? :agree:

I wonder if she can be considered the most popular? She has fans all over the world with her Schindler's list program.

 

[mirai4life]

Greatest Steal
Adelina Sotnikova


There ya go

I wonder what she stole.

:hap85:

eeeeee

 

[tars]

I wonder if she can be considered the most popular? She has fans all over the world with her Schindler's list program.

For sure. Including all 4 disciplines.

 

[DiamondDust]

What is the standard for being "the greatest"? Imo, every new generation has "a greatest". But most memorable for me would be Yulia she was great as well.

 

[Sweet Dream]

To be the greatest, these Russian girls should learn how to prolong their skating career from Slutskaya, whose training conditions must be much worse than today.

 

[jenaj]

Slutskaya, at least so far. Two-time WC, two Olympic medals, seven-time European champion and four-time GP Final champion. Great competitor; was among the top skaters in the world for nearly a decade (top two during her rivalry with Kwan 1999-2002).

 

[4everchan]

slutskaya.