Anna Pogorilaya

[dante]

Her fall looked really scary, but she first closed her face, then clutched her back, like football players do. I think her pain was more mental than physical.

Tsareva didn't say she's not coming with Anna to other competitions, as some people wrote. It was rather like "come on, do you want me not to come with you to competitions?" Still, there are some tensions between them.

What was really wrong, is Tsareva's uncertain manner of talking, like "maybe we should skate the full programs in practices more often?" In such moments the last thing Pogo should see in her coach is uncertainty.

Anna definitely need a psychologist. And another coach, someone strict enough to keep her too busy to worry about the past failures.

 

[jiawen2016]

My heart was bleeding for her...I literally heard her scream when she fell on that spin entry...I waited for her at the bus stop and she was crying, covered in a hoodie, inhaling some kind of painkiller maybe...I yelled “Anna we love you!...” This is a “Yulia Lipnitskaya moment at last year’s COR”...Can’t believe last year Anna wa on top and now this...This sport is so cruel...I would totally understand if she finishes her career... I would try to always remember her as the Anna at 2016 Worlds when she totally intrigued and wowed me...Best wishes to Anna! Will love her forever !

 

[Alifyre]

My heart was bleeding for her...I literally heard her scream when she fell on that spin entry...I waited for her at the bus stop and she was crying, covered in a hoodie, inhaling some kind of painkiller maybe...I yelled “Anna we love you!...” This is a “Yulia Lipnitskaya moment at last year’s COR”...Can’t believe last year Anna wa on top and now this...This sport is so cruel...I would totally understand if she finishes her career... I would try to always remember her as the Anna at 2016 Worlds when she totally intrigued and wowed me...Best wishes to Anna! Will love her forever !

Anna is the skater that got me into following this sport seriously and honestly it breaks my heart to see this happening to her, but you're right -- I want to focus on the beautiful performances she's given us so far. I'll always hope for more of them, but I am grateful for all the lovely skates she's given us so far and will never forget them.

 

[Fanof]

:sad21::hopelessness:

No words....my Anna...sniff...what now?

Well, either we are currently seeing her career coming slowly to an end, or we recall the 2015 NHK disaster followed by a bronze medal at worlds four months later...

In fact, what worries me most is not tonight's meltdown, but rather:
- that she peaked at 2016 GPF, then we have had a series of worse and worse competitions (nationals, EC, WC, tonight's) and more and more lasting injuries (nationals, EC, tonight's).
- that she has been unable to intensify the technical content and the presentation of her programs over the years

Let there be no misunderstanding: I do root for her a lot. But whereas love is blind, a fan may be realistic...

But not for too long: fingers crossed for SA and RN!

 

[Artemisa]

I'm too sad but let's be positive ( I'm really trying):
_ She had a good SP
_ I think she maybe she didn't have time to practice her LP
_ She have a injury and first she need to take care of her injury and then compete ... not compete with an injury

And yes I think she can be the best swan this year ....
For a other coach ... it's olympic year to difficult to change .... Maybe Pluchenko could be her coach ...

 

[sailormoon]

Anna's back was visibly hurting during the free program and she could have stopped performing at any moment. It was very painful to watch.

 

[Alifyre]

Anna's back was visibly hurting during the free program and she could have stopped performing at any moment. It was very painful to watch.

Honestly, if she's in so much pain she should have pulled out. Those falls could have made the issue so much worse, and back issues are the type that are really hard to recover from once they reach a certain point.... Which is another knock against her coaching team in my opinion. They all need to be thinking on the long term about her ability to compete, why aggravate a potentially grievous injury for a GP event in olympic season?

 

[Violet Bliss]

Be well, Anna. Be strong, be healthy, be confident, be true to yourself and take good care. Be happy.

 

[Shayuki]

Anna's back was visibly hurting during the free program and she could have stopped performing at any moment. It was very painful to watch.

Agreed. That fall on the spin looked really bad for her and I was expecting her to call it quits for that program right there.

Why would she even compete if she's not 100% yet? The GPs aren't so important, especially during the Olympic season. I was expecting her to withdraw before the competition started and I still think that that would have been the smart thing to do.

 

[MGstyle]

Agreed. That fall on the spin looked really bad for her and I was expecting her to call it quits for that program right there.

Why would she even compete if she's not 100% yet? The GPs aren't so important, especially during the Olympic season. I was expecting her to withdraw before the competition started and I still think that that would have been the smart thing to do.

Unfortunately she couldn't afford skipping the GP series. She needed to produce positive results going into the Nationals, and in this competition in particular by finishing ahead of Sotskova. It was utterly essential to regain the faith in her from the Russian Fed., if it was at all possible. The reality in which she lives is a cruel dog eats dog world. Honestly at this point it is better for her to get a good rest, then turn professional before she inflicts permanent physical damage upon her. She is a stunning, gorgeous performer and very popular world-wide, I am sure she will have a successful career in it.

 

[Totentanz]

I don't know what to say... But I'm sure something is wrong and Anna must not compete in this condition again. If she is in pain, she must recover first. Just because it's the olympic season doesn't mean she must compete everytime risking further injuries. And If she is not in form to skate a full LP then they shouldn't hurry things up and come to Skate Canada in the first place. Let her heal. Let her regain her good form first. Maybe it's Anna insisting on competing injured but her team should make her stop. It's not really a wise strategy trying to perform miraculously clean at the moment. Now this competition did nothing but add more to the bad reputation about Anna's bombing so called Pogosplat. I'm so heartbroken:sad4:

 

[MaiKatze]

Unfortunately she couldn't afford skipping the GP series. She needed to produce positive results going into the Nationals, and in this competition in particular by finishing ahead of Sotskova. It was utterly essential to regain the faith in her from the Russian Fed., if it was at all possible. The reality in which she lives is a cruel dog eats dog world. Honestly at this point it is better for her to get a good rest, then turn professional before she inflicts permanent physical damage upon her. She is a stunning, gorgeous performer and very popular world-wide, I am sure she will have a successful career in it.

I agree. It's the most horrific competition. If you survive this sport you're fit for life. What makes it so frustrating is also that Anna would have absolutely dominated the Russian Ladies, if she had been born 5 years earlier. There was a draught and she would have had all the time in the World to grow. Look at Carolina Kostner. As the undisputed Number 1 she had the time to hone her skills and grow into the skater that is so popular and succesful now. But as a russian skater of her generation, Anna doesn't have the opportunity to just come back stronger next year, not when we know who's waiting to come into the senior scene. And just like that she'll be gone. Look at Gracie Gold. This sport is not for the sensitive. And have the World witness your 'failures' at 19...this must leave scars on the most toughened up individual. I just feel so sorry for her.

 

[MedoLove]

Beautiful Anna, I fel so bad for her, when she fell her back, I thinked she can't rise , but she continued, obviously with pain . Bravo Anna, you're so valient.

I know she can be better, I hope this doesn't make her injury worse, I'm very worried about that. We all know that Anna's level is other, superior, she has been on the podium many times. And she will recover. I think she need to work her mind, relieve stress, leave insecurity, and cure her back injury completely. She is only 19 years old, she can continue.Health is paramount, I really wanted Anna to make the Olympic Team, but now I fear for her health.

We support you, Anna!:sad21:

 

[yuna]

So sad for Anna I was heartbroken to see her skating in this condition. You could just tell mid-program that she was in pain. I hope she first recovers from her injury which is the most important thing.

 

[LRK]

So sad to see her like this - get well soon, Anna, but above all take care of yourself! And know that you are loved by so many and many well-wishes and good thoughts going your way.

 

[EdgeCall]

Anna's career after Helsinki is now in a death spiral the same way as Gracie's after Boston. Tsareva is surely not a bad coach, she brought her student to world class level and one step away from the ultimate acomplishment. But judging by their K&C talk it is clear now that she has no clue how to deal with Anna's anxiety problem.

If there is interest in saving her career at all it is due time to get the help of an expert. Not just an off-the-shelf psychologist, but someone who specialized in this field and knows how to deal with these issues. It should have happened after Worlds already, and I hope there is still enough will power left in her to get back to her feet and continue fighting. If they go on as before she has no chance.

Is there a way to get a message to them directly?

 

[MaiKatze]

Anna's career after Helsinki is now in a death spiral the same way as Gracie's after Boston. Tsareva is surely not a bad coach, she brought her student to world class level and one step away from the ultimate acomplishment. But judging by their K&C talk it is clear now that she has no clue how to deal with Anna's anxiety problem.

If there is interest in saving her career at all it is due time to get the help of an expert. Not just an off-the-shelf psychologist, but someone who specialized in this field and knows how to deal with these issues. It should have happened after Worlds already, and I hope there is still enough will power left in her to get back to her feet and continue fighting. If they go on as before she has no chance.

Is there a way to get a message to them directly?

What I really ask myself is why the russian fed didn't get involved at some point? I know they have several skaters just waiting in the ranks to take over Anna's place. But I wonder if they couldn't have offered support or helped with a coach change earlier? Either way, being Anna's fan is so hard. I want to defend her but...it's getting even harder, every competition is heartbreak and it's just so exhausting to get the hopes up and then these things happened. I had a bad feeling, she wasn't ready since the Russian Cup.

 

[OS]

Anna has been invited to doing the Gala this evening. Wonder what she has planned. I wish her the very best at next GP outing, otherwise it may be the only chance we see her Gala this year internationally. :sad21:

Backpains are awful and horrible, and I wouldn't blame her for pulling out to get healed first to focus on nationals. It is so hard when you are gunning for the Olympics but your body fails you.

 

[nipman]

Anna has been invited to doing the Gala this evening. Wonder what she has planned.

Wait! That means her back is OK after that freaky fall in the FS?

 

[matcha]

I didn't comment during her skate in the ladies fs thread because i just did not have any words.

Anna has such low lows, but her highs are wondrous. I really hope she doesn't forget that, and doesn't spend too much time lamenting this outing (which is so hard because you just can't help it most of the time). The pressure is immense and I hope that she has someone who she can work this through with. I really hope her federation does as much as they can to help her.