This brings up two points. I was having dinner with a Russian skating coach recently and asked why our American skaters are lagging behind the world in difficulty. (Prescinding from our men, of course). He was very dismissive of the American work ethic. In essence, his opinion was that Americans aren't willing to work as hard as the Russians or the Japanese or the Koreans. I don't want to argue this point, but he made it, and he implied it wasn't his opinion alone. So the first point is the work ethic question. The second, and more pertinent in this case, is Aljona herself. I spoke to Eric Radford after the Olympics and I said that if he hadn't been standing next to Bruno when Aljona and Bruno realized they had won, he would have fallen on the floor since Bruno collapsed into Eric's arms. Can you imagine the pressure that boy was under skating with Aljona at that point? If he had made a mistake that cost her the gold, God alone knows what fury would have followed. Great skaters, have to be hardened like steel to achieve the Gold. Aljona is of that ilk. But, being a great skater, doesn't necessarily translate into being a good coach. People for whom something comes easily don't always know how to translate it for someone who finds it difficult. Someone who struggled with jumping could teach me how to jump with more facility than someone for whom jumping came second nature. Perhaps, Aljona didn't think Alexa and Chris worked as hard as she and Bruno had. I have no idea, but she's a tough task mistress that's for sure. Again, I hope Alexa and Chris find a coach to bring out their best, not one who superimposes anything on them.
So topic: in this thread bit I could not resist:
Your Russian friend's comments gave me a chuckle... perhaps he fears losing what philosophers call a "worthy adversary" , couching his fear in dismissive, contemptuous rhetoric. .. analyzing his view would require the skills of a ultra competent psychoanalyst, so, no, I would not want to argue it either.
But reading about your discussion with him reminded me acutely of Baryshnikov's defection to the lazy incompetent USA so many years ago... Ask your friend: as Russia's premier ballet star, what, do you suppose, was Baryshnikov looking for leaving Mother Russia? This film clip holds the key:
Baryshnikov / Hines dance off from White Nights...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr8vtCrzT6w