Mikhail Kolyada

[Heleng]

In case any of you were curious about the CBC commentary for his GP Helsinki LP, it's at the 11:04 mark (the password is men): https://vimeo.com/296329952 His SP wasn't broadcast on Canadian television.

Thank you sooo much, siberia82!!! I’ve always wished CBC’s figure skating broadcasts were more accessible on a regular basis outside Canada, and I’m not just saying this because of their commentary about Misha in this competition.

 

[Tutto]

Great interview with Raf:

https://rsport.ria.ru/interview/20181109/1145633054.html

Well worth a read, talks about Mika quite a bit. I don't know I just have that feeling that Raf is a perfect match for Mika such a pity it will never happen (long-term I mean) but the interesting news is Raf is coming to CoR and Nathan will be there training for his next GP in France so in all likelihood Mika will meet him and maybe get some advice.

Guys, I won't get to watch Men SP till late this evening if you don't mind please don't say anything about how other guys did (Dmitri & Sergei in particular)- many thanks in advance!

 

[Tutto]

If only he had a flip but we could deal with Misha hypotheticals all day....

I honestly think a flip is the least of his problems his BV could still be quite high if he just lands 4T & 4S and all other jumps of course

 

[coldblueeyes]

I like that Raf went directly to the point: pressure in Russia is one of the biggest problems the skaters face. He didn't say the 'rest' wasn't also to blame, though he avoided blaming anyone. We discussed in here, it's a lot of factors. But pressure is one of the most important, for sure.

 

[Tutto]

Yes, he clearly went out there wanting to get it over as best as he could, there was no expectations of bouncing. And throughout he was concentrating on getting through it rather than performing. That program should not be skated with the facial expression of someone doing a calculus exam. On rewatches I am more certain he had balance/coordination problems. Even the EX had some odd clumsy movements and was not up to his usual standard. He also clearly had trouble breathing normally, is his nose always blocked now or what? I think we should stop blaming everything on his mental state.

If he was sick I really don't understand why they wouldn't make a short statement to the media it is just so painful to read how he is being tearing to pieces for 'not being a fighter, Kolyada always falls, Kolyada is lazy etc etc' (sometimes I wish I could not read Russian!)
I hope he finds a good doctor to deal with his rhinitis or whatever it is as it seems to be a chronic condition now it is so difficult to treat. I wish I could send him a hug!!!
I noted btw that people were leaving messages of support on his last post in Instagram. I have no account but maybe someone can write a message from us wishing him luck for CoR?

 

[Tutto]

I like that Raf went directly to the point: pressure in Russia is one of the biggest problems the skaters face. He didn't say the 'rest' wasn't also to blame, though he avoided blaming anyone. We discussed in here, it's a lot of factors. But pressure is one of the most important, for sure.

Absolutely, and sadly we all know how it went with Arthur and Maxim - thats what so worrying..

 

[Tutto]

I like that Raf went directly to the point: pressure in Russia is one of the biggest problems the skaters face. He didn't say the 'rest' wasn't also to blame, though he avoided blaming anyone. We discussed in here, it's a lot of factors. But pressure is one of the most important, for sure.

It's so interesting what Raf says about pops. I am trying to think about Michal did he pop any jumps this season at all - I can't remember any and yet he was very 'good' at it before. If it is so (I don't follow Michal so closely though always loved him just not his posture on the jumps) Raf really delivers what he promises!

 

[rachno2]

If he was sick I really don't understand why they wouldn't make a short statement to the media it is just so painful to read how he is being tearing to pieces for 'not being a fighter, Kolyada always falls, Kolyada is lazy etc etc' (sometimes I wish I could not read Russian!)
I hope he finds a good doctor to deal with his rhinitis or whatever it is as it seems to be a chronic condition now it is so difficult to treat. I wish I could send him a hug!!!
I noted btw that people were leaving messages of support on his last post in Instagram. I have no account but maybe someone can write a message from us wishing him luck for CoR?

I think they would attack him even more if he said he was sick--why couldn't he just pull through like a real man? They would accuse him of making excuses for underperforming.

As soon as he finished his free in Helsinki, I wrote him a supportive comment on Instagram I doubt he reads them after what happened with the Olympics, but it's nice to see people sticking with him

 

[rachno2]

Oh and let me know when you watch the men's SP from NHK because I have...….thoughts.....

 

[Tutto]

I think they would attack him even more if he said he was sick--why couldn't he just pull through like a real man? They would accuse him of making excuses for underperforming.

As soon as he finished his free in Helsinki, I wrote him a supportive comment on Instagram I doubt he reads them after what happened with the Olympics, but it's nice to see people sticking with him

:thumbsup:

 

[Tutto]

Oh and let me know when you watch the men's SP from NHK because I have...….thoughts.....

Oh God I am dying to know but working like a lunatic to a deadline which was yesterday btw but it is not a fair request - I'll log out in about an hour and concentrate on accounts finally as I should!

 

[rachno2]

The part that really interested me in the Raf interview was when he said Misha is very uncertain when it comes to trying new things. I don't think a coaching change is realistic and I certainly don't think it will magically fix his issues, but that observation really makes me think he needs to leave Valentina and try something new. It would be hard at first, but I wonder if a new environment would help get him out of his usual habits, both physical and mental. But it's never going to happen, so why speculate?

Glad he'll be at CoR! I don't expect him to give Misha the pep talk to end all pep talks and motivate him to gold, but our boy could always use some motivation from somebody who actually cares about him. I think Raf does.

 

[Tutto]

The part that really interested me in the Raf interview was when he said Misha is very uncertain when it comes to trying new things. I don't think a coaching change is realistic and I certainly don't think it will magically fix his issues, but that observation really makes me think he needs to leave Valentina and try something new. It would be hard at first, but I wonder if a new environment would help get him out of his usual habits, both physical and mental. But it's never going to happen, so why speculate?

Glad he'll be at CoR! I don't expect him to give Misha the pep talk to end all pep talks and motivate him to gold, but our boy could always use some motivation from somebody who actually cares about him. I think Raf does.

He is 23 and if he doesn't do it now or fairly soon he will never even know would it have worked for him. Could regret it later in life not trying I mean
All of us need a change from time to time, it is not common for an elite skater to be coached by the same coach from 5 years old - the only one I could think of was Irina Slutskaya.

 

[coldblueeyes]

Raf himself says the reason why I don't know if Misha would change coaches. Perhaps if he keeps going to camps outside of Russia he might feel like he could change, but I don't know. A part of me feels like he really wants to stay in SPb because of his family. And there's always the chance that he'll crash and burn with another coach. Let's see what's going to happen in the rest of the season.

 

[Tutto]

Oh and let me know when you watch the men's SP from NHK because I have...….thoughts.....

I am off ..sigh..
Happy discussions!

 

[vorravorra]

Raf himself says the reason why I don't know if Misha would change coaches. Perhaps if he keeps going to camps outside of Russia he might feel like he could change, but I don't know. A part of me feels like he really wants to stay in SPb because of his family. And there's always the chance that he'll crash and burn with another coach. Let's see what's going to happen in the rest of the season.

Even if he goes to camps outside Russia I still don't see who would be prepared to pay for him training outside Russia full time.

 

[vorravorra]

If he was sick I really don't understand why they wouldn't make a short statement to the media it is just so painful to read how he is being tearing to pieces for 'not being a fighter, Kolyada always falls, Kolyada is lazy etc etc' (sometimes I wish I could not read Russian!)
I hope he finds a good doctor to deal with his rhinitis or whatever it is as it seems to be a chronic condition now it is so difficult to treat. I wish I could send him a hug!!!
I noted btw that people were leaving messages of support on his last post in Instagram. I have no account but maybe someone can write a message from us wishing him luck for CoR?

Post factum is how that group works with regard to releasing health information unless it leads to withdrawals from competitions (some times very much post factum. Never is also an option, then you are lucky if you hear about it third-hand). Often spectators notice before anyone says anything. Maybe something will surface in a later interview like with Finlandia.

 

[vorravorra]

I like that Raf went directly to the point: pressure in Russia is one of the biggest problems the skaters face. He didn't say the 'rest' wasn't also to blame, though he avoided blaming anyone. We discussed in here, it's a lot of factors. But pressure is one of the most important, for sure.

Curious that Raf mentioned Voronov as an example of a consistent Russia skater - he is someone who is consistent right up to when it really matters. I hope he doesn't underperform at Nationals yet again this season and finally makes it to the big competitions.

 

[vorravorra]

Actually, I am arriving at a conclusion that they should talk more about Misha's health issues. With other skaters the immediate assumption is health (even if health is by no means the only reason they underperformed in the past), with Misha it's always in the head. Last season they had a reason to downplay it till the end of the season because Olympics. I remember Zhurankov saying at Worlds that Valentina had asked him to keep it to himself and now he finally could admit that Misha's back had got pretty bad around mid-season and they couldn't figure out what the cause was and tried to find the best doctors and it actually had been a big deal and almost touch-and-go for a while. Thankfully it wasn't Valentina or Misha saying it because then it definitely would have sounded like making excuses, but still how many people paid attention at that point? The first time the issue of his back came up in 2016-2017 it was people having heard something from people who had seen something until Misha withdrew from the Russian Cup Final and they felt the need to admit something was wrong. And even then the natural tendency was to downplay it, it's like they fear that if they admit to serious health issues everyone would give up on Misha and replace him. Then there was that local competition where Misha barely managed to finish the SP so you could see plenty was wrong, and people were worried that he wouldn't make it to Worlds but nobody pounced on him for a change. Of course by Worlds nobody even remembered what state Misha had been in not all that long ago and it was again all in his head, sigh.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I don't like them hiding a health problem one bit. As of now, I hope they aren't hiding anything serious, but he's still under the weather. I don't know if it's something that comes and goes, or if it's spiked by the nervous system during competitions, I don't know. But I don't like it, and I hope they are at least trying to adress it.