2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[Scott512]

:thumbsup:Totally agree!

All this discussion about longevity is so relative and in a way amusing, even that quote from Javier Fernandez who is clearly subjective. Skaters do not owe their fans long-running careers. I want to follow a competition because I want to see the best sportsmen at that moment, not because someone had a long career.

Question! What would you like if you were an athlete (not only figure skater): being in long-running career, but not being dominant or competing at high level 3-4 years and being on top of the world, winning everything? I would chose option number 2.:cool14:

Option 2 for sure. If Alina and Zhenya dont ever get back to their great olympic form that's okay. for a few years they mattered they rearly mattered and will become Russian icons in time. I truly hope they are both skating competitively into their 20s that would be wonderful. But if not it's okay it's no ones fault. There's just too much talent coming up year after year for the Russian girls. That's the main reason some of the Russian girls step aside by the time they're 20. Its sports. Its life. Its okay.

 

[Jontor]

Retiring young isn't something new. Remember Oksana Baiul, Tara Lipinski....

 

[VenusHalley]

Retiring young isn't something new. Remember Oksana Baiul, Tara Lipinski....

Well, Oksana went pro, because she did not have good place to train at home. Apparently, they had frequent black outs and in the morning the ice was melted... and other problems.

And retiring young and going pro did not really work well for her.

 

[SkateSkates]

Retiring young isn't something new. Remember Oksana Baiul, Tara Lipinski....

I think people often forget this, because from 2007-2014 there was a group of top skaters who traded titles throughout the season, instead of being completely dominant over 1 season at a time and then burning out. For example none of the world champions from 2007-2014 Miki, Mao, Yuna, Mao, Miki, Carolina, Yuna, Mao had complete dominance over the entire season they won their world title.

 

[plushyfan]

Also, am I the only one fed up with this semi false concern about the so called unhappiness of Alina Zagitova? We, as fans, have no right to assume she is miserable unless she tells us straight she is unhappy. It's all over another site, twitter, youtube, and I assume ( maybe wrongly) it's coming from north american commenters because they are the ones that give so much credit to smiling.

As a eastern european, I like to remind that you can smile all day long and still hide a world of pain inside and contemplate suicidal thoughts. I'm more suspicious about people being all smile and sunshine all the time than about those who look gloomy.

:thumbsup: And the Russians aren't smiling people in general

 

[LenaRadiFan]

[emoji106]Totally agree!

All this discussion about longevity is so relative and in a way amusing, even that quote from Javier Fernandez who is clearly subjective. Skaters do not owe their fans long-running careers. I want to follow a competition because I want to see the best sportsmen at that moment, not because someone had a long career.

Question! What would you like if you were an athlete (not only figure skater): being in long-running career, but not being dominant or competing at high level 3-4 years and being on top of the world, winning everything? I would chose option number 2.:cool14:

Depends to be honest on how you define not being dominant. If it means not always being on the podium but still being in the top 6, still getting medals, then I would choose that. But also I don't have a problem with someone retiring after 3-4 years, as long as it's not because they can't help it because of mental illnesses or something like that.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

That's the GOAT, for sure. The most mesmerizing performance that I have ever seen.

I’ve never heard anyone else say they performed at 200%

 

[Scott512]

But as I said, lots of them do not quit by choice. It's not like they say "I won everything, time to move on". They are forced to quit because of mental illness and/or injuries, which is scary. Short careers where you win everything, but burn yourself out... should not be applauded.

They in the Russian ladies case are forced to quit mainly because they are being surpassed by younger better skaters. Anna and Elena can still skate well but they have been surpassed by younger and better skaters.

 

[Scott512]

I’ve never heard anyone else say they performed at 200%

I watched it today and it may have even been better than her free skate in the Sochi team event. At the end of yulia's freeskate 2014 European championships she put her hands on his face I just to say she was amazed by her performance as well. The question is why didn't she win Nationals that season too with the way she was skating so great for months?

 

[VenusHalley]

They in the Russian ladies case are forced to quit mainly because they are being surpassed by younger better skaters. Anna and Elena can still skate well but they have been surpassed by younger and better skaters.

Didn't Anna have some quite serious back injury?

There are ladies like Alena Leonova who just go on and compete here and other for the sheer joy for it, which is great.

 

[Elucidus]

They in the Russian ladies case are forced to quit mainly because they are being surpassed by younger better skaters. Anna and Elena can still skate well but they have been surpassed by younger and better skaters.

Please stop spread false information. They are quiting mostly because of injuries/puberty issues. Both Anna and Elena finished skating for now because they don't have competitive form. They are not capable to compete even with other senior skaters of the same age.
Because of false assumptions like yours people tends to take them at face value and make wrong conclusions and therefore - decisions.

 

[LenaRadiFan]

Please stop spread false information. They are quiting mostly because of injuries/puberty issues. Both Anna and Elena finished skating for now because they don't have competitive form. They are not capable to compete even with other senior skaters of the same age.
Because of false assumptions like yours people tends to take them at face value and make wrong conclusions and therefore - decisions.

Adding to this is one of my favlrite sentences a skater has said: "you don't get to say someone is done until they say it themselves." Who knows, maybe bith Anna and Elena will surprise us next season, or someone totally unexpected rises to the occasion, we can never be sure

 

[karina17]

Junior Nationals are coming up, and I’m really curious: Is it a firm rule that the top three at Junior nationals will go to Junior Worlds, or does the past season/senior nationals come into consideration as well? I fully understand that Junior Nationals is meant to select for Junior Worlds, but I can’t imagine a fed leaving their senior national champion or their JGPF champion behind. Not that I’m trying to predict that Kostornaya or Shcherbakova will be off the podium or anything, but I just wanted to know how it works.

 

[malya]

Liza (& Nastya Gulyakova) is planning to compete in Ljubljana next week!

Now I'm a bit more optimistic about her recovery


Afaik they always sent the best 3 at jrNats to jrWorlds, and I think they will do the same this year. If one of 3A has a bad tournament it's unlikely RusFed will push for an exception: they don't like to sent 3 girls from the same coach/school to start with... All 3 have high enough SB to get GPs already so it wont be a disaster

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Liza (& Nastya Gulyakova) is planning to compete in Ljubljana next week!

Now I'm a bit more optimistic about her recovery


Afaik they always sent the best 3 at jrNats to jrWorlds, and I think they will do the same this year. If one of 3A has a bad tournament it's unlikely RusFed will push for an exception: they don't like to sent 3 girls from the same coach/school to start with... All 3 have high enough SB to get GPs already so it wont be a disaster

Which competition is this?

 

[Sabrina]

Is Anna Pogorilaya still skating?

 

[Jeanie19]

Liza (& Nastya Gulyakova) is planning to compete in Ljubljana next week!

Now I'm a bit more optimistic about her recovery


Afaik they always sent the best 3 at jrNats to jrWorlds, and I think they will do the same this year. If one of 3A has a bad tournament it's unlikely RusFed will push for an exception: they don't like to sent 3 girls from the same coach/school to start with... All 3 have high enough SB to get GPs already so it wont be a disaster

What competition?

 

[Spirals for Miles]

What competition?

Looks like Dragon Trophy.
Tuktamysheva and Gulyakova in senior ladies, and Alina Solovieva in junior ladies.

 

[malya]

Looks like Dragon Trophy.
Tuktamysheva and Gulyakova in senior ladies, and Alina Solovieva in junior ladies.

Yes, sorry for the late answer.
Mr Liza aka Lazukin is also competing so it looks like Mishin really wanted this competition before the Cup Final for his skaters

 

[Scott512]

Please stop spread false information. They are quiting mostly because of injuries/puberty issues. Both Anna and Elena finished skating for now because they don't have competitive form. They are not capable to compete even with other senior skaters of the same age.
Because of false assumptions like yours people tends to take them at face value and make wrong conclusions and therefore - decisions.

There is no false assumption. Its reality that younger femaile Russian figure skaters are surpassing the older ones for a variety of reasons mainly they are better and yes injuries and puberty play a role too. Injuries of course cause a lack of competitive form. Injuries are a factor in this. Hoping all can stay as healthy as possible because figure skating is very hard on the body.