2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[Arbitrary]

Usually only people having some power tend to adjust the rules per their own needs.
As soon as most of the Forum members are not related to ISU inner under-rug policies the whole discussion is mostly pointless. No insult just facts.

ISU is a IOC affiliated and IOC wants more countries participating in the international competitions, not more participants from the specific countries.
Just like FIFA wants different countries to reach the semi- and finals of the football WC and they were extremely pleased with Croatia in finals.

If you allow six girls from Japan and six from Russia going to FSWC the overall income from TV may be disastrous.

 

[Sam L]

Samodurova Zagitova and Konstantinova to the Worlds.

 

[tothepointe]

Alina(5th) and Maria Sotskova(8th) placed just high enough at last year’s Worlds for the 3 spots at this year’s Worlds. If either placed any lower, there would only be 2 spots.

Last year may have been last year, but spots are earned the previous year. I don’t see that changing.

Yes and the only year you could really make a case for them having extra spots was in 2016 where they placed 1st, 3rd and 6th. But then again even in those years the Japanese and the US also had their skaters in the top 10. So there really isn't much of an argument for having more than 3 from any country.

It's not like one country has 10 skaters capable of scoring 250+ while everyone else is hovering around 200.

 

[zounger]

Samodurova Zagitova and Konstantinova to the Worlds.

I would like to see Liza is the truth. But this is, the one that I agree the most.

 

[malya]

Maybe today finally the team and some discussion will be over.
I think it will be Sonya, Liza, Alina

If they chose to sent Zhenya it wouldn't be that big of a scandal. By sporting principles she might be no4, but favouring somebody for their reputation or potential isn't bad per se. Fernandez got to the EC without skating once and Gabby is in the worlds team without showing once this season that she is good enough and others from canada were objectively better. I don't think they don't deserve their spots and there was no shout of any scandal.

What was the scandal was that this joke event of the Cup Final was judged. If you start a competition you should not know who you want to win beforehand. And that is not about Zhenya per se, it's obvious with how all 3 contenders were given a huge PCS boost in the SP already. Why invite the other girls at all?
Make 2 competitions in the future, or let the skaters who are considered for any team skate off in private.
This is manipulation of the tech and judging panel (wonderful to see that in Russia especially, after I saw that thread about Adelina/Yuna again) and not a fair competition. Who would argue that Liza's PCS should be massively above Gubanova?

I think if Rusfed just announced Liza or Zhenya is in the team and made her skate her program without judging to see that yes, she can indeed do spins and land jumps there would be less 'scandal'.

Now it's drama whatever happens.

 

[Azikin]

They barely held onto 3 spots last Worlds - and now they deserve 5 spots? It’s not going to happen.

Unfortunately I guess there will be some very good skaters who will never make a Worlds or Olympic team.

You are right. But they could at least grant the World Champion a free start next year...

 

[DSQ]

You are right. But they could at least grant the World Champion a free start next year...

This is the only one that makes sense. It’s pretty sad when the previous years winner doesn’t even make the team like with Liza in 2016.

However there’s no point prolonging this discussion as the ISU have made it clear that they do not want to make the competitions any longer.

 

[Mathman]

Also if it's an individual sport why even have them have entries criteria, or even a diversity of countries represented? We should just take the top scorers of all season to go to Worlds and leave 2/3 of countries who can't match up at home. Why should Tukt or Med stay at home when they should be taking the spot of some mediocre skate from an obscure European/Asian country? (Sarcasm obvi.)

Yes, the sarcasm is obvious, but in fact this is exactly the argument that Manitou is making. Tuktamysheeva and Medvedeva should both go to worlds and weaker skaters who are not world championship-worthy should stay home. Not that this sort of change will happen, but that the sport would be better off if it did.

Usually only people having some power tend to adjust the rules per their own needs.

That is exactly why no drastic change in ISU policies will occur. The ISU must approve any changes in the way they do business by a majority vote of the 93 member national federations. These federations are never going to vote for a proposal that says, "sorry, you can't participate in worlds any more. You're not good enough."

 

[[email protected]]

No...no it's not. It's very much the same movement, even more so. You must not have ever been to an Olympic Games. It's so much more then just a sporting festival. Why bother with the Olympics when every sport has a annual World Championship with the best of the best? It's why North Korea and South Korea joined as a unified team in Women's hockey. Why North Korea participated at all. It brings sports that are not watched on a normal basis and interests people to learn more and kids to fall in love. Yes, it's about what people do while they are there but the Olympic's it's also about the people's story of getting there. The exact same mission as it was in 1896. Educate and unite through sport to make the world's youth a better tomorrow.

I am not sure what you are talking about. I was in many Olympic games, the last time in 2018.

When de Coubertin started the modern Olympics his idea was to unite the people obliterating the national borders and barriers. What we have today is to a large extent a show with a strong nationalistic agenda. You open Yahoo sports or Sports.ru during the Olympics. What do you see first? The medal count by country.

 

[DSQ]

I am not sure what you are talking about. I was in many Olympic games, the last time in 2018.

When de Coubertin started the modern Olympics his idea was to unite the people obliterating the national borders and barriers. What we have today is to a large extent a show with a strong nationalistic agenda. You open Yahoo sports or Sports.ru during the Olympics. What do you see first? The medal count by country.

You actually make a really fair point there.

 

[pearly]

Samodurova Zagitova and Konstantinova to the Worlds.

This startled me.

 

[Arbitrary]

From press:

RusFed plans to inform the ISU they want to specify "an extended team".
Likely all the names will be included (5 or 6). They ask the ISU to accept as is and allow to name the actual three a couple of weeks before the WC.
Like having 0 contenders and 6 substitutions.
RusFed doesn't know who from all those will be "alive" long enough to participate.

The ISU may accept or refuse but the letter must be closed before 14:00 Moscow time.
And knowing how good their lowers and bureaucrats it's possible Russia will not be allowed to participate at all (ladies).

 

[Fluture]

RusFed really knows how to spread drama, doesn‘t it?

 

[malya]

That's so stupid again. RusFed, give us our way we are special.

Just name Sofia, Alina & Liza/Zhenya and the other as substitude
Then have Sofia with the sudden 'illness' (or Alina if she can't land jumps anymore/injured... Or anyone else who gets worse)

 

[zounger]

At least we know that someone will get injured in the next couple of weeks.

 

[pearly]

From press:

RusFed plans to inform the ISU they want to specify "an extended team".
Likely all the names will be included (5 or 6). They ask the ISU to accept as is and allow to name the actual three a couple of weeks before the WC.
Like having 0 contenders and 6 substitutions.
RusFed doesn't know who from all those will be "alive" long enough to participate.

The ISU may accept or refuse but the letter must be closed before 14:00 Moscow time.
And knowing how good their lowers and bureaucrats it's possible Russia will not be allowed to participate at all (ladies).

Seriously? I'm not buying it.

This would be like North Korea testing boundaries before the Olympics. Just name any three, you can always make them WD and send an alternate.

Also, six? Who on earth is number 6?

 

[eaglehelang]

Huh? This would be messy.
Just name 3, then 2 alternates.
Tell alternate 1 & 2 to continue on training.

 

[leilaraj]

Who would‘ve thought Rusfed is just as confused as we are lol

 

[Watch]

Rusfed is being seriously weird about it. Even if they're not sure in their choice and maybe know about some injuries, just make A roster public and then you still can swap someone for an alternate. That's what the alternates are for. Displaying your indecisiveness like this just isn't a cute look. And why would you want to jerk your skaters around like that?

Here is the article in question, by the way:
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...-vide-a-dalshe-vozmozhno-chto-ugodno-1516415/

 

[Vandevska]

This is seriously not good for anyone, including all athletes. I don't think it's about wanting to monitor the girls at all (for example Alina if injured), because last year Evgenia was injured and they made it much simpler. There must be another reason, and clearly there are too many people pulling the strings.