2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[malya]

Whenever Liza decides to retire, i think she has dealt soo much of this nonsense over the years (not just now) that i wouldn't be surprised if one day she decides to call out everyone in interviews, literally trashing the Federation because she's often being victim of this stupid process in Russia, and most importantly calling out the politics and shady deals in the background.

I don't think she will do it, considering she may continue to work as coach as often Mishin former skaters do, but she has all the rights to do it.

If she does, i'd personally go to western media just to make even more noise in the FS community.

I feel for Liza, she already said once she was done with proving anything at the Cup Final. Add to that her history and the unexpected comeback story this year...

I really really hope the skaters actually know the team

 

[bsfan]

I guess there are politicking going on and Med has more chance to get it than Tuk or Kons. They just keep 5 names there to have the flexibility and keep pressure off the real selected one.

 

[WhiteProphet]

When is the deadline for when they can announce substitutes for Worlds?

One hour before the draws?

"Each ISU Member may enter for each discipline one substitute in the
case of one entry and no more than two substitutes in the case of
two or more entries. The substitutes may compete only if their ISU
Members have withdrawn the name of their Competitors initially
entered for the concerned discipline at least one hour before the first
draw begins."

 

[Fluture]

I guess there are politicking going on and Med has more chance to get it than Tuk or Kons. They just keep 5 names there to have the flexibility and keep pressure off the real selected one.

Whatever the real team is, I hope the girls know and aren't left in the dark. Otherwise it would be really unfair. But considering that Medvedeva does not seem to know (her recent instagram post suggests that no one has been informed yet), I think it might be exactly like this...

 

[Edwin]

To me this indecisiveness by FFKKR means they do not trust any of their 5 candidates: Samodurova's relative 'unprovenness' and scoring potential, Zagitova's current form and scoring potential, Konstantinova's stability under pressure amd scoring potential, Medvyedeva's relative 'unprovenness' under FFKKR's scrutiny and Tuktamysheva's still recovering and general readiness.

So they'll just travel to Japan with the maximum number of skaters allowed and postpone the announcement of the competitors to the ultimate moment, when no substitutions can be made anymore. Is that the moment actual scheduled training commences?

The skaters themselves probably might perhaps not like this arrangement, but even when a skater has been announced and another declared reserve, neither of them could have relaxed in the coming three weeks of training anyway. So in the end it doesn't matter wether they like or not.

 

[chuckm]

Zhenya wouldn't edge Rika out of the last warmup group.

Here are the current World Standings; the numbers are those in the final warmup group:

1. Zagitova
2. Medvedeva
(Osmond - not going to Worlds)
3. Sakamoto
4. Miyahara
(Mihara - not going to Worlds)
(Higuchi - not going to Worlds)
(Sotskova - not going to Worlds)
5. Kihira (with 250 points from the Challenge Cup added in)
6. Tennell

If Zhenya doesn't go to Worlds, then Tursynbaeva is in the final warmup group.

 

[malya]

They immediately called Mishin for a comment and he didn't know anything was published yet

 

[linps]

It's not just about Nationals, though. You have to constantly prove yourself.

"whatever your result at nationals is we will still choose by our predictions" - this is not true. Stanislava had her chance at Euros, like Sofia and Alina. She didn't manage to medal, so she had another chance at the Russian Cup Final to prove herself there. And she didn't use it. That's sad for her but she got these chances, it's not like she was totally overlooked. And besides that, it's not like she has a track record of being a consistent skater. I know many will say that we shouldn't take last year into consideration but given the fact that Russia barely kept their three spots, imo, we should and rusfed should as well. I really like Stanislava and I really wish she was more consistent because she has a lot of lovely qualities about her skating. But she just isn't and at this point, if she was chosen, it would be unfair. Even more so than choosing Evgenia because they had very similar seasons this year. Stanislava had better performances at RusNats, that's why she got to go to Euros. But she didn't bring it there and didn't use her second chance either.

In my opinion, it should still be Liza, Sofia and Alina with Zhenya and Stanislava as alternates.

Edit: What I said about last year does not count for Alina. Alina's performance at Worlds was the exception, not the rule. Whereas for Stasya, it's sadly different. So, no, Alina should not be kept off the Worlds team because she was "only" fifth last year and bombed.

I know this post might make it look like I dislike Stasya but I do not. I actually really like her skating, she has many qualities that I enjoy and she's a wonderful performer. She also seems like a very nice girl. She does not deserve any hate and I don't agree with how she's treated on this forum sometimes but at this point I just cannot agree to sending her to Worlds.

I also know that this likely isn't the final list. So, we'll just have to wait. I hope that at least the ladies have an idea of who's going.

Agree. Any critique/hate should be directed at rusfed and not Stasya.

 

[icybear]

Is Konstantinova dad the head of Rusfed or something? Honestly Russia you have a dozen world class girls at your disposal and you cant even pick the top3. My guess is that they are hoping for Konstantinova to do well at Universaide so that they can send her to Worlds. If she bombs then they'll choose between Evgenia and Elizaveta.

 

[malya]

Is Konstantinova dad the head of Rusfed or something? Honestly Russia you have a dozen world class girls at your disposal and you cant even pick the top3. My guess is that they are hoping for Konstantinova to do well at Universaide so that they can send her to Worlds. If she bombs then they'll choose between Evgenia and Elizaveta.

Konstantinova will not go if 3 of the others are healthy.

 

[Fluture]

Zhenya wouldn't edge Rika out of the last warmup group.

Here are the current World Standings; the numbers are those in the final warmup group:

1. Zagitova
2. Medvedeva
(Osmond - not going to Worlds)
3. Sakamoto
4. Miyahara
(Mihara - not going to Worlds)
(Higuchi - not going to Worlds)
(Sotskova - not going to Worlds)
5. Kihira
6. Tennell

Thank you! I didn't know that.

 

[Backload]

I don't know why Liza says that she's tired of proving she deserves a world's spot. Yep, she got a gold medal and two bronze's, but the other competitors made mistakes. She wasn't like Medvedeva or Zagitova were in the past seasons. Actually, RCF was an opportunity for HER. RusFed did this for HER. She didn't land her 3A in SP and that was her mistake. If she could landed it, there wouldn't be any discussion about 3rd spot.

 

[melgirl25]

Konstatinova has one more chance in proving her self for the worlds spot at Universiade after failing Euros and Rus Cup. Ofcouse the one person that can beat her at Universiade was replaced by the much weaker 2nd alternate. They overlooked the 1st alternate since she can crush Konstatinova easily. Question, Aside from “injury” what other vaid reasons Russia can use if they chance the worlds line-up. I dont think ISU will be thrilled if they use the injury card loosely.

You know this crossed my mind too. They say they will change the list but if the rumours of her connections are true...Mai Mihara could easily challenge her though.

 

[malya]

After Mishin's reaction I'm 100% convinced he was told Tuktik got a main spot.

-> Fedra does not want to tell and keep quiet for some reason
-> He was lied to

 

[taylor1]

They wouldn't send all 5 girls to Japan though. What are they waiting for??

 

[Vlad Karigov]

It's amazing what the RusFed has to do to make his favorite go to the championship, they has to put in an x ​​skater to magically get sick and she be in his place.

Many are wrong to blame the RusFed, here the only culprit is she who pressures the federation to be above the skaters who never exceeded the whole season, who already accept that her year was terrible and she does not deserve to be in the championship. The third place is only for Tuktamysheva.

 

[chuckm]

Also note: Universiade does not get ISU WR points or SB rating.

Per ISU Communication 1629 (exclusions from selected internationals):

1. Regional International Competition (e.g. Nordics, Asian Winter Games etc.) or competitions, which are open only for special groups of skaters (e.g. Universiade, events with invitations only to designated Members (except the ISU Grand Prix events), etc.) will not count for the ISU World Standings/Season’s World Ranking (The International Competitions falling into this category will be identified in the Event Calendar published on the ISU website www.isu.org).

 

[pete]

After Mishin's reaction I'm 100% convinced he was told Tuktik got a main spot.

-> Fedra does not want to tell and keep quiet for some reason
-> He was lied to

what did he say?

 

[Lunalovesskating]

"We do not divide the team into main and alternate. The list is in alphabetical order."
According to Alexander Kogan, the general director of the Russian Federation"

https://twitter.com/MedvedevaNation/status/1100070092702994434?s=19

 

[Colonel Green]

To me this indecisiveness by FFKKR means they do not trust any of their 5 candidates: Samodurova's relative 'unprovenness' and scoring potential, Zagitova's current form and scoring potential, Konstantinova's stability under pressure amd scoring potential, Medvyedeva's relative 'unprovenness' under FFKKR's scrutiny and Tuktamysheva's still recovering and general readiness.

I can’t imagine they’re undecided about Sofia. She’s the one completely easy call — she’s the most consistent senior lady this season (not just in Russia), and probably the most consistent competitor in any of the three disciplines that involve jumping. She’s the rock that gives them some freedom to pick riskier skaters for the other two spots.

Thank you! I didn't know that.

That’s why Rika did Challenge Cup — it boosted her ahead of Bradie, Carolina (who it subsequently turns out isn’t going anyway) and Elizabet.