2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[ankifeather]

I am perplexed as well. In Russian it would be Zagitova, Konstantinova, Samodurova. In English it would be Konstantinova, Samodurova, Zagitova.

They have Konstantinova, Zagitova, Samodurova. May it's the alphabetic order in Japanese as the WC is in Japan?

There is no alphabet in Japanese, but you can translate the girls’ name using Katakana and order them by the Katakana phonetic order with the first syllable of the name, which should be "Ko, Sa/Za, Ta, Me”

 

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There is no alphabet in Japanese, but you can translate the girls’ name using Katakana and order them by the Katakana phonetic order with the first syllable of the name, which should be "Ko, Sa/Za, Ta, Me”

I was joking And those concerns about Stasya's being in the team that people have look funny to me. I posted here about 50 pages ago the following "analysis":

"Stasya will get it if she skates clean to her full potential with the other two not delivering. Something like Stasya 210, Zhenya and Liza below 200.

Liza will get it if she skates clean with triple axels both in the SP and in the free program with all other planned content delivered.

Zhenya needs Liza not to be perfect, she has to win about 5 points over her. In fact it means her skating with not more than 1 mistake in 2 programs".

One unknown is resolved: Stasya did not make it and in no scenario outside real health issues of 2 out of the other 4 is she coming to Japan. I promise not to paste here any forecast ever if Stasya will be a team member (real injuries and illnesses aside).

With Liza and Zhenya it is much more difficult. 2 Liza's 3As would have made it but she had just one. With such Zhenya would have made it with 1 mistake. The problem is that she made that mistake in the most valuable element. Hence, she does not have 5+ point margin over Liza and her gold looks dubious to many.

None of my scenarios regarding the two of them was realized. Hence, I can give arguments for both of them:

Liza:
+ triple axels, strong early season
- recent pneumonia, the track record of inconsistency, low pcs

Medvedeva:
+ high pcs, seems to become comfortable with her new programs
- weak early season, falls in all competitions so far

With all available info I would pick Liza. But I could see the rationale for Zhenya as well. What I think the Fed has to do is to make the final announcement as soon as possible. The ambiguity is not good for skaters.

 

[Stlcomet]

Liza did an interview with Nathan - it was really funny!
https://youtu.be/fXmZSwgalSM

Super cute! Could you imagine how adorable and talented if they had a child together? Lol. Who would they represent, USA or RUS?

What does that matter when 3 of the ladies that finished above her at Nationals can't go to Worlds and when those Japanese ladies aren't going either? I'm looking at the Worlds field as it stands right now where all of the other countries have named their teams, which would be the rational thing to do at this point. There are very, very few ladies that can compete with her PCS (Zagitova, Kihira, Miyahara). It's not so improbable that a skate with comparable mistakes to what she had at the final could land her in the top 6.

Obviously the fairest outcome would be to send Liza, acknowledging that Zhenya's body of work this season cannot be trumped by winning the Cup Final. The fact that they aren't naming her outright suggests some insecurity about sending two Mishin girls that cannot compete with the PCS of two of the three Japanese ladies (Kihira, Miyahara) and only have hope of matching the third (Sakamoto) and potentially others.

I don't quite understand your point. Liza beat 2 of the 3 Japanese World's team at the Grand Prix Final this season already. Her PCS was also 3rd in the FS. International Judging (the judging that really matters. NOT RUfed atrocious favoritism by poll judging) has shown, this season, to score Liza's programs PCS highly. So her PCS should be another PLUS in sending her to Worlds.

All that being said, RUfed can't tell us with a straight face there was not enough time between CoR Finals and Worlds to pick the team. The powers that be surely have the insight to schedule a meeting that worked for those deciding way before hand for right after CoR Finals to decide on the team. Everyone has know the deadline for entries to World's literary for years. Even without using the proactive approach the council and selection members also can't tell us without spitting milk out their noses that they couldn't schedule a a remote conference? Hello Google Talk or Meetings2Go or Sype? Welcome to 2019. Humfff

 

[Mathman]

And the only reason I can see for them not pulling the trigger and naming Liza is they don't want her and are looking for excuses or something.

The only reason I can come up with for this circus is that they do want Tuktamysheva but are not yet 100% confident about her injury/time off from taining situation.

 

[Mathman]

Why don't the RusFed do a competition in Japan with the 5 ladies a day before de competition to decide who goes to the WC? I bet a lot of people would want to see that ... and problem solve .. the first 2 will go to the WC + Konstantinova

And they could invite the top Japanese ladies to the shindig. 10 skaters in all, five Russian and 5 Japanese. Winner take all.

That way they could just cancel Worlds altogether.

 

[lopsilceci]

I think if the RusFed were really considering to send Konstantinova instead of Med/Tuk, they wouldn't be sending her to the Universiade. The fact that she's going there and the other two aren't surely means something, most likely, that either Med or Tuk will be picked for the 3rd spot and the other will be 1st alternate in case they change their mind right before the draw.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Is Liza or Evgenia the "first" alternate, or are they just both alternates?

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Why don't the RusFed do a competition in Japan with the 5 ladies a day before de competition to decide who goes to the WC? I bet a lot of people would want to see that ... and problem solve .. the first 2 will go to the WC + Konstantinova

Really, it should be down to four. Liza, because of her illness, is the only one who should be given an extra look. One of Medvedeva or Konstantinova should be out of contention, as both skated a full season.

 

[pesto]

I suppose, the reason for naming Konstantinova, could be precisely that she and most observers assume that it she a placeholder, and that she will be replaced by one of Tuktamysheva or Medvedeva.

Whereas if they had named either of those, most people would have taken it as the actual intended line-up, and there would be outrage, should they change their mind at the last minute.

It seems to me as though they are really unsure of which way to jump between the two. And I don't think that's a great look, or very fair to either woman, to be honest. Choose one, and then get firmly behind her. This must eat away at their confidence.

 

[malya]

This also eats away everybodys confidence in the Russian ladies (including the judges )

I'm sure the ladies know the final team already and this is some weird mindgame for whatever reason.
What should help them decide in the next days? Should Zhenya fly from Canada AGAIN or what? (wait she left right? )

 

[SnowWhite]

This also eats away everybodys confidence in the Russian ladies (including the judges )

I'm sure the ladies know the final team already and this is some weird mindgame for whatever reason.
What should help them decide in the next days? Should Zhenya fly from Canada AGAIN or what? (wait she left right? )

I don't think they do.

 

[rachno2]

How horrible to put their athletes through this anxiety when they should be either training for their next competition or preparing for next season as calmly as possible. If things don’t go well at Worlds, then it will be the federation’s own fault.

 

[melgirl25]

What is the competition Kamila Valieva is doing and is it in Moscow? Did it start already?

 

[NymphyNymphy]

How did Zhenya and Liza not get chosen? Im shook!

 

[Manitou]

How horrible to put their athletes through this anxiety when they should be either training for their next competition or preparing for next season as calmly as possible. If things don’t go well at Worlds, then it will be the federation’s own fault.

I agree and I am predicting a massive Russian meltdown in WC. Please, prove me wrong!

 

[Stlcomet]

How horrible to put their athletes through this anxiety when they should be either training for their next competition or preparing for next season as calmly as possible. If things don’t go well at Worlds, then it will be the federation’s own fault.

Or if you are Liza or Zhenya (of the 3 in question for the 3rd spot on the team) be making money skating in shows in Japan and Korea right now. Didn't Irina Slutskaya say in the interview with Vaytsekhovskaya she was getting ready to leave and skate in Arakawa's show?

 

[Globetrotter]

I agree and I am predicting a massive Russian meltdown in WC. Please, prove me wrong!

I don’t think Sofia will melt down. And I think Alina is hungry for redemption. Somehow, I think Rusfed will keep its fairy luck and retain all 3 spots for next year whatever the outcomes. In the unlikely Black Swan event that 2 of the 3 girls underdeliver and their placement goes > 13.......well there will just be more Russian drama. How ironic that the drama is happening at leadership level rather than in support for the actual skaters themselves.

 

[Skater Boy]

I suppose, the reason for naming Konstantinova, could be precisely that she and most observers assume that it she a placeholder, and that she will be replaced by one of Tuktamysheva or Medvedeva.

Whereas if they had named either of those, most people would have taken it as the actual intended line-up, and there would be outrage, should they change their mind at the last minute.

It seems to me as though they are really unsure of which way to jump between the two. And I don't think that's a great look, or very fair to either woman, to be honest. Choose one, and then get firmly behind her. This must eat away at their confidence.

Oh Russian dramas. People talk about Coronation Street in England, Soaps in the US and Korean dramas but Russia takes the top prize. Now to get rid of Konstantinova does Russia legitimately need an injury? Do they have to prove it? Or can they claim mental health? What if the skater being booted does not play nice? Also what about Alina it appears and many have mentioned she has injuries? Are they solved - forget puberty. Sofia appears to be the only skater safe but who knows. IF it has to be legit does that mean Tonya Harding maybe hired or her friends? I hope we don't lose too many sequins or bugle beads in this mess!!!! My heart goes out to them all - too bad Canada cant adopt them - they have a few spaces this year

 

[Manitou]

Oh Russian dramas. People talk about Coronation Street in England, Soaps in the US and Korean dramas but Russia takes the top prize. Now to get rid of Konstantinova does Russia legitimately need an injury? Do they have to prove it? Or can they claim mental health? What if the skater being booted does not play nice? Also what about Alina it appears and many have mentioned she has injuries? Are they solved - forget puberty. Sofia appears to be the only skater safe but who knows. IF it has to be legit does that mean Tonya Harding maybe hired or her friends? I hope we don't lose too many sequins or bugle beads in this mess!!!! My heart goes out to them all - too bad Canada cant adopt them - they have a few spaces this year

Don't laugh at Russia . US has an equal share of dramas. Tonya/Nancy, Johny/Evan, Ashley/Mirai - just to name the most recent.. lol

 

[doublequad]

so is this worlds list final or is stasya a placeholder