Mikhail Kolyada

[Tutto]

Misha even managed to do the quad combo in the second half of the FS back in 2017, which is a lot more points in the table than a 2S in a combo. But really, his health did him in this year, which is why I think it's hard for us to know how much can he do if in better shape.

To be fair not all his problems can be attributed to his illness, he had a lot of trouble with skating a clean SP e.g. in both GP events which was not I think stamina related. Last season he was in a good shape physically but his nerves let him down repeatedly. Despite all the struggles of this season I believe he's grown as a competitor immensely - Rusnats, his comeback in Saitama, the way he fought for the rest of the program after a misfortune on 4T in SP in Saitama.

 

[coldblueeyes]

To be fair not all his problems can be attributed to his illness, he had a lot of trouble with skating a clean SP e.g. in both GP events which was not I think stamina related. Last season he was in a good shape physically but his nerves let him down repeatedly. Despite all the struggles of this season I believe he's grown as a competitor immensely - Rusnats, his comeback in Saitama, the way he fought for the rest of the program after a misfortune on 4T in SP in Saitama.

The thing is, he was never in form to compete a full program this season. His head is definitely a problem, but I don't think it was the deciding factor this time. He didn't have his full strenght to fall back on when the rest wasn't working, case in point his FS at Tallinn for example. He's not the most consistent skater, but four falls is excessive even for him. Even in his SP at Euros, which was his best this season, he was still lacking stamina. I hope he can regain his form and then have at least one less thing to worry about every time he goes on to the ice.

 

[ragdoll]

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for him at the WTT! I think that if he can manage to get two decent skates once this season it may boost his confidence for the future. I like him so much and he is such a good skater that it is unfortunate that he is so inconsistent.

 

[eaglehelang]

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for him at the WTT! I think that if he can manage to get two decent skates once this season it may boost his confidence for the future. I like him so much and he is such a good skater that it is unfortunate that he is so inconsistent.

Kolyada has withdrawn from WTT shortly after WC. He was at hospital getting treatment for his sinus

 

[Tatjana]

The thing is, he was never in form to compete a full program this season. His head is definitely a problem, but I don't think it was the deciding factor this time. He didn't have his full strenght to fall back on when the rest wasn't working, case in point his FS at Tallinn for example. He's not the most consistent skater, but four falls is excessive even for him. Even in his SP at Euros, which was his best this season, he was still lacking stamina. I hope he can regain his form and then have at least one less thing to worry about every time he goes on to the ice.

I agree. I actually think that nerves weren't that bad overall. He said that he felt mentally strong at Europeans (also going into the free skating) and also at Worlds he appeared calm and confident. To me something like the Tallinn disaster in the free and also popping the quad in the short at Worlds was more a loss of focus.

 

[Tatjana]

A Russian blogger has posted his analysis of Misha's struggles:
https://zen.yandex.ru/media/yury_ve...aBH4f4giznCDUunnC2nVuw70e6wmL9klbQMG6TLWsniqc

I don't know this guy, apparently he never goes to competitions and everything he knows is from TV and from reading interviews. I don't have time to translate his whole text, but he basically is saying that a) Misha is not working hard enough and therefore has problems or b) he is doing all he can but has reached his limit mentally and physically. So the blogger feels Misha has no future unless there is a reason c) and Misha finds a solution for his problems.

I always find it annoying if people analyze something or someone relying on second-hand knowledge only. The only thing I really agree with is that Misha gets so much hate, because people are frustrated seeing such a talented skater not fulfilling his potential.

 

[MGstyle]

Naysayer will naysay. I don't think that article is anything to be taken seriously.
I just found this on Twitter, Misha is taking suggestions for music to use for the next season!

 

[Tatjana]

Naysayer will naysay. I don't think that article is anything to be taken seriously.
I just found this on Twitter, Misha is taking suggestions for music to use for the next season!

Ah, nice, hopefully Misha gets lots of interesting suggestions.

 

[Tutto]

A Russian blogger has posted his analysis of Misha's struggles:
https://zen.yandex.ru/media/yury_ve...aBH4f4giznCDUunnC2nVuw70e6wmL9klbQMG6TLWsniqc

I don't know this guy, apparently he never goes to competitions and everything he knows is from TV and from reading interviews. I don't have time to translate his whole text, but he basically is saying that a) Misha is not working hard enough and therefore has problems or b) he is doing all he can but has reached his limit mentally and physically. So the blogger feels Misha has no future unless there is a reason c) and Misha finds a solution for his problems.

I always find it annoying if people analyze something or someone relying on second-hand knowledge only. The only thing I really agree with is that Misha gets so much hate, because people are frustrated seeing such a talented skater not fulfilling his potential.

Or because they envy his talent

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

Ah, nice, hopefully Misha gets lots of interesting suggestions.

Does he has in his mind a direction of the music he wants to skate to next season? Positive music, dramatic, lyrical, modern?

I bet i will be too shy at the end to send him music ideas, but i have already a big (too big) list ...

 

[Tutto]

Does he has in his mind a direction of the music he wants to skate to next season? Positive music, dramatic, lyrical, modern?

I bet i will be too shy at the end to send him music ideas, but i have already a big (too big) list ...

It was mentioned that he is looking for something more upbeat
I personally think it is time to do some light comic program perhaps?

 

[RoundedBackCamel]

Is anyone else really conflicted about Yagudin and TAT? I’ve actually been a huge fan of Yagudin and admire the relationship between the two and what they accomplished after Yags left Mishin. It makes me mad that they are so dismissive of Misha and seem like fair-weather fans hitching on to whatever Russian male skater has a good skate. It brings out feelings I don’t like about myself as in wanting Rus men championed by TAT and Yag to fail and Misha to become consistent and mentally strong to show them up.

It’s not like Yag never blew a program, and yes, his consistency definitely improved esp in his 2001 and 2002 season where peaked at the right time and during an Oly year. Remarks like he and Plushy should come out of retirement to show the inconsistent men how it should be done upset me. He had a fairly long career even if it was cut short, but he did retire at 22.

I am a fan of both because they have similar qualities.

ETA: Count me out of the light comical routine. The last Chaplin I enjoyed was Sikheridlize (too lazy to check spelling rn), and when Browning started to do comical routines like Scott Hamilton I rolled my eyes. I don’t like the facial mugging and I don’t like the intentional out of control clownish jumps and unbalanced “tightrope” walking. For Browning, it seemed like a way to compensate for when he could no longer do his triple axel. Misha’s Chaplin program did not hav the typical “Oh” face, so at least I was spared that. But if I’m going to see Russian men skate, I like elegance, dramz, and yes jumping on the crescendo of music, even if risky in terms of timing and points (because splatting on the beat after a big buildup is particularly painful to watch!)

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

I am very upset with Yagudin (and Mika is not the only reason). He might have been a great skater, but is far away to be a great man. He presents himself without a backbone just to gather attention and money from an entertainment which doesn't care for the victims it made. It is a modern plague and he is not alone in it, but i despise this mode and the people enabling it.

 

[RoundedBackCamel]

I am very upset with Yagudin (and Mika is not the only reason). He might have been a great skater, but is far away to be a great man. He presents himself without a backbone just to gather attention and money from an entertainment which doesn't care for the victims it made. It is a modern plague and he is not alone in it, but i despise this mode and the people enabling it.

I suppose I am fortunate in not understanding Russian. I recall watching some interview with him and his wife that was subtitled in English and was aghast at his chauvinist attitude. I chalked it up to a culture difference (but when I went to Russia, the women told me they do all the work—not just in home but in business—while men are frequently lazy ne’er do
wells, lol. Not sure if that’s true, but EVERY single person we dealt with for adoption was female, from the translators to the social worker to the judge in court to the six doctors we saw, to the DA, to the therapists and orphanage directors were female, except two, so the paternalism is perhaps misplaced?) Now that he has two daughters perhaps he’s changed his tune. Anyway, it’s the classic case of separating the person from the art, I suppose.

 

[Tutto]

Interview with Mika after his LP in Saitama published in World Figire Skating magazine,

Russian translation:

https://vk.com/wall-179542353?q=#Пресса

Nothing new really, he admits it was a very difficult season, there were times when everything went not as he wanted but remains positive and busy looking for music for his new programs. He was very happy to receive toys dressed in his costumes from Japanese fans! He bought a new guitar in Japan.

Oh I am dying for some news, any news!

 

[Tutto]

I am very upset with Yagudin (and Mika is not the only reason). He might have been a great skater, but is far away to be a great man. He presents himself without a backbone just to gather attention and money from an entertainment which doesn't care for the victims it made. It is a modern plague and he is not alone in it, but i despise this mode and the people enabling it.

You said it. Same goes for TAT - once a great coach turned into a spiteful crazy old lady such a pity

 

[RoundedBackCamel]

You said it. Same goes for TAT - once a great coach turned into a spiteful crazy old lady such a pity

I suppose I will never understand how such a talented coach could turn so bitter. I listened to an interview where she was complaining that no one wants her as a coach and bemoaning that she doesn’t have an academy. Not knowing the power she wields and the manipulative part of her personality I would have felt sorry for her, as she wanted us to be. I do recall something about her father’s disappointment that she wasn’t a boy and so couldn’t follow in his footsteps in hockey. So I do admire her ability to be a strong woman.

I hesitate calling someone a bitter old woman, because I feel like that might be around the corner from me I will forever love Yagudin’s skating. And I will still enjoy watching him clown around with his two daughters. At least he’s not the womanizing party boy anymore and has matured. (Or maybe I just like his shoulders :. What can I say? I’m human, lol!) I guess the qualities I see that they share are artistry in softer, more delicate and elegant moves and being masculine but not overly macho. They also have this certain tension in how they skate (and Im *not * talking about stress whether Misha will complete a jump.) it’s like how they push against air and create resistance (Yagudin quite literally.) and how their performances extends all the way out to their fingertips. They’re not just flapping their arms around. Wish I could articulate this better!

Anyway, sorry for the thread drift. I am so excited for the next season. It seems we only get crumbs about his training compared to a other more outgoing skaters,but I will gladly take every morsel I can get.

 

[Tutto]

Ok some news and even that is not confirmed ...sigh... Stanislava mentioned in her interview that they are going to Kislovodsk for 2 weeks at the end of May - training camp. Kislovodsk in a health resort in the Caucasus foothills, a good place to recuperate for Mika that is assuming that he is going with the group?

 

[coldblueeyes]

I'm taking the off-season to relax and not worry about Misha. To me, no news is good news. Let him rest, recover and then think about the next season.

 

[Tutto]

I'm taking the off-season to relax and not worry about Misha. To me, no news is good news. Let him rest, recover and then think about the next season.

I wish Russian media would follow your motto. Mika himself is keeping very quiet, giving no interviews, no updates on social media but looking at Russian sources you would never guess. Kolyada's name is everywhere, everyone has an opinion of him (unfavourable invariably) everyone has an explanation of his failures and advice how to better himself etc etc etc. Plushenko however hit a new low, while talking about Russian boys in general in his last interview, how he used to catch them, hmm, admiring themselves in the mirror instead of killing themselves at the rink -one might assume he was talking about the boys at his own academia but no, when asked by the journalist who he had in mind, he promptly replied - Kolyada
So in addition to being not a fighter, lazy, not wanting to leave his comfort zone etc etc ... he is Narcissus now