2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[nussnacker]

Do I demonstrate my complete ignorance by asking who "Rodina" is? I never heard that name before, I know there used to be a super-continent called Rodina billions of years ago, but I don't know anybody with this name in the context of figure skating. Sounds close to Rodnina, who was one of the best pairs skaters in history, but I don't think that's the person the discussion is about.
Can I ask for a favor of explaining who that person is?

She's a 'blogger' or an 'influencer', whatever you call them, she grew her following during the post-olympic time being very active in discussing all the juicy juicy drama with the results.
All of that lead to her getting on prominent russian media channels Sport-express, Sport-24, giving out interviews about figure skating (although she doesn't know much about it).
She does her live streams discussing mostly drama, also somehow manages to get interviews from skaters. I'll probably never understand why they do it. :roll9:
However, there's a general feeling she has some acquaintances among the figure skating elite too, since she somehow got a pass to junior test skates (which I believe wasn't an event for which you could get a ticket to), was seen with some prominent coaches.

She seems to be quite a strange person, she's obsessed with Alina (in a negative way), talks about her almost all the time. Last year when Alina was performing at Rostelecom Cup, Rodina was asking her followers who were present at the event to scream, whistle, shout whenever Alina was setting up for a jump to knock her off and ruin her jumps. :whack:

 

[Scott512]

I'm pretty sure she doesn't give a rats behind about what Dasha thinks of her lutz edge.

Is there anyone in Russian figure skating circles who doesn't know about the unkind words that Rodina has used about Alina? It's actually more than unkind words - it's borderline threats of harm. I get that no one seems to take those words or those threats very seriously. Many skaters have been interviewed by Rodina even after she said those things.

I find it pathetic to be so desperate for attention that you will sit for an on camera interview with the person who let it be known to the public that she wanted to slash Alina's face, but people will do what they want. But it might be taking it just a step too far to discuss your opinion of Alina's skating flaws with the person who publicly celebrated Alina's disastrous skate in Milan on social media. And considering the timing? Yeah, she's getting unfollowed.

Forget being 'only human', Alina is smart to cut those people out of her circle on whatever level she feels is necessary. When someone shows you who they are - believe them and don't make them show you twice. I will never understand why people think Alina should maintain a facade of social media friendship with anyone who considers Rodina a 'friend' or a 'fan'. Those people are clearly prioritizing Rodina's feelings, or their relationship with her, over Alina's feelings and their relationship with Alina. Why ignore a clear message?!

Finley I think some of these Russian girls just say what they're thinking. Sometimes they come across as blunt like Dasha and nastya have when speaking with rodina.

It is a shame that some of these girls don't know what Rodina is doing to them and interviewing them. Even princess Alyiona follows or used to follow rodina online. And many other fine skaters too. Its even been rumored she's good friends with the family of a prominent Russian skater. It makes no sense.

And the Russian FBI or security should have looked into her when she was making face slashing threats against Alina. When that crap happened rodina should have been a four-letter word forever in Russian sports. But yet she still carries weight and impact and a lot of skaters like her. Lol. SMH.

 

[Globetrotter]

Lizas bout of pneumonia was not close to the World championships. She got pneumonia in December and worlds was at the end of March.

But she was hospitalized for like 2 weeks and lost significant training time. While she may have recovered physically, it created a doubt if she was competition ready. I didn’t like how she was shafted but it was the RusFed’s judgment call.

 

[LiamForeman]

I mean, what? She's going to announce her long awaited retirement so that she doesn't score last place at nationals with a score of 140? Maria is a lovely dancer and skater. She's just no longer a singles Russian lady competitor. AT ALL. Her combined scores are just FS scores now. Go and dance if you want to stay 'in'. Singles takes you back to novice now. And not even, when Zhilina has two quads....

 

[Globetrotter]

Not getting into a fight about if those edge calls were right or wrong but if Darya agrees with them then how is what she said wrong?

You can disagree but you cant say she is wrong

I don’t think she is wrong. It’s more of a case that it will be far wiser not to give your opinion to this Rodina pseudo journalist. The latter seems like a s*%t stirrer.

 

[Manitou]

... she's obsessed with Alina (in a negative way), talks about her almost all the time. Last year when Alina was performing at Rostelecom Cup, Rodina was asking her followers who were present at the event to scream, whistle, shout whenever Alina was setting up for a jump to knock her off and ruin her jumps. :whack:

Wow! That's like a very dangerous troll with lots of of power. What kind of people follow her? And how did Alina get involved in all this?

 

[Finley]

Finley I think some of these Russian girls just say what they're thinking. Sometimes they come across as blunt like Dasha and nastya have when speaking with rodina.

It is a shame that some of these girls don't know what Rodina is doing to them and interviewing them. Even princess Alyiona follows or used to follow rodina online. And many other fine skaters too. Its even been rumored she's good friends with the family of a prominent Russian skater. It makes no sense.

And the Russian FBI or security should have looked into her when she was making face slashing threats against Alina. When that crap happened rodina should have been a four-letter word forever in Russian sports. But yet she still carries weight and impact and a lot of skaters like her. Lol. SMH.

I don't get it either. People can be friends with whoever they want and do interviews with whoever they want. And no one can help who they happen to be related too. But actions have consequences. Words spoken and written publicly get reactions. And it isn't always pretty.

It seems that no one really took those threats or insults seriously. I guess the situation wasn't as sinister as it sounded. Just empty talk. It is what it is. Nothing to be done about it now. Since no one really said anything maybe it's one of those situations where the less said the better.

If Alina's parents chose not to do anything or even comment publicly then I can only assume that was the correct course of action. (It amazes me how they have managed to stay silent on every single contentious issue regarding Alina throughout the post Olympic season. They are saints. Alina comes by it honestly. If Alina was my daughter I'd probably be in jail somewhere.)

My main point is that if Alina chooses to distance herself from people who are not bothered by Rodina's conduct, imo that is absolutely, unquestionable, the right choice for her to make.

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Wow! That's like a very dangerous troll with lots of of power. What kind of people follow her? And how did Alina get involved in all this?

She won the Olympics.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I mean, what? She's going to announce her long awaited retirement so that she doesn't score last place at nationals with a score of 140? Maria is a lovely dancer and skater. She's just no longer a singles Russian lady competitor. AT ALL. Her combined scores are just FS scores now. Go and dance if you want to stay 'in'. Singles takes you back to novice now. And not even, when Zhilina has two quads....

I didn't see her skates last weekend, but I did watch her FS from Nepela. Her jumps just aren't sharp at all now. I'm not sure what happened, but she is simply unable to finish the rotation on any of them.

 

[Mishaminion]

I had no idea this Rodina woman was that bad, actually threatening Alina, making racist or sexist remarks and asking people to actively try to ruin her performances.

What a nasty piece of work.

I just hope Panenkova was not aware of the utter #$&@ this woman has talked, before she agreed to be interviewed and talk about other skaters. If she did, that comes across as very malicious.

How does this woman still have a YouTube channel after everything she's said. Ugh

 

[Mishaminion]

I didn't see her skates last weekend, but I did watch her FS from Nepela. Her jumps just aren't sharp at all now. I'm not sure what happened, but she is simply unable to finish the rotation on any of them.

She was prone to UR anyway, she also grew very tall for a figure skater. That caused problems and trying to balance her skating and her education seems to have only made things worse.

 

[Pantsu]

I don't think Rodina is an evil puppeteer, she rides on the hype train and that's it
She needs attention and she gets it. Some people watch TSL, some prefer Rodina, i don't like any of them

 

[Mishaminion]

I don’t think she is wrong. It’s more of a case that it will be far wiser not to give your opinion to this Rodina pseudo journalist. The latter seems like a s*%t stirrer.

Oh I agree. She was wrong to criticise her former Eteri teammate publically and to a "journalist" who thrives on scandal and being toxic.

 

[Mishaminion]

I don't think Rodina is an evil puppeteer, she rides on the hype train and that's it
She needs attention and she gets it. Some people watch tsl, some prefer Rodina, i don't like any of them

They all talk like they are some kind of expert authority on skating and the skaters themselves and have blatant biases and even make up things to create drama.
TSL have said some very insensitive things about the state of certain Skater's mental health, with absolutely no clue what the reality is.
Rodina seems to love bashing Alina, for some reason. No idea why she is so extreme in her anti-Alina viewpoint... I've only heard what others have said about her.

 

[Scott512]

She was prone to UR anyway, she also grew very tall for a figure skater. That caused problems and trying to balance her skating and her education seems to have only made things worse.

It's so hard for tall lady figure skaters like Maria and Polina both 5 ft 8 in tall or taller. almost all the girls who do triple axels and quads are under 5 ft tall to slightly over five feet tall. size matters in ladies figure skating in this instance the lack of size is even better.

As for this rodina character I did not even know about her until like 6 or 7 months ago when people were reporting what she had said about Alina. I thought she was very cocky and very opinionated and very hateful towards one skater. it's absolutely ridiculous or someone like her who has clout and it has a YouTube channel to be so vicious and sarcastic. no way should these contemporaries of Alina and Evgenia and all the other girls go on with this rodina character. it really makes no sense but that's today's world and especially today's online world where vitriol is spilled non-stop even against great people like these athletes.

 

[Scott512]

I don't get it either. People can be friends with whoever they want and do interviews with whoever they want. And no one can help who they happen to be related too. But actions have consequences. Words spoken and written publicly get reactions. And it isn't always pretty.

It seems that no one really took those threats or insults seriously. I guess the situation wasn't as sinister as it sounded. Just empty talk. It is what it is. Nothing to be done about it now. Since no one really said anything maybe it's one of those situations where the less said the better.

If Alina's parents chose not to do anything or even comment publicly then I can only assume that was the correct course of action. (It amazes me how they have managed to stay silent on every single contentious issue regarding Alina throughout the post Olympic season. They are saints. Alina comes by it honestly. If Alina was my daughter I'd probably be in jail somewhere.)

My main point is that if Alina chooses to distance herself from people who are not bothered by Rodina's conduct, imo that is absolutely, unquestionable, the right choice for her to make.

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I'm with you that Alina's parents are saints. but I think you feel the same as I do how it's been frustrating not having forceful people stick up for Alina But she has survived everything and grown into a spectacular skater and young lady.


She won the Olympics.

Absolutely true if she won the silver medal as many people wanted we would never have heard about this crap from rodina.

 

[skatenewbie]

its sad to see what happened with Masha, last season she was not good but still able to land her flip and lutz, she even land some nice 3-3 combo in competition. Maybe she just need more training time? She didnt look gaining too much weight as well. I hope she can come back in form, even if she didnt get any international assignment, which she probably wont until she get herself all together and maybe skate in domestic competition

 

[katymay]

I can't imagine being Trusova, or Liu, Or Mariah or Alina...and seeing some of the awful evil stuff posted on social media. And even if these minor children are not seeing it, their parents and relatives are seeing it or hearing it. Some of it is so hurtful it boggles the mind. Even in my day there was much back stabbing, jealousy and downright hatefulness in the sport-perhaps because parents are overly involved due to the time and money commitment. (Especially in the US)Now though? My goodness, I don't know how these children, and their families cope with toxic social media. I thank the Lord twitter, Instagram etc. was not around back when I was skating-I think I would have had a nervous breakdown.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

It's so hard for tall lady figure skaters like Maria and Polina both 5 ft 8 in tall or taller. almost all the girls who do triple axels and quads are under 5 ft tall to slightly over five feet tall. size matters in ladies figure skating in this instance the lack of size is even better.

It is hard being tall, but she was able to do jumps before at her current height. She got 12 < or << calls last weekend. That has to be a record; she only fully rotated one jump, a 2T in her LP.

 

[Good Vibes Only]

I can't imagine being Trusova, or Liu, Or Mariah or Alina...and seeing some of the awful evil stuff posted on social media. And even if these minor children are not seeing it, their parents and relatives are seeing it or hearing it. Some of it is so hurtful it boggles the mind. Even in my day there was much back stabbing, jealousy and downright hatefulness in the sport-perhaps because parents are overly involved due to the time and money commitment. (Especially in the US)Now though? My goodness, I don't know how these children, and their families cope with toxic social media. I thank the Lord twitter, Instagram etc. was not around back when I was skating-I think I would have had a nervous breakdown.

THIS!!! Anytime someone posts a hurtful comment anywhere they should think about who might see and how they would feel if the same thing was said about them. It’s terrible how people talk about skaters these days, young or old. People pick on the 3A because they are “ruining the sport”, but then people also say hurtful things about Liza T, Zhenya, Mariah B, etc. I don’t know how professional skaters deal with all of the hate thrown at them. This is why I am glad that skaters have fan groups like team zagitova or team moonbear to support them through all of the hate. I really hope that if skaters read this forum that they only read their Fan Fests. Sometimes I can’t even read some of the stuff posted in threads because it makes me so mad.

 

[Amei]

It was hardly a smart idea to give an interview to Rodina.

Coaches should really put a rule in place with all of their skaters that if they give an interview about another active skater from the same country that its grounds for immediate expulsion.

At the same time Alina gave an interview to TASS https://tass.ru/interviews/7075777

2. She won't introduce quads before she loses at least 3 kilos.

I really wish Sambo skaters would not make any comment regarding their weight, especially needing to lose weight - the internet vultures shall pounce

At the same time Alina gave an interview to TASS https://tass.ru/interviews/7075777

Key points:

3. On Trusova and Co.
"I don't have the goal to compete with them - I go to the ice to skate. I want it more than to be on the podium. The girls' attitude to that is still a bit childish - I understand them as nobody else would. I used to be the same just a while ago. We talk every day on every possible topics including the craziest".

I hope that's a lost in translation issue; Zagitova is usually pretty classy in her interviews but that comment comes off as pretty classless to call her training mates childish because they desire to win. Especially when the critics are pretty vocal about the 'young guns' that come in a win their first season largely pre-puberty and they get knocked as being little girls.