Alena Kostornaia

[Batsuchan]

WHOLE POST

1) Thanks so much eba for translating what the Spanish commentators said! I really appreciate it!
I love to hear what everyone has to say about Aliona. It's too bad that there are no more British Eurosport broadcasts. :sad4: I really would've liked to hear what Chris & Nicky had to say about her...

2) nussacker posted this in Alina's fan thread, but I think it's worth reposting here. Looks like Aliona made a joke about the technical controller (the bald man) around 19:38 in this video, and Alina is like "stop it!"
https://youtu.be/TC7e3M8qyzE?t=1174
Ahh, our little devil! Never change, never change!

Aliona is lucky that Alina is such a good "older sister" teammate to her. :yes: She puts up with Aliona's incessant chattering, and she takes care of her and makes sure she gets the right medal. :agree:

3) I just love this candid photo--Aliona just looks so alive and bright-eyed!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aCp2YJRUd/
She really has the most stunning eyes:
https://twitter.com/kaoricky/status/1191100400805564417?s=19

4) Analysis of Aliona's 3A (from Finlandia) by a skating coach:
https://fslessons.com/alena-kostornaia-3-axel-quad-jumps/

 

[Batsuchan]

7) In the group photo from the gala, I can't help but notice that everyone but Aliona is looking at the camera:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aOXeoAS91/

Aha, I figured out what happened! She's the only one looking at THIS camera:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4etVPio2pq/
Everyone else is looking at Romain's camera.

Alyona Kostornaya - The perfect example for judges in figure skating. What is she good in?

Spoiler: Kostornaya is good at everything, but she also has problems.

...

Alyona Kostornaya is undoubtedly one of the strongest skaters in the world at her age. And her strength is not only that she can jump high and difficult or skate beautifully. Her strength is that she is good at almost everything - a sort of ideal product of the 15-year existence of the Judicial System of the ISU. Problems with edges on the Lutz and Flip can complicate Alyona's sporting life somewhat, but with a competent coaching approach this can be fixed.

(c) Анастасия Панина
-----
https://matchtv.ru/figure-skating/m...my_v_figurnom_katanii_V_chem_ona_tak_khorosha

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Edwin! I was really hoping you'd translate this article! :agree:

I have to say, I was quite impressed by this article--the author, Anastasia Panina, seems to know quite a bit about Aliona on and off the ice. Perhaps she's also a super fan! Often I read articles or interviews, and the authors/interviewers don't seem to know much about Aliona, so that is why I was pleasantly surprised.

I'm also not sure if Match TV is widely read or not, but I was also kind of surprised to see someone call her "ideal" in the media. I mean, I wholeheartedly agree with their analysis, and many other commentators have made the same point. To me, Aliona has always been the total package, with or without the 3A, but I was surprised to see her being called "ideal" in Russia when Alina and Evgenia are so much more popular, and Sasha and Anna are more well known because of the quads.

On the NBC broadcast, Johnny said something like this. Talking about the 3 debutants, he said, "It's almost mathematically impossible for Aliona Kostornaia to beat Alexandra Trusova, it's four quads against three triple axels through the competition. However, if you're looking for the most well-rounded, packaged skater, Aliona Kostornaia is what the figure skating community is looking for."

Johnny also was talking about how his first coach told him that the most important thing is to make everything look easy and effortless, and he said, "It's been a long time since I've seen a skater actually be able to do that under this judging system, and Aliona Kostornaia does it. She's magnificent."

Among us super fans, I think Aliona already has the reputation of being the "total package." If she becomes more widely known as "an ideal skater" more broadly and among the judges, I think she will do very well indeed. :yes:

 

[Batsuchan]

I don't even know if I should post this--maybe it is fake news...? Maybe one of our Russian members can tell us if this is just tabloid trash or not...
https://life.ru/t/новости/1253123/5...kat_aliony_kostornoi_soobshchieniiem_o_bombie

But this article says that apparently Aliona's stalker (the one from Finland) tried to disrupt IDF with fake bomb threats... :shocked:

If it is true, then they SERIOUSLY need to keep him far, far away from Aliona! :curse:

 

[SnowWhite]

I don't have time right now, but I can do the French one in a few hours if no one else does.

 

[nussnacker]

I don't have time right now, but I can do the French one in a few hours if no one else does.

I wanted to do it, but I used to speak French long time ago, so I don’t remember that much now.
I understood some things, but didn’t quite catch the others.

I believe commentators said something along the lines that Aliona is a skater who dreams of becoming like Zagitova, and that she is the youngest competitor of the event.
In general, a lot of compliments on her jumps magnificent etc.

 

[PrayOrDie]

Does anyone have a link to her programs with NBC commentary? Can’t seem to find it anywhere.

same

 

[SnowWhite]

I wanted to do it, but I used to speak French long time ago, so I don’t remember that much now.
I understood some things, but didn’t quite catch the others.

I believe commentators said something along the lines that Aliona is a skater who dreams of becoming like Zagitova, and that she is the youngest competitor of the event.
In general, a lot of compliments on her jumps magnificent etc.

Yeah, they said that she's perfect technically and artistically. Nothing especially insightful from what I remember, just very complementary.

 

[vesperalvioletta]

1) Thanks so much eba for translating what the Spanish commentators said! I really appreciate it!
I love to hear what everyone has to say about Aliona. It's too bad that there are no more British Eurosport broadcasts. :sad4: I really would've liked to hear what Chris & Nicky had to say about her...

2) nussacker posted this in Alina's fan thread, but I think it's worth reposting here. Looks like Aliona made a joke about the technical controller (the bald man) around 19:38 in this video, and Alina is like "stop it!"
https://youtu.be/TC7e3M8qyzE?t=1174
Ahh, our little devil! Never change, never change!

Aliona is lucky that Alina is such a good "older sister" teammate to her. :yes: She puts up with Aliona's incessant chattering, and she takes care of her and makes sure she gets the right medal. :agree:

3) I just love this candid photo--Aliona just looks so alive and bright-eyed!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aCp2YJRUd/
She really has the most stunning eyes:
https://twitter.com/kaoricky/status/1191100400805564417?s=19

4) Analysis of Aliona's 3A (from Finlandia) by a skating coach:
https://fslessons.com/alena-kostornaia-3-axel-quad-jumps/

Alina really was such a good big sister figure to Aliona last weekend. I think she learned a lot from being on the other side of things with Evgenia. She's won everything, so I doubt she feels like she has anything left to prove, but it was so sweet to see how encouraging and supportive she was of Aliona. She seems like a great role model.

 

[madmax]

nussacker posted this in Alina's fan thread, but I think it's worth reposting here. Looks like Aliona made a joke about the technical controller (the bald man) around 19:38 in this video, and Alina is like "stop it!"
https://youtu.be/TC7e3M8qyzE?t=1174
Ahh, our little devil! Never change, never change!
Aliona is lucky that Alina is such a good "older sister" teammate to her. :yes: She puts up with Aliona's incessant chattering, and she takes care of her and makes sure she gets the right medal. :agree:

This is why the ISU should prey that the gods of figure skating will watch over Aliona in the coming years.
Aliona is a great skater, is beautiful but, first and foremost, she is born to be a star.
Where Alina is thoughtful and considered, a little shy, Aliona is outgoing, bubbly and she clearly likes to be the center of attention.
The skit at the awards ceremony in Grenoble, with Aliona laughing while Mariah takes the parts of the mayor to reward her with the well-deserved gold medal, is a cult.
I mean, no offense, but it's already clear at this young age who is the star and who are the supporting actors.
I think that when she feels more confident, her press conferences will be as unmissable as her performances on the ice.
So, she is the greatest hope for the ISU, to succeed in attracting once again the attention of the big media and the general public on figure skating.
I hope so too.

 

[Good Vibes Only]

This is why the ISU should prey that the gods of figure skating will watch over Aliona in the coming years.
Aliona is a great skater, is beautiful but, first and foremost, she is born to be a star.
Where Alina is thoughtful and considered, a little shy, Aliona is outgoing, bubbly and she clearly likes to be the center of attention.
The skit at the awards ceremony in Grenoble, with Aliona laughing while Mariah takes the parts of the mayor to reward her with the well-deserved gold medal, is a cult.
I mean, no offense, but it's already clear at this young age who is the star and who are the supporting actors.
I think that when she feels more confident, her press conferences will be as unmissable as her performances on the ice.
So, she is the greatest hope for the ISU, to succeed in attracting once again the attention of the big media and the general public on figure skating.
I hope so too.

I agree that Aliona has the potential to become a star, but saying that all the other skaters are “supporting actors” is a bit too much. Maybe something was lost in translation

 

[Finley]

I am bringing this over here because it has an adorable moment of Aliona hugging her unicorn. And also for Sergei's face when he sees the pillow! -

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4c3k7EBw1e/

 

[Batsuchan]

I don't even know if I should post this--maybe it is fake news...? Maybe one of our Russian members can tell us if this is just tabloid trash or not...
https://life.ru/t/новости/1253123/5...kat_aliony_kostornoi_soobshchieniiem_o_bombie

So in the Russian ladies' thread, nussacker said that LIFE is a tabloid, so I really hope this is fake news.

But I am glad to hear that there were "bodyguards" there at the competition, according to Manue93370 who was there:
https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/s...gure-Skating&p=2502070&viewfull=1#post2502070

I kind of hope that someone (an adult) is always with Aliona any time she's interacting with fans... :yes:

This is why the ISU should prey that the gods of figure skating will watch over Aliona in the coming years.
Aliona is a great skater, is beautiful but, first and foremost, she is born to be a star.

Yes, hopefully she will grace us with her presence on the ice for many years to come!

But this is also why I'm sort of glad that she's not going to be a neurosurgeon. She might be a great surgeon, but she just seems like someone who loves the spotlight. :yes:

I am bringing this over here because it has an adorable moment of Aliona hugging her unicorn. And also for Sergei's face when he sees the pillow! -

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4c3k7EBw1e/

I was wondering what people were talking about when they said "the tiger is hugging the unicorn"!

 

[Batsuchan]

Official ISU interview video with English subtitles!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKXOWrl12_Y

So yesterday some random journalist from MatchTV was calling Aliona an "ideal skater" for the current judging system, and today Alexander Zhulin, a famous Russian coach basically said the same thing!

https://russian.rt.com/sport/news/683492-zhulin-kostornaya-otsenki

"For me personally Aliona is an epitome of all the best in figure skating. She has fantastic skating skills and presentation, magnificent technique, phenomenal jumps. She does her every jump clean. If I were a judge, I would always give her +4 and +5 GOE.
If Kostornaia learns a quad or better two quads, she’ll become invincible. She practically hasn’t any weak spots, so she can compete with Shcherbakova and Trusova."

Translation from here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4h35TkIAk3/

Pretty strong endorsement from a guy who was complaining last year (?) about the junior skaters at Nationals, saying that he'd prefer to see mature women! But he has always seemed to have liked Aliona. After the test skates he said something like, "I liked Kostornaia; I've always liked her. Her skating is divine." :agree:

 

[Arbitrary]

Official ISU interview video with English subtitles! [emoji3]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKXOWrl12_Y

So yesterday some random journalist from MatchTV was calling Aliona an "ideal skater" for the current judging system, and today Alexander Zhulin, a famous Russian coach basically said the same thing!

https://russian.rt.com/sport/news/683492-zhulin-kostornaya-otsenki

Translation from here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4h35TkIAk3/

Pretty strong endorsement from a guy who was complaining last year (?) about the junior skaters at Nationals, saying that he'd prefer to see mature women! But he has always seemed to have liked Aliona. After the test skates he said something like, "I liked Kostornaia; I've always liked her. Her skating is divine." :agree:

Very flexible person, Zhulin, as it looks like.

Yet, the precise words to be read as: Kostornaya is perfect (!) and if succeeds adding a quad or two, she may compete (!) with Shcherbakova and Trusova.

Prosecution rests...

 

[Azikin]

Yet, the precise words to be read as: Kostornaya is perfect (!) and if succeeds adding a quad or two, she may compete (!) with Shcherbakova and Trusova.

Really? If judged fairly, she might have broken the world record in France..

 

[Batsuchan]

Grr, I'm totally kicking myself because I had no idea that the Olympic Channel here in the US was showing the other events from IDF with a lag!! :gaah:
Apparently they aired the Ladies SP last night, and it seems that the commentators Ashley Wagner and Tanith White had nothing but praise for our angel. :agree:

I could not find the original source--does anyone have a video of the Olympic Channel broadcast of Aliona's SP??

But a Japanese fan on Twitter was translating some of their comments into Japanese, which I guess I will translate back into English.
https://twitter.com/Winter026/status/1192273605893058560

Ashley: Gorgeous triple axel! Of the three young Russian girls, she's the one I like the most by far. She was really mysterious and has a lot of things. Really great! It's exactly like you said, Tanith, she's the total package. Her technique is amazing, but her speed, dynamism, edges--they're immediately obvious.
Tanith: Maybe she's the unicorn?! [i.e., instead of her stuffie]

https://twitter.com/Winter026/status/1192274018893615104

Rave reviews from Ashley & Tanith. Sorry, I omitted a lot of stuff, but it's basically like both her technique and artistry are amazing, and you can really relax and enjoy watching her. Just a storm of this kind of high praise.

Darn, I really wish I could hear them raving about Aliona for myself! :sad4: Or really, mostly Tanith. She's by far my favorite commentator in the NBC team; I love her ice dance commentary, but I also enjoy her commentary on the singles more than Johnny/Tara. :yes:

 

[Batsuchan]

While I'm on a translating kick - here's Aliona's SP with Japanese commentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9R_7HGP48o

About 3A: Shizuka says "Good height."
About combo: "Good distance and flow"

2:20 (about spin): "Her rotation speed is good, she maintains the speed, and she changes positions smoothly."
3:00: "While cleanly performing the steps, she uses her upper body well, and this is a step sequence that should receive a lot of points."

About the 3A in the replay, Shizuka does say she thinks Aliona rotated the jump, but she does say the judges might have a hard time determining which way she was facing when she landed the jump, so we'll have to see what they decide.

 

[Batsuchan]

Now here's a bunch of Russian articles about Aliona! :agree:

1) Evgeni Plushenko: If Kostornaya also adds a quadruple, it will be very difficult to fight with her
https://m.sovsport.ru/figure/news/2:922729
GoogleTranslate:

"Kostornaya made a leap forward - she performed triple axels perfectly, and three times, and in general she rides great, many people like her. She, I think, took a big step forward. If she also adds a quadruple, it will be very difficult to fight with her. Her skating, her gliding, her technicality, her rotations are all at the highest level.”

2) Here's the full translated version of Zhulin's interview
https://fs-gossips.com/alexander-zh...embodiment-of-all-the-best-in-figure-skating/

3) Sergey Shakhrai: Kostornaya is brilliance, virtuosity and lightness
https://m.sovsport.ru/figure/articles/2:922716
GoogleTranslate:

I'll start with Alena Kostornaya . I have already said more than once that Alena is my favorite in this brilliant galaxy of young figure skaters, which appeared in recent years in Russian figure skating.

Everything was done in the free program of Kostornaya: all the elements were executed cleanly, with brilliance, masterly and easily, including such complex ones as two triple axels. Moreover, Alena performed them both in combination and separately. And most importantly, she manages to do what many athletes from the Eteri Tutberidze group are now criticizing for. Kostornaya combines beautiful technique, including the most complex jumps and elements, with true femininity. Therefore, those who claim that young skaters at this age are only capable of jumping are wrong, and they are not given to ride beautifully. Alena's example refutes this popular opinion. I cannot but note one more thing: Kostornaya in her free program improved her personal result by two points. Obviously, this is not the limit.

4) Andrei Zhurankov (TV commenator)
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...-seychas-intervyu-andreya-zhurankova-1606742/
GoogleTranslate:

- How do you like the results of the French Grand Prix? Was everything expected?

- Kostornaya shows stability, the accumulation of a jump. And after her first two jumps, everything became clear. Every week everyone admired Trusova, Kostornaya froze this hysteria. She showed that there is not one Trusova.

5) Kostornaya two years ago was the last in the championship of Russia. She was told that she would not become a star
Long article about Aliona's skating career.
https://sport.business-gazeta.ru/article/247307
You can read the rest through your translator of choice, but I'll share the conclusion:

GoogleTranslate:

Kostornaya is a unique skater. She is the only one who now combines super sophisticated technique with bright and powerful choreography, high-quality gliding and an amazing skill in skating. The famous coach Marina Zueva complained in a recent interview with BUSINESS Online that few people think about skating and image. And a true champion should be good at everything: show ultra-si and touch the audience to the core with his performance.

Alena is just such a case. Its programs cannot be limited to sports, where numbers, points and records are put at the forefront.

Everyone seems to be pushing Aliona as the "total package" now! :yes:

And I would not be surprised to see Worlds become a battle between the quad queen (Sasha) and the total package (Aliona). :yes:

 

[SkateSkates]

I saw the Olympic channel commentary last night but unfortunately do not have a recording. The tweet you translated back to English pretty much captured what they said - rave reviews about Aliona and her potential to become even better since her starting point is so high.

Both Ashley/Tanith and Tara/Johnny emphasized how she is the full package, her effortless skating, etc! So nice to hear all this praise about Aliona. Too bad CBC and BESP aren’t showing the GP this season because I would love to hear their commentary on Aliona as well.

 

[sabinfire]

Grr, I'm totally kicking myself because I had no idea that the Olympic Channel here in the US was showing the other events from IDF with a lag!! :gaah:
Apparently they aired the Ladies SP last night, and it seems that the commentators Ashley Wagner and Tanith White had nothing but praise for our angel. :agree:

I could not find the original source--does anyone have a video of the Olympic Channel broadcast of Aliona's SP??

I got you! SP from Olympic Channel:

https://dai.ly/x7nq6ux