2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[katymay]

Midori's 3A was huge. I'd be surprised if anyone got as much height on a jump. Slutskaya was also capable of some big jumps; in her peak around 2000, I remember her doing a 3F in the Worlds SP that was one of the biggest ones I've seen.

Midori's everything was huge. The shock and awe of jumpers.

 

[Edwin]

Obviously there has been a flood of press reports, interview interpretations, blogs and other material. Way too much to even get a grip on.
Here is a sample which includes both a report and some interview quotes:

Kostornaya's World Record, Trusova's unique achievement and edible flowers

The results of the Grand Prix finals in the Team Russia review.

Kostornaya is absolutely the best

The victory in the finals of the Grand Prix among women was won by Alyona Kostornaya. It was the best skating run of the evening, and perhaps of the entire first half of the season in women's competitions. Two triple Axels, one of which is in a cascade, the rest of her jumping set, incredible step sequences and rotations - everything was impeccable. 162.14 - Another best result of the season and career of this figure skater. At the same time, the total for components were completely crazy for 'yesterday's junior' at 73.27, only one element was below 9 points. As a result - a world record for the sum of two programs: 247.59 points.

- The tournament has a high level, very cool! - Kostornaya almost jumped with happiness on a flash interview with Channel One"

“I'm glad I became the first. My rink friends help me to skate clean.
Favourite item? Cascade triple Flip - triple Toeloop, as well as the triple Axel. Now I will work, work and work.
Quads? I don’t want to talk about them yet. Perhaps there will be a surprise. I want to thank all the fans. Thanks to everyone, I feel your support and I am happy.”

Shcherbakova - the best in the free

The victory in the free program was won by another Russian woman - Anna Shcherbakova. She was performed in her free program three quadruple jumps - two Lutz's, one of which is in a cascade, and a Flip. The latter was included in the program for the first time, but, unfortunately, did not work out. But those two quadruple Lutz's, one of which in a cascade with a triple Toeloop, were impeccable. Like everything else. The second great skating run in two days, as evidenced by the score - 162.65 points. This is the best result in Shcherbakova’s career, as well as the sum of points for two programs.

“I really wanted to show the Flip. At pre-launch training, it turned out pretty well. It is unfortunate that in competition it didn't work out. But I hope that in the future I will approach it more confidently. Despite the fact that the Flip did not work out, I’m very glad that I could get myserlf together for the rest of the program.”

- You are only the third girl in history to score more than 240 points. Does it cause any additional emotions?

“By the marks - no. But I got a good overall impression from my routines. Of course, if I did this Flip, I would be more pleased. I hope next time it will be more confident.”

Five quadruples from Trusova

Aleksandra Trusova in the planned content sheet for her free program had as many as five (!) Quadruple jumps, one of which was in the cascade. Yes, indeed, this is the new reality. And Aleksandra performed three out of five, while she also established a unique achievement - the first of the women to perform a quadruple Flip in competition. Her Lutz was excellent, rewarded by the judges with 3.78 points. And a quad Toeloop in a cascade with triple Salchow. The quadruple Salchow did not work out - the jump came out only in double, and on the other quadruple Toeloop - Trusova fell from it. Obviously, fatigue affected her. For the second time in her career, breaking the mark of 100 points in the technical assessment didn't work, but it was close - 96.80.

“I skated the program very poorly. Besides the fact that I was the first in the world to jump a quadruple Flip, I made a butterfly (pop), so I was upset and jumped a different quadruple.” (anybody able to get hold of that planned content sheet and point out the differences? - Edwin)

Not Zagitova's day

But who really was upset by her skating was Alina Zagitova. How brilliant the Olympic champion was in the short program, her free program just didn't work out. Uncertainty was felt already at the first cascade of triple Lutz and Rittberger, and then everything went completely awry - falls, under rotations, errors. As a result - the last place, behind Brady Tennell the American even. Alina did not want to talk to reporters after competition.

A funny episode occurred at the award ceremony. All winners, along with medals, were presented with bouquets. Moreover, the organizers preferred sweets to living or artificial flowers. Bouquets were created from chocolate.
Noticing this, Kostornaya bit off one of the flowers with a smile. Trusova and Shcherbakova followed her example.
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From: https://teamrussia.pro/news/novosti...alnoe-dostizhenie-trusovoj-i-sedennye-tsvety/

Almost all interviews with the skaters are available online and with auto generated subtitles in the language of your choice.

Waiting for some critical analysis by the likes of Inna Goncharenko.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5yk5ExIjMD/ #TeamTutberidzeForProgress For Ever !

 

[Mishaminion]

That Sasha can say she skated poorly is a mind blowing thing when she landed 3 quads and made history with her 4F!
She's something else this girl!

 

[Edwin]

That Sasha can say she skated poorly is a mind blowing thing when she landed 3 quads and made history with her 4F!
She's something else this girl!

I'd really like to have all interviews with the girls, especially those hot off the ice, where I presume the Russian press was waiting for them in the mixed zone and the girls were still flushed with excitement.
The directed official ISU interview had the girls already weary, bored and tired. Anna kept her attention during the session, Alyona seemed more occupied with her phone under the table, but Aleksandra answered a lot of questions and was quite talkative. Tina turned her head into Aleksandra's elbow crook, apparently also tired of all the attention towards her mistress.

Perhaps there will be official FFKKR interviews with Olga Yermolina later. Both Tat'yana Flade and Olga were present during all the interview sessions both official and unofficial, and the girls turned many times to them for hints on English or on the 'information policy'.

Again I stress the skaters were tightlipped about anything relating to the internal proceedings in Khrustalniy, their health or their progress, very likely under orders. Which is all for the better, not to feed the gossip and rumour mills. They already seem to make evading certain questions into a mind game ;-)

Would have loved to have a post GPF interview with #TeamTutberidzeForProgress staff as a collective, but perhaps only after season has concluded in the 2020 World Championships.

 

[Nord Stream 2]

Ask her When 3A? Answer... Initially, 4F, want 5 quads in FS.

Yes, Sasha does not throw words in the wind.

 

[pearly]

Eteri has talked on TV about private conversations between her and Evgenia Medvedeva before so I don't know why anyone is shocked if someone from Sambo has said something that Alina needs to or is considering retiring. And it's not like it's a "bad" thing that Zagitova might be considering retiring, she's won everything, she's got business commitments outside of skating (I swear I'm not saying that in a negative way, just stating fact), and for safety reasons she's not able to train the difficult jumps that Trusova/Shcherbakova/Kostornaia are doing.

I wasn't talking about retiring, but about the comment (made by the commentators on the ISU channel) that she came to Torino unsure if she would compete. That she'd try skating in a practice and then decide. I consider that (if true) terribly unprofessional from everyone - the skater and the entire team. I wonder if they would be making those comments if Elizaveta or another Russian had been the first alternate. Not sure how the Federation would feel about possibly wasting spots and possible prize money like that.

 

[zanadude]

It's really about time that the ISU allows quads in ladies SPs. It's such an arbitrary and arguably sexist rule to prohibit this.

Nothing "arguably" about it. It is sexist. Though I'd actually prefer they apply this rule to the men's competition.

 

[ruga]

I really doubt Alina went to Turin with a serious thought of not competing. I have heard a lot of stories about Alina almost withdrawing from competitions so at this point I take such stories with a grain of salt. There was no reported injury or other incident, so it would be strange to withdraw for virtually no reason.

 

[silveruskate]

It's really about time that the ISU allows quads in ladies SPs. It's such an arbitrary and arguably sexist rule to prohibit this.

Aliona was fantastic, but she unquestionably benefits from being allowed to perform her best jump in the SP while her primary competitors, Anya and Sasha, cannot. To me, this makes the podium rankings feel a bit artificial and unrepresentative.

Everyone knows the rules. If they want the benefit they can learn the 3A, and Sasha already has. Frankly, there would be a much lower incentive to learn them otherwise. Laughing at the sexist....most men already have the 3A which isn't the same as in the women's. If you introduce quads in the SP now, then no women will care about doing a 3A.

 

[fabienne1996]

I wasn't talking about retiring, but about the comment (made by the commentators on the ISU channel) that she came to Torino unsure if she would compete. That she'd try skating in a practice and then decide. I consider that (if true) terribly unprofessional from everyone - the skater and the entire team. I wonder if they would be making those comments if Elizaveta or another Russian had been the first alternate. Not sure how the Federation would feel about possibly wasting spots and possible prize money like that.

Yesterday the commentator spoke about it again. And ted too or not? I have no idea if that was true but i think those 2 commentators do not invent something like that. But do not ask me if it is true and if so how they got that information

 

[Mishaminion]

I think it makes sense that she is struggling with motivation...so many skaters who have won it all have either retired immediately or soon after, or like Alina have often struggled with their motivation to continue to bust their butts training and competing.

I doubt Yuna would have returned in 2013 or gone to Sochi the year after if there wasn't all that pressure for her to do so in Korea.

 

[Edwin]

I think it makes sense that she is struggling with motivation...so many skaters who have won it all have either retired immediately or soon after, or like Alina have often struggled with their motivation to continue to bust their butts training and competing.

Still, it would have graced her if she gave some answers to the press as to her feelings and thoughts. She needs to face herself eventually, but after this (for her disastrous and perhaps in her own mind even disgracing) free skate I can also understand she'd rather hide her disappointment in herself from public view and prying questions. She is still only 17 and no amount of media training can prevent you from bursting into tears and giving the yellow pages press and gossip magazines all the 'content' they might ever wanted.

Anyway, we can and must only respect her decision.

 

[Mishaminion]

Still, it would have graced her if she gave some answers to the press as to her feelings and thoughts. She needs to face herself eventually, but after this (for her disastrous and perhaps in her own mind even disgracing) free skate I can also understand she'd rather hide her disappointment in herself from public view and prying questions. She is still only 17 and no amount of media training can prevent you from bursting into tears and giving the yellow pages press and gossip magazines all the 'content' they might ever wanted.

Anyway, we can and must only respect her decision.

She doesn't owe any of us anything. She can talk when she's ready

 

[Edwin]

She doesn't owe any of us anything. She can talk when she's ready

Indeed she doesn't. We can hope the GPF inspired Alina to light that competitive fire inside her and give her new incentive, motivation and energy in the coming National Championships.

 

[Scott512]

Everyone knows the rules. If they want the benefit they can learn the 3A, and Sasha already has. Frankly, there would be a much lower incentive to learn them otherwise. Laughing at the sexist....most men already have the 3A which isn't the same as in the women's. If you introduce quads in the SP now, then no women will care about doing a 3A.

Interesting analysis. Agreed.

As for Sasha she is if you will playing Russian Roulette with all the insanely tough jumps she does. . The risk is as great as the reward. It will be interesting to see if Sasha develops the bad habit of beating herself at these events. Alyiona will almost always go into the big events with a lead on her iand everyone else in the short program putting massive pressure on Sasha to nail her impossible FS. Seeing all of this unfold in the next year or two will be amazing and in some ways very much an honor for us.

 

[PrayOrDie]

Alina injured after a fall at free skate (c) russian commentator at 1TV

 

[Nord Stream 2]

Interesting analysis. Agreed.

As for Sasha she is if you will playing Russian Roulette with all the insanely tough jumps she does. . The risk is as great as the reward. It will be interesting to see if Sasha develops the bad habit of beating herself at these events. Alyiona will almost always go into the big events with a lead on her iand everyone else in the short program putting massive pressure on Sasha to nail her impossible FS. Seeing all of this unfold in the next year or two will be amazing and in some ways very much an honor for us.

Imagine how much pressure Alena got in front of SP, knowing that Anna and especially Sasha will always get 160 points in their FS.

 

[Alex65]

Okay Now that these competitions are over, and everyone seems to be pleased with the state of things and the results. I want to say about the PCS. Since arguing about PCS is pointless, I want to hope that after the next competition no one will cry here too, that their beloved was not given so many well-deserved sweets that she could win. I am naive, I know.

 

[Mishaminion]

I don't think her FS is impossible, it is insanely difficult though. I'm sure Nathan's "I can do 5 quads and make it look easy" FS was very inspiring to Sasha. She's added yet another type of quad to her arsenal and landed it first try, impossible is not in this girl's vocabulary!

That is at the same time as learning a 3A and trying that, plus 4 other quads.

Putting all of that together and landing them all in the same program/competition is very very tough but I'd never say anything is impossible for Sasha.

 

[silveruskate]

Does anyone else see that the new Sambo juniors aren't learning -3Lo combos? It's the practical decision to learn quads and it will be the same in all rinks. Will this be the death of that combo for the time being? We had Alina, Sasha, Anya and also Tarakanova all learn -3Lo combos...also Zhenya practiced -3Lo combos with Eteri too. From the current juniors I believe only Akatieva has done it.

Sasha also removed it from the GP Finals, which in my opinion is a really good decision when you're doing so many hard jumps already. There isn't much benefit in an extra 0.7 points.

Also I hope Sasha trains for 4F 3A 4Lz 3F-3T 4T-eu-3S 4T 3Lz-3T. Success for the 4S isn't high. And 3A + 3F is better than 4S + 2A anyways in base value. Not to mention it distributes the load because 3A is worth less and 3F is worth more.