Alexei YAGUDIN: “I’M COMING BACK” | Page 2 | Golden Skate

Alexei YAGUDIN: “I’M COMING BACK”

I agree with Spun Silver that this is both exciting and worrisome. The latter, especially, because the surgeon stated that the new hip joint was never designed for those jumps. Yikes!

I believe this was a doctor interviewed for his expertise on the subject, not because he performed any surgery.
 
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OK, I guess the right way to say it is, $peedy should say no, because he would look like a hypocrite (even more than he does now) if he says yes to Yagudin, and he said no to Lipinski, Baiul, Chen and (LOL) the Protopopovs.

When did he say "no" to these other skaters? I didn't know any of them had actually asked for reinstatement (although I heard that Baiul had said she wanted to do so, but I never heard that she followed through on it).

$peedy is currently desperate for money, and Yags sells tickets and draws ratings in Canada as well as the US and Russia, so he just might agree to it -- although I think the first skater he will reinstate will be Tonya Harding (no one caused ratings to fly upwards like she did) IMO, though, it is more likely that $peedy will let Yags reinstate than Yags's hip will let him reinstate.
 
When did he say "no" to these other skaters? I didn't know any of them had actually asked for reinstatement (although I heard that Baiul had said she wanted to do so, but I never heard that she followed through on it).
Protopopovs explored the issue before Worlds (or Europeans, I do not exactly remember) in Switzerland. ISU said "no".

As others have said, though, Yagudin did not do anything to actually lose his eligibility.
 
Was Speedy the one who came out with that "You can't unboil an egg.." statement? I thought that he was pretty adamant about not letting pros reinstate ever again.

I thought Ice Wars was unsanctioned. That should have been enough to "boil the egg." But it wouldn't suprise me if Speedy changes his mind and goes after the $.
 
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I thought that skating in "Ice Wars" cost Yagudin (and all other skaters who ever did it) their eligibility, also.
 
Comment and question

My feeling with comebacks, for most athetes, is good for them! It takes a lot of courage to come back, both mentally and physically. They should just keep a realistic attitude and expectations about their comeback depending on their personal situation, whether their goals to be to stand on the podium or just participate for the love of the sport.

I agree that it will be tough for Yags, but getting a chance to re-experience his wonderful musicality and footwork in competition would be terrific. Getting to watch that, even if he does nothing but double jumps, would be fine with me!

One question - Could someone clarify what makes a skater lose their Olympic eligibility? Is it participating in specific events or the amount of money made from specific events / endorsements or a combo of the above?
 
Actually, I THINK - would have to check notes - that the event that cost Alexei his eligibility was an event in Canada that occured during the winter of 2003 - not long after he retired. I'm thinking it was in Western Canada.

However, that doesn't matter. Speedy would reinstate him if asked.
 
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I believe a skater can lose his eligibility by either skating in an unsanctioned event or by accepting payment that hasn't been ok'd by his federation.
 
ISU rule 102 lays out the definition of who is and is not eligible, and what kind of events/tours one can do without losing eligibility. Under this rule, definition of the ineligible skater can be for any of the following:

-Skating or officiating in a competition conducted by officials not on the approved list of the respective member or on the ISU approved list

-skating or officiating in an event not sanctioned by a member and/or the ISU

-skating or officiating without prior express authorization of the respective member, in any capacity of a skating competition, exhibition or tour in any of the sport disciplines of the ISU


Yagudin competed more than once in both Ice Wars AND World Team Challenge, both professional competitions NOT sanctioned by the ISU and officiated by NON-ISU judging. Thus, he has lost eligibility and would have to be reinstated.
 
Yagudin competed more than once in both Ice Wars AND World Team Challenge, both professional competitions NOT sanctioned by the ISU and officiated by NON-ISU judging. Thus, he has lost eligibility and would have to be reinstated.

I think the key variable here is 'does he have the backing of his federation?'. In his eligible career I seem to recall that he wasn't their favorite and that he managed to somewhat alienate the Russian public during SLC as well.
Still, the Russian federation is on hard times now and it's hard to imagine them not wanting a 4x world champion and OGM back on the ice. And it's hard for me to imagine $peedy standing firm against a determined Piseev.
I wonder how the Plushenko/Mishin camp would react to the federation actively working to get Yagudin reinstated...
 
I'm neither a fan or an anti of him though, I don't understand his intention.
Does he seriously aim for 2010 Olympics?
If so, does he think reinstating 3As is enough? (No one expects a quad)
His scores at Japan Open can't be any indicator for his competitiveness.

If he medals at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, I'll consider it a great massacre in the men's event. Frankly, I don't want to see that.
 
Every figure skater has the right to embarrass him-/ herself in public. We must respect that.
 
Every figure skater has the right to embarrass him-/ herself in public. We must respect that.

I think it's only an embarassment when an athlete comesback talking of winning gold when they are truly no longer contenders. If they are back for the experience of it all, then why not? If they are really in awful shape, then they probably won't qualify for Worlds / Olympics anyway!

(I can think of a number of embarassing splat fest competitions by skaters who weren't even coming back!)
 
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! it is true!

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/11/sports/EU-SPT-FIG-Yagudin-Return.php
Report: Yagudin says he wants to return to competition after five years away
The Associated Press
Published: August 11, 2007

MOSCOW: Olympic figure skating champion Alexei Yagudin plans to return to competition after five years on the professional circuit.

"I'm back," the 2002 gold medalist was quoted as saying in Sport-Ekspress newspaper on Saturday. "I really want it."

Four-time world champion Yagudin, who turned pro after winning gold at the Salt Lake City Games, underwent hip surgery in New York in July and had a titanium joint implanted.

"All will depend on my recovery," Yagudin said. "I was impressed by (former U.S. champion) Rudi Golindo, who substituted two joints in as many weeks and was back on the Collins Tour in six months."

Yagudin said that Tatyana Tarasova and Alexei Morozov had agreed to coach him.


Russia went without a medal at the World Championships in March for the first time since 1960, and its men placed 19th and 20th.

Yagudin's former main rival in the Russian team, Yevgeny Plushenko, who missed the season after winning gold at the Turin Olympics last year, is also planning a comeback.
 
Whoa. So he managed to get both Tarasova and Morozov again. Will all three be working together? Even after the brouhaha of 2003?

If it does happen, I wish him some good skates. :clap::yes:
 
Yipppy!!!!!! Some fun, exciting, happy news for a change!!!!

I will say I do feel a tiny bit sorry for the up and coming men in Russia who must be like first Plushenko now Yugudin -- we will never get in the lime light!!!

But anyway, seriously - this will be way too much fun to watch if it actually unfolds that either one or both (but particularly Yaguding given the long absence and very serious hip problem) of these men compete again...I am just tickled silly. The sheer command of presence on ice and perhaps some good jumping versus the total package skaters like lambiel and takahashi and weir...omg, I'm drooling already.

MM - you are hilarious -- bionic man comment had me roaring.
 
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