The people that are intent on criticizing that group already has arguments for that, parents are concerned about getting free cars or apartments; TSL said something along those lines about Shcherbakova's parents regarding not caring about her career not being something long-term.
2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating
- Thread starter flanker
- Start date
- Status
The people that are intent on criticizing that group already has arguments for that, parents are concerned about getting free cars or apartments; TSL said something along those lines about Shcherbakova's parents regarding not caring about her career not being something long-term.
- Joined
- May 28, 2019
And that is great, good for her. It would be even better if she managed to do that (bring attention to an important aspect of FS) without talking about stuff she has not the faintest idea (TeamTut training methods).
Agree, I would have a lot more respect for her on the subject if she didn't seem to pick on skaters and teams who she admits to not observing their training methods or speaking to the skaters because it makes her look more like a hater on a group of skaters and their coaching team vs. a real concern over skaters well-being. Fact is for everyone that detests Eteri and skating empire of champions she and her coaching staff have created and are so absolutely sure that she's evil and must be doing something to her skaters: Eteri and her entourage of people (coaches, choreographers) have given multiple skaters through bad-mouthing the skater to the press more than enough reason to come out in the media and do a tell-all and expose any abusive training practices and nothing has ever been said about any type of abusive behavior towards them by the coaching team.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2017
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2018
And all the more reason to stay quiet and avoid further bad-mouthing so as to not endanger future career options. Not that there necessarily is something worthy of a big “tell-all“. Just saying that it usually doesn‘t work that way -especially if the athletes in question are mostly minors. They (and their parents) would be supremely stupid to go against someone as big as Eteri, considering how easily she plays with public perception.
If there is some big scandal, it will come out eventually. And people will clasp their hands in shock and ask: “How could we have possibly known?!“ And if there isn‘t, then, well - not.
In the meantime, people can and will believe what they want. There have been instances where current and former Tutberidze students have admitted to dangerous customs and behaviour in the group. There have also been many instances when the coaches were acting reasonably and responsibly. Who knows where the truth lies? Probably somewhere in the middle.
For the records, I wouldn‘t place any bets on the accounts of this designer being 100% accurate. With her depiction of training situations in the US being this universally happy paradise - which we happen to know for a fact they‘re not - alone she‘s shown herself to be heavily biased. However, she also has more experiences of working with elite athletes (including Russians) than any of us so it‘s at least worth taking her viewpoints into account.
___
Anyway, Aliona Kanysheva‘s got a new ice dancer partner and they look pretty happy:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDHEfd1Brbt/?igshid=le2kdnpnzne6
Agreed although realistically if a scandal comes out then it's most likely doping.
Not because i think there is (quite the opposite actually) but because right now RusFed is carefully defending the team and state media wouldn't never create a scandal around some random abuse, or even if some other russian journalist tries, the story would fall in the mix of so many other fake news to the point you couldn't recognize it anymore, and eventually removed, if the supposed scandal comes from an interview, that person would be immediately referred as a liar, etc.
Plus there are also the cultural differences, what in the west would be certainly seen as shockingly abusive, in Russia might be considered normal by the general consensus.
While doping is something not entirely controlled by the country or the federation so if it happens, it happens.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2014
TSL are gadflies.
Anna has the best parents and a very stable family. Her parents did some big interview a couple months ago and it was a very good look into the stability her family offers Anna such a tough career. It's no wonder she is so poised and always does and says the right thing. Much like Alina.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2014
No question the cultural differences are important. I also believe that Russian figure skating coaches are generally harder on their pupils then North American coaches are for instance. I don't think anyone cuz foreign would disagree with that.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Thank you for saying that nice thing. Now if someone would say something nice about Alexandra Trusova's parents, I would thank that person, too.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
My understanding is that in Russia the coaches have more authority over their pupils than is the case, for instance, in the USA. Still, I think the similarities are greater than the differences.
To me the question is universal. How hard should we push children to turn them into super athletes, or circus performers, or to get them into the movies as child actors, or to dress them up as child models? Does this take away from their primary job of being children? Or is it all worth it to maybe get rich and famous some day?
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
If coaches shouldn't say a word about weight before a skater becomes an adult, it basically means they should let them twist and break their joints and bones burdened by additional mass, while young.
Talk about caring for young athletes.
It depends on how that talk about weight,
So many skaters have talked about how they were bullied, shamed, harassed and made fun for weighing "too much", and the lasting damage that it did throughout their lives, I can scarcely list them all here.
Finding a nutritionist to instill healthy eating habits, to build the right muscles and keep an athlete skating well is a wonderful thing.:thumbsup:
Simply telling a skater she weighs too much does not show concern, does not show care, and frankly, doesn't show any particular coaching skill. I'm sure no one would want that
Agree on both your points about TSL and Shcherbakova's parents, I was merely stating that's the argument that will get made
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
TSL has that wrong as far as Anna's father is concerned. He is my new favorite skating parent:
"If Anya finishes her career at 17, then of course I will be upset. Besides the fact that she is a quad jumper, she is also an artist, revealing the images is her strong point. And it’s just to early to show some artistic images at the age of 17, and even 20. It will be an unfinished song, no matter what medals she will collect by that time."
https://fs-gossips.com/we-dont-shar...cs-interview-with-anna-shcherbakovas-parents/
Anna's mother feels differently, I believe, but I am Team Stanislav
I agree that "Oh, the parents think it's OK" is not the beginning and end of any story, because sadly we know that parents do not always have their child's best interests at heart. I do not believe that bad intent, for Anna's parents, for Sasha's parents, or any other parents, can be presumed however.
ETA: And I had not seen your second post when I was typing this, so now I understand your intent and apologize if this post is superfluous.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2018
Allparentsmatter.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2018
I agree with this! Well said.
Thank you, I really appreciate that.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2012
Sasha Trusova has a new sponsor https://www.instagram.com/p/CDEaTGwoG_u/ - She became an ambassador for aminoVITAL - sports nutrition brand produced by a Japanese company Ajinomoto. Hanyu was the brand's face, too
Veronika Zhilina's off ice 3A https://www.instagram.com/p/CDHIvAKqOpv/?igshid=1wr32fd7bgqrx
Veronika Zhilina's off ice 3A https://www.instagram.com/p/CDHIvAKqOpv/?igshid=1wr32fd7bgqrx
The fact that parents don't want a long career for their children in FS does not mean they just want free cars.
There is actually quite a lot of logic in not wanting a long career in figure skating:
1. Injuries are kind of cumulative. One thing is to skate on elite level for, lets say, 5 years. Another - 10, 15 and so on.
2. Injuries heal differently for different ages. One thing is to break an arm or a leg when you are 14-15, and another - when you are 25 or 35.
3. Competitive and even professional figure skating is not a life-long profession. Even with a long skating career, you will have to do something else when you are in your 30s.
4. Coaching is not a good job - yes, top level coaches make a lot of money, but those are a very small fraction of them all. I mean, if i would give career advice to someone, I would probably recommend something else.
5. Good universities and good degrees are kind of incompatible with competitive FS
6. Going to uni when you are 25 or 35 is not the same thing as doing the same when you are 18-20.
7. Long career in FS does not add money to what you got as kid.
8. And last but not least, someone has to pay for the FS. Russia has a very competitive field, so its not like government will pay for you forever (you get funding as long as you win), and sponsors will also not keep funding you for 10+ years after you stop winning. And this is not about "not training kids to have long careers", it is about tons of amazing skaters, and new even stronger skaters coming every year. I mean, what is the point to pay for coaching on top level, and neglect the education to have your now adult child go to a B competition 1-2 times a year? Sponsors or not, some russian skaters gave some insights on how much they make, and its not a lot at all. In fact, it was below the average wage. Its just not worth it, and not because the parents want their kid to bring them cars and apartments, but simply because no reasonable parent ever would want their kid to work for years for a low wage with 0 career prospects.
And so, I see nothing wrong that, if your kid is that much into competing, to have them skate while they are young, win everything, get a good foundation for their future life (an apartment and a car is actually a nice thing, not many 18 year olds have earner that already) and direct them to pursue other dreams. In fact, I would be strongly against a long career, specially in a field as competitive as russian.
In this regard, I find very interesting Kostornaia's POV in a recent interview, where she says she wants to compete for a couple more years, and then quit and pursuit medical career.
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2019
Just a quick word about Nathan, Vincent and Karen, without diverting the thread too much.
The Ivies do not allow part-time students, or at least I know Yale does not, and I would be surprised if Brown or Cornell do. This is why Vincent Zhou chose only to go one semester to secure his place at the University, and then take a leave of absence for full time training. They also do not allow, when times are normal, distance learning.
I am far from a Nathan Chen super fan. But what he has been able to accomplish, attending a university like Yale full-time, is just amazeballs. I also happen to think his skating has improved as a result.
But many skaters, I would venture to say, go part-time, use distance learning, or whatever else they need to do to finish their studies and compete at the same time. And they are to be commended for it. Congrats to Liza
My niece attends Cornell with Karen. She is a full time student that squeezes ice time when she can. Cornell is not an easy school. I give the American athletes much respect for all their hard work. Especially Nathan. What he can do is amazing
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2018
One thing to remember is that there are thousands and thousands of fulltime students at universities big and small who also have to work the equivalent of fulltime employment or other responsibilities (I know, I worked at a university till March this year and I saw them). Sports stars don't have it harder than their fellow students.
People who are driven find their path and follow it, and full marks to them all.
People who are driven find their path and follow it, and full marks to them all.
- Status
