People believe in many things, some even write it on the greenbacks, which doesn't make it real.
Alena Kostornaia leaves Tutberidze
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People believe in many things, some even write it on the greenbacks, which doesn't make it real.
Yulia didn't behave "impertinently", especially for no reason... Yes, she didn't exactly have the "happy-go-lucky" attitude, but she had REASONS for that ! It's extremely unfair to blame her and ONLY HER for her sometimes moody expressions or whatever, when there was a bunch of adults around whose job it was to take care of her... and they did NOT !
She was a child (I'm talking about age 10-15 here) who was put under horrendous mental pressure. Initially on family level; a few years later on national level when it was deemed her obligation to win gold at Sochi. As early as at the age of 12-13, the entire LIVELIHOOD of her family (i.e., Yulia & her mother) depended on HER. She was the breadwinner - her mother did NOT even work, until Eteri hired her as an "assistant coach"... which opened a whole another can of worms, let's not go there at the moment.
Initially, from the age of 10 until Yulia became age-eligible for international junior competitions and began earning prize money, the family lived off some savings. It has been widely reported in Russian media that Yulia's mother struggled to find a job in Moscow, and also she probably wouldn't have had time anyway - as a single mother, she had to drive Yulia to the rink etc. as well as homeschool her. So they lived off their savings - they had sold the apartment in Yekaterinburg, their hometown. Then, beginning at 12/13 - they lived off Yulia's earnings, and her mother's "salary" was DIRECTLY tied to Yulia's skating abilities. Also, it has been widely reported in Russian media that Yulia & her mother had to move from one rental apartment in Moscow to another, until she became an Olympic hopeful and Russian Figure Skating Federation started to rent an apartment for Yulia (as well as the 2nd apartment for Adelina Sotnikova, closer to her rink). Again, even their accommodation in Moscow was directly tied to Yulia's skating abilities. Essentially, every time Yulia stepped on ice - she had this additional pressure "if I fall and break something = can't compete = don't earn money = WE ARE SCREWED !!". How are you going to survive ? You can't stay in Moscow because your mother doesn't work and can't support you financially. And it would be extremely complicated (not to mention humiliating) to go back to your hometown, because essentially you have nowhere to return to - the apartment is already sold. I remember that once Yulia had a concussion and was forced to withdraw from some competition(s) which surely meant financial loss.
Is this fair for a 13-y.o. ?!
Secondly, Yulia was suffering from an eating disorder as early as 3 YEARS BEFORE the Olympics. It's rather common to have clinical depression alongside an eating disorder. Of course Eteri knew that ! Everyone knew that, even casual figure skating fans on the web. Did Yulia receive any kind of medical attention ? Of course NOT.
(Off-topic: Remember how Medvedeva was prescribed "vitamins & minerals" in the middle of the Olympic season, AFTER she had already broken her foot ? Why wasn't that taken care of BEFORE she got injured ??)
Instead, Yulia was publicly humiliated by her own coach, Eteri Tutberidze, a mere few weeks before the Olympics - when Eteri gave an interview for the official web page of Sochi Olympics where she said "Yulia can not be allowed to eat AT ALL, I feel very sorry for her". This was the TITLE of that article ! Eteri said that about a girl who - she knew very well - was suffering from an eating disorder ! She added in the article that "I have never in my life encountered a situation like this... [that a girl is too fat and can't lose weight]". The original article was published on the official Sochi Olympics page which is unavailable right now, but it has been re-published on countless other Russian media pages. I provide a link to one of them, as an example, that these articles are still online:
https://www.kp.ru/daily/26189.5/3080113/
Is this fair for a 15-y.o. right before the main competition of her life, in a sport where self-confidence is a major part of success - to be PUBLICLY HUMILIATED by her OWN COACH ?? And this is only one of many times when Eteri talked about Yulia struggling with being "overweight" in the media; I mention this particular example as the loudest and most inappropriate one because of the timing.
Several years later, when Yulia was finally admitted to an eating disorder clinic - who paid for that...? Of course NOT Eteri Tutberidze (from the % she receives from her skater's prize money as well as $$ for skating shows) nor Russian Figure Skating Federation. (The U.S. Figure Skating Federation DID pay for Gracie Gold.) Yulia paid out of her own pocket - from the money she received from her sponsor. And then, she was harassed by internet trolls that this sponsor of hers was her "sugar daddy" and she was actually paid for "other services", not because of her achievements in figure skating, because for some people only team gold is a failure, and they believed every word Eteri said - that Yulia was lazy etc.
And what about that stalker who harassed her for about 3 years, claiming that he was Yulia's father who just wanted to "give her a hug", blah-blah-blah ? What if he was a pedophile or something...? For example, he walked around with Yulia's picture, asked neighbors for Yulia's exact address etc. There were TV reports about this madman ! And no one bothered that there's an underage girl who could potentially be in grave danger !! Why didn't Eteri pick up a phone and call a random journalist and tell him "please write that this man is NOT Yulia's father; in case media doesn't stop publishing this BS and harassing MY ATHLETE, I'll make sure they get sued" ! Many many people believed that this man actually was Yulia's father, and she acted like a spoiled brat (it began right after the Olympics). This horror stopped only when Yulia turned 18 and she personally talked to the media and threatened to sue.
P.S. I'm NOT Russian, neither from Russia. I just happen to be fluent in Russian. Just so you know... I often get accused of being Russian, therefore being biased, when I defend some Russian skater. I defend individual skaters regardless of their nationality.
Not that person's decency has to do anything with skating/jumping technique (so it can hardly be a reason to make BS about her), though Anna's technique was put under scrutiny and apart from zealous haters (and their youtube channles) most of her lutzech can be declared satisfying.
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I swear to God, the "lutz edge" topic wiggles its way into literally ANY discussion. 
I'm anxiously waiting to see some videos of Alena training and maybe hear about the new programs. I'm guessing that working with foreign specialists can be difficult though because of the travel restrictions.
I'm anxiously waiting to see some videos of Alena training and maybe hear about the new programs. I'm guessing that working with foreign specialists can be difficult though because of the travel restrictions.
I swear to God, the "lutz edge" topic wiggles its way into literally ANY discussion.
I'm anxiously waiting to see some videos of Alena training and maybe hear about the new programs. I'm guessing that working with foreign specialists can be difficult though because of the travel restrictions.
Not so soon. Plushenko's very touchy of any unapproved videos. And those he does approve aren't informative and usually of a little interest.
Summary of the reactions of the persons of russian figure skating world on this topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbHGN8shrmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbHGN8shrmg
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That was fascinating. I tend to agree with Irina Slutskaya: "It's not worth dramatizing."
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One of the best and most informative Youtube videos on figure skating drama I have ever watched! Thank you so much for sharing.
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Kostornaya left Tutberidze not according to the rules. Can the skater be disqualified?
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...kvalificirovat-figuristku-za-perehod-1697617/
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...kvalificirovat-figuristku-za-perehod-1697617/
It probably wouldn't change a lot since there are likely no significant competitions held this year
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According to officials, there will be not suspension
Alexander Kogan, General Director of the General Director of the Russian figure skating Federation , said that Alyona Kostornaya will represent Sambo-70 in the new season even after leaving Eteri Tutberidze.
"So far, the Federation does not have any documents on the transition from Kostornaya or Plushenko, but even when we have these documents and we will consider them, there can be only one solution: Alena will be able to skate this season only for her former club — Sambo-70."
"So far, the Federation does not have any documents on the transition from Kostornaya or Plushenko, but even when we have these documents and we will consider them, there can be only one solution: Alena will be able to skate this season only for her former club — Sambo-70."
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If there is even what one can call a season cause at the moment it looks rather the opposite. At least for international competitions. So would it matter to alyona that much? To represent a club for one season still a season ehich most likely will not really be on international level?
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what in the world does this mean? I am truly lost.
You don't wanna know.
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According to FFKKR Aliona will formally remain the member of Sambo 70 this season ("transfer window is already closed").
https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1087581910.html
https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1087581910.html
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Then why say it? I mean this non-sarcastically or non-ironically.
I don't understand posting on a forum for the general public in "code words" or what we sometimes call in English "dog whistles". It doesn't seem fair to everyone else
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According to an insider Alyona and Sasha will be part of the same group but won't share ice and Alyona will skate at the same time as Volkov's group. Obviously these are tentative plans for the nearest future.
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