Fluture‘s alive. Lost a few brain cells but nothing too dramatic haha.
On a more serious note, though, I am not happy with these news for a number of reasons. I‘ll try to state them but let me preface this by saying that I‘ll be taking a break from figure skating for a while for my mental health. I just got too invested and it‘s not good. But I couldn‘t resist posting here when I saw the forum was open again.
Now, for Zhenya. I think you all know my thoughts on Eteri. I don‘t hate her or anything but basically, I disagree with the majority of her methods and the way she treated Zhenya in the media after the 2018 fallout doesn‘t and will never sit well with me. So, for my favorite skater to return to train with someone who literally tried to ruin her image is a big blow. I have more dramatic views than that, to be honest, but let‘s say it like that.
Now, as someone who‘s been a Zhenya-stan for a while, I am obviously not hopeful in the slightest that this is going to work out for both sides involved. However, if it does and Eteri manages to help her, I will shut my mouth about her. I can promise as much as that.
Some of the things that concern me:
1. Zhenya‘s back injury is flaring up yet she‘s seen drilling 3-3 combos like in the good old days. From Brian, we also know she‘s actively training the biellmann again, which makes no sense given that she‘s previously stated she would never be able to do it again. This, combined with her overall worrying return to her 2018 looks, makes me scared that she‘s gone back to old, dangerous habits after being away from TCC for too long.
2. The technique on those jumps in the short documentary looked...not good. Let‘s say it like this: I am baffled how she thinks it will work for her again after it stopped working in 2018. Furthermore, Eteri has been very vocal about her not adapting her methods for anyone. So, Zhenya will have no chance to take some of the TCC techniques with her. It‘s going to be Team Tutberidze‘s way or none at all.
3. Her and Eteri acting as if nothing ever happened is just... so weird overall. Something DID happen, for the both of them and they‘ll never be able to go back to how it was. Never. Now, I do think the two of them had a unique bond and I quite liked seeing them as a duo in Zhenya‘s first two senior seasons. But that relationship stopped working a while ago and I‘m just not sure, given the mud flung from both sides, whether it can be resurrected without hurting both sides - but especially Zhenya - in the process.
Now, I‘ll try to add something positive, despite me feeling mostly sad and defeated about this all:
Eteri has known Zhenya for a long time, she practically watched her grow up. Maybe she can restore her confidence in one way or another. I sincerely want to believe that.
I’m also happy they managed to reconcile. I never wanted it to happen like this but it did and I’ll have to get used to it.
Also, on an unrelated note, I believe if anyone can add the necessary dramatic flair to the SP, it is Eteri.
(I just hope Daniil stays far away from her. But he didn‘t look too happy about the situation anyway. LOL)
So, no, I‘m not happy. I‘m sad and quite devastated, actually. Simply because I don‘t believe Zhenya, who‘s already chronically injured, will survive Eteri‘s methods for more than a few months. And then what? She can‘t go back to Canada, she has basically no one at the moment. I do fear the worst, which, again, is why I‘ll step back for some time, get a grip and hopefully come back with my head clear and less emotional involvement clouding my judgement.
On any rate, a part of me will always love Zhenya. I don‘t think this is going to stop. But for the sake of this fanfest, I‘ll let you take over and spread positivity for a while. Just because I don‘t think I can, right now.
Quite the rant lol. But that‘s basically how it‘s been since I first saw the news on my instagram yesterday.
