2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating
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- Jun 6, 2019
Just because of this one competition doesn't mean Kostornaia has no hope. If she gets her 3A back she'll be one of the favourites again especially if Anna can't get a 3A. And who knows, maybe Kostornaia will get a quad to boot.
At this point, I just think IOC should give them 4 spots. (Technically they are representing Olympic Athletes from Russia, so not even giving Russia four spots.)
Say top 10 in world's automatically are sent to Olympics no matter what, and then have a certain number of spots given to every country on top of that.
That is, if the ISU don't suddenly decide to raise the minimum age (bad timing for KV).
Who will we see Olympics 2026? Veronika Zhillina? Sophia? Elizebeta Tuktamysheva (
)?.
At this point, I just think IOC should give them 4 spots. (Technically they are representing Olympic Athletes from Russia, so not even giving Russia four spots.)
Say top 10 in world's automatically are sent to Olympics no matter what, and then have a certain number of spots given to every country on top of that.
That is, if the ISU don't suddenly decide to raise the minimum age (bad timing for KV).
Who will we see Olympics 2026? Veronika Zhillina? Sophia? Elizebeta Tuktamysheva (
)?.
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
She had to prepare Kamila (for whom it was her first senior nationals and who had two 4T's and has yet to be consistent in them) after Sasha's phenomenal skate, then she had to prepare Anna (who was recovering from pneumonia and was struggling in practices to even get through her skates and had the highest tech content to get through and was the 2x reigning national champion) after Kamila brought the house down again, and then she had to prepare Daria (who also has issues with consistency and is skating in her first senior nationals) after Anna brought the house down for a third time (and three-peated as national champion). Just crazy. They were all amazing. One after another. All of them were practically perfect.
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- Jun 14, 2014
Evgenia sitting in the stands watching gave me such Adelina vibes.
Has Evgenia stated at any moment what exactly her goal is in skating now? I mean, sth more concrete than "being healthy and working hard". Does she actuallly believe she can become competitive again or is she going for a Stanislava Konstantinova vibe where she keeps skating cause she likes it but is not actually a contender for anyting, until eventually retiring? I just don't think that can be motivation enough for someone who's been at the top.
If you've only ever been let's say 15th at nationals it doesn't hurt to stay in that league and enjoy yourself, but for someone like Evgenia she must actually think she could be at another worlds or even olympics?
Has Evgenia stated at any moment what exactly her goal is in skating now? I mean, sth more concrete than "being healthy and working hard". Does she actuallly believe she can become competitive again or is she going for a Stanislava Konstantinova vibe where she keeps skating cause she likes it but is not actually a contender for anyting, until eventually retiring? I just don't think that can be motivation enough for someone who's been at the top.
If you've only ever been let's say 15th at nationals it doesn't hurt to stay in that league and enjoy yourself, but for someone like Evgenia she must actually think she could be at another worlds or even olympics?
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
Agreed. If Alena gets her 3A back and can go back to her three 3A programs, all of them need to up their tech content to beat her, if she's clean. Anna last year was the only one (with 3 quads) who could beat Alena and that was just barely.Just because of this one competition doesn't mean Kostornaia has no hope. If she gets her 3A back she'll be one of the favourites again especially if Anna can't get a 3A. And who knows, maybe Kostornaia will get a quad to boot.
At this point, I just think IOC should give them 4 spots. (Technically they are representing Olympic Athletes from Russia, so not even giving Russia four spots.)
Say top 10 in world's automatically are sent to Olympics no matter what, and then have a certain number of spots given to every country on top of that.
That is, if the ISU don't suddenly decide to raise the minimum age (bad timing for KV).
Who will we see Olympics 2026? Veronika Zhillina? Sophia? Elizebeta Tuktamysheva (
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
She needs one!
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2018
Zhenya can and will do whatever she wants. It’s legitimately that simple. Same with every other skater. There’s no need to constantly question them. They should do whatever they want, and they will
If she's keeping those William Eyelash (thank you Dionne Warwick
) programs she's going to need more then three 3As. Cause those programs are D.O.A. Her artistry can only take those so far and it's not enough compared to what Anna and Kamila have- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
Anna and Kamila's artistry have improved. The PCS gap between them and Alena is definitely decreasing as they improve. Anna in particular was the more exquisite than she's ever been before.If she's keeping those William Eyelash (thank you Dionne Warwick
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2013
Haah, Anna wins nationals 3 times in a row and people still won't consider her the favorite. Oh well.
Anyway, was quite lukewarm with regards to her programs earlier in the season but actually loved both of them here. She really gets on a different level at nationals, even while not being in peak condition.
Also worth noting is that only Anna did 2 quads and 7 triples. Both Sasha and Kamila only did 6 triples with their 2 quads.
Anyway, was quite lukewarm with regards to her programs earlier in the season but actually loved both of them here. She really gets on a different level at nationals, even while not being in peak condition.
Also worth noting is that only Anna did 2 quads and 7 triples. Both Sasha and Kamila only did 6 triples with their 2 quads.
I'm still blurry after all the champagne I had to drink to get through the Ladies immensely exciting free skate.
Shcherbakova - what can I say. I have no words. I definitely did not think she could do it. But then again, Anna has proven us wrong many times, she is a fighter, and what a fight this was. Just amazing. Wonderful skate. I was in tears. She's a legend now along with Butyrskaya and Slutskaya with three consecutive National titles.
Valieva - after Trusova's skate I was sure Kamila would go second. I was wrong. Finally a superclean program from her. Not the most difficult quads but she made it up with excellent spins and GOEs as usual. And her spins are just mind blowing! Fantastic stuff.
Trusova - finally a clean skate from Sasha. I was sooo sure she was the winner. The good news is that she scored the best she ever had. The bad news is that she is still third... But I think this was a redemption skate for Sasha, something to build upon. And she's a fighter too, this was a confidence boost me thinks.
and I'm just going to mention my other fave girls
Nugumanova - I am sooo happy for her. And it was so cute that she was happy too! Wonderful skate. Truly, she is the surprise of this competition. With all her URs in the past I never thought she could make the top 10 and then she goes finishing 6th! Just fantastic. And can she get a National Team spot next year? That would be great.
Tsibinova - Love that she got a clean skate this year. I still think she's a bit underrated but she has something and she is so much more mature this year. I hope this will boost her for better things in the future.
Talalaykina - my favourite program this season. This Maleficent thing is soo cool. And Maria does it beautifully. I'm sooo glad that she was clean and showed us that she can do it. Absolutely loved it. Now, if this can get her a GP spot next year would be great. She must get a Challenger at least. To my knowledge, Maria has never competed outside Russia.
What a fantastic event!
to all the ladies.
Shcherbakova - what can I say. I have no words. I definitely did not think she could do it. But then again, Anna has proven us wrong many times, she is a fighter, and what a fight this was. Just amazing. Wonderful skate. I was in tears. She's a legend now along with Butyrskaya and Slutskaya with three consecutive National titles.
Valieva - after Trusova's skate I was sure Kamila would go second. I was wrong. Finally a superclean program from her. Not the most difficult quads but she made it up with excellent spins and GOEs as usual. And her spins are just mind blowing! Fantastic stuff.
Trusova - finally a clean skate from Sasha. I was sooo sure she was the winner. The good news is that she scored the best she ever had. The bad news is that she is still third... But I think this was a redemption skate for Sasha, something to build upon. And she's a fighter too, this was a confidence boost me thinks.
and I'm just going to mention my other fave girls
Nugumanova - I am sooo happy for her. And it was so cute that she was happy too! Wonderful skate. Truly, she is the surprise of this competition. With all her URs in the past I never thought she could make the top 10 and then she goes finishing 6th! Just fantastic. And can she get a National Team spot next year? That would be great.
Tsibinova - Love that she got a clean skate this year. I still think she's a bit underrated but she has something and she is so much more mature this year. I hope this will boost her for better things in the future.
Talalaykina - my favourite program this season. This Maleficent thing is soo cool. And Maria does it beautifully. I'm sooo glad that she was clean and showed us that she can do it. Absolutely loved it. Now, if this can get her a GP spot next year would be great. She must get a Challenger at least. To my knowledge, Maria has never competed outside Russia.
What a fantastic event!
to all the ladies.
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- Joined
- Dec 7, 2019
Eteri deeply loves her girls and she gave them all herself.
That's why it hurts so much when they leave.
I only wish she would try to control her reactions better when it happens
Alena has had some really bad luck. Puberty, injury AND covid illness all at the same time. Having to step off the ice when competition in Russia just got even more crazy deep. And the pandemic stole away her great chance at a world title when she was healthy. I can't imagine how all that plays on the mind. It really sucks.
If she makes the Olympic team after all that it's a miracle all on it's own. It's definitely not impossible, cause she's super talented, but it will be a very high mountain to climb
They are like family. It was an emotional moment, I think it’s the first time I saw Danil crying of happyness
It’s not for nothing that she’s the best coach.
Eteri knows how to train her girls to give the best of themselves. 
They all improved this saison.
Truly one of the highlights this evening. A fabulous program. And Maria had beefed it up since the Stages. Back then it was only a 6 triple program, now it was 7 with two difficult Lutz combos. Fantastic stuff.
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
Yes true. But it's not like her competitors have had all the luck either. Anna also fell ill as did Liza. (I think both where hospitalized) Anna's doctor was literally at the competition the entire time. Sasha is also injured (Evgenia is also seriously injured AND had covid too AND was hospitalized). And that's what we know of. I'm sure there are more, especially in such a difficult COVID season.
The unfortunately thing is COVID stole all three of their chances at a world title last year as well as cost all of them (plus potentially others) medals on the GP as well as the three of them medals at (probably) GPF/Euros this year. It has also probably forced Alena, Liza T, and Liza N into a skate off for the final world's spot (if there is one). (It's also not the first time illness has robbed Liza of a spot on a world's team, if that's how it turns out. Remember the Liza T/Evgenia decision?) Also COVID robbed Kamila, Daria, and Maiia of their last junior international season before they turn seniors and probably cost Kamila another JGPF and Junior Worlds championship as well as probably cost Daria and Maiia medals (both on the JGP as well as potentially at GPF and Junior Worlds) as well. It's also cost everyone (both less high ranked Russian skaters as well as others around the world) SB/PB and word's standing placements, as well as money, even for challenger competitions and other smaller events.
The road to the Olympics is a difficult mountain to climb for all of them. Not just Alena.
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Would be unfair since they already started their olympic preparation (learning quads and 3A that young). Would be better for 2030. Those who will be eligible are learning doubles and will take the necessary time to learn triples and quads.That is, if the ISU don't suddenly decide to raise the minimum age (bad timing for KV).
Who will we see Olympics 2026? Veronika Zhillina? Sophia? Elizebeta Tuktamysheva (
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- Joined
- Nov 2, 2013
I still am not seeing the logical basis for the argument that learning quads later is better for retaining them. That goes against all logic and experiences from other sports.
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