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- Dec 29, 2020
Thanks for the video! It's just incredible that it was the first full FS she's done in a long while and right at the nationals
2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating
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Thanks for the video! It's just incredible that it was the first full FS she's done in a long while and right at the nationals
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2018
Apollinariia trying skating instead of playing the piano this time 
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- Nov 11, 2019
Oh my goodness, look at Daniil in the background at 1:20. He is completely overcome by emotion at what Anna did.
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- Sep 13, 2020
Thank you very much for this video, I could have missed it.
Earlier today I watched Anna's last year's interview on the Olympic channel. Comparing the two interviews: This girl has grown so much! She is an adult mentally. Well-spoken, her vocabulary, syntax and style tell a lot about her intellect and broad mind. Of course such a long interview is always rehearsed, only short on-the-spot ones are spontaneous. I have also given interviews on TV and I know that for a long one they first ask you to think and maybe make notes, and then you can peep into the notes while you answer questions. But what she was saying is not written by somebody else, it was done by herself.
During my teaching years at university I worked with 3rd to 5th year students, that is, from 18 - 19 to 21 - 22 as they graduated. Well, I must say that Anna's speech and mind is approximately on the level of a 18-y.o. university student, not a 16-y.o.
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- Feb 10, 2018
Elite university student I would add.
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- Dec 29, 2020
Anna seems very intelligent. She understands very well what is going on and what is the price of career in professional sports. For example, I really like how she explains that shortage of breath (like the one she had after SP) is a common thing for skaters during training but fans usually don't see it and may think that everything is done so easily while it just means that skates have done their programs so many times that they have already passed tiredness, shortage of breathing, errors, trials when they messed half of the program, etc.
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- Feb 10, 2018
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Yes it's incredible. Anna has a superstrong mentality and she has the ability to focus on the right things. I remember last year she was visibly very tired at the end of the program, and the judges gave her just level 3 in steps and the last spin. This time, she looked super calm throughout the skate, calmly focusing on each element. At the end when she was starting her step sequence, you can see she was lighting up and she was just flying across the ice, feeding off the energy the audience gave her. Fantastic stuff.
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- Mar 20, 2019
The way Anna was scored here, even a clean 3A wouldn't have given Valieva the victory. Everything can change on layouts etc. but if both skated their programs clean the ISU could easily choose which skater they want to win and make it so.
But if Kamila replaces one 3lz with 3A, she can also jump 4T-3T
And not to miss the 3A in short is important
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- Sep 13, 2020
Yes, that's what I meant. But I taught future interpreters, might be considered elite anyway
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- Mar 26, 2014
May be, but only if Pluschenko builds a case that he is a great coach. Where she is now Zhenya needs a great coach to get back into the limelight. Is he one? May be yes - may be no. Too early to tell.
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- Dec 31, 2019
I think she will be backed. Last year her PCS were rising steadily and that was as Russia's number 2. It also must be noted that she started the year as Russia's number 3. (People even thought she might spend another year in juniors, which sounds rather silly now, but that was the perception of her at the time.)
Now, this year, she's a 3x RusNat champion and Russia's clear number 1. (At least this year, of course, that can all change next year.) However, as things stand she's going to be scored as Russia's top ladies skater. Another difference when compared to last year is that she (and Aliona and Sasha) were first year seniors. Now they have "paid their dues". So I expect that to be another contributing factor in rising PCS.
It's also important to keep in mind that PCS are heavily influenced by reputation and resume (especially as judges are only human). As a senior, Anna has only been beaten (nationally or internationally) by one person - Aliona. In addition, as a senior, she has never been beaten in the FS (even with falls and underrotations).
So, I do see her being backed.
All the talk about Anna's exceptional musicality and interpretation is not just fan gushing - this part of interview proves how thoughtful she is in regard to them:
OS: Let's talk about programs. After the skates, you changed the second part of the free program. Why?
ASH: In the first version, the music was more tragic, lyrical and not so powerful in the end. I really liked it, I would really like to roll it up as it should. But it turned out that this was the beginning of the season, the program was a little not rolled in, by the end I was very tired and could not convey this music with the necessary strength and energy. This is the kind of music that I had to cover and be more powerful than it. At the beginning of the season, I could not do it properly: the program declined towards the end, I faded, my strength ran out, and the music faded. I think if we continued to skate this version of the program, then perhaps by the end of the season, when I would have had a lot of strength and the program had been rolled in, it would have looked better. But we decided to try another option. In the version that I am skating now, the music is increasing, towards the end there are big accents, an increase in rhythm, and this supports me, gives me strength. Music grows and as if pulls me with it, I run after it. It looks better, plus the program is already more rolled in. Thus, it looks fresher, more interesting. Sometimes during training I accidentally turn on the old part of the program, and I directly feel that the music is quiet, smooth, and I get more tired in the second half. Today's music gives strength, you get less tired.
OS: Let's talk about programs. After the skates, you changed the second part of the free program. Why?
ASH: In the first version, the music was more tragic, lyrical and not so powerful in the end. I really liked it, I would really like to roll it up as it should. But it turned out that this was the beginning of the season, the program was a little not rolled in, by the end I was very tired and could not convey this music with the necessary strength and energy. This is the kind of music that I had to cover and be more powerful than it. At the beginning of the season, I could not do it properly: the program declined towards the end, I faded, my strength ran out, and the music faded. I think if we continued to skate this version of the program, then perhaps by the end of the season, when I would have had a lot of strength and the program had been rolled in, it would have looked better. But we decided to try another option. In the version that I am skating now, the music is increasing, towards the end there are big accents, an increase in rhythm, and this supports me, gives me strength. Music grows and as if pulls me with it, I run after it. It looks better, plus the program is already more rolled in. Thus, it looks fresher, more interesting. Sometimes during training I accidentally turn on the old part of the program, and I directly feel that the music is quiet, smooth, and I get more tired in the second half. Today's music gives strength, you get less tired.
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- Apr 26, 2018
She‘ll start the Olympic season as number one and it will be reflected in her PCS. But she cannot afford any weakness. If she does, they‘ll be ready to push Kamila ahead of her, like they did with Alina and Evgenia. And even more so this time because Anna doesn‘t have Evgenia‘s international track record and Kamila‘s more hyped than Alina ever was as a junior. So, yeah, I think Anna needs to be careful and I hope she realises this and RESTS now. This season isn‘t important and she should use it to get completely healthy. Because next year is going to be very, very tough and she needs to be ready if she wants that Olympic crown. She seems smart, so I guess she‘s aware of this.
The only interesting thing at this point, is how they‘ll handle Aliona‘s PCS if she gets back into sufficient shape. It would be good if she could show a FS with a 3A this season to let the fed know not to count her out but with the troubles she‘s had (I read on instagram - so, NOT confirmed! - that Rozanov said in an interview she‘s not jumping yet and will only once she‘s completely healthy), I‘m doubtful...
Last Euros were a robbery for Anna I've never really mind, because every great athlete needs that one moment of injustice to light the competitive fire under them for the rest of their careers.
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- Dec 31, 2019
Oh most definitely. There are also Sasha, Aliona, and Liza all of whom can outscore her depending on what happens. (Although they also need rest (same as Anna) and can also be outscored by her.)
However, IF World's happens (and that's a big IF) and she performs well there then I think you'll see her PCS reflect that. However, once again, if she doesn't (or does and others perform better than here) I think you'll see her PCS reflect that as well. A strong (winning) performance at World's however would give her a better international record.
As for Aliona, I think they (the RusFed) WANT to push her. That's pretty obvious based on her scoring at Cup of Russia and Rostelecom, even without her 3A and with various small mistakes elsewhere. I think the Fed does very much want Aliona at the Olympics (and at World's this year), especially as she gets the highest PCS internationally (other than Alina and Evgenia who are not competing), but it remains to be seen to what extent she can return. I do think they'll give her every chance to return to form (or close to it) and she'll get her 3A back (and very much hope she does) and return to form elsewhere as well but we'll see.
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- Dec 22, 2018
Absolutely, she cannot afford any mistakes, just like all of them. With so much talent, the Olympic team selection will be a bloodbath. No one is guaranteed anything.
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- Dec 9, 2017
More interesting is Sergei who is normally super level headed and calm about everything. The last time he was so exciting was when Sasha landed her 2 quads at JW.
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