Alena Kostornaia

[McBibus]

I want to first congratulate Aliona for simply going out there, leaving aside the scores. It takes tremendous courage to compete against the younger troop and skate a completely new program after the catastrophic SP day. I have no idea how she put herself together before the FS and managed to land all the jumps.

The truth is that this tiny girls, behind the princess look and the emotional side they show sometimes, are way harder than the ice they skate on.
They all deserve huge admiration.

This sport is much more traumatic than 1st look suggests.
The ice is hard and cold yet they land on it, fall on it and fight on it every day for hours just to get out that one day in a princess dress and make it look like poetry and the most natural and easy thing in the world.

That's why when every piece of the puzzle finds is place like it happened for Maia today I'm really really happy.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

She‘s done it! And she fought. I‘m proud of her. There are many things to say - about her, the sport, this season, the next one. For now I‘m just happy she gave it her all.

Well done, Aliona.

Exactly. She reminded me her "elder sister" Alina Zagitova at Worlds 2018. Everything was wrong about her, physically and emotionally, yet she didn't give up and she was 5th and given the circumstances, this was a victory (and Carolina Kostner got Worlds Bronze at 29, that was great and she wouldn't have had it otherwise)*. It is just the same with this competition for Aliona Kostornaia. And I would say, it was really necessary that she should go on, for her mental strength.

Someone compared her situation with Anna Shcherbakova's, but it has nothing to do. From what I understand (from automatic translations so it may be wrong) the latter got CoViD rather early, and with little symptoms (how she went on skating while testing positive, if she did, I don't know but she doesn't appear to have had an off-ice period then), but later she had a pneumonia; she was not completely OK at Nationals but she had had only 5 days off-ice, and from what I read, 5 days can be recovered rather fast. Aliona Kostornaia went to the same camp on May 26th after the first confinement, but then, and without having recovered her 3A by the way, she had a new off-ice period between July 17th and August 2d (roughly), which is, from what I read several times, just the duration from which everything have to be re-learned from scratch. Then she recovered partly, had her 3A back (not ready for comp' at Rostelecom Cup though), then she had CoViD and had a new 2-week off-ice period until December 2d, but then she still had after-effects and on top of that, a sore throat lately, what we can wonder is how she managed to skate so well in spite of all that.
A wretched season for her in a wretched season overall, but if she is not too weary from it, if on the contrary she is still in fighting mood, she may emerge absolutely wonderful next season, a "super-Aliona".

As to her changing both programs so late, I guess it was demanded by the Federation? (I mean, "advised"...)
Their advice was attended to, but then, others were overscored, and she was scored rather severely.

Her dresses are not wonderful, but they are beautiful and suit her well, which I couldn't say of many dresses in this championship.

* EDIT : Thank you @Fluture ! I really thought Carolina Kostner had medalled at Worlds 2018, I don't know why.

 

[bouncy]

As to her changing both programs so late, I guess it was demanded by the Federation? (I mean, "advised"...)
Their advice was attended to, but then, others were overscored, and she was scored rather severely.

I think the judges were lenient with her on the GOEs (maybe with some potential q calls as well) but I agree Aliona was not the only one they gave a pass to.

Then she recovered partly, had her 3A back (not ready for comp' at Rostelecom Cup though), then she had CoViD and had a new 2-week off-ice period until December 2d, but then she still had after-effects and on top of that, a sore throat lately, what we can wonder is how she managed to skate so well in spite of all that.

She had her 3A back once this season? Oh I didn't know! I really wish the whole Covid thing didn't happen so that she could continue to work on it until she reclaims it. I'm going to be completely honest here - this string of misfortune has left me with endless bitterness and angst. Her life has turned upside down from the day Worlds 2020 got canceled, though canceled for good.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

I think the judges were lenient with her on the GOEs (maybe with some potential q calls as well) but I agree Aliona was not the only one they gave a pass to.

She had her 3A back once this season? Oh I didn't know! I really wish the whole Covid thing didn't happen so that she could continue to work on it until she reclaims it. I'm going to be completely honest here - this string of misfortune has left me with endless bitterness and angst. Her life has turned upside down from the day Worlds 2020 got canceled, though canceled for good.

After Rostelecom Cup she said she still had only a 20% success rate at it, that was definitely too short to be attempted in a program, even only as a solo jump.

I forgot to say that from her ISU bio, this season she has grown 5cm (1m50 to 1m55) but at this Final, she really seemed to be higher than that (maybe 1m58? Heights are so tricky on ice/with blades), which of course need additional adaptation.

I don't think judges were as lenient in GOEs with her as with others, far from it, but I think this is not the thread to discuss it?

 

[Fluture]

(and Carolina Kostner got Worlds Bronze at 29, that was great and she wouldn't have had it otherwise).

Kostner didn‘t win Bronze at 2018 Worlds, though, I remember that because I was very, very heardbroken about it. Osmond, Higuchi and Miyahara were the podium back then.

As for the dress: I LOVE the SP one. Fire on ice. Fiery emotions and icy mind, that‘s her. If she manages to skate this program cleanly and with full energy, it can be brilliant. Same for the FS, although I‘m neutral towards the dress there. Beautiful but nothing too spectacular. Also: Nothing what she did today or yesterday in terms of choreography comes close to what those programs are supposed to be like. She‘s said it herself - she was focused on landing her jumps.

As for the result: It sucks, of course. After last season it sucks especially. And this is the THIRD Worlds in a row she‘s missing through no fault of her own (qualified to JWC in 2019 - injury, 2020 WC - canceled, 2021 - COVID hampered her chances). So, nothing positive about that.

But maybe there is one good thing about all this: Aliona is stubborn. Remember when they told her she‘d always be a top 10 skater at best? She wanted to win even more. Remember when they told her that without ultra-c, they‘d send her back to juniors? She recovered the 3A. Maybe she‘ll look at this 6th place here and it will give her just the motivation she needs.

It won‘t be easy, in fact, at her age and with the way a certain system has transformed the sport, it might almost be a mission impossible. But it‘s not over until it‘s over and even if it‘s not the Olympics - there‘s other ways to earn glory in sports.

 

[bouncy]

After Rostelecom Cup she said she still had only a 20% success rate at it, that was definitely too short to be attempted in a program, even only as a solo jump.

I forgot to say that from her ISU bio, this season she has grown 5cm (1m50 to 1m55) but at this Final, she really seemed to be higher than that (maybe 1m58? Heights are so tricky on ice/with blades), which of course need additional adaptation.

I don't think judges were as lenient in GOEs with her as with others, far from it, but I think this is not the thread to discuss it?

20% is actually better than what I originally thought! I remember the first time she learned 3A she said in an interview that she could land it 3 times out of 5 attempts. Height plays a big part in those ultra-c elements indeed. I can't really tell from today if she has grown a bit taller; like you said, it's tricky with the skates on.
Regarding the judging, you're right - it's better to leave it to the RLT people.

 

[sclloyd]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CL16MJTJOnh/

Reposting from teamkostornaya: Alena Kostornaya: "I will skate as much as my health allows." Aliona admits the idea of continuing to skate after the Olympics.

Seems like she's gonna push back her med school plan. I hope she could hang in there until 2022 Worlds and seize the opportunity if anyone in the OG team withdraws.

So many American skaters, Chen included go to elite universities and study in conjunction with their skating career. I could totally see Aliona doing the same.

 

[Vemvane]

The free skate from today.



She was so tired at the end of it, brave girl.

 

[LRK]

I just finished watching her free skate - it was so beautiful, it almost made me tear up. As did seeing her smile again. I hope she has a sense of accomplishment from this; she fought so bravely and did so well!

 

[luvsasha]

Rough outing for Alena, but it was so nice to see her skate today. Russian fans seem to love her (as do we) so I hope she feels loved and supported and can come back better than ever.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

So many American skaters, Chen included go to elite universities and study in conjunction with their skating career. I could totally see Aliona doing the same.

It's in USA. In USA, specific medical studies start after Bachelor's degree, and many universities (I have no idea if it is so with Yale) may give lighter programs to athletes, and athletic achievements may be considered by the medical school in the selection process later.
In Russia, specific medical studies start the first year of university, and to get there, there is no consideration for athletic achievements, (regular) university access goes with score at the Unified State Exam (I think Petr Gumennik had excellent results?), and they are intensive from the beginning, so I doubt it allows lots of skating practice. French champion Alain Calmat had done it in the 60's but his university allowed him several additional years, I don't know if a Russian university would allow a student, say, to take 2 years to complete an academic year.

 

[Hammer24]

No doubt that Alena is a smart cookie and will succeed at whatever she puts her mind to.

I was torn watching her struggle yesterday. Harder still is realizing the widening gap between herself and the up and coming youngsters. Today gave me hope though and I’m impressed by her resilience coming back to skate cleanly.

In many ways this weekends struggles should help her grow and also strengthen her resolve. It’s the fuel with which she can then improve athletically. She needs to acquire the same type of explosiveness that you see with Kamila. Alena has the potential, we saw it last year...

A final thought...Alena is bright enough to take responsibility for the body changes that are needed. She knows what is needed. At this stage, her coaches become a resource, nothing more and nothing less.

 

[sclloyd]

It's in USA. In USA, specific medical studies start after Bachelor's degree, and many universities (I have no idea if it is so with Yale) may give lighter programs to athletes, and athletic achievements may be considered by the medical school in the selection process later.
In Russia, specific medical studies start the first year of university, and to get there, there is no consideration for athletic achievements, (regular) university access goes with score at the Unified State Exam (I think Petr Gumennik had excellent results?), and they are intensive from the beginning, so I doubt it allows lots of skating practice. French champion Alain Calmat had done it in the 60's but his university allowed him several additional years, I don't know if a Russian university would allow a student, say, to take 2 years to complete an academic year.

Well, in a way they start after the Bachelor's degree, however, the degree programs are specific to your intent. So Chen isn't going to a hospital everyday, but his degree is in fact part of his "medical studies" whether he is actually in med school or not. I do not believe his athletic achievements will be considered in the selection process later, unless the time it takes him to complete his undergrad is longer than average. I doubt that his schooling is less rigorous. In Russia, the first three years of the MBBS are all theoretical, so I'm assuming that she wouldn't need to jump straight into an environment that required her attendance everyday, and she has adapted to an unconventional schooling environment, so it may be worth her consideration to skate at the same time she attends. I doubt entrance would be an issue for her: she's clearly very intelligent and as far as we're aware, receives top marks for all her current school examinations regardless of her training regimen. But, it's her life. We can speculate, but regardless of her choices, all I wish her is the best.

 

[Scott512]

Yes: you called fo it.
Next time please try calling for 165

I will. If not for Coronavirus I would have gone a lot higher than 140 points.

If Aliona is fit I expect her to go to Worlds as the first alternate.

 

[Scott512]

The truth is that this tiny girls, behind the princess look and the emotional side they show sometimes, are way harder than the ice they skate on.
They all deserve huge admiration.

This sport is much more traumatic than 1st look suggests.
The ice is hard and cold yet they land on it, fall on it and fight on it every day for hours just to get out that one day in a princess dress and make it look like poetry and the most natural and easy thing in the world.

That's why when every piece of the puzzle finds is place like it happened for Maia today I'm really really happy.

So well said Mac. Figure skating is such a beautiful sport but at the same time it's a brutal sport. The princesses are pretty damn tough and gutsy aren't they? Aliona far from her best form and not feeling 100% went out and put her heart into her skates the last 2 days. She will not go to Worlds other than an alternate but I'm glad she got through this and hopefully she can build on it.

 

[adelia]

I thought she fought bravely. I think when assessing Alena's performance we need to bear in mind how puberty affected the jumps of other Russian ladies skaters before her, and then take into account that Alena is not only going through puberty but also battling the after-effects of a Covid infection.

 

[Batsuchan]

I'm so proud that Aliona went out and gave it her all today! She was clearly running out of gas after the halfway point, but she never gave up!

But now I definitely want her to take as long as she needs to fully recover her health. I know she was excited to see that she can still "overcome," but it was tough for me to watch her struggling to catch her breath after the FS and needing help from the coaches to get up from the K&C.


I thought the costume was absolutely stunning--royal purple definitely suits our ice princess!
And I liked the program a lot -- I think it really could be something once all the jumps and choreo are there. There's something mesmerizing about the music, and I like how it builds in the second half.

Most of all, I am *THRILLED* that Aliona wants to keep skating even after the Olympics. A natural-born skater and performer like her should definitely be on the ice forever!!

Aliona, please continue to bless us with your grace and beauty on ice for as long as your health allows!!!

 

[Lunalovesskating]

I really hope Aliona is also keeping her SP for next season. I think both programs can be really beautiful, if they keep working on it and I hope Aliona may be able to visit SLB to work on the FS in person. Zoom choreo is just not the same. Aliona suits classicsl music so well, I wonder whose idea it was to go back to it

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Well, in a way they start after the Bachelor's degree, however, the degree programs are specific to your intent. So Chen isn't going to a hospital everyday, but his degree is in fact part of his "medical studies" whether he is actually in med school or not. I do not believe his athletic achievements will be considered in the selection process later, unless the time it takes him to complete his undergrad is longer than average. I doubt that his schooling is less rigorous. In Russia, the first three years of the MBBS are all theoretical, so I'm assuming that she wouldn't need to jump straight into an environment that required her attendance everyday, and she has adapted to an unconventional schooling environment, so it may be worth her consideration to skate at the same time she attends. I doubt entrance would be an issue for her: she's clearly very intelligent and as far as we're aware, receives top marks for all her current school examinations regardless of her training regimen. But, it's her life. We can speculate, but regardless of her choices, all I wish her is the best.

This depends wholly on which university one attend for pre-Med, and which medical university one wants to enter.
For instance, Nathan Chen said he felt challenged in his freshman year because of a too heavy course program, then was advised a lighter academic program for his second year. Of course this doesn't mean at all he's expected to do nothing else than getting Gold at international championships and feel entitled. And anyway he's not that sort of arrogant person. I'm sure he does his best to fill his gap year with internships and shadowing (albeit CoViD measures may limit it) and studies as much as he can (he's clever) to get an acceptable MCAT. Yet he doesn't have a 8-hour presential school day + as much personal work, as the typical Medicine student in many countries, which, you guess, lets very little time to skate.
https://students-residents.aamc.org...icle/how-medical-schools-review-applications/
And I doubt a Russian student can skip attendance to theoretical courses.

 

[macy]

it was tough to watch her struggle and go through the many emotions she experienced the last couple days but she has so much to be proud of. girlfriend is a fighter and brave and showed we shouldn't count her out yet. she's got the time now to start preparing for next season and get back into competitive shape and i hope she makes the most of it. these 2 programs have a lot of potential and i hope she keeps both next season, it would be smart time wise as well. also i need to know who made her dresses, they are STUNNING!