2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[nussnacker]

The Ten and Bell cases are different. Watch the videos. There is clear premeditation, including following the targeted skater on the rink, and deliberately moving at high speed towards them to inflict injury.

The f I just read.

 

[starlight97]

I believe in Anna, I think she can do it, if she can calm her mind. She's proven that she can push her body through extreme obstacles, if she's determined.
And Sasha's kinda self sabotaging layout of 5 quads will only end up helping her. The last time Trusova skated a clean free I can't even remember.
And I just don't see Rika or Liza touching her, not unless they are perfectly clean and she has several big mistakes.

 

[flanker]

I believe in Anna, I think she can do it, if she can calm her mind. She's proven that she can push her body through extreme obstacles, if she's determined.
And Sasha's kinda self sabotaging layout of 5 quads will only end up helping her. The last time Trusova skated a clean free I can't even remember.
And I just don't see Rika or Liza touching her, not unless they are perfectly clean and she has several big mistakes.

At Nationals Sasha did nearly "superclean" free, but with two quads. Today she wants to do a 3A in the SP, we will see. She seems to be very determined.

 

[Vandevska]

I want a repeat of nationals. I want every single person to skate their best. I want to finish watching with the feeling of "that was the best I've ever seen" like I had after nationals.

 

[starlight97]

I would generally agree with that statement, but Sasha has done two clean run-throughs with 5 quads yesterday. And this competition is more like a practice session than an actual competition.

I agree. I actually stated a few pages ago that I think the fact that there are no spectators and no real competition feeling will help a stage fright skater like Sasha, while it may harm lime light dwellers like Yuzuru or Medvedeva if she was here.
So yes, it's exciting. But still, I go by statistics until proven otherwise, and I keep believing in Anna

 

[macy]

I don't even know what NCAA is and I don't care.
This is figure skating and yes, some amateur girl who likes to put on skates for 2h twice a week and goes to a competition in her community once in a while jumping doubles and one 3T, that's an amateur skater. And yes, that girl can't even begin to imagine what WC skaters have to endure physically and mentally, leave alone the Russian ladies.
So nothing dismissive towards "NCAA", or what not, to feel sorry for here, and nothing I need to "Stop".

So I repeat my point: It's perfectly normal for Anna to cry in a bad practice because psychological and physical pressure are normal at her level in any sport. Not because she's in any particularly alarming situation.
If you want to avoid that pain and pressure, don't go professional, stay amateur.

oh my gosh, WHAT

 

[chasingneverland]

Actually sorry for that, it was my mistake to quote your post, since (as you said) you did not said that at all. I hope that it is allright that I edited my comment and removed what I quoted.

All good.

 

[Fluture]

oh my gosh, WHAT

Maybe I should pick up skating, if it only takes two hours a week to land doubles and even a triple.

 

[sclloyd]

I would generally agree with that statement, but Sasha has done two clean run-throughs with 5 quads yesterday. And this competition is more like a practice session than an actual competition. So she might actually be able to do it again.

As for Rika, I've heard she's also had very rough run-throughs. I watched her SP run-through yesterday and it didn't look good at all.

I honestly don't know what's going on with the top ladies. Sasha seems to be the only one that's killing it.

I know that a lot of really top athletes don’t pay much mind to their competitors, but Sasha showing up here with five quads and a 3A is pretty unprecedented. Wasn’t it Alina and Zhenya used to do crazy combos in practice just because they could and it would intimidate the other skaters. Perhaps the same thing is going on here. Sasha shows up doing clean five quad run throughs and the entire competition is daunting after that. When you thought you were going to have a fairly even fight (or even the advantage if you’re Anna) and you arrive and Sasha has major upgrades and you don’t... Then I imagine that spirals. Don’t hit one, okay fine. But the more you stress the more you fall.. the more you fall the more you stress. It’s a vicious cycle getting out of that headspace.

 

[flanker]

Alert: Anna won the SP. Prepare for everything.
Alert: Anna won the SP. Prepare for everything.
Alert: Anna won the SP. Prepare for everything.

 

[alexocfp]

I hope a few lessons were learned today.

You always give the benefit of the doubt to the champions in sports. Anna and Liza are champions.

Champions have intangibles when the lights shine brightest that can’t be calculated on paper or in practice.

Anna was crying yesterday and it caused a stir. Not crying today when it counts.

I was saying for a while never ever count Anna out. Ever.

I was saying yesterday not to read anything in practice. It’s called practice for a reason. Nobody wanted to listen to me. Haha

 

[Gabby30]

 

[Gabby30]

Alert: Anna won the SP. Prepare for everything.
Alert: Anna won the SP. Prepare for everything.
Alert: Anna won the SP. Prepare for everything.

This was expected, wasn't it?

 

[nussnacker]

I hope a few lessons were learned today.

You always give the benefit of the doubt to the champions in sports. Anna and Liza are champions.

Champions have intangibles when the lights shine brightest that can’t be calculated on paper or in practice.

Anna was crying yesterday and it caused a stir. Not crying today when it’s counts.

I was saying for a while never ever count Anna out. Ever.

I was saying yesterday not to read anything in practice. It’s called practice for a reason. Nobody wanted to listen to me. Haha

Her 3-3 were okay in practice, it’s the quads she couldn’t land. So the real battle will be in the free.

 

[Fluture]

Well, short one from me:

Anna‘s the World Champion. Congratulations. She really always delivers, you have to give her credit for that. Nerves of steel. I‘ll try not to comment on the scores because I might go insane if I do. Beautiful interpretation, though and her combo had a lot more flow than usually.

Not a fan of Liza but this was brilliant. Might be an unexpected medal? What a result for her regardless.

Sasha. Well. I‘m sad. Go broke in the FS and land 5 quads? I guess that‘s what I‘ll hope for...

 

[flanker]

This was expected, wasn't it?

I sincerely envy you if you expected that.

Still nothing is decided at all. That's my comment for today. Looking forward for pairs.

 

[silveruskate]

I'm happy Anna and Liza brought it...you need skaters that will do that.

The SP wasn't as exciting without Aliona. She was sorely missed.

 

[brakes]

This is subjective sport and we're allowed to have all kind of opinions, but if you still belittle Anna Shcherbakova's skating skills after this SP, you just don't know figure skating.

 

[saturdaysun]

I hope a few lessons were learned today.

You always give the benefit of the doubt to the champions in sports. Anna and Liza are champions.

Champions have intangibles when the lights shine brightest that can’t be calculated on paper or in practice.

Anna was crying yesterday and it caused a stir. Not crying today when it’s counts.

I was saying for a while never ever count Anna out. Ever.

I was saying yesterday not to read anything in practice. It’s called practice for a reason. Nobody wanted to listen to me. Haha

I said the same thing and got a whole essay in reply on how clearly Anna's technique was failing her and Sasha was setting herself up to win two Olympics.

 

[Shayuki]

Nice to see Anna finally score close to what she deserves. Some more consistency and clean competitions and she'll finally get to the 39s and 78s, I hope.

I sort of wish that she could manage to keep herself from "relaxing" or whatever after she finishes the jumping elements, she often seems to make the silliest of mistakes after all her jumps are done...