Evgeni Plushenko

[Sweet Dream]

I have planned to write something about Plushy's role as a coach and some strongly negative reactions from his own people to Trusova's FS at the Worlds, but just now I came upon this https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/streamofconsciousness/2903830.html#supertop, which was too shocking to me! I have never heard of the so-called "Hormone Blockers" before, and I just hope that all these are not true, otherwise...

 

[anonymoose_au]

I have planned to write something about Plushy's role as a coach and some strongly negative reactions from his own people to Trusova's FS at the Worlds, but just now I came upon this https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/streamofconsciousness/2903830.html#supertop, which was too shocking to me! I have never heard of the so-called "Hormone Blockers" before, and I just hope that all these are not true, otherwise...

It's rather disturbing for sure, and that article had info I hadn't seen before like an actual victim (before it just seemed like typical TSL gossip). According to the article it apparently isn't on the WADA ban list for women so technically there's not much that can be done

I don't know though, it's important to remember that the extremely intense training female skaters do is a puberty blocker in itself. Which might not be all that healthy neither, but it certainly sounds less damaging that these drugs, the side effects list is

About Sasha's FS at Worlds...it's difficult because hindsight is 20/20. From our position its easy to say she should have stuck to two clean quads and won the thing, but she and Plushy had no possible way to know the other skaters wouldn't perform up to standard. Anna barely made a misstep all season and planned 3 quads, Rika did amazing at Japanese Nats. Sasha was waaay behind. I don't believe she or Plushy really thought she could reach the podium, so I think they idea was just to YOLO it. The medals are gone, may as well go down fighting, she's the Russian Rocket and Quad Queen after all. Sasha was also upset about the taking out of the 3A in the SP and as we saw that went disastrously, Plushy probably figured playing it safe didn't work, might as well take the risk.

I'm biased but I didn't think it was worse FS of all time, I thought Sasha showed engagement in her step sequence. Was it as good as it was at Nats or the Russian Cup stages or even the TV1 Cup and test skates? No, but I feel Romeo and Juliet was way better constructed than the Game of Thrones FS.

Anyway I would be interested in what you were going to write. I do think Plushy is on thin ice (pardon the pun) with the Russian Figure Skating Fed. The lack of a second support person in the KnC with him and Sasha sure spoke volumes

He's gone very quiet, I'm not sure whether this is good news or not. On the one hand if you don't say anything, nothing can come back and bite you on the butt, on the other it's a bit sad.

However! To make sure this doesn't end on a sour note there was one person at least who was very happy to see Plushy after Worlds

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNAr9eiDLYL/ - A welcome home from Sasha P. Awww

Until next time!

 

[anonymoose_au]

Plushenko has said something! Everyone drop what you're doing! (There was an interesting period in the board history where threads would regularly pop up titled "Plushenko: [Insert comment here]" it was funny.)

Евгений Плющенко: «Если бы Трусова сделала еще один четверной, она бы выиграла чемпионат мира»

Двукратный олимпийский чемпион Евгений Плющенко прокомментировал выступление своей подопечной Александры Трусовой на ЧМ в Стокгольме и рассказал о дальнейших планах спортсменки.

matchtv.ru

Google translate: EVGENI PLUSHENKO: "IF TRUSOVA MADE ANOTHER QUADRUPLE, SHE WOULD HAVE WON THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP"

Alexandra Trusova / Photo: © Dmitry Chelyapin / Match TV
Two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko commented on the performance of his ward Alexandra Trusova at the World Cup in Stockholm and spoke about the athlete's future plans. Recall that the Russian woman won a bronze medal at the world championship.

- Her dedication, her desire that something needs to be done at this training session, that work cannot be rescheduled for the next one - I was the same in my youth. My maximalism was off the charts. I thought that I had to do the maximum, kill myself, crash ... At one time Mishin held me back, - Plushenko noted in an interview with Match TV.
- Sasha is all the same. She has great ambitions, she sets herself very difficult and complex tasks. Not a single girl sets such tasks today - these are five quadruple jumps. If Sasha had done another quadruple, she would have won the world championship. At the trainings that took place at the World Cup, Trusova skated a free program with five quads in six minutes. But she had a burden of responsibility that crushed and squeezed her.
- Our task now is to start preparing new programs for the next season. We will have a new short and a new free program. There are ideas, there are thoughts, there is music, and there is more than one.
- Of course, the fact that Sasha and I worked for 7-8 months is very little. We need time, because for a long time she was in another team, where one methodology, but in our team everything is completely different. But it seems to me that Sasha began to more or less open up to both the public and the press, - added the specialist.

This was apparently from a TV interview, alas it is geoblocked, but I used my VPN to check it out (since you know a picture's worth a thousand words) Plushy seems not to be in the best spirits, but hey he's probably disappointed in himself. Sasha T was her smiley self though, so she'll be OK.

Ha ha I just went to Insta to look for links and I see Plushy has kindly uploaded the video for us T watch

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CNIhVgcKLoa/?igshid=5oqda6l40gkf

Interestingly, contrary to everyone else Plushy feels Sasha could have won by landing another clean quad rather than sticking to two and focussing on been clean on the triple jumps. Of course, Sasha is determined to do the 5 quads, that being the case even 3 clean quads won't let her reach her goal. But it would increase her chances of winning.

There's going to be two new programs, I wonder what they'll be. Will Team Angel go with a lyrical SP once again? Will they go the high energy, hard rock route with both? Try another classical piece? So many possibilities!

Onto the links!

Sasha P Shenanigans:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNIWkR1Ax7N/?igshid=jhu83nfhpg6y - Working on a I-Spiral. This looks really good to my untrained eye. Go Sasha!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNIWdT7Hatr/?igshid=ub7enx3x17bv - The juxtaposition of Sasha's SRS BSNS face and the cute teddy bear cracks me up. Apparently Yana had this car on loan (advertising thing I guess) and is getting one in dark blue tomorrow.

The younger Angels were in a fashion show whilst Worlds was on, here's Sasha P stylin'

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDJM3NgFYc/?igshid=u1pxt173w5hp - Love the bowties.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM-A2VRgVKf/?igshid=1w5ot2uzbfien - Sasha and Senya, too cute seriously.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM1Uwp4o3dA/?igshid=135yexni9j9vz - The ever stretchy Sasha P. This reminds me I need to do my own stretches

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMxDrgEATkK/?igshid=bxdkbbgb0e7h - I want this t-shirt like yesterday...

Yana's breakfasts

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM9UqZkhHdt/?igshid=h62og5bb1afb - Now I want yoghurt

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNEym5IluED/?igshid=1s18204exfx09 - Love these flowers! So many colours.

That's all for now, until next time!

 

[Sweet Dream]

Now that the Worlds are over, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, but at the same time, I cannot get that "lonely figure" out of my mind altogether. Yes, I feel very sad for Plushy, and for everthing he has done for Trusova so far. He has invested so much with his skaters, both financially and emotionally, but what he has gotten in return is nothing but endless attacks and ridicule. The reason for that is because he touched the cake of the vested interests. As a result, they are trying to ruin him and his school. First they called Kostornaya back, and now they are doing the same with Trusova. They just want to make him lose both money and the skater. As for the future of the skaters, I don't think they really care much, because currently they have enough reserves to replace them. They believe they are producing some unique & great champion, but of the same style! Unfortunately, those beautiful soap bubbles will burst in the end.

On the other hand, I strongly disagee with Plushy on "This is the Future of Ladies Figure Skating"! Trusova is a strong competitor, but meanwhile, she is also a quite fragile girl, mentally and physically. She is getting more and more worried about the on-going intense competitions and is no longer a fearless fighter. If they insist on going for that 5-quad LP in the Olympic season, I'm afraid such ambitious plan will very likely end in failure. Just think about how many events you are going to participate in right before the Olympics and how many quads you are supposed to jump in total in competitions, except those in training sessions. No one can guarentee that she will stay injury free throughout the season as she is attemping those highly risky quads. Never forget that fiasco back at the CoR! If she slipped somewhere some day, the possible fallout would be too serious to be stood by him alone.I am not making a drama out of my own weird fantasy, but really concerned about their respective fate.

After the FS, my mind completely went blank, and the first thing I saw was Plushy's lonely back. It was only a passionless routine with nothing to write home about, but I did not expect the final results would have gone that way. Many viewers' reactions were understandable, taking some factors into consideration. I could not say whose version was more reasonable or fair, but the way Trusova's program was torn to pieces was really really ridiculous and unacceptable! Just take a closer look at how she was treated so kindly by her countryman, a commentator:

Trusova's PCS should have been 10-15 points less, that is to say, she should have finished in 6th place. We have been advising her against taking this road over the past two years, but she never cares about or just ignores our advice completely. This is not figure skating, but figure jumping!

Are you kidding me, man? Let's be honest with everyone: Were those scores actually justified for the other two? Their skates were the future of the ladies skating?! These hysterical "words" were not merely harsh criticisms, but really intolerable personal persecution on Trusova! She has already had enough of the pressure from those domestic judges, but now these... I'm getting tired of all these clownish performances, and nothing is changing for the better, sad...

I can only say putting all one's eggs into one basket is never a wise move, but I know I can change nobody's mindset, let alone those Russians'. I feel for them both, always.

I'm afraid you guys might not be patient enough to read through this tedious message, but I am very glad to get it posted finally, despite some difficulties I am dealing with right now.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Thank you for your long and thoughtful post, Sweet Dream! Well worth waiting for.

I agree about the five quads, but it's Sasha's dream...and I wonder, perhaps that would be her triumph, to do it in competition and do it clean. Maybe she wouldn't even care if she missed the podium (although I guess the TES you'd get for such a program would prevent that?) if she could do it at that Olympics.

Of course doing all those jumps sacrifices transitions, but as a Plushy fan I've never really got into transitions. I honestly enjoy a nice build up to a jump and a beautiful running edge out of it. And I certainly prefer the old timey step sequences, how exciting were Plushy's after all?

but the way Trusova's program was torn to pieces was really really ridiculous and unacceptable!

To no one's surprise, I totally agree! The way people bang on it really is as if she went out did 5 quads, took a bow and left the ice! She was not as involved in the program as she could have been, but she performed beautiful spins and I enjoyed the step sequence. But then figure skating fans - and I include myself here - are known for exaggeration. I remember hearing that Plushy's 2010 Olympics FS (which I did watch on TV live back in the day, but hadn't seen for many years since) was a "disaster", "a jumping drill with nothing else" (wow, sounds familiar doesn't it!), but you go and watch it and it's not. It's not Tribute to Nijinsky, but it sure wasn't nothing but jumps.

Just take a closer look at how she was treated so kindly by her countryman, a commentator:

Was that "He Who Must Not Be Named"? (AKA A. Yagudin) I'm not surprised in the least if so...and you just know if Sasha was still with Eteri such a program would be praised as "incredibly brave" and "a triumph! 12th to 3rd! Just amazing!" It's really messed up...and unfair as Hell. Why should skaters who train with Plushy have to put up with that? It's not their fault one of the commentators hates their coach's guts and gets a ridiculous amount of satisifacation from seeing him struggle/fail. It's gross.

I can only say putting all one's eggs into one basket is never a wise move, but I know I can change nobody's mindset,

OMG I know! It's enough to make me wish that all those cries for any and every girl with the slightest bit of talent go to Crystal. Imagine that nasty Laishev opening the front door to this:

Redirect Notice

Good luck coaching all those girls to victory.

I'm afraid you guys might not be patient enough to read through this tedious message, but I am very glad to get it posted finally, despite some difficulties I am dealing with right now.

Noooo! As I said I enjoyed reading your thoughts! It's nice to have a conversation with someone who's first reaction to a discussion involving Plushy isn't "That egotistical, unartistic jumping machine who's as dumb as a box hammers? Ugh, those poor students at the Academy."

I hope you're going better now it at least your difficulties have eased a bit

PS. I noted that there's no Angels at the Russian Elder Age Novice Nationals, should we be concerned? Or are the Angels either too young or too old for this event?

 

[Sweet Dream]

Thank you for your long and thoughtful post, Sweet Dream! Well worth waiting for.

To no one's surprise, I totally agree! The way people bang on it really is as if she went out did 5 quads, took a bow and left the ice! She was not as involved in the program as she could have been, but she performed beautiful spins and I enjoyed the step sequence. But then figure skating fans - and I include myself here - are known for exaggeration. I remember hearing that Plushy's 2010 Olympics FS (which I did watch on TV live back in the day, but hadn't seen for many years since) was a "disaster", "a jumping drill with nothing else" (wow, sounds familiar doesn't it!), but you go and watch it and it's not. It's not Tribute to Nijinsky, but it sure wasn't nothing but jumps.

They are trying to put additional pressure on the judges. That is usually how things work.

Was that "He Who Must Not Be Named"? (AKA A. Yagudin) I'm not surprised in the least if so...and you just know if Sasha was still with Eteri such a program would be praised as "incredibly brave" and "a triumph! 12th to 3rd! Just amazing!" It's really messed up...and unfair as Hell. Why should skaters who train with Plushy have to put up with that? It's not their fault one of the commentators hates their coach's guts and gets a ridiculous amount of satisifacation from seeing him struggle/fail. It's gross.

This commentator is called Andrei Zhurankov, not that "Big Mouth"! (sorry, it's my fault) He might be working for the 1TV, I guess. One key point I forgot to mention was that he even implied that Trusova was ruining this sport, a very serious accusation against her, simply too shocking!

Noooo! As I said I enjoyed reading your thoughts! It's nice to have a conversation with someone who's first reaction to a discussion involving Plushy isn't "That egotistical, unartistic jumping machine who's as dumb as a box hammers? Ugh, those poor students at the Academy."

Your great sense of humor is giving me a very good laugh... and I always enjoy sharing my ideas with you, anonymoose. Thank you very much for your warm response!

I hope you're going better now it at least your difficulties have eased a bit

It's not a big problem, but I have to take some time to get over it. Never mind!

 

[anonymoose_au]

This commentator is called Andrei Zhurankov, not that "Big Mouth"!

Never heard of him...so I looked him up...

He's that jerkface who claimed that Plushy's surgery to install the plastic disc in his spine in 2013 (after he had to withdraw from Euros 2013 due to injury) was fake!

http://www.usatoday.com/amp/1909515

I was not a fan at that time so I missed that drama, but I heard about it after Sochi when Plushy had to have another surgery. Which was filmed...in case this guy sprouted his BS again Plushy would have video evidence. (I know! WTF?)

Zhurankov lost the defamation case...or settled out of court I'm not sure. Either way he had to apologise for being a liar. Actually it seems he didn't which I guess is why he's still talking sh*t now.

In this article he claims Anna S skated perfectly at Worlds, sure dude, you keep believing that.

One key point I forgot to mention was that he even implied that Trusova was ruining this sport, a very serious accusation against her, simply too shocking!

Wow...just wow...for real? What. An. He makes He Who Must Not Be Named and T Tarasova sound fair and reasonable!

Your great sense of humor is giving me a very good laugh... and I always enjoy sharing my ideas with you, anonymoose. Thank you very much for your warm response!

Not sure if my humour is that good! I usually write that stuff when I feel grumpy, but thank you! And nice to talk with you and my fellow Plushy fans too

Now, to ensure that this is a happy post here's some links!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNNde6pIMF5/?igshid=1cn3wl0jxoxbo - Plushy and Sasha P modelling tracksuits.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNNRSDlDKpp/?igshid=gefkyjr1dmgj - Plushy and Baby Arseniy!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNNbeVeKtgo/?igshid=1rbejd75w8h37 - Arseniy and his faithful guard dog

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNLEGzMJtY-/?igshid=1rdrko97jcqte - Yana was at that Super Woman event (where Liza Tuk won an award for being a boss), interesting photo set up.

Yana's breakfast:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNMkFJCHnBp/?igshid=12jdavmau6m69

Right it's Easter here in Australia, so Happy Easter!

Until next time!

 

[anonymoose_au]

Good news everyone!

Coachshenko has returned to the Academy

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNPMEgLhPzt/?igshid=r1hp2tq1zuze - I assume it's new because Coachshenko is wearing the jacket Russian Worlds coaches got. With Sofia Titova and one of the Zhilina sisters, I think? As well as Sergei A and I think that's Yaroslav Khrulev.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CNPEs9Jqotr/?igshid=2ynccc3h217r- Angels at work. In particular Sofia Titova is working on her 3A. Hopefully she can get it for next season Lots of spinning too

Not sure if I posted this Sasha P wanted to know which photo we like best: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNKzwwBgyEP/?igshid=zvaoqn907b48 - I'm partial to the first one

On other news I did find one lone Angel competing in one of the competitions on this weekend (Not the Elder Age Novice Nationals), he's currently coming first in his category, yay. The FS is in about two hours so I'll see if I can catch him - his name is Alexander Kuznetsov (name seems familiar...)

Right better be off once again.

Until next time!

 

[chasingneverland]

In this article he claims Anna S skated perfectly at Worlds, sure dude, you keep believing that.

Slight correction. He's only talking about the SP. Anna had a slight bobble on her step sequence - and got a level 3 - but she was flawless everywhere else in her SP.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Hello fellow Plushy fans!

Good news Alexander Kuznetsov won his category! 2nd sports (I still have no idea what that is ) and I've definitely seen him before because he has a very interesting FS costume. Alas I can't find a picture but you can see him here at 5hr 14min 11sec.

Some random links!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNQH5IRDOW-/?igshid=17u07hbcm7o53 - Plushy and Sasha P wishing everyone a good sleep, d'aaaaw

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNPYUEInkUA/?igshid=e045de29ns0x - Yana and those gorgeous multi-coloured flowers. How cute are those PJs

Well, not many links to show, but then it's Sunday which is the Academy's day off.

Until next time!

 

[anonymoose_au]

*Returns*

Well in The Skating Lesson's latest release of toxic garbage, apparently they're also suggesting that Sasha T return to Crystal.

To put this in perspective, TSL are some of the most anti-Crystal people you can meet, they've accused that team of any number of horrible things. I think most of the horror stories known in the English speaking fandom about Crystal comes directly from them.

Yet, Plushy is apparently SO incompetent a coach that they think Sasha T would be better off at Crystal.

I have no words... actually, that's a lie...I have many, none of which are printable. But this is what Plushy is up against, fans who would literally prefer that a skater go to an environment that they believe is highly abusive than continue with him as their coach. What does that say about their view of Plushy? They must think he keeps his skaters chained up in a dungeon under the Academy rink and gives them dirty water and stale bread for sustenance.

This is some BS.

*Stomps off*

 

[Philippa8187]

Plushy will probably not take any notice of them. He’s heard this all before. He knows that Sasha hasn’t been with him for long - I think we’re coming up to twelve months in May? Not long at all. Look at her improvement in that time. I know in a recent interview that Plushy and Sasha have talked about how nervous she gets before competitions, and I think this is something they will work on.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Plushy will probably not take any notice of them.

Hopefully not, but other fans do, and then these fans spread it all over the internet and it becomes the truth. So even Sasha T succeeds it doesn't matter for the Academy because it's still an incompetent circus full of clowns

And it doesn't even have the benefit of an army of defenders like Crystal. Nobody's defending the Academy except about 5 people here and at least in my case I know I'm considered a joke when it comes to Plushy stuff.

I left a comment on TSL's latest stupid video (I didn't bother watching the drivel) I wonder if they'll bother to reply. I hope they do, I hope they try and explain themselves, because I'm sure they'll utterly fail.

I can't believe they get to be "THE" figure skating discussion resource on YouTube and Twitter and probably Facebook and Instagram too.

Cripes we can't do better than those two hacks? It's depressing.

 

[chasingneverland]

*Returns*

Well in The Skating Lesson's latest release of toxic garbage, apparently they're also suggesting that Sasha T return to Crystal.

To put this in perspective, TSL are some of the most anti-Crystal people you can meet, they've accused that team of any number of horrible things. I think most of the horror stories known in the English speaking fandom about Crystal comes directly from them.

Yet, Plushy is apparently SO incompetent a coach that they think Sasha T would be better off at Crystal.

I have no words... actually, that's a lie...I have many, none of which are printable. But this is what Plushy is up against, fans who would literally prefer that a skater go to an environment that they believe is highly abusive than continue with him as their coach. What does that say about their view of Plushy? They must think he keeps his skaters chained up in a dungeon under the Academy rink and gives them dirty water and stale bread for sustenance.

This is some BS.

*Stomps off*

TSL seems to alternate between liking Eteri and hating her - and their fickle on all their fav skaters too. (It's one thing to be objective, it's another to gossip about minors.) And regardless, they just like to gossip and slander.

Ignore them. (They tear everyone apart and I'm done giving their opinions any form of validation.)

I'm not the biggest fan of Plushy the world has ever seen haha. But as a coach, I think he's done overall right by Sasha (with a couple exceptions.) He seems to understand her and what drives her - I think partially because they are a lot alike - and I think she's overall improved with him. (Although I would like to see that improvement more often.) But I think he's a good coach for her!

Basically all that to say, ignore them moose haha.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Basically all that to say, ignore them moose haha.

That's very good advice...but I just can't get over how bullying and malicious they are. We all know this, but apparently Plushy had no idea ('cause he's got better things to do, I guess than following some jerks on YouTube) because when he was in the US for a show a couple of years back, those two shamelessly interviewed him - despite the notable fact they've been dragging him as the most overrated hack in FS history - and if it wasn't bad enough they were sniggering behind their hands the whole time pretending that they had the least amount of respect for Plushy, they proceeded to put it up on their YouTube page so all their nasty fans could laugh and sneer at him too! You know, like "Good one, guys! He doesn't even realise you think he's sh*t! What a complete moron."

That's just sick, and the height of cruelty. At least have the guts to say your real opinion to his face, cowards. At least Russian FS commentators are honest, they'll call Plushy a hack to his face and not pretend to be all buddy-buddy while twisting the knife in.

It just makes me so angry.

 

[chasingneverland]

That's very good advice...but I just can't get over how bullying and malicious they are. We all know this, but apparently Plushy had no idea ('cause he's got better things to do, I guess than following some jerks on YouTube) because when he was in the US for a show a couple of years back, those two shamelessly interviewed him - despite the notable fact they've been dragging him as the most overrated hack in FS history - and if it wasn't bad enough they were sniggering behind their hands the whole time pretending that they had the least amount of respect for Plushy, they proceeded to put it up on their YouTube page so all their nasty fans could laugh and sneer at him too! You know, like "Good one, guys! He doesn't even realise you think he's sh*t! What a complete moron."

That's just sick, and the height of cruelty. At least have the guts to say your real opinion to his face, cowards. At least Russian FS commentators are honest, they'll call Plushy a hack to his face and not pretend to be all buddy-buddy while twisting the knife in.

It just makes me so angry.

They do that with a lot of people. Not just Plushy. They're very too-faced and fake. It's like their thing.

Which is one thing to do with adults. And adults can take it and have had much worse things said about them I'm sure.

But Anna, Sasha, Aliona, etc are children. (They've also been saying the entire time that Aliona and hot Sergei are dating but refused to have proof and gossiping about how they were living together in Plushy's cottages. I draw the line at their treatment of children.)

 

[chasingneverland]

Anyway, I don't want to derail Plushy's fan fest anymore! I hope he succeeds. And Sasha does too - I love that girl's fire on the ice and shy smiles off of it. (I would like her to stay with Plushy as I think it's a good spot for her but in general I hope she succeeds!)

 

[anonymoose_au]

(They've also been saying the entire time that Aliona and hot Sergei are dating but refused to have proof and gossiping about how they were living together in Plushy's cottages. I draw the line at their treatment of children.)

They're such scum. I don't feel like being the bigger person here. I want to report each and every video of theirs. They have nothing good to say, no insights worth a damn and they're not just smearing Aliona K, they're accusing Sergei R of a literal crime that could destroy his career. That's not harmless gossip, that's deliberate, malicious character assassination.

I just wish people would stop watching their trash! Figure skating is a worse place for having them in it.

Anyway, I don't want to derail Plushy's fan fest anymore!

That's OK, it gave me much needed venting space. Thank you for your kind words, I'm sure whatever happens Sasha T will succeed.

 

[chasingneverland]

They're such scum. I don't feel like being the bigger person here. I want to report each and every video of theirs. They have nothing good to say, no insights worth a damn and they're not just smearing Aliona K, they're accusing Sergei R of a literal crime that could destroy his career. That's not harmless gossip, that's deliberate, malicious character assassination.

I just wish people would stop watching their trash! Figure skating is a worse place for having them in it.


That's OK, it gave me much needed venting space. Thank you for your kind words, I'm sure whatever happens Sasha T will succeed.

I agree. It's one thing to gossip about adults. It's a completely different thing to slander children. It would be one thing if they were genuinely concerned about their well-being. (And I will say some of the Russian coaches and the overall training environment at all the schools isn't the most healthy - nutrition, skating when seriously ill, etc and it's not limited to one coach either it's a widespread issue - and the pressure the girls are under isn't healthy either.) And I would understand if that's what they were worried about. But even then, that has nothing to do with the girls. The fault doesn't lie with them and shouldn't colour the perception through which you view the skaters and their programs. However that's not the tone they go for. It's not concern. They just like gossiping. They like being the "first" to know things and like that they have all the gossip.

(As a side note: I have a similar complaint with people being upset at Anna, Liza, and Sasha for their World's scores. No, none of them were perfect but they did do enough. And regardless, they didn't give themselves the scores - the judges did. Direct your complaints at the judges/the scoring system/ISU/etc not at the medalists. What were they (Anna/Sasha/Liza) supposed to do? They're obviously all working hard. Besides no one was perfect. Especially Anna and Sasha - it's their first World's and they went without their parents and it's been a hard year. I'm actually glad they had each other there. And that they got to watch the men's free skate together. I also hope both of them, especially as they're so young, are ignoring social media. Liza at least is an adult.)

I like screaming into my pillow when I need to vent haha.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Well the final indignity of the day has come in...

Maxim Kovtun - known for completely disastrous meltdowns during his competitive career - was on Russia's 24 channel where he proceeded to give his criticism of Plushy's coaching of Sasha T:

Ковтун: Плющенко допустил ошибку во время чемпионата мира

Ковтун: Плющенко допустил ошибку во время чемпионата мира

amp.championat.com

Well if that isn't the most embarrassing thing ever, Maxim Kovtun is giving Plushy coaching advice. Maxim Kovtun who's not even a coach, no not even a novice one, was actually asked to give his opinion on television to who knows how many millions of Russians and his opinion was Plushy is a moron.

What...the... actual...

It's so hilarious (by which I mean exasperating as Hell) that Eteri absolutely lost her mind over Plushy's comment about Alina maybe needing a different approach to coaching and has been eviscerated for it ever since by the all and sundry, but at the same time Plushy's expected to just sit there and take this crap from every man and his dog. You just know if he snapped at Maxim K he'd be called a bully or worse, but typing reams and reams of words and interviewing person after person about what a complete and utter trainwreck Plushy is as a coach is A-OK.

Of course Yana will probably say something and just make everything worse.

I ask once again.

Why is he even bothering?