2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[LiamForeman]

Samodelkina made it seem that she has no free time at all to read novels or watch one episode of TV or go play Lazer tag. So I wonder if it's true, that skaters are at the rink training 12 hours a day? Radionova said she got a day off (saturdays) and I could see her playing with her dogs outside. Nowadays it's like the skaters literally have no time for anything, and I wonder, how can they possibly be happy? She mentioned in the article that she gets home late enough that she can walk the dogs but then she must go to bed or she'll be drowsy at training.

When someone is so passionate about being a world class sportsperson/athlete, the process of it all makes them happy. Or it should... otherwise they'll give it up. And that could hold for really any career. I worked my butt off for years to be where I am at now. I couldn't do or sustain what I did twenty years ago anymore, but I don't need to anymore. It makes sense to me that a skater hoping to rise in the ranks would find it acceptable to train 12 hours a day 6 days a week. Sounds like a piece of cake to a lawyer fresh out of law school trying to make partner in a tony firm. You just hope all the work pays off in the end. If not, find your next passion.

 

[flanker]

The ladies, behind the curtain:

 

[Mauvedreamer]

Davydov gave a really interesting interview. I am having trouble posting the link.

 

[wakuwaku]

The ladies, behind the curtain:

The most funny backstage moments:
29:38 Khromykh being caught eating something like hotdog/kebab in "green room" and trying to hide it (for reference - she was caught in last RusNat talking on phone after her skate as well)
34:18 Trusova hugging joyously with Muravieva and Mikhailov after her skate (both of them being from her previous "enemy camp" - for newbies here)
34:26 Samodelkina openly fangirling about Trusova and snuggling to her saying how she was praying that Sasha would qualify for OG
40:24 Petrosyan being so small and light that Gleikhengauz considers it's more convenient and faster to just carry her over by hands when deciding the place for a photo - instead of saying her to move

 

[lariko]

I find it ironic that Trusova had become a symbol of an underdog’s success, but there it is. She obviously is interpreted as such by peers. Must be that mindset of hers that is so easy to glean. Gotta watch the video for those moments. Also, hoping for Murav’yeva and Samodelkina miracle in its own right at the Junior Nat Championships.

 

[Scott512]

I think if a Russian woman wants to swap they need money from parents/relatives/sponsors. I have no idea if Anna has that. I think it’s hard to find a federation paying for a figure skater spending most of their time living and training in Russia. Only showing up at nationals if there even is one. (Georgia comes to mind.. when was their last nationals?… still qualifying for the olympic team event).


Happy for Talalaikina. I hope she has connections and friends in Italy? She's training there right? Way to go!

Anna in your dreams

Georgia allegedly pays all of Nastia's expenses. I'm pretty sure it will be the same thing for Anna F or Liza B or whoever else transfers this off season and there will be others. Especially for the girls missing nationals because of injuries or alleged injuries. We know that Maria was not allowed to transfer this season because she skated in last year's Russian nationals.

Anna F and Liza B are lovely skaters. But they will be buried in Russian ladies singles for their careers. They are both already behind so many 14, 15 and 16 year old Russians it's sad.
Belarus Lithuania Latvia and Kazakhstan needs skaters especially Kazakhstan after lilabet retired.
And many of these skaters representing other countries still live and train in Russia. It's a win wind situation for them.

Also when does Davydov start taking heat for the injuries?

 

[Scott512]

So at Europeans I read that they're going to be testing for coronavirus every 24 hours 4 hours with tests that are undoubtedly not 100% accurate. It will be the same I feel my fits and worlds.

Here in America the NFL is talking about not testing documented fully vaccinated asymptomatic football players. I agree with that strategy and it should be put to use in all sports. Take their temperatures and see if their noses are running like Niagara Falls if not let them move on with their day.

 

[Skatelife]

I find it ironic that Trusova had become a symbol of an underdog’s success, but there it is. She obviously is interpreted as such by peers. Must be that mindset of hers that is so easy to glean. Gotta watch the video for those moments. Also, hoping for Murav’yeva and Samodelkina miracle in its own right at the Junior Nat Championships.

It's also ironic, in her senior debut she was seen as the one who will destroy figure skating, I still remember the rabid comments against her when she was training the 3A in the GPF, still she was seen as favorite and the underdog was Kostornia. Currently Sasha is seen as the underdog and Kami the favorite. I think people tend to prefer the underdog's story than the heavy favorites.

 

[Paulipau]

It's also ironic, in her senior debut she was seen as the one who will destroy figure skating, I still remember the rabid comments against her when she was training the 3A in the GPF, still she was seen as favorite and the underdog was Kostornia. Currently Sasha is seen as the underdog and Kami the favorite. I think people tend to prefer the underdog's story than the heavy favorites.

That's just because the under-dog story has more thrill

 

[flanker]

It's also ironic, in her senior debut she was seen as the one who will destroy figure skating, I still remember the rabid comments against her when she was training the 3A in the GPF, still she was seen as favorite and the underdog was Kostornia. Currently Sasha is seen as the underdog and Kami the favorite. I think people tend to prefer the underdog's story than the heavy favorites.

There were such people who openly claimed they are finishing with watching figure skating back then

 

[lariko]

Yeah, figure skaters are generally really good at destroying figure skating. It’s a cunning plan, you see.

 

[Greengemmonster]

Veronika being crazy but totally awesome

I got dizzy watching her and had to pause!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYb3hcqp4DF/?utm_medium=share_sheet

 

[Scott512]

She's trying to outdo GOAT Alina.

 

[Scott512]

The positive tests for Coronavirus at us Nationals has me worried about Europeans and the Olympics. Will both those events in Tallin and Beijing be in a bubble?

Does anyone know if the Russian ladies have gotten the jab as they say? The scary thing is being fully vaccinated does not prevent you from testing positive.

 

[Greengemmonster]

The positive tests for Coronavirus at us Nationals has me worried about Europeans and the Olympics. Will both those events in Tallin and Beijing be in a bubble?

Does anyone know if the Russian ladies have gotten the jab as they say? The scary thing is being fully vaccinated does not prevent you from testing positive.

Beijing is in a bubble. Apparently they have started their bubble already with all staff such as chefs etc being sequestered into the bubble.

Being vaccinated won't stop them from testing positive!!! It is indeed very scary! I just hope the Olympic Champion isn't decided based on who manages to avoid a positive covid test! It looks like it could come down to that at this rate!

Please Skating Gods, let us have nice things!!!!!!

 

[Scott512]

Beijing is in a bubble. Apparently they have started their bubble already with all staff such as chefs etc being sequestered into the bubble.

Being vaccinated won't stop them from testing positive!!! It is indeed very scary! I just hope the Olympic Champion isn't decided based on who manages to avoid a positive covid test! It looks like it could come down to that at this rate!

Please Skating Gods, let us have nice things!!!!!!

It's unbelievable what is happening at this point Gracie Gold could make the US Olympic team. Absolutely devastating for all those skaters who've given their lives to figure skating to test positive before major competitions even if they're as healthy as can be an asymptomatic.

It's unfortunate that these athletes that will go to the Winter Olympics won't be able to enjoy themselves but for those who win medals or gold medals in particular will have the rest of their lives to enjoy them.

I also think we're coming to a point as you pointed out hi people fully vaccinated are testing positive I think we're coming to a point where we just have to let those people continue to work and Society or play their sport if they are asymptomatic.

Green it's my fear as well that Olympic championships could be decided by the bug that just won't go away.

I hope the Russian skaters are all vaccinated if it's good with them and their families or in the skaters who are under 18 if it's okay with their parents.


I am glad there will be a bubble in Beijing for figure skating. I hope this is not going to happy the sporting future we live in but it may be.

As I've said since Russian Nationals Liza needs to stay ready because anything can happen at any time and that goes for all the alternates in all the disciplines.

 

[McBibus]

Veronika being crazy but totally awesome

I got dizzy watching her and had to pause!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYb3hcqp4DF/?utm_medium=share_sheet

yep, the room started spinning around me

 

[BabySloth]

Honestly, I wish RusFed would keep Valieva, Trusova, and Shcherbakova home for Euros and give it to Liza, Maiia and whoever. The fact that I've tested positive for Omicron and hardly ever go anywhere and am always double masked in public (and wear it correctly) makes me realize that EVERYONE is likely to get a positive test. So let's leave the Olympic team home from Euros. But of course that won't happen. But it to me is almost a certainty that they will test positive, and the only question is at what moment? Right before leaving for Beijing? Right before the SP? Any guess is likely. Plus, this Omicron is so much less virulent. I only felt like I had a medium grade cold. I still did my daily hour exercise every morning without any difference in activity level, except I just felt shitty. If I were a competitive skater I'd still be able to do clean SP/LP in other words. Omicron is looking to be more on the level of a cold virus. Well, it is for people who are vaxxed, boosted, masked constantly and correctly, and being smart about their social interactions and behavior.

I agree. Europeans is a very big risk, especially with the 10 days manadatory quarantine in Estonia if someone tests positive. I wish RusFed would just rent a rink in a city near the Chinese border or something, get the team there and keep them isolated and training there until the Olympics.

 

[Scott512]

Honestly, I wish RusFed would keep Valieva, Trusova, and Shcherbakova home for Euros and give it to Liza, Maiia and whoever. The fact that I've tested positive for Omicron and hardly ever go anywhere and am always double masked in public (and wear it correctly) makes me realize that EVERYONE is likely to get a positive test. So let's leave the Olympic team home from Euros. But of course that won't happen. But it to me is almost a certainty that they will test positive, and the only question is at what moment? Right before leaving for Beijing? Right before the SP? Any guess is likely. Plus, this Omicron is so much less virulent. I only felt like I had a medium grade cold. I still did my daily hour exercise every morning without any difference in activity level, except I just felt shitty. If I were a competitive skater I'd still be able to do clean SP/LP in other words. Omicron is looking to be more on the level of a cold virus. Well, it is for people who are vaxxed, boosted, masked constantly and correctly, and being smart about their social interactions and behavior.

You know what I was just thinking the same thing before I read your post. Well leaving KV and the top pairs team and the top dance team for Russia home for Europeans. Especially if it's not in a bubble. Why risk it?
I will take your idea and keep the entire Olympic team home. Europeans is not a big fish this season it's the Olympics.

I have heard this new variant is like a cold and people go about their day normally I guess it can be the same for athletes if they are asymptomatic.

Maybe create a training camp for the Russian team somewhere and put it in a bubble with a hotel room in it.

How do you know you had Omicron and not Delta or one of the others?

 

[Scott512]

I agree. Europeans is a very big risk, especially with the 10 days manadatory quarantine in Estonia if someone tests positive. I wish RusFed would just rent a rink in a city near the Chinese border or something, get the team there and keep them isolated and training there until the Olympics.

They should have thought of this! It's a great idea. They should do this for all their Winter Olympic athletes.