Will this Olympic cycle be a hollow victory?

[lariko]

This whole cycle sucked, this Olympics sucks and the world sucks. That's my take on it, no matter what anyone else says. I do NOT care about three entries (yes, three, because Belorussia also exists, forgotten by most fans) in the Olympic games or what place they can, might or will achieve. The thing that matters to me is that Russian/Belorussian juniors can't participate in JGP. The latest behavior by ISU about it was completely unacceptable, promising to review it at a meeting, then refusing to review it at a meeting giving any definitive answer. I am fed up by ISU's handling of junior athletes and not telling the truth. Olympics can go forest-side with all that politicking and nauseating BS. IOC asked them to admit juniors. I can't imagine a heart so black that opposes juniors competing, and yet ISU can't decide and covers up their collective hindquarters with logistics.

 

[Mathman]

At least being an Olympic champion will have a bit more credibility than being a "World without Russia" champion...

The Olympic champion is the Olympic champion. That's reality. If someone says, you're not really the Olympic champion -- well, OK, people can say whatever engages their fancy.

 

[gmyers]

There will be a "Russian" at the games. Adelia Petrosian

May I remind you that Russians are beatable... Even by Canadians. In 2018, Kaetlyn Osmond finished in third place ahead of one Russian and everyone else. The year before, in 2017, Both Osmond and Daleman, from Canada, were on the podium with only one Russian beating them.
Kaetlyn Osmond even added to her pedigree, beating all the Russians, including the reigning Olympics champion at Worlds in 2018.

So, no, the next Olympic Champion will not be less deserving. That's my take on it.

My main opinion is gold is gold but the above is definitely false. And it’s false because she has been banned from all Grand Prix events! Banned from worlds! Banned from everything! She’s not a real competitor! Until recently she was going to be banned from talking to anyone. Weren’t her coaches banned from OQE? HOBBLED competitor.

And Russia should have 3 skaters. 3 women doing quads and triple axels

 

[gmyers]

And the Russian champions in men and in women's will be there. Of course, the victory will not feel empty to whomever wins.

If Petrosian wins, should she feel her victory is hollow?

Maybe! The best competition is Russian not American or Japanese

 

[lariko]

And Russia should have 3 skaters. 3 women doing quads and triple axels

And those women over age 17 and uninjured would be... ? Zakharova? Is Dvoeglazova even age-eligible? Now pairs are another matter, but pairs are out of consideration.

 

[gmyers]

And those women over age 17 and uninjured would be... ? Zakharova? Is Dvoeglazova even age-eligible? Now pairs are another matter, but pairs are out of any consideration.

They were mentioned above yes.

Because Russians are banned and no one really knows any now people are asking “who are these mystery women” well they are All banned. You wouldn’t know them. No one does.

 

[4everchan]

I wouldn't go ahead and say that the whole cycle sucked, especially in the women's discipline. More and more countries are able to produce skaters with the full set of what's necessary to compete ( a triple-triple combo + all the common triples) at the highest level, even in juniors.

Also, many more skaters are trying the very difficult jumps, not only in Japan or USA... but this year, Sara-Maude Dupuis became the first Canadian woman to land a triple axel in competition. In the juniors, there is Hana Bath with a steady triple axel as well. Many more women, too many for me to remember and list are doing the triple axel.

 

[4everchan]

They were mentioned above yes.

Because Russians are banned and no one really knows any now people are asking “who are these mystery women” well they are All banned. You wouldn’t know them. No one does.

that's not true. They have their own circuit and many people follow them.

 

[frompolandwithlove]

I wouldn't go ahead and say that the whole cycle sucked, especially in the women's discipline.

Me neither. In fact, this was the first cycle in which I actually cared about women's discipline and enjoyed the ride.
In my book this will be the exact opposite of a hollow victory (unless something really really strange and unexpected happens at the olympics - which I hope it won't, of course)

 

[Mathman]

Specifically about Adeliia Petrosian, here is one way of looking at it..

The ISU and the IOC, in their rush to be all things to all people, have wishy-washied their way into a hot mess.

They did everything they could to keep Petrosian out, then they let her in. If she dominates the ladies’ competition, which she might, then they (the ISU and the IOC) will look like impotent fools.

The only thing they can hope for is that she skates OK but with a mistake or two and others go clean. That way they can low-ball her and no one can prove anything underhanded.

Is that too cynical a take?

 

[TT_Fin]

No. There have been many medalists from many different countries throughout the years. All the results are available, anyone can check. One country dominating too much anything makes the sport boring, including my own country.

Will it be hollow if favs are injured, don't get Visa Etc?

 

[noskates]

I totally disagree with all of you who seem to think there is no excitement or interest in this Olympics. Are you wishing that to be true because of some lack of one country's participation? I guess it all depends on where you're looking. Please don't try to drum up drama when there isn't any.

 

[melsh]

My main opinion is gold is gold but the above is definitely false. And it’s false because she has been banned from all Grand Prix events! Banned from worlds! Banned from everything! She’s not a real competitor! Until recently she was going to be banned from talking to anyone. Weren’t her coaches banned from OQE? HOBBLED competitor.

And Russia should have 3 skaters. 3 women doing quads and triple axels

Sure, but that was exactly what they wanted to prevent. Three Russian skaters on the podium. They could readmit one, but not three. Petroysan, the poor girl, wil be the sacrificial lamb this time.
They always say 'follow the money.' I believe the situation after the women's free skate in Beijing either annoyed or scared off the sponsors. Perhaps only a major image-cleaning operation, lasting a full four years, could reassure them and guarantee a revenue stream sufficient to keep the machine running. From next year, however, something will probably have to be done about those empty arenas around the world.

 

[SmileHappy34]

If a person thinks ot a hollow cycle without the competition than it a hollow cycle.

May i remind the people of hollow cycles in 1980 summer games without U.S A
and 1984 summer Olympics without Russia.

I dont remember people telling those who won were hollow victories just because the U.S. nor Russia were there.

In fact the 1984 gymastic were considered the greatest especially Marylou.
They just added when teams showed up now it a full competition.

So no to hollow victories.
They are victories will be questions yes,but they still won.

 

[SmileHappy34]

At least being an Olympic champion will have a bit more credibility than being a "World without Russia" champion...

The. A world without u.s. champ or Chinese when didn't compete.

For me that is taking it away from athlete when shouldn't. Not athlete fault not all countries competing. Not all athletes from countries that can compete are competing

 

[Mathman]

In fact the 1984 gymastic were considered the greatest especially Marylou.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.. Russian gymnast Olga Mostepanova was the favorite for the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, but that was quashed by the Soviet boycott. Mary Lou Retton went on to fame and fortune as America’s Sweetheart. Ironically her only serious challenge at the Olympics came from the Romanian athlete Ekaterina Szabo (same last name the famous figure skaing family that produced 5-time World figure skating champion Herma Szabo) — Romania had broken with the other Soviet nations on the boycott issue.

Later on Retton made headlines (not in a good way) by lobbying vigorously against the Safe Sport Act of 2017 that followed in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal that rocked U.S. gymnastics.

One more odd-ball connection between gymnastics and figure skating. Retton’s business agent was Shep Goldberg, who later took on Michelle Kwan as a client. Retton felt that she had been relegated to the back burner and she left the agency in a huff.

 

[Isk]

I think there is no point discussing it (but go ahead). It is what it is. It's funny though that with Russians banned 2/3 of Euro podium are Russians trained in Russia euphemistically called Germans, Georgians and Hungarians. I know that finding a Georgian interpreter for an interview is a challenge, and one's probable inability to speak the official language of the country one represents is unimportant. But it's been 4 years, unfair judging is still there, it's gotten so bad that athletes openly speak about it not in movies 20 years since, but at a press-conference right after.

 

[frompolandwithlove]

The problem with an argument that goes "the Russian girls are oh-so-much better than the rest of the world and that's why they are banned from the competition because they would dominate the entire podium!!!" is: figure skating is not the only sport at the olympics and Russians are banned in every other sport as well. It's not a vendetta against teenage girls jumping quads or teenage girls having meltdowns, it's not a vendetta against dopings cases, it's not even a vendetta against winning everything at International stage and leaving no glory for other nations. The ban started because of invasion - not because ISU and IOC are afraid of some girls with skates.

 

[Magill]

I totally disagree with all of you who seem to think there is no excitement or interest in this Olympics. Are you wishing that to be true because of some lack of one country's participation? I guess it all depends on where you're looking. Please don't try to drum up drama when there isn't any.

Please do not make assumptions about my political beliefs and sympathies, especially that your guess is completely wrong, thank you.
Yes, I guess it all depends where you're looking - and from where - but it is equally true for those who see the excitement and for those who don't. And BTW the lack of excitement usually means lack of drama, not creating it. It is making conspiracy assumptions about why people see lack of excitement which is creating drama.
I've been looking in the same places as always and where I used to see excitement for Sochi, London, Pyeongchang, Paris and even Beijing despite Covid, I do not see much for Milan. I do think it might have something to do with the country you mentioned but in a completely opposite way. When people are wary of war creeping round the corner, they do not care much for sports. When journalists have hands full of more important news, and politicians all over the place see to it these days, and not just in this one country you mentioned, they do not waste headlines on entertainment, especially if it is not much entertaining for the lack of big stars and great news stories. Yes, to many Olympics seems void and deprived of any meaning these days. Unimportant and not much interesting. And it's quite natural and understandable in the circumstances. Kind of bad timing. Please don't try to drum up drama when there isn't any.

 

[lariko]

I wouldn't go ahead and say that the whole cycle sucked, especially in the women's discipline. More and more countries are able to produce skaters with the full set of what's necessary to compete ( a triple-triple combo + all the common triples) at the highest level, even in juniors.

Also, many more skaters are trying the very difficult jumps, not only in Japan or USA... but this year, Sara-Maude Dupuis became the first Canadian woman to land a triple axel in competition. In the juniors, there is Hana Bath with a steady triple axel as well. Many more women, too many for me to remember and list are doing the triple axel.

It sucked, no matter what, because instead of punishing those actually guilty everyone and their dog lashed out at what they can reach.