2026 Olympics: Women's Short Program

[gmyers]

There is proof that there was a doped minor that was under the coaching team of Eteri.

I'm not saying anyone else on that team is definitive; however, I am allowed to have my concerns about the possibility due to past practices of that team and the Russian federation as a whole. Unfortunately, one person can ruin it for everyone and that team (to me) will need to be held to a higher standard until trust has been re-established.

Until then, I don't want them competing.

There is no proof Valieva failed test was doping at all. The court hired an expert that said the drug could never ever stay in her system! But he was wrong. Ther expert was wrong. And this doesn’t mean Adelia is a doper. You are saying Adelia is a doper for no reason. Ignoring she is tested a lot since early 2025

 

[slider11]

I keep thinking about Isabeau's performance and why she did not receive stronger scores. I wonder if her choices of music did not help her. Both Isabeau's SP and LP are nods to Hollywood classics - Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn. Both are vintage and, frankly, not embraced by some parts of the world. Maybe they thought the Italians would embrace Sophia but the judges are from all over. And not only is the music very "Western" but vintage. Isabeau's style is very classic and balletic. Perhaps she should have chosen at least one classical piece to win over at least some of the judges who don't get/embrace what she is skating to.

 

[Blades of Passion]

There is no proof Valieva failed test was doping at all.

She doped. The entire top Russian sports system has, for a long time. There's been countless documentary sources at this point, about both the doping (which athletes themselves have attested to) and the state program to try and avoid detection. It goes hand-in-hand with the entire Russian propaganda and censorship regime. Get real.

I keep thinking about Isabeau's performance and why she did not receive stronger scores. I wonder if her choices of music did not help her.

Her skating doesn't have enough character. She does this light, old-fashioned music but without fully committing to a concept, just throwing in little cutesy moves here and there. Or incongruous moves, like the random sideways leg lift she always does during the footwork, or the spins at the end of the program that don't have anything to say with the music. The program just drifts at that point, it doesn't build to anything.

If the other judges have given GOEs of 3 or 4, a 0 GOE is a real outlier.

Sometimes the outlier is the correct opinion though.

Like if someone had given Miura/Kihara the -1 GOE that was deserved for their side-by-side 3Sal, which she two-footed. The entire panel gave +2 or +3 instead, entirely not seeing or not caring enough about the mistake.

 

[Karoltyna]

I keep thinking about Isabeau's performance and why she did not receive stronger scores. I wonder if her choices of music did not help her. Both Isabeau's SP and LP are nods to Hollywood classics - Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn. Both are vintage and, frankly, not embraced by some parts of the world. Maybe they thought the Italians would embrace Sophia but the judges are from all over. And not only is the music very "Western" but vintage. Isabeau's style is very classic and balletic. Perhaps she should have chosen at least one classical piece to win over at least some of the judges who don't get/embrace what she is skating to.

She is skating the same program to different music (sorry, her programs look the same to me) and she isn't exploring skating. Maybe she is so comfortable in this particular style that reflects her personality, she feels no need to explore, but to me looks more like she was taught this style, so she isn't making her skating personal, but sticks to very correct, safe but impersonal style. For me she lacks the spark and isn't giving it all on ice. Her music choices showcase her strong side, but also don't cover this one weakness she has (apart from jumps).

 

[Ziotic]

Yes, WADA is running random checks.

On Russians who aren’t participating in international competitions?

That seems like a waste of resources.

 

[Ares]

I keep thinking about Isabeau's performance and why she did not receive stronger scores. I wonder if her choices of music did not help her. Both Isabeau's SP and LP are nods to Hollywood classics - Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn. Both are vintage and, frankly, not embraced by some parts of the world. Maybe they thought the Italians would embrace Sophia but the judges are from all over. And not only is the music very "Western" but vintage. Isabeau's style is very classic and balletic. Perhaps she should have chosen at least one classical piece to win over at least some of the judges who don't get/embrace what she is skating to.

I have also expected a slightly higher score and for Isabeau to place above Gubanova right after she finished that skate but it didn't happen. Not sure whether it's got anything to do with the music choice.

 

[TallyT]

The replies are cooking her.

As they probably should. I mean, plenty of fans or supporters of this or that skater think that when their competition messes up, but it's especially daft of a public figure - even as minor as she is - to say so in such a public setting.

 

[Jontor]

Agree, that step sequence wasn't that bad. I certainly did not see 12 skaters give better skates than Amber.

The Eurosport commentators said Amber was lucky that the step seq wasn't judged as a fall with -5 across GOE and with an extra -1 for a fall.
The knee slide just after the missed Loop looked suspiciously as a fall and clearly some judges thought so too. But the tech panel cleared it.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

If you would like to get a glimpse of PaulE, I published a pic of his view during pairs. He is above the judges but for the ladies he is more to the right, if you are standing on center ice. He has on his Goldenskate yellow ballcap and a bown coat. The video editor has not been kind so I couldnt get a good screen shot of him. The fat blue railing is the bane of front rowers. He gave me permission to rat him out. LOL!
He is more to the left of this pic from yesterday.

At the end of the second resurfacing, just before the Group 4 introductions, there was a shot of the audience shown on the TV coverage. And I spied @PaulE at the very bottom of the screen.

@PaulE - you don't look a day older than you did in the photos that @CoyoteChris posted of you and him at competitions many years ago!

Watching figure skating must be the secret to ageing well!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[TontoK]

What are all these nonsense concerns about shady judging? About doping? About abusive relationships, like with Eteri and others?

Nobody really cares about any of that. Skating fans are all talk about protecting athletes and fairness and holding judges accountable and such lofty hogwash... right up to the moment somebody skates pretty, then all sorts of excuses can be found to justify or ignore the worst behaviors.

And needing a fainting couch because Sotnikova said a rival's failure was good for her favorite? LOL Give me a break.

 

[Demandred]

The Eurosport commentators said Amber was lucky that the step seq wasn't judged as a fall with -5 across GOE and with an extra -1 for a fall.
The knee slide just after the missed Loop looked suspiciously as a fall and clearly some judges thought so too. But the tech panel cleared it.

She's been doing a knee slide at this point of her program, several seconds after the loop all season.

 

[lariko]

I keep thinking about Isabeau's performance and why she did not receive stronger scores. I wonder if her choices of music did not help her. Both Isabeau's SP and LP are nods to Hollywood classics - Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn. Both are vintage and, frankly, not embraced by some parts of the world. Maybe they thought the Italians would embrace Sophia but the judges are from all over. And not only is the music very "Western" but vintage. Isabeau's style is very classic and balletic. Perhaps she should have chosen at least one classical piece to win over at least some of the judges who don't get/embrace what she is skating to.

I think it is not the music, it's because she is skating slow. Fast skating is really valuable in SS across all disciplines. It is very noticeable live. She is one of the few skaters who are much better on TV than live.

 

[CoyoteChris]

At the end of the second resurfacing, just before the Group 4 introductions, there was a shot of the audience shown on the TV coverage. And I spied @PaulE at the very bottom of the screen.

@PaulE - you don't look a day older than you did in the photos that @CoyoteChris posted of you and him at competitions many years ago!

Watching figure skating must be the secret to ageing well!

CaroLiza_fan

Thanks! I will have to go back and see if my feed shows him. Actually, he really doesnt change over the years....cant remember if we met 2007 but he stayed at my house for 2016 Challange cup.

 

[CoyoteChris]

At the end of the second resurfacing, just before the Group 4 introductions, there was a shot of the audience shown on the TV coverage. And I spied @PaulE at the very bottom of the screen.

@PaulE - you don't look a day older than you did in the photos that @CoyoteChris posted of you and him at competitions many years ago!

Watching figure skating must be the secret to ageing well!

CaroLiza_fan

The secret to aging well is a pretty wife, margarittas, and Testosterone! LOL! You have a good eye! Paul is at about 2H 32 min on the venue feed on Peacock.

 

[Jontor]

She's been doing a knee slide at this point of her program, several seconds after the loop all season.

Yes I know. But knee slides are tricky, they can easily be judged as a fall if you don't do them seamlessly, and Amber had a stumble here.

 

[Jontor]

I think it is not the music, it's because she is skating slow. Fast skating is really valuable in SS across all disciplines. It is very noticeable live. She is one of the few skaters who are much better on TV than live.

Yes, and I think you can see on TV that she is really slow across the ice. Her awkward technique in jumps is also a factor. The fact that she does the easier 3Lo instead of a 3Lz was the reason she lost to Hendrickx who is slightly ahead of her.

 

[chepe]

She is skating the same program to different music (sorry, her programs look the same to me) and she isn't exploring skating. Maybe she is so comfortable in this particular style that reflects her personality, she feels no need to explore, but to me looks more like she was taught this style, so she isn't making her skating personal, but sticks to very correct, safe but impersonal style. For me she lacks the spark and isn't giving it all on ice.

My friend who follows skating casually (does not understand technical side at all), thought Levito was the most boring of the last two groups. "Her skating feels small, and didn't she do this same program last year?"

 

[chepe]

Amber - after her loop miss, she just gave up. Also, she skates slow and for some strange reason, she can never deliver on the important events. She gets too nervous

Amber took the popped jump too heavily. Cmon, it was just a stupid Ritt, it's not the end of the world. You got triple axel which makes up most of the points compared to those who did 2A. Put more fire on to your next element, not less.

 

[TallyT]

There is no proof Valieva failed test was doping at all.

Oh yes, the imaginary grandfather...

Look, can we not rehash all that again? Petrosian will skate whatever she skates, she will be tested as they all are, and the results will be what they will be.

 

[Alfa]

Oh yes, the imaginary grandfather...

Look, can we not rehash all that again? Petrosian will skate whatever she skates, she will be tested as they all are, and the results will be what they will be.

What is it with you attacking anyone that's a fan of Russian skaters?
Can you stop?