Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov Split

[tulosai]

They are going to meet with both Ilinykh and Katsalapov tomorrow, to seriously discuss what the problems are. He says it's like a piece of china, it's been dropped and broken, but maybe it's still possible to put things back together.

There's also been comments from Zhulin, Tarasova, Vassiliev saying this is a very very foolish decision - they are all on the coaching board in the fed, and I think new partnerships at this level have to be approved by the federation? So it still sounds like nothing is settled, it just comes down to whether it's possible to patch things up between the two of them. They really didn't look like a team who's working relationship had completely broken down at Worlds, so maybe there is still a sliver of hope for them. The other interesting thing is that there has been no comment from Morozov at all in this - is he already in NJ and completely out of the picture?

Elena herself has also said she does not view it as 100% official. I think she wants to salvage the situation. In this article http://www.sovsport.ru/news/text-item/701442 she says something like

The break up of our couples is not yet 100% official. I am in limbo. I think Nikita must speak to the federation

 

[sinaia16]

http://www.sovsport.ru/news/text-item/701475

Sounds like the federation are finally stepping in. Who knows if it is in time though.

Really? Now they think it's a good time for a sitdown with the 2 of them? Jesus, this federation really knows how to handle their skaters. I just hope that something can be salvaged out of this mess.

 

[tulosai]

Really? Now they think it's a good time for a sitdown with the 2 of them? Jesus, this federation really knows how to handle their skaters. I just hope that something can be salvaged out of this mess.

In some fairness to them, as was pointed out a page or two ago, up to literally a few weeks ago, Nikita was making statements that they wanted to go to 2022, that they would bring home 2 gold medals for Russia at the next Olympics, that never before had they meshed so well together in training- basically everything short of 'and we go running in a field of daises together every day after practice and watch the rainbows in the sky that our sheer being together creates'. It's hard to say how the Fed really should have known there was a problem. They were getting results and they were saying publicly they were happy.

Granted they could have tried to do this right after Worlds, but before that? Why would they have?

 

[Alba]

They are going to meet with both Ilinykh and Katsalapov tomorrow, to seriously discuss what the problems are. He says it's like a piece of china, it's been dropped and broken, but maybe it's still possible to put things back together.

There's also been comments from Zhulin, Tarasova, Vassiliev saying this is a very very foolish decision - they are all on the coaching board in the fed, and I think new partnerships at this level have to be approved by the federation? So it still sounds like nothing is settled, it just comes down to whether it's possible to patch things up between the two of them. They really didn't look like a team who's working relationship had completely broken down at Worlds, so maybe there is still a sliver of hope for them. The other interesting thing is that there has been no comment from Morozov at all in this - is he already in NJ and completely out of the picture?

Thanks a lot.

What a mess.....

 

[Snow63]

They're going to stay together. You can mark my words.

 

[sinaia16]

In some fairness to them, as was pointed out a page or two ago, up to literally a few weeks ago, Nikita was making statements that they wanted to go to 2022, that they would bring home 2 gold medals for Russia at the next Olympics, that never before had they meshed so well together in training- basically everything short of 'and we go running in a field of daises together every day after practice and watch the rainbows in the sky that our sheer being together creates'. It's hard to say how the Fed really should have known there was a problem. They were getting results and they were saying publicly they were happy.

Granted they could have tried to do this right after Worlds, but before that? Why would they have?

I just hope that Morozov won't be at the meeting. This whole situation reeks of him. He seems to have an unhealthy influence on Nikita. I mean, I know Nikita is an adult and can make his own decisions, but he seems easily influenced by the wrong people.

 

[tulosai]

They're going to stay together. You can mark my words.

From your lips to god's(the federation's) ears...

I selfishly hope they stay together but I also do hope the working relationship genuinely is salvageable. Devastated as I am that they may be breaking up, I would not wish on anyone to be in a situation where it is torture for them to go to practice each day, even if the end result is beautiful skating and many medals.

 

[tulosai]

I just hope that Morozov won't be at the meeting. This whole situation reeks of him. He seems to have an unhealthy influence on Nikita. I mean, I know Nikita is an adult and can make his own decisions, but he seems easily influenced by the wrong people.

I believe Mozorov has already escaped to New Jersey. He may be present via skype or something i guess?, but that would be all he'd be able to do.

Is the federation sitting down with all 4 skaters- I/K and also S/Z? I can't tell from the article- neither my Russian nor the google translate is good enough

 

[Snow63]

From your lips to god's(the federation's) ears...

I selfishly hope they stay together but I also do hope the working relationship genuinely is salvageable. Devastated as I am that they may be breaking up, I would not wish on anyone to be in a situation where it is torture for them to go to practice each day, even if the end result is beautiful skating and many medals.

It's time for Zueva to step in. The Winter is coming...

 

[Snow63]

I believe Mozorov has already escaped to New Jersey. He may be present via skype or something i guess?, but that would be all he'd be able to do.

Is the federation sitting down with all 4 skaters- I/K and also S/Z? I can't tell from the article- neither my Russian nor the google translate is good enough

He didn't say about S/Z, so I'm assuming there only will be I and K.

 

[nguyhm]

For what it's worth, Wilkipedia lists Victoria as Nikita new partner and Elena as Ruslan's as of April 7 2014

 

[tulosai]

For what it's worth, Wipkipedia lists Victoria as Nikita new partner and Elena as Ruslan's as of April 7 2014

I mean, it's worth nothing. All it means is some figure skating fan went and changed it once that article was posted yesterday. And as of now, from what is posted in the news, it appears that Victoria and Nikita are NOT official/have not submitted anything to the federation at this point, so I'd actually go so far as to say whoever updated Wiki about them, anyway, is wrong, at least as of this second.

 

[Meoima]

People are playing political correct game in thread Kim/Adelina, here it's soap opera writing contest. No one can bring the drama like Russians, for sure.

 

[emma]

Usually, I come to Goldenskate for my skating news updates. Today, CNN greeted me with this: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t2

 

[Snow63]

I don't know if already posted but Gorshkov (the President of the Federation) said today that Federation 'didn't receive any statements from the athletes' (I,K,S or Z).
So my bet is that representatives of the Federation are pulling all their tricks to keep I/K together. We'll see what they can do.

Source: http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-skating/159269500.html


Edit: AAAaaaaaaaaaaAAAAaaAAaaaa! It's hysteria!!!

 

[whatif]

So here is the latest twist: Ksenia Korobkova of Kazakhstan enters the race to partner with Nikita. Rumour has it that Nikita is trying with her and Viktoria in case RF refuses to break up S/Z.

 

[Snow63]

Who needs 'Game of Thrones' when we have an amazing soap opera here, in real life!

So Nikita's options:
1) Sinitsina;
2) Korobkova;
3) Dump Morozov and get back to Elena.

What will he chose?

Edit: if RF will refuse to break up S/Z, than Nikita probably will change his nationality. Kazakhstan is going to have new pair?

 

[uhh]

So here is the latest twist: Ksenia Korobkova of Kazakhstan enters the race to partner with Nikita. Rumour has it that Nikita is trying with her and Viktoria in case RF refuses to break up S/Z.

Korobkova has never made it to Worlds, her personal best total score is 10 points less than I/K's free dance score at Worlds. Does Nikita not want a career at all?

 

[sisinka]

There are some interesting moments…
http://itar-tass.com/sport/1102184 where Kustarova says that they are waiting for Viki and Nikita’s decision because they have to solve something for them.
…Does it mean that Viki and Nikita didn’t make a final decision yet? What they have to solve for them? It is only wise to let Lena and Ruslan skate together, being off the ice and just sitting and waiting for final decision from Viki and Nikita wouldn‘t help either.
Also Lena expects an official explanation from Nikita.

http://itar-tass.com/sport/1102205 where Piseev reacts on Zhiganshin’s note that he now tryouts with Ilinykh. Piseev says that a personal wish of Zhiganshin to skate with Ilinykh doesn’t mean anything. The first item tells that Ruslan plans to split with Victoria and skate with Lena.
…isn’t it an attempt to put some blame on Zhiganshin? Why the article tries to look like Ruslan wants the split? He is the first one who was against it from the beginning. Is it bad informed journalist and some “dirty“ plan of Piseev in sort of: “Of course they split, because also Ruslan wanted to split!“. What a nonsense.

Many specialists are against a split of both couples – for example Tarasova, Zhulin, Vasiliev (pair coach specialist – why did they ask him I really don’t know), Bestemianova, Kustarova, Alexeeva….only Averbukh told the press that he is not sure about Lena and Ruslan’s future, but Victoria and Nikita will be a beautiful couple.

http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta...erdit-novie-pari-Iliinih-i-Kacalapova-v-poned where a president of Russian Federation Gorshkov says that some delagates of skaters (probably their coaches) will come on Monday (probably meet people from Federation)….
….but http://www.sovsport.ru/news/text-item/701444 Piseev says that he doesn’t know about any meeting of coaches on Monday.

http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-skating/159269500.html where Gorshkov says that they got no announcement from anybody about some changes, so he see no reason to make some comments. He says that there is a period (like every year) from 1st of April to 31st of May, where all things around some changes are decided.

http://news.sport-express.ru/2014-04-06/685978/ where Vaitsekhovskaya mentions an organizing problems which must Victoria and Nikita solve.
…to me it looks like they are preparing their papers for spending few months in US, for example their visa, but….how they can work on organization of their things while they still didn’t get an official permittion???

For me two months until 31st of May are too long period for one decision. The couples need to be named and started to plan for next season – choreographer, music, story, summer camps, vacations…there is no time for waiting two months until a Russian Federation says one word to every couple: “Yes!“ or “No!“

As to Morozov, I can’t believe that he would already came to US, it would mean that he was so sure of things (that Nikita will have no problem to couple with Viki), that it is not normal at all. If he really persists on new couple, I would expect he was the first one who would try to persuade Federation, that it is necessary and it can’t be done differently…he didn’t do that. There are no comments from him on this topic until World Champs. Does it mean that whole Russian Federation is under reign of big Morozov, who decides about future of all skaters and nobody else has anything to say?

I can imagine this situation: Morozov is known for his behind the back acts. Maybe he had a plan to come in US first, then Nikita and Victoria will try to recieve their visa in secrecy (without a mention of Russian Federation) and run to Morozov to US. While all three would be in US, they would avoid a straight confrontation with Federation and mainly straight confrontation with Ruslan, Lena and Kustarova/Alexeeva who all want an explanations.
And if Russian Federation would ask them to come back to Russian for talks, Morozov would simply refuse saying that they need to train.
I don’t see any other reason why would Viki and Nikita solve their organizing problems even before some official discussion and offical confirmation of a split/new coupling.

What is shocking and personally I don’t believe it at all…is a fact that both Piseev and Gorshkov looked like that didn’t do anything in past week. The split topic was so much shocking and so much discussed that I think that every smart one would immediatelly after returning home from World Champs invite all those four skaters and straightly ask them all about the situation. And personally I believe that they did it, unofficially of course. It is not happening every day that two from top three couples want to split. I don’t believe that Russian Federation stayed so cool to it and did nothing for whole week since World Champs ended.

 

[sisinka]

I hope the Russian Fed sends R/T to Linichuk.

Whole season there are rumours that Tkachenko doesn't want to continue, that this is his last season (but nothing was confirmed yet).
Last months there were rumours that Riazanova wants to couple with Guerreiro once again (nothing confirmed as well).