So Tarasova's new favorite is S&B, huh? I wonder what did Ruslan do to be treated like that by Tat?:scowl:
Tatiana Tarasova always had their favourite skaters and once she falls in love with them, she tries to help them in any possible way. So I would change the question from: “What Ruslan did to TAT?“ to “What Ruslan did to TAT’s favourite Bukin?“
Maybe the answer is hidden in the past seasons…
Stepanova & Bukin’s international journey at Junior Grand Circuit starts in 2010/11 when they got gold and silver medal at JGP. That was great start, almost nobody wins first JGP. They qualify into Junior Grand Prix Final. But what happened, they came third there. Why? Because Sinitsina & Zhiganshin finished second (they even won short dance at those Final). So, although Bukin’s first junior year was great, everybody spoke about Vika & Ruslan who finished better and were even able to be compete with Monko & Khaliavin – the best junior couple of the season.
Russian Junior Nationals in 2010/11 – Sinitsina was ill shortly before Nationals, so the couple didn’t compete and Bukin came in fourth and didn’t qualify for the Junior Worlds.
(This is first strange behaviour from Russian Federation toward Vika & Ruslan – while other couples/single skaters who couldn’t compete at Jr. Nationals get Jr. World spot, Vika & Ruslan like Silver Medalists from JGP Final tha season were not allowed to get spot for Jr. Worlds, instead of them third couple from Russian Jr. Nationals Kosigina & Moroshkin were sent although they finished sixth at Finals).
Next season started greatly for Stepanova & Bukin – they won both their JGP. The same thing for Vika & Ruslan. But what disaster. Vika & Ruslan wins JGP Final getting 12 points more than Stepanova & Bukin, and Ivan falls in Twizzles during SD and couple finishes third overall.
Russian Junior Nationals 2011/12 – once again Vika & Ruslan straightly win both SD and FD – they win overall. S&B are second in both and second overall.
The same situation happens at Junior World Champs 2012 – Vika & Ruslan win. Once again Bukin shows greats qualities, but it is Vika & Ruslan who people spoke about much more.
In 2012/13 season Vika & Ruslan enters senior stage and they are immediately getting Bronze Medal at Cup of Russia, but they didn’t qualify into National Team. Stepanova & Bukin stay in juniors, win everything, finally Ivan is taken like Junior Number 1.
In 2013/14 season – there is another comparison. Stepanova & Bukin not only don’t medal at their first Grand Prix Season, they have only one spot and they finish last. Both couples meet at Winter Universiade and even with unfair 4 deduction Vika & Ruslan got, the couple gets Bronze Medal… while Stepanova & Bukin finish fifth. Russian Nationals 2013/14 – Vika & Ruslan surprises with great dances so much, that finally judges forget to keep Riazanova & Tkachenko on their places and put Vika & Ruslan on the third place and into National Team….Stepanova & Bukin skate strong but it is no better than sixth place.
Although Vika & Ruslan gets fourth place at their first European Champs (the same placement I&K got their opening senior year and Russian Fed was in heaven praising I&K so much for such incredibly good placement while debuting)…Tarasova speaks at Olympics during Vika & Ruslan’s FD how should be Bukin sent at World Champs to get a reputation…. finally it is Vika & Ruslan who get the World spot and finish seventh there (once again the same placement like I&K had and everybody was happy with such high placement in the first senior year…Davis & White were seventh in their debut at World Champs as well)…did you notice any special congratulations to the couple for such great placement and (together with I&K) keeping three spots for Russian dancers next year? No. Probably even TAT even Russian Fed didn’t notice that.
So I would look for reasons of Tarasova’s feelings somewhere between junior and senior years…and I would say that probably as long as Ruslan will skate and as long as he will be better skater and dancer than Bukin, as long Tarasova will not like him…
(And probably Ruslan’s father never skate and he was never coached by Tarasova.)