Piseev publicly rebukes Sokolova and threatens to leave her off Russia's worlds team.

krenseby · Feb 5, 2007

Piseev publicly rebukes Sokolova and threatens to leave her off Russia's worlds team.

Translation of article from http://www.gudok.ru/index.php/44607

After the return of the figure skaters from Warsaw, Valentin Nikolaevich Piseev let them have it. His criticism fell the heaviest on Elena Sokolova. "The young woman had occasionally been able to win European and World Medals. This time she ended up in 7th place.""

"After Slutskaya's departure, Lena was supposed to become the leader of figure skating in Europe. But that didn't take place," said Piessev in a harsh and grating voice during his press conference with Russia's RIA News Agency. "Her coach Viktor Kudryavtsev has told me that the athlete regularly skipped training sessions under the pretext of injuries and pains. She has gained weight. Once I noticed that she was sipping a glass of wine and smoking a cigarette. All things considered, Lena seems to think of her figure skating as a trifle diversion. The consequences of this attitude are alreadly clear. If she does not change her approach to training, she will not go to the World Champions in Japan."

Btw, the article contains other comments by Piseev, but this was the juiciest. He also complains about Obertas and Slavnov for being overly self-confident and therefore neglecting to follow the instructions of their coach. This is the paragraph of the article that I didn't translate but I think the brief summary above does justice to it.

gio · Feb 5, 2007

Thanks for the article!! I noticed that Elena has gained weight. Valentina Marchei also told the italian commentators that this summer when she was doing a stage in Russia, Elena Sokolova didn't go to the training, even if she was supposed to go. Kudriatsev (sp?) was very upset with this.
I don't blame her. I understand that she wants a rest, after an intensive olympic season. The best thing will be if she doesn't compete for a year.

As for the smoking part. My sport teacher told me once that true athlets don't smoke!
I think that skaters smoke, first because they are way too stressed. Second because this prevents them from gaining weight, killing hunger. So this isn't just a problem of Sokolova, but of more skaters. Some made it public, some hide.
But if Elena gained weight there is a probability that she quit smoking. Better being healthy with some pounds more than skinny and smoking.

Ptichka · Feb 5, 2007

This attitude from the had of the federation drives me crazy. I understand having a private tough talk with a skater and their coach, but making a public statement like that seems overly embarassing, not to mention drives off potential sponsors.

Mafke · Feb 5, 2007

Ptichka said:
This attitude from the had of the federation drives me crazy. I understand having a private tough talk with a skater and their coach, but making a public statement like that seems overly embarassing, not to mention drives off potential sponsors.

But isn't it a typically Eastern European thing, part of this part of the world's glorious heritage of always looking on the worst possible side of life?

It seems rough to Americans (and probably eastern europeans who've acclimated to NAmerican standards) but public criticism is nothing new in Russia (at least I thought, maybe I'm wrong). I would assume Sokolova and O/S have heard worse and are used to this kind of rhetoric or they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have.

And .... Sokolova has looked out of shape and O/S obviously have some problems. I wonder if she'll try to stick it out or dump him for someone else (doesn't she have a history of bolting when the going gets tough?)

Joesitz (RIP) · Feb 5, 2007

Is there any information that Elena gives for all of this? I think she deserves to be heard. She could have personal problems that have bugged her. Not unlike Johnny and Stephane. Skaters are human.

Joe

demarinis5 · Feb 5, 2007

Thanks for the translation. I am surprised about Elena smoking. It is hard to believe that any athlete let alone skaters smoke cigarettes. I was looking forward to seeing her at Worlds. I hope everything works out for her.

gio · Feb 5, 2007

demarinis5 said:
It is hard to believe that any athlete let alone skaters smoke cigarettes.

Tonya Harding, Nicole Bobek, Oksana Baiul (quit, it seems), Alexei Urmanov, Aleksander Zhulin, Shae Lynn Bourne. I think also Alexei Yagudin used to smoke, but I'm not sure.

emma · Feb 5, 2007

They did a fluff piece on Artur Dimitriev for one of the Olympics - I can't remember which one; and he was sitting in his apartment smoking away....I remember thinking some people really get to enjoy sooooo much of life!!!!

Zuranthium · Feb 5, 2007

gio said:
Tonya Harding,

She has asthma!

~Z

Ptichka · Feb 5, 2007

Joesitz said:
Is there any information that Elena gives for all of this? I think she deserves to be heard. She could have personal problems that have bugged her. Not unlike Johnny and Stephane. Skaters are human.

It is a well known fact that Elena is a bit of a party girl. In fact, that's why Mishin kicked her out of his group (though she did speak out then - said she was just lonely in Saint Petersburg). She is a fun girl, somewhat undisciplined, and the tedium of regular practices year and year does get to her.

Mafke said:
But isn't it a typically Eastern European thing, part of this part of the world's glorious heritage of always looking on the worst possible side of life?

Doesn't make it any more right, though. And Obertas is nothing is not thin-skinned.

Tinymavy15 · Feb 5, 2007

I alwasy knew tha Elena was un concerned with her skating. She never seemed to try hard, didn't care a penny for artistry and always seemed a little rebilous to me. I guess she grew up in the soviet system and was pretty much forced to skate by her parents coaches goverment etc... why dosen't she just retire. she i obviosly is not gonna make it now.

rain · Feb 5, 2007

Interesting comments. Some of it may be justified, however, I think they need to look a bit more to their federation as a whole for some of the reasons the Russians are weak in a number of disciplines right now. For them to expect Sokolova to step right up into Slutskaya's shoes this season was totally unrealistic given her performances in recent years. That said, I don't really have that much sympathy for athletes who choose to skip training and the smoking is unbelievable, if true. I couldn't care less if she has a few glasses of wine. She's hardly a little kid.

As for Obertas and Slavnov, again, lack of results can't come as that much of a shock.

R.D. · Feb 5, 2007

I think Sokolova should just give it up, but who knows if she has no other option but to "continue"? She'll probably get clobbered at worlds anyway (if what's said in this article is true, and going by what happened at Russian Nats/Euros).

As for smoking wouldn't that affect stamina? That's really surprising to me if she does indeed smoke (and other skaters and athletes for that matter).

Mathman · Feb 5, 2007

But then again, she's still the best skater in Russia, so what are you going to do?

Ptichka · Feb 5, 2007

Red Dog said:
As for smoking wouldn't that affect stamina? That's really surprising to me if she does indeed smoke (and other skaters and athletes for that matter).

I don't think Elena is a smoker per se; my guess is that she just has a cigarette with a glass of wine every now and then.

rain said:
That said, I don't really have that much sympathy for athletes who choose to skip training and the smoking is unbelievable, if true.

Personally, I have sympathy for someone being subjected to such comments from the head of the federation. Can you imagine USFSA slamming its skaters publically like that?

JonnyCoop · Feb 5, 2007

Apparently there needs to be another "S" in Piseev's name, if you get my drift....:sheesh: As it is, he certainly seems to be living UP to the name.....

It's completely ridicolous. Does he really believe that the current generation of Russian skaters is going to respond to this type of tactic? Who wants to deal with THAT?? Julia Soldatova had the right idea -- perhaps the Russian team should head for Belarus, who would probably be grateful to have them.

I can understand the basic frustration the Russian Fed must have, having lost a lot of the depth they enjoyed over the last several years, but this is just not the productive way to go about doing anything about it.

Kasey · Feb 5, 2007

Ptichka said:
Personally, I have sympathy for someone being subjected to such comments from the head of the federation. Can you imagine USFSA slamming its skaters publically like that?

I agree with this. To publicly bash your skaters on a regular basis can't possibly be a good motivator for most of them. It's quite sad.

GBerberoglu · Feb 5, 2007

Tinymavy15 said:
I alwasy knew tha Elena was un concerned with her skating. She never seemed to try hard, didn't care a penny for artistry and always seemed a little rebilous to me. I guess she grew up in the soviet system and was pretty much forced to skate by her parents coaches goverment etc... why dosen't she just retire. she i obviosly is not gonna make it now.

nope you can't say she does not enjoying skating, as she's known by her great smile. Also, after serious injuries (and a unfortunate bag accident) at 2002 she succeded in making a great comeback by working hard, so you can't either say "she never seemed to try hard".

why dosen't she just retire

Because I still want to see her smile on ice.

We can clearly see that the problem in russian skating is not their age, it is federation itself. If I were Piseev (thanks God I'm not), I'll try to make Elena a guide to youngers. These unsporting accusations to Elena will not motivate them, instead it will destroy their trust to the federation.

And for the smoking issue: smoking is not about being athlete, its about IQ. Elena seems smart enought to be a non-smoker.

scorekeeper · Feb 5, 2007

And for the smoking issue: smoking is not about being athlete, its about IQ. Elena seems smart enought to be a non-smoker.

There's the question of how much/how often. If she's a "social smoker" i.e., occasional cigarette with a glass of wine, that's one thing. If she's a habitual smoker, i.e., smokes every day, that's different. I don't see what IQ has to do with it. Nicotene is very addictive, plenty of smart people get hooked.

GBerberoglu · Feb 5, 2007

scorekeeper said:
And for the smoking issue: smoking is not about being athlete, its about IQ. Elena seems smart enought to be a non-smoker.

There's the question of how much/how often. If she's a "social smoker" i.e., occasional cigarette with a glass of wine, that's one thing. If she's a habitual smoker, i.e., smokes every day, that's different. I don't see what IQ has to do with it. Nicotene is very addictive, plenty of smart people get hooked.

yeap of course.. I wasn't serious (at least totaly

I have personal problems with smoking)..

Again I do not believe Elena is a smoker, It's a defamation.

Piseev publicly rebukes Sokolova and threatens to leave her off Russia's worlds team.

krenseby

gio

Ptichka

Forum translator

Mafke

Joesitz (RIP)

demarinis5

Gold for the Winter Prince!

gio

emma

Zuranthium

Match Penalty

Ptichka

Forum translator

Tinymavy15

Sinnerman for the win

rain

R.D.

Mathman

Ptichka

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JonnyCoop

Kasey

GBerberoglu

scorekeeper

GBerberoglu

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