It's Official: Alexei is Going Pro | Golden Skate

It's Official: Alexei is Going Pro

SkateCynic

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Originally seen at AYDG:

According to Russian press, "the Olympic champion Alexei Yagudin is going to leave amateur sports. This sensational news was informed by the president of national Federation of fugure skating Valentine Piseev, who got fax from Yagudin. So informs ITAR-TASS. The four-time world champion considers, that " has achieved everything that he wanted on this field, and now is going to try itself in the other direction ". As it is informed in a fax, Yagudin is going to publish the official announcement of the his decision on November, 1. Yagudin has thanked federation and its president for everything, that was made for him during his sports career. "
www.rtr-sport.ru/news?sec...5666#45666

As much as I'm going to miss seeing him compete on the eligible level, I think this is the smartest decision he could make. I'd much rather see Alexei skate pro than compete on the Oly level and destroy his hip completely.
 

Ptichka

Forum translator
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Not much of a surprise. He will definitely be missed, but I never really believed in his comeback.
 

Olderbear

Rinkside
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
This is probably a wise decision. I'm sure he realizes he could never beat Plush again unless he (Plush) has a meltdown. Now I suppose I'll have to duck all the flames!
 

marguerita

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 15, 2003
Sad for the sport, but the best decision for Alexei. The most important thing is ones health.

OlderBear I agree he cannot beat Evgeni in his current condition. So why not leave eligible skating and build a successful pro/coaching career.
 

Ximena

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I don't think there's someone shock about this news, we all see it coming. That hip seemed that never healed entirely, it's probably the best for Alexei, he can keep skating but on other level, the professional one and it seems it's going pretty well, as well as his coaching career.
I might not be a fan of him but it's always sad when someone announce his retirement from competitons because fans don't get to see them as much as if the skater were competing, but I tink it's best for him to retire now than keep competing with that injured hip.
So Alexei, I wish you a good pro career because you surely deserve one.
 

windspirit

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
SkateCynic, you beat me to this.

From Sovsport:

The fax: "I've decided to give up my eligible status [literally: to part with amateur figure skating]. I've achieved everything in this field I've wanted, and now I want to pursue other directions [try my hand at other things]. I'm going to make an official statement on Nov 1, 2003. I'd like to wish you all the best and thank you for everything you've done for me."

Piseev told Sovsport: "It's really unfortunate that Alexei has been forced to part with amateur sport. With him leaving Evgeni Plushenko is not going to have such a strong competitor. And I, too, on my part, would like to thank Yagudin for everything he's done for Russia and figure skating, and wish him success in his new projects."

Olderbear said:
This is probably a wise decision. I'm sure he realizes he could never beat Plush again unless he (Plush) has a meltdown. Now I suppose I'll have to duck all the flames!
You're not another reincarnation of someone who really can't help herself (I presume) and try to make almost every thread she posts in about "Yagudin against Plushenko" by any chance?
 

BronzeisGolden

Medalist
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
This is somewhat sad news, but completely understandable. I will miss the intensity and drama that Yagudin brought to the ice, but I'm glad he's chosen not to go the Tara route and opt for a plastic hip 60 years early. But...I still worry. The pro world is in tatters. Perhaps Alexei will help stimulate a bit more interest in the professional world.
 

Lcp88

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
As much as I love the guy, I wish he would just make up his mind already. First he's staying eligible, then he's not, then he's staying but taking time off, then hes trying to coach too.
I'll believe it when I see it.
Laura
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Can anyone tell me what "going Pro means"?

As far as I know he's been in SOI, and COI both are high paying jobs, and he's done some professional coaching. Yet he has the option to skate eligible, if he wanted.

I just don't see if there is such a thing as 'ineligible'.

From what he's done, it seems to me he has been eligible as well as pro all the time.

Joe
 

Ladskater

~ Figure Skating Is My Passion ~
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
It's Official: Alexei is Going Pro

Elvis made his exit, now Alexi. They both have that drive to compete. Both great skaters will be missed, but it is inevitable.
 

KwanFan1212

Joey Votto Fangirl
Final Flight
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Well, I am not totally surprised by the news and yet I am surprised. Does that even make sense?! I think its the best decision for his health though. At any rate, I think he is missed in the eligible world but I wish him all the best in his new endeavors. And I still look foward to seeing him skate with SOI again this spring. :D
 
Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Joe--Going pro only matters if you're a US skater and want to skate for and/or are hired by SOI. Skating for COI, you're right, you can still be eligible as a US skater. As a Russian skater, I think Yags is probably making this announcement more as a formality and to stop the speculation as to when he will return to eligible competition.

BronzeisGolden--Tara turned pro right after Nagano and it did not prevent her from needing hip surgery. Both Yags and Tara may need hip replacement surgery at a relatively young age, but their injuries got started during their eligible careers and IMO were problems neither of them could have foreseen. Both Yags and Tara had to face both great achievement and tough lessons at very young ages.


Yagudin brought both great technique and great passion to men's figure skating. Sadly, by the '02 Olympics, which was his greatest season of achievement, he seemed he was just starting to really mature as an athlete and an artist. Heartbreaking to see someone of such great talent not be able to fulfill his potential, but it's one of the risks that comes with a sport like skating, especially with the demand for jumps being what they were when Yags was competing. I hope he finds satisfaction in pro skating and still protect his hip--SOI is no walk in the park and Yags was hired to be their big jump man. No matter how you cut it, it's going to be a difficult psychological transition. I hope he does well and can continue to move his life forward. He was always very competitive and he's still young enough where competition is natural. I can remember him saying all he wanted was "medals, medals, medals." It's hard to reset your goals when you're at your competitive peak, but I wish him the best in doing it successfully.
Rgirl
 

Germanice

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
I'll make it short:
Thanks a lot, Alexei - for some of the most precious, emotional and nail-biting moments in (eligible) figure skating since I'm watching it. :) I'll miss you! :cry:

Anke
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Thanks rGirl for the explanation. I really was confused about the term 'going Pro' when skaters are regularly appearing in shows and being paid to be in those shows. (Not like in my day when the rink rats were considered Pros and could not skate in amateur competition.)

I would agree with you on Yags just making a formal statement that he will no longer be in eligible competitions.

And for his "Pro" career, I also agree it will be tough. How long the hips can last is uncertain. He will be limited in his jumps which I appreciated very much even when he skated against Ilia. I thought back then that Yags was the better of the two. Just my feelings.

Makes one wonder: Two Olympic champions downed by hip problems. Is this the price to pay?

Joe
 

Dee4707

Ice Is Slippery - Alexie Yagudin
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Country
United-States
Yesterday when I read the thread at AYDG, I felt very sad. But I agree with Laura, Lcp88, I will believe it when I see it. When there is a press release from Alexei, then I will move on.

Dee
 

euterpe

Medalist
Joined
Sep 4, 2003
As I understand it, Alexei's hip problem is congenital, and is due to a malformation of his hip socket, so that the head of the femur was never in a normal position. Skating and jumping caused excessive wear on the head of the femur, which caused great pain.

Tara's problem is entirely different. Overpractice of the 3L3L caused her hip flexor muscle to become separated. Surgery repaired the problem, but Tara resumed skating much too soon afterward and developed arthritis.

While skating exacerbated Alexei's underlying problem, in Tara's case, skating practices CAUSED the problem.
 

LarasB

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 4, 2003
I am sorry to see him leave amateur competition. I will miss you Alexei and wish the very best for you in all your future plans.
 

rain

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Yagudin

I will miss him enormously, but like most others think it was probably a smart move for him to go pro rather than destroy his body trying to skate amateur with a debilitating injury. I hope I get to see him at some pro events.....I think Yagudin vrs. Kulik could be especially interesting.....
 

serenity

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
I was hoping the he was coming back so I could watch the mens skate again. Now I only have alittle interest when I go to watch the men skate. I guess I have to look for another man. Darn it
 
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