2015-16 State of Russian Ladies skating

[bartlebooth]

Eh, probably I'm too naive, but I'm not enthusiast about powder-only diets and starving yourself. It's not only Russian teens, mind you: I remember Evan Lysacek saying that he ate only powder one meal a day "because there wasn't enough time to digest a whole meal". Yes, figure skaters and gymnasts need to stay lean, but I don't know if crash diets are the right mean to achieve it, probably the quickest, but not the healthiest in the long term. A diet, after all, should be what you eat regularly, not only for short periods of time. Athletes need to be stricter at times and they are allowed more on the off season, but... who could think of eating only powder regularly? Besides, there's the slowing down of the metabolism to consider.

 

[Kittosuni]

Stupid question: Does drinking large quantities during training sessions / during competitions affect spins and/or jumps? What about a full bladder?

in gymnastics perception, it does affect balance because of the added weight. It might be little but it alters your homeostasis.

 

[bartlebooth]

Stupid question: Does drinking large quantities during training sessions / during competitions affect spins and/or jumps? What about a full bladder?

I think that is not recommended to drink right before you skate, because water can bloat your stomach and probably make you feel uncomfortable during jumps and spins. Many skaters (not only skaters, boxers too) just rinse their mouth with water before skating, but they do not swallow it.

 

[solani]

Thanks @ Kittosuni & bartlebooth
This might explain why the coaches don't want the figure skaters to drink much during training, because they aren't allowed to drink much before competing. So that they're used to it. Shouldn't be a problem as long as they are allowed to drink as much as they want to right after training and couple of hours before training.

 

[sneakers]

I remember Yuna always drank water before her competitions
it didn't affect her spins and overall performance though

 

[Kittosuni]

I remember Yuna always drank water before her competitions
it didn't affect her spins and overall performance though

If its like a sip then a lot of athletes actually do that too but i think psuanne was talking about large drink. And just right before they perform/skate. That's how i perceived it anyway

 

[koatcue]

Eh, probably I'm too naive, but I'm not enthusiast about powder-only diets and starving yourself. It's not only Russian teens, mind you: I remember Evan Lysacek saying that he ate only powder one meal a day "because there wasn't enough time to digest a whole meal". Yes, figure skaters and gymnasts need to stay lean, but I don't know if crash diets are the right mean to achieve it, probably the quickest, but not the healthiest in the long term. A diet, after all, should be what you eat regularly, not only for short periods of time. Athletes need to be stricter at times and they are allowed more on the off season, but... who could think of eating only powder regularly? Besides, there's the slowing down of the metabolism to consider.

Hm, I don't know any teens starving themselves and eating powder. It was the case with Oly Yulia, AFAIK, just her.

 

[Kittosuni]

Hm, I don't know any teens starving themselves and eating powder. It was the case with Oly Yulia, AFAIK, just her.

My friend from London actually have tried the powdered meal already. you mixed it water or some sort of liquid. Because it is being advertised in her gym. I will ask her the name because you can order it online. I will ask her how long did she last?

 

[boskil]

I notice that there has been no activity here since the beginning of the doping scandal. WithTut's announcment yesterday t's time to question what is going on in Russian woman's skating. Tut's miracle year is now tinged with the possibility it was drug-aided. Particularly, since her results this year have been so opposite. There are also surfacing rumors that the Russian young girls are being kept that way with special diets.

Is it time for an ISU investigation? It is very difficult because Russia is surely a major ISU underwriter. Also, it could come off as Americans (who aren't winning much these days) trying to cramp the competition.

What do people think?

I think Russian ladies can kick butts on bread and water.

 

[karlowens2]

Or maybe because people here are just busy? Assumption much? Im not sure if you are aware but melodonium was only banned effectively Jan.1 2016. SO anyone who used it prior to that was LEGALLY using it whether it was intended for its exact purpose or its other beneficial effects. And can you enlighten us where are you getting these rumors about the russian girl's diet? And importantly what's controversial about it?? Michael Phelps consumes atleast 12,000 calories a day and even increased it up to 15,000 calories. If i remember correctly, gymnast Chelsea Memmel only eats a fruit and chicken while Koko tsurumi only eats sashimi and watermelon and their diets are with water restrction. And by the way most athlete's choice of fruit is watermelon and banana. Extreme diet for top athletes are not uncommon and usually "unhealthy" if you compare it to a normal regular person so unless an athlete's diet consist of gold or some mythical berry then don't be surprise.

Legal is one perspective. But, what is legal shifts around all the ime. What about ethics? Aren't ethics relevant here? Sport is riddled now with this stay-one-step-ahead-of-banned-substances game. As soon as one is banned others are sought. Is it not true that athletes and coaches hoping to enhance performance with drugs are just cheating? What else would you call it? I can't look at a sprint race now without thinking someone is probably doping.

Also, this idea that the 'athlete didn't know' is too easy. Even if the athlete is young, he/she has parents. I certainly wouldn't let my kid take something unless I abolutely understood the purpose, side effects, etc. In the end the athlete or their guardian takes respnsibilty for what is put in their body. No one is holding a gun to their head. Harsh penalties are appropriate to make athletes think twice before popping a pill because some sport doc tells them it's good for them.

 

[moriel]

Legal is one perspective. But, what is legal shifts around all the ime. What about ethics? Aren't ethics relevant here? Sport is riddled now with this stay-one-step-ahead-of-banned-substances game. As soon as one is banned others are sought. Is it not true that athletes and coaches hoping to enhance performance with drugs are just cheating? What else would you call it? I can't look at a sprint race now without thinking someone is probably doping.

Also, this idea that the 'athlete didn't know' is too easy. Even if the athlete is young, he/she has parents. I certainly wouldn't let my kid take something unless I abolutely understood the purpose, side effects, etc. In the end the athlete or their guardian takes respnsibilty for what is put in their body. No one is holding a gun to their head. Harsh penalties are appropriate to make athletes think twice before popping a pill because some sport doc tells them it's good for them.

Ethics? Most likely, 99.9% of athletes take mildly performance enhancing substances that are just not banned YET.
Some fans get annoyed because some people here tend to say OMGOMG they took meldonium, they are cheaters, all their achievments are cheating even while it was legal because its cheating.
Also, the person you are quoting says nothing about "athlete didnt know", and you answer nothing about diets.

 

[plushyfan]

I notice that there has been no activity here since the beginning of the doping scandal. WithTut's announcment yesterday t's time to question what is going on in Russian woman's skating. Tut's miracle year is now tinged with the possibility it was drug-aided. Particularly, since her results this year have been so opposite. There are also surfacing rumors that the Russian young girls are being kept that way with special diets.

Is it time for an ISU investigation? It is very difficult because Russia is surely a major ISU underwriter. Also, it could come off as Americans (who aren't winning much these days) trying to cramp the competition.

What do people think?

I think Mildronet can't help the landing in 3A for example. And if I want to be honest I think EVERY athletes use something..EVERY athletes use SOMETHING!!!!!!!! That was legal they use it. I would like to know what the North-American skaters use when they are tired, when they are in training camp etc...

 

[Skatingcat]

For me, the issue is not so much if skaters and/or other athletes took Meldonium prior to January 1st, but that they tested positive for it after.

The coaches/teams have known about this for a few months prior to January, so this isn't news that was unexpectedly tossed upon them, so there was time to stop taking the drug and let it get out of their system. It is their (the athlete, their team/coaches/doctors) responsibility to know what they are putting in their body.

As for drinking water, I think the idea is not to drink a liter or so an hour before the competition. All the sloshing of water in one's stomach might make for a queasy feeling. No one would want to be sick on the ice.

 

[winky97]

I notice that there has been no activity here since the beginning of the doping scandal. WithTut's announcment yesterday t's time to question what is going on in Russian woman's skating. Tut's miracle year is now tinged with the possibility it was drug-aided. Particularly, since her results this year have been so opposite. There are also surfacing rumors that the Russian young girls are being kept that way with special diets.

Is it time for an ISU investigation? It is very difficult because Russia is surely a major ISU underwriter. Also, it could come off as Americans (who aren't winning much these days) trying to cramp the competition.

What do people think?

To start with I think it is a bad idea to use a drug for anything other than its intended purpose. However, I think Tuk's announcement took courage. When she used the drug, it was not a banned substance. She could have kept her mouth shut and avoided questions about her season.

As for diets, I hope that all of these young ladies, Russians and non-Russian alike, are doing things healthy.

 

[hanca]

Thanks @ Kittosuni & bartlebooth
This might explain why the coaches don't want the figure skaters to drink much during training, because they aren't allowed to drink much before competing. So that they're used to it. Shouldn't be a problem as long as they are allowed to drink as much as they want to right after training and couple of hours before training.

That's weird reasoning. Training can last perhaps two hours, whereas competition program is four minutes. One shouldn't be that thirsty from four minutes program, but one can get very thirsty when exercising for two hours.

 

[Sam L]

Sorry but I just cannot see why a figure skater would risk getting banned by taking meldonium or in fact, any substance. Do you guys honestly think that Tukt had any benefits at all by using meldonium?

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Do you guys honestly think that Tukt had any benefits at all by using meldonium?

So many athletes are testing positive for it. I think it's a fair assumption that many are taking it specifically for performance enhancement. Improved endurance is very helpful for a figure skater, so if that is indeed an effect of the drug then it would be very beneficial.

 

[Sam L]

So many athletes are testing positive for it. I think it's a fair assumption that many are taking it specifically for performance enhancement. Improved endurance is very helpful for a figure skater, so if that is indeed an effect of the drug then it would be very beneficial.

But it's about risk and reward. Beneficial doesn't mean it's going to make you win medals. It's not like in track and cycling where you can take a drug and cut down your times. Is it worth it to take this risk for what may be a benefit? In a sport like figure skating?

 

[mrrice]

But it's about risk and reward. Beneficial doesn't mean it's going to make you win medals. It's not like in track and cycling where you can take a drug and cut down your times. Is it worth it to take this risk for what may be a benefit? In a sport like figure skating?

That's right. It certainly didn't help Maria Sharapova beat Serena Williams or Victoria Azarenka who she continued to lose to for years. Especially Serena, I think she's lost to Serena in every match they've played in the last 10 years.

 

[Sam L]

That's right. It certainly didn't help Maria Sharapova beat Serena Williams or Victoria Azarenka who she continued to lose to for years. Especially Serena, I think she's lost to Serena in every match they've played in the last 10 years.

It's a skill based sport. Sharapova's game plays into Serena's strengths. To trouble Serena, you need to hit with different pace and different spins and expose her weakness like her footwork around the ball. You can't try to outhit her.

Someone who did very well against Serena like that was Justine Henin.

In men's tennis, I could see the use for certain endurance drugs because they play gruelling 5 set matches. But ultimately in tennis, your destiny is determined by skill. Moreso in figure skating imo.