Just one question: Who cares whether Zhenya‘s speech made a change to the final decision or not? Fact is, she went there as a clean, accomplished athlete with many titles to her resume and made an effort for her country. Whether that influenced the final decision or not is irrelevant. She did what she could and that‘s admirable. Period. No one is saying IOC changed their minds only due to Zhenya‘s speech. That would be stupid.
Can we just agree on the fact that she did it, that it was brave and she did it well? Just give her credit for that because that‘s what she deserves. Everything else is, yes, trolling.
And frankly, I don‘t even know why we‘re still discussing this. There are so many other Russian ladies, Zhenya isn‘t the only one.
Users actually brought up a new topic already, there‘s an upcoming Russian competition with many future hopes taking part. I didn‘t know about that, so I’m glad that there’s this thread where I get updated about ALL Russian ladies, even the little ones. Let‘s talk about that. Or Junior Nationals. By any means, let‘s talk about Sasha‘s puppy Tina as long as it‘s a change of topic! Just anything that does not involve Zhenya, her coaching change, Brian Orser being a good/bad coach and her going/not going to Worlds. Let‘s wait at least until Euros are over.
Sounds good, but in wrong place. That debate was ignited by this very unhappy comment:
For those of you who don't want zhenya to go to Worlds this season in reality this may be her last best chance to go to a world championship with the influx of young Russian coming next season. Zhenya has never lost at a world championship so it's Stanislava or Sofia bomb at euros a spot for worlds could open up to Evgenia. I don't expect either of them to bomb that Europeans because they both skated too well this year. But if one of them does stumble at Europeans that how could you not send Medvedeva to Worlds considering she's never lost at worlds and considering she got Russia in the Olympics last year with her great presentation and speech in front of the Olympic Committee pleading with them for allowing Russian athletes in the Olympics?
Poor Scott512, I doubt he anticipated what will happen.
But, the idea was expressed literally: Zhenya got Russia to the Olympics. And, as it is really a huge overstatement of the real impact of that speech on the decision, someone other expressed it. Which is fair and square, it is not bashing anyone and no, it is definitely not trolling, because then, you could call any disagreement with something that is simply, well, not true, as a trolling. So, those who expressed disagreement did not brought that topic here at all and in the same time they did not say anything wrong just by pointing on that it had no such impact.
The fact that she did participate should be pointed e. g. when someone calls her a traitor of Russia or something like that. It is easy to remind such person: "Do you realize that Zhenya attempted what she could for russian presence at the olympics? She honestly and bravely defended her country in front of IOC."
While stating "she got Russia in the Olympics" is an exaggeration. One could then say e. g. that because Alina succesfully went through doping test before the competition, it stripped russian athletes from all suspisions." That would be again ascribing the importance that it does not have.
This is IMO, how people should look at it, pure racional view, not emotional, without need to bash or the opposite to defend against non-existent attack. One thesis was expressed, against it is counterargument that is not attacking anyone, just explaining why the original thesis is wrong and that's all. No need to labelling opposite sides with "troll" label and all. Just ease everybody a little.