“Zagitova took a share of intrigue with her” : Butyrskaya about the favorites of the Russian Championships, Trusova’s quadruple jumps and Kostornaya’s mature skating
The main struggle in women's single skating at the Russian Championship will unfold between Alyona Kostornaya, Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova. This opinion was expressed in an interview with RT by world champion Mariya Butyrskaya. She is sure that if Alina Zagitova was among the participants, this would add additional intrigue to the national championship. At the same time, the expert did not write off Yelizaveta Tuktamysheva and emphasised that it’s now difficult for other skaters without quadruple jumps to compete with the medalists from the Grand Prix finals.
-- Can the Russian championship in women’s single skating turn into a struggle between three Grand Prix winners: Alyona Kostornaya, Anna Shcherbakova and Aleksandra Trusova?
- In my opinion, the girls showed this season that the struggle not only in Russia but also in the world takes place mainly between them. We lost another “fighter” when Alina Zagitova decided to suspend her career. In my opinion, she too could have wedged herself into this struggle.
-- Will the Russian Championship fade without her?
- Of course. Alina is a decoration of any competition. Now, she shows this feminine skating we want to watch and watch, we want to admire. It is very unfortunate that she decided to take a break. There may be different opinions, but in the end, all that remains is to accept what has happened.
-- Could the recent scandal involving the Tutberidze team affect its wards?
- No. And of course, I really don't want this to happen again. Yes, such things sometimes help to increase interest in figure skating, but our sport is already exciting.
-- Can Yevgeniya Medvyedeva and Yelizaveta Tuktamysheva compete for medals? Or is this only possible in case of a breakdown from the favourites?
- Honestly, I really believe in Liza. She doesn't stand still, and today she has a very strong weapon - a quadruple Toeloop, which is very valuable and significantly increases her score. Yes, obviously, she will not use it, but Tuktamysheva has a triple Axe in stock, which, except Kostornaya and Trusova, no one else jumps. And Sasha, in turn, will probably go for this jump once again after the Grand Prix finals, and now it will be much easier. If in her free program she succeeds in performing five quadruples, then all chances are in favour to become the champion of the country.
-- Tuktamysheva can oppose the youths with a quadruple jump. And what is Medvyedeva capable of?
- It’s hard for me to talk about Zhenya yet. Of course, she is also well equipped: she has not abandoned anything, she is moving on. This season is better for her than the previous one, but from somewhere it is necessary to take a technical assessment.
You do not need to be tap your head seven times to understand: quadruple jumps should be included. Without elements of the ultra-si category, it’s unlikely to achieve high results today. Yes, Medvyedeva also shows a very beautiful, feminine skating, she has a high second rating. But maybe she and Brian Orser came up with something different and a surprise awaits us?
-- Daniil Gleikhengauz said that Kostornaya will also work on learning quadruple jumps.
- And I think they will come easy enough for her. She performs jumps in three and a half turns so that it seems as if Kostornaya is jumping without any effort at all, with a large margin. But now you can’t work on quadruples so as not to spoil anything - only after the end of the season. And so I agree with all the compliments that Alyona has been receiving lately. The recent junior does not look like that anymore at all: Kostornaya rides very maturely, consciously, emotionally and harmoniously.
-- Do you expect a breakthrough from someone else?
- I wouldn’t set anyone apart - all the girls are cool. I just picked up a very strong team of participants, especially considering the latest breakthroughs in technology. Everyone is gradually learning to jump.
-- From the point of view of intrigue, the current Russian Championship will not be as interesting as in Saransk a year ago?
- I wouldn't say that, but Alina, of course, took a small fraction of the intrigue with her. Viewers will still be interested, given the highest competition, but if she came to Krasnoyarsk, it would be totally crazy.
-- At the Russian championship there will be no Dar'ya Usacheva and Kamila Valiyeva - winner of the Grand Prix finals among juniors. Would you like to see them?
- These young girls still have a lot of time ahead. Let them get ready for the junior World Championship. In their niche, they are also the strongest. I am sure that at senior level, both will amaze, delight and make everyone afraid.
-- But last year, juniors were included in the National Championship.
- This is not an indicator. They would have reached their level anyway. The girls already had a lot of competitions.
-- Who, in your opinion, has the greatest chance of winning the National Championship?
- The odds are equal. Everyone starts from scratch, everyone skates two programs. Of course, I want to hope that the athletes will not give up, looking at the favourites, and try to show themselves. It will be a very exciting competition. I think, given the intensity of emotions that awaits us, the one that turns out to be psychologically more stable will prevail.
-- Against the background of interest in the figure skater tournament, the rest of the competitions fade a little, although there is enough intrigue there. This is true?
- Fair, because popularity depends on skating. It is known that among the fans of this sport there are more women, so male skaters have every chance to become as famous and win the love of female fans. Yes, so far they have not succeeded in achieving the same successes as our girls, but you need to compete, create and show that they are able to skate cool, especially when such outstanding examples are in front of their eyes.
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https://russian.rt.com/sport/article/701263-butyrskaya-chempionat-rossii-kommentarii
