2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Lunalovesskating]

Yeah he returned few years ago, though i'm not quite sure what is his role there.

No, Doug does not work at TCC currently. He occasionally visits the rink a few times a year, but that's it.

 

[nussnacker]

I don't have a clear idea on that but i get the sense that it was mostly fake, just to show some compassion maybe.

If she really wanted Medvedeva to become Olympic Champion, they'd have included more difficult combinations in the program to match Alina's difficulty. Prior to the Olympics we saw Evgenia landing all kinds of difficult combinations, they could have easily replaced her extremely easy 2a-2t-2t for example. In fact as a viewer, i was soo sure they'd have done it, and it shocked me that they didn't even try.

I don’t know why it never crossed your mind that they did the most they could (the hardest possible content) given that she was injured. It’s a brutal sport. They could not upgrade, because of wasn’t even certain that Evgenia could skate her old content at that point, given her injury.
They tried to upgrade the content in the beginning of the season, it just didn’t work out.
They had to push through to the Olympics, because there was no other choice.
And did it never cross your mind, that if Evgenia was capable of 2t-2lo, they would’ve put it? She’s been with Brian 2 years, she’s still using 2*2t, it’s just used with other combos.
The only improvement content wise is the change of the toe from sal-toe to sal-loop.
The difference in points is minimal, yet the risk is higher, and I doubt they wanted to risk it.
Evgenia also was always at a risk of getting an edge call, although never called, they tried to minimize the risk of getting called, hence never used 3 lutzes.

All in all, all their content strategies make complete sense to me.
Eteri hoped that Evgenia would win given her reputation and pcs, after all, it seemed like it could work, since she won over Alina at Japan Open.
she looked shocked with Alina’s scores for SP at Olympics, and not in a good way, and we all know it, on contrary, she looked super happy when Evgenia broke the WR in SP at first.

What’s with all these efforts to vilify Eteri. She did her best for both of them, judges did their job. Both girls were deserving, but the judges opinion was that Alina’s the winner, that’s all.

 

[icybear]

Why do movies only portray figure skating as some skater falling in love with another skater when we have this splendid drama that is better than half of the dramas on netflix? Russian Tv better send a 100 cameramans to Russian nats so that we dont miss a single juicy moment.

 

[skatingfan200]

- In Eteri's first interview after Evgenia left, Eteri was saying that she expected something like this because EM wasn't returning her messages and she showed them. They were messages asking EM to come sign some docs related to the new season training schedule. Obviously Eteri wasn't expecting Evgenia to quit. On the contrary, she was expecting her to come train.

Do not believe everything what Eteri says or does. Showing the privat text messages was first manipulative (which 40 year old adult does this?) and second she knew that Zhenya has the okay from the Rusfed to change the coach. Since you are speaking about Orser, he said "She said she had the support of the Russian federation which I feel is very important" for the coaching change. Or read the Sambo 70 director interview that Zhenya´s mom went to his deputy to ask for a coaching change.
https://teamrussia.pro/olimpijskij-zhurnal/razgovor-s-prezidentom/renat-lajshev-kak-otpustil-medvedevu-v-kanadu-reshenie-zhenya-prinimala-sama/
https://vk.com/doc31506737_470164538?hash=9f2c2178d8ff4a19c9&dl=79a6ae23953aa9a0da

Text messages are from 16th and 24th April 2018, Zhenya was at this time already speaking to Orser (he said 2th April 2018 was the first call). Speaking with the Rusfed has obviously happened before April 2th 2018. Ofc Eteri knew that Zhenya did not want to train with her anymore in April 2018. The text messages was only shown to manipulate the public.

 

[pearly]

She's way too physically mature to do Quads at this point. And that's a good and healthy thing.

Yes, my questions was whether she said a person couldn't master quads at that age in general. I was checking whether a translation was correct or not.

 

[doublequad]

Do not believe everything what Eteri says or does. Showing the privat text messages was first manipulative (which 40 year old adult does this?) and second she knew that Zhenya has the okay from the Rusfed to change the coach. Since you are speaking about Orser, he said "She said she had the support of the Russian federation which I feel is very important" for the coaching change. Or read the Sambo 70 director interview that Zhenya´s mom went to his deputy to ask for a coaching change.
https://teamrussia.pro/olimpijskij-zhurnal/razgovor-s-prezidentom/renat-lajshev-kak-otpustil-medvedevu-v-kanadu-reshenie-zhenya-prinimala-sama/
https://vk.com/doc31506737_470164538?hash=9f2c2178d8ff4a19c9&dl=79a6ae23953aa9a0da

Text messages are from 16th and 24th April 2018, Zhenya was at this time already speaking to Orser (he said 2th April 2018 was the first call). Speaking with the Rusfed has obviously happened before April 2th 2018. Ofc Eteri knew that Zhenya did not want to train with her anymore in April 2018. The text messages was only shown to manipulate the public.

i don't think there's anything wrong with keeping receipts whether you're 20 or 40. i assume in this day and age anyone of some intelligence will not take most statements with questionable substantiation at face value

also, i've gotta say liza's 4t-3t is quaking

 

[Happy Skates]

Anyway. It’s time to move on from this topic.
Sinitsina and Vasilieva are named to the YOG!
What a year for Vasilieva, who thinks she’s going senior next season?

I guess that makes sense considering they ranked the highest in JGP selection. I just feel so bad for poor Tarakanova. It seems like her losing to Vasilieva at Gdansk lost her a spot at the JGPF, Youth Olympics, and now maybe even a senior GP spot next year. But yes, great for those two who have really been doing well this year. I hope Sinitsyna especially can get a medal or even win here, I feel like a major medal is long overdue for her after a series of fourth places. Vasilieva also has a great shot for a medal, which would be great for her. Crazy to think that she's the top CSKA girl right now.

I also saw that Kanysheva is recovering. for a surprise comeback at Junior Nats and a SB list worthy score at Junior Worlds? I just hope that at least one of Kanysheva/Tarakanova end up making it to seniors, they both deserve it imo.

 

[Lechat]

I don't have a clear idea on that but i get the sense that it was mostly fake, just to show some compassion maybe.

If she really wanted Medvedeva to become Olympic Champion, they'd have included more difficult combinations in the program

to match Alina's difficulty. Prior to the Olympics we saw Evgenia landing all kinds of difficult combinations, they could have easily replaced her extremely easy 2a-2t-2t for example. In fact as a viewer, i was soo sure they'd have done it, and it shocked me that they didn't even try.

She knew Medvedeva would have lost the gold after she lost at the Europeans, the writing was on the wall, Alina's programs were more difficult, and she came to the Olympics phyisically more preparred.

Zhenia got injured before the olympics and her program matched Alina’s. It’s only 1,5 points.

 

[skatingfan200]

i don't think there's anything wrong with keeping receipts whether you're 20 or 40. i assume in this day and age anyone of some intelligence will not take most statements with questionable substantiation at face value

Ofc it´s wrong to publish manipulative text messages. Especially if you are 40.

 

[skatingfan200]

Zhenia got injured before the olympics and her program matched Alina’s. It’s only 1,5 points.

Tolstoy is right, after Euros is was clear that clean Alina will highly likely beat Zhenya. To make sure that Zhenya has a higher chance for Gold they should change to 1+6 layout.

 

[Good Vibes Only]

Once upon a time, in a kingdom where figure skating is the main center attention, Queen Tarasova rose to power by creating good skaters that would produce many medals. However, Queen TAT abused her power by playing favorites and using her power to help those who she favored. While this was all occurring a small group of rebels was forming within her kingdom. These rebels were called the Tutberidze Quad Squad and they were led by Eteri Tutberidze. The rebels were tired of her playing favorites and insulting those who she didn’t like. On December 16th, the rebels were fed up with her games and took matters into their own hands by posting a letter for all of the kingdom to see. The letter exposed the Queen for who she really is. The citizens of the kingdom realized Queen TAT’s flaws and started to question her authority. Queen TAT sensed this and is now desperately trying to save her thrown, however the rebels, are not done. At the end of December, they will go war against the Queen and try to defeat her...it will be known as the 2019 Civil War...

 

[Mishaminion]

Very dramatic but... appropriate for the Russian ladies thread.

I feel I need some tea after all this. But tea in the British way, all warm, milky, comforting and calming.

 

[skatingfan200]

Once upon a time, in a kingdom where figure skating is the main center attention, Queen Tarasova rose to power by creating good skaters that would produce many medals. However, Queen TAT abused her power by playing favorites and using her power to help those who she favored. While this was all occurring a small group of rebels was forming within her kingdom. These rebels were called the Tutberidze Quad Squad and they were led by Eteri Tutberidze. The rebels were tired of her playing favorites and insulting those who she didn’t like. On December 16th, the rebels were fed up with her games and took matters into their own hands by posting a letter for all of the kingdom to see. The letter exposed the Queen for who she really is. The citizens of the kingdom realized Queen TAT’s flaws and started to question her authority. Queen TAT sensed this and is now desperately trying to save her thrown, however the rebels, are not done. At the end of December, they will go war against the Queen and try to defeat her...it will be known as the 2019 Civil War...

Funny but the Rusfed letter last month was to support the "rebel group". So, don´t worry, the 3A has enough support.

 

[ladyjane]

Hahaha...I'm Dutch so I'll go for a strong black coffee instead. That tends to calm me (strange as it sounds). I think it's time for a new SOAP series.

 

[Tolstoj]

I don’t know why it never crossed your mind that they did the most they could (the hardest possible content) given that she was injured. It’s a brutal sport. They could not upgrade, because of wasn’t even certain that Evgenia could skate her old content at that point, given her injury.
They tried to upgrade the content in the beginning of the season, it just didn’t work out.
They had to push through to the Olympics, because there was no other choice.
And did it never cross your mind, that if Evgenia was capable of 2t-2lo, they would’ve put it? She’s been with Brian 2 years, she’s still using 2*2t, it’s just used with other combos.
The only improvement content wise is the change of the toe from sal-toe to sal-loop.
The difference in points is minimal, yet the risk is higher, and I doubt they wanted to risk it.
Evgenia also was always at a risk of getting an edge call, although never called, they tried to minimize the risk of getting called, hence never used 3 lutzes.

All in all, all their content strategies make complete sense to me.
Eteri hoped that Evgenia would win given her reputation and pcs, after all, it seemed like it could work, since she won over Alina at Japan Open.
she looked shocked with Alina’s scores for SP at Olympics, and not in a good way, and we all know it, on contrary, she looked super happy when Evgenia broke the WR in SP at first.

What’s with all these efforts to vilify Eteri. She did her best for both of them, judges did their job. Both girls were deserving, but the judges opinion was that Alina’s the winner, that’s all.

Yes and i said it too, she was injured BUT, you may only have one chance in life to win the Olympics, we know they were trying other combos even that season if you go back and check some of the practice sessions. I understand it would have been a huge risk but for a good cause. Judges sent the clear message that if both were clean, Alina would have won because of that small technical gap.

Evgenia kept practicing for years 3-eu-3 and loop combos she has never showed in competition, to me it always felt a waste.

I'm not villifying, but i don't like this idea of "she's always right, the others are always wrong", it's not all black or white. Some of the criticism from Tarasova is valid.

 

[Sugar Coated]

I was talking about Eteri being upset and worried at the Olympics for Zhenya's loss and reaction to that loss. If she was planning to toss her aside, she wouldn't be making the effort to motivate and comfort her in the following weeks in all the interviews.

I actually see this as just the opposite - evidence Eteri was encouraging her to retire. We know how Eteri motivates skaters - by reminding them that they are only as good as their last victory, not saying they both deserve gold. Trying to comfort her and convince her that her performance was as good as gold - by saying this repeatedly in the media in a public way - is something she'd say because she believes its the end of the road for the skater and she wants her to accept retirement. If Eteri believed her career was continuing I believe she would have used this loss and the taste of defeat to further motivate her, not try to make her happy with second place. That's not Eteri's style.

I don't blame Eteri for this approach. Eteri saw the writing on the wall and knew realistically Zhenya would no longer be dominant. She most likely wanted her to retire while she could still be on top (relatively) rather than start losing and being overtaken by the younger generation. We can't know this for sure, but I suspect if she wanted to Zhenya to continue competing she wouldn't have been saying "you both won gold" and would rather be making comments that this loss will only make her work harder in the future.

Also, was Mishin's comment to Alina about being a mother and a grandmother subtle shade toward Eteri? Hinting that she did tell Zhenya to go make babies? I live for all this Russian drama.

 

[Finley]

Also, was Mishin's comment to Alina about being a mother and a grandmother subtle shade toward Eteri? Hinting that she did tell Zhenya to go make babies? I live for all this Russian drama.

If Mishin decided to be publicly disrespectful to a 17 year old girl as way to 'get to' Eteri then he is a piece of garbage.

 

[Decoder]

Macron: Which side wears the yellow vests?

Johnson: Britain will pass a comment after Brexit is done.

Trump: I didn't train in Eteri's camp before I won the election.

Merkel: Wir schaffen das.

That is actually very Trump!

 

[Sugar Coated]

If Mishin decided to be publicly disrespectful to a 17 year old girl as way to 'get to' Eteri then he is a piece of garbage.

Maybe I’m missing something culturally, and it meant something else, but otherwise it’s a weird, creepy comment to a 17 year old about being a mom and grandmother. But it begins to make more sense if he’s alluding to Eteri telling her retired skaters to go have babies. Like, “You’re coach thinks you can no longer skate and is encouraging you to make babies....good luck with that motherhood thing. And grandmother thing because apparently that’s all your coach thinks you can do now is procreate.” Or something. Again I don’t speak Russian so may very well be misinterpreting things.

 

[colormyworld240]

Yes and i said it too, she was injured BUT, you may only have one chance in life to win the Olympics, we know they were trying other combos even that season if you go back and check some of the practice sessions. I understand it would have been a huge risk but for a good cause. Judges sent the clear message that if both were clean, Alina would have won because of that small technical gap.

Evgenia kept practicing for years 3-eu-3 and loop combos she has never showed in competition, to me it always felt a waste.

I'm not villifying, but i don't like this idea of "she's always right, the others are always wrong", it's not all black or white. Some of the criticism from Tarasova is valid.

This wouldn't have made a difference in the olympics. If Evgenia did a -3Lo combo, she wouldn't have gotten more points. Because she'd still only be repeating 3F; her BV would've remained more or less the same; she could have repeated 3Lo but the BV difference would is not enough. I believe this has been discussed many times before. The value of doing a -3Lo combo is that you can maximize your BV by repeating 3Lz and 3F (before ladies started doing quads). But Evgenia wouldn't have repeated the 3Lz due to the possibility of the edge being called. The same goes if she would've done -Eu-3S. Yes she wouldn't be repeating the -3T, but she'd lose the BV of a -2T to the -Eu-.

To maximize a non-quad non-3A program, these things are required:
- clear outside edge lutz and clear inside edge flip so the skater can repeat both jumps and score the highest GOE
- ability to do -3T combos and -3Lo combo
- ability to do a -2T-2Lo instead of -2T-2T

If you don't have all these things, whichever you do doesn't really make a difference; BV is evaluated on the entire layout, not single jumping passes. That's what gave Alina the technical advantage, along with backloading. And I believe Evgenia tried backloading her program in the beginning of the season, but it didn't work out at Ondrej Nepala and probably some practices so they decided to change it. If Evgenia had repeated her performance at Ondrej Nepala where she did the 1/6 layout at the olympics, I believe her score would have had her below Katelyn Osmond. Yes, there was a chance she could've nailed it, but there was also a chance that Alina could've bombed her short like she did earlier the season and it wouldn't have made the difference. I think they made the right choice with the ability/condition of the athletes.