Shcherbakova/Trusova/Kostornaia were phenomenal talents in the junior ranks but were never allowed to skate at senior test skates, and based on what we've seen there are other phenomenal talents that are coming up the ranks for Russia behind Valieva. The Fed is putting themselves in a bad situation giving special favor/status to 1 skater at this point seemingly with no reasonable explanation for the special favor/status/circumstance. If it was the US and there was common knowledge that Valieva was the sole shot at an Olympic medal then perhaps there could be some type of understanding of putting her with the seniors, but Russia has more potential World and Olympic champions than they have spots.
2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating
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Shcherbakova/Trusova/Kostornaia were phenomenal talents in the junior ranks but were never allowed to skate at senior test skates, and based on what we've seen there are other phenomenal talents that are coming up the ranks for Russia behind Valieva. The Fed is putting themselves in a bad situation giving special favor/status to 1 skater at this point seemingly with no reasonable explanation for the special favor/status/circumstance. If it was the US and there was common knowledge that Valieva was the sole shot at an Olympic medal then perhaps there could be some type of understanding of putting her with the seniors, but Russia has more potential World and Olympic champions than they have spots.
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- May 27, 2020
I'm not saying I agree with this decision, because I'm pretty lukewarm about it, but could the Russian Fed be making this decision because of the unusual nature of this season? Because there won't be many competitions this season they want to give Valieva that extra push or something, and this won't be a precedent for further seasons with promising juniors
Let Russia mind it's own busyness.
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- Feb 18, 2019
She's 5th on the seasons best list, with only the 3A and Rika above her. Daria got second at junior worlds, but she was 20 points below Kamila and got 3rd at the JGPF and nationals and second at her JGP assignments - still amazing results but not close to Kamila's undefeated season, and undefeated by wide margins of victory. She is the clear frontrunner of the juniors and at this point is in the race for Beijing. Not that the other juniors aren't, but Kamila is the frontrunner of the juniors at this moment. And yes, other girls have been JWC or been high up on the SB list as a junior (although I think Trusova is the only one to get *that* high), but this season is completely different from anything that has come before! There are no fall international competitions. Normally, the entire purpose of junior test skates are to determine spots for the JGP and the senior test skates are for the federation to evaluate the situation with the senior skaters. Without the JGP, the test skates are completely for the federation to see where their skaters are at.
The only junior competitions Kamila has left at this point are Junior Nationals and Junior Worlds. But this fall she will be competing on the senior level at the Russian Cup and at Russian Senior Nationals, as the age limit is 14. So why not just let her compete with seniors anyways, the majority of her season will be with seniors. And if your issue is with "unfairness" to the other juniors, Kamila has most certainly earned this through her performances and scores. In the end, the test skates are not an official competition, they are an event completely run by the federation to serve the national team. If the Russian Federation feels that this is best for the team, then they have every right to do so.
I also think that the whole thing isn't that big of a deal? Either way she'll skate at a test skates. Its not the end of the world.
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- Jan 20, 2019
I guess you're right. It still doesn't make a lot of sense to me but it's true that it's not such a big deal if it's only about which test skates she'll be at if she was going to compete at the Russian Cup and Senior Nationals anyway.
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Your logic is the exact same logic that I replied to. Her being so good isn't a new thing especially for Russian figure skating. When Trusova won her first junior world championships in 2018 she was not only also almost 20 points ahead of Alena Kostornaia but she outscored every single senior lady at the senior world championships and was even higher than Kamila currently is on the season's best scores at 4th. Imagine if they singled her out then and started giving her more opportunities just because of her season and her points difference. Do you see how that doesn't make any sense? Again I am not opposed to Kamila skating in test skates per se, what I am opposed to is the blatant favoritism. All the competitions that you say are remaining for Kamila in this season is the same competitions that are remaining for the rest of the age eligible junior girls so why exactly does she have to be the only one that we have to take that into consideration? Also no one can earn favoritism, that's just a justification on your part. Also if you say the test skates are to serve the national team then why is Kamila who is in the junior national team not skating with the junior team instead of the senior team which she is not a part of?
What "more opportunities"? To go to the seniors test skates? Are even aware that senior test skates take place AFTER JGP starts? How Trusova going to senior test skates instead of JGP is some kind of "opportunity"?
In fact, Trusova had opportunity to qualify to RusNats from JGP, competing only with juniors, mostly non-Russian and weak. Now Valieva must compete with all the strongest Russian seniors to qualify to RusNats. Is this your "more opportunities" for her!?
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- Oct 23, 2005
Interesting the parallel with Sasha/Alyona from 2018 when you consider that exactly 2 years after that competition Alyona was favored to win the WC while Sasha had lost to both her and Anya 3 times in a row. The Olympics will take place just one month shy of 2 years from 2020 JWC in which Kamila showed 20 points higher than Daria, and clearly so much can happen in 2 years time. What happens if God forbid Kamila is injured or dealing with puberty during the Olympic season and Daria, having gained a quad or 3A, rises to take her place yet RusFed has chosen to extend opportunities for experience only to Kamila because they assumed based on JWC 2020 that she would be the front-runner? It would cost them nothing to include a few more of the promising juniors that will be eligible for the Olympics. I just don't understand the logic.
Include to what?
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I never said anything about it being harder or easier for Valieva to qualify for Russian nationals. Also don't forget the other girls also have to compete with the same set of seniors to also get to Russian nats as they are all equally eligible. Valieva does not have it harder, it's the same level of difficulty for all age eligible girls. What I am talking about is her been giving the opportunity to go to senior test skates and be presented with other senior girls without that opportunity been given to the other girls. That is exactly what "more opportunities" means. She has an additional opportunity the other girls don't have. Also it is quite obvious what this opportunity may bring for her seeing as many people in this thread have already mentioned it. One obvious one would be a bump in PCS scores as we all know that seniors routinely get higher PCS points. Being presented amongst seniors can give her that bump while the other will continue to be junior capped.
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- Oct 23, 2005
To test with the seniors if this is some super valuable experience that Kamila must have to prepare her for the Olympics.
So now you are talking about Cup events? Kamila must compete with the strongest seniors to qualify for RusNats this year due to cancellation of JGP but what about everyone else who would have had the opportunity to qualify for senior nationals through the JGP?
Yep - how many promising juniors never matched their junior-level success in seniors?
I think most of us that are voicing an opposition are not against letting the National junior team skaters in with the senior skaters at test skates, our opposition or frustration is that its an opportunity to be extended to 1 skater alone.
Going to one test skates instead other test skates is not "more opporunities". It's just test skates!
Participating in senior test skates doesn't affect anybody's PCS. And Valieva doesn't need any "bump", she is already has highest average PCS among all juniors of the World. Her PCS is deservedly higher than many seniors, i.e. Higuchi.
Really? Who told you that?
And what about everyone else?
I don't understand this debate about Kamila and senior Test Skates. So what?
The Russian Senior Nationals has an age limit of 14, and as the JGP is cancelled, the only way to qualify to it is through Russian Senior Cup events. Remember, the 3A also took part at the Russian Cup senior events two seasons ago when they were only 14. So, that was planned for Kamila all along, so why not Senior Test Skates as well? The whole Junior season has fallen apart anyway, and there will probably be only national events for the Russian girls. Kamila is already a senior with RusFed rules.
The Russian Senior Nationals has an age limit of 14, and as the JGP is cancelled, the only way to qualify to it is through Russian Senior Cup events. Remember, the 3A also took part at the Russian Cup senior events two seasons ago when they were only 14. So, that was planned for Kamila all along, so why not Senior Test Skates as well? The whole Junior season has fallen apart anyway, and there will probably be only national events for the Russian girls. Kamila is already a senior with RusFed rules.
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I’m all for inviting Kamila to senior test skates, it will give her great experience skating in a competitive like setting alongside the top seniors. However, in this case I believe in the “invite one, invite all” principle. If the Fed wants to invite Kamila (which is a good idea imo) then they should also invite the other 14 year olds like Daria, Maya, and Anna F. All four of these girls would benefit from such an opportunity.
While they’re at it they should invite Sofia A, Alina G, and Elizaveta B to junior test skates.
The point is, with this strange season all of the 14 yo age group (worldwide) is disadvantaged because of no JGP. Imo it is in team Russia’s best interest to give all of their contenders as many opportunities as possible if they want to send their best possible Olympic team to Beijing.
While they’re at it they should invite Sofia A, Alina G, and Elizaveta B to junior test skates.
The point is, with this strange season all of the 14 yo age group (worldwide) is disadvantaged because of no JGP. Imo it is in team Russia’s best interest to give all of their contenders as many opportunities as possible if they want to send their best possible Olympic team to Beijing.
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- Dec 9, 2019
Lmao you're just making my point for me. Valieva who is the highest scoring junior in PCs at probably her peak at junior worlds did not even get up the level of Trusova's PCs points at one of her worst performances which is Europeans in both SP and FP and Trusova is famed and penalized for not have artistry. The junior cap is a thing, you can deny it but it exists.
Anyway so far no one has made any point about why Valieva should be singled out for opportunities. She's not the only junior to miss JGP, she's not the only junior to participate in the Russian cup, she's not the only junior competing with other seniors at nats, she's not the only junior eligible for Olympics. It doesn't make any sense and would be blatant favouritism.
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- Dec 9, 2019
I agree! The parallel is so crazy to think about. The good thing about it is that neither of the girls regressed. They both got better and better since then and it's basically up to who has a clean performance to win now. That 20 point lead someone above called an "abyss" was destroyed in less than two years lol and both girls might not have even reached their peak yet. So exciting
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- Feb 10, 2018
I’m all for inviting Kamila to senior test skates, it will give her great experience skating in a competitive like setting alongside the top seniors. However, in this case I believe in the “invite one, invite all” principle. If the Fed wants to invite Kamila (which is a good idea imo) then they should also invite the other 14 year olds like Daria, Maya, and Anna F. All four of these girls would benefit from such an opportunity.
While they’re at it they should invite Sofia A, Alina G, and Elizaveta B to junior test skates.
The point is, with this strange season all of the 14 yo age group (worldwide) is disadvantaged because of no JGP. Imo it is in team Russia’s best interest to give all of their contenders as many opportunities as possible if they want to send their best possible Olympic team to Beijing.
I completely agree. Kamila is currently among my 3 most beloved skaters, though I'm not sure whether I should wish a different regime for her than for other junior skaters (Daria, Maiia etc.). Participation on the senior test skates shouldn't be such a big deal per se, though the reasons and further treatment could make the pressure I was mentioning before.
But let's wait if this would truly happen and what will be the official explanation in case it does.
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