2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating | Page 1120 | Golden Skate

2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

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Tutberidze also said that „not everything depended on them, and they had to work under offered conditions“. I assume it means (and based on what some journalists have reported) that Anna still had to train with certain limitations coming to worlds. Maybe they’ll just continue doing the same routine until she fully recovers. Then she can back to her proper training regimen.

What's the meaning of "offered conditions"?
 
Well based on the 2019 WTT document from the ISU, if a skater is invited they can only withdraw for specific reasons, don't know how well Shcherbakova could argue (if she wanted to) that she is too sick to go to WTT for recovering from an illness she had a few months ago given she went to Worlds. Additionally given Eteri's shows it would not look good to the ISU if she was there or at any other shows in April if she argued illness to withdraw from WTT


I‘m sorry but I seriously doubt that. Both Medvedeva and Zagitova were invited in 2019, both declined without any issue and participated in shows shortly afterwards. Medvedeva was injured but Zagitova could withdraw and I‘m not sure we ever even found out the reasons given. ISU is not going to force a skater to participate in an event like this - not in the middle of a pandemic and especially not if said skater has been openly battling health problems for months. Skating while facing the aftermaths of serious illness for a World Championship is different than risking your health for a fun tournament that ultimately does not matter. And performing in a show puts less strain on the body than skating two fully competitive programs as well. Stating those reasons would allow her to withdraw without causing any troubles.

Anyway, it probably does not matter because both her and her team are set on going. I just question the logic in this decision in face of the year she has ahead of her and the state her body is still in.

It would be the same for Trusova, BTW, who, too, has been injured for a while.
 
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I‘m sorry but I seriously doubt that. Both Medvedeva and Zagitova were invited in 2019, both declined without any issue and participated in shows shortly afterwards. Medvedeva was injured but Zagitova could withdraw and I‘m not sure we ever even found out the reasons given. ISU is not going to force a skater to participate in an event like this - not in the middle of a pandemic and especially not if said skater has been openly battling health problems for months. Skating while facing the aftermaths of serious illness for a World Championship is different than risking your health for a fun tournament that ultimately does not matter. And performing in a show puts less strain on the body than skating two fully competitive programs as well. Stating those reasons would allow her to withdraw without causing any troubles.

Anyway, it probably does not matter because both her and her team are set on going. I just question the logic in this decision in face of the year she has ahead of her and the state her body is still in.

It would be the same for Trusova, BTW, who, too, has been injured for a while.
Regardless, they replace her with Sasha and next is Aliona. Both of which are also struggling with injuries/illnesses. They'll never send Liza N.

And Anna won't be doing quads, almost certainly. Also it's not like she'd be resting anyway. She would be doing two programs per show - although one would be an exhibition, the other will be a competition routine - she already said that well before this. But she would still be doing 6 programs in 5 days (14, 17, and 18) versus 2 programs in 3 days (15-18).

They could say she's injured/il and the Fed wouldn't submit her and the ISU would be like okay. But she's already looking slightly vulnerable (although they all are except for Kamila), and they've already had enough negative press about her being ill, etc. They'll want her to get another medal.

And it's not like she would get to rest anyway.. In fact I kinda think skating in Eteri's show would be more work than world team trophy in Japan with Daniil.

Another reason too, is without Sasha there she'll likely look really good against the rest of the field - Rika still really remains the only threat and she's also struggling with injuries. (Liza T too but she's also done a lot of competitions this year and even with an "easier" layout, Anna should win.)

At Eteri's show, she would be directly compared with Kamila and Aliona, etc who are also receiving star billing and Kamila will almost definitely be doing her 3A/ 4T at least in the show. Kamila's exhibition is essentially her program for goodness skates.
 
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I really question why Shcherbakova would go. She's been having health issues basically all season long and both at the Worlds and the Channel 1 Trophy she looked rough (at the Cup she had tapes all around her knees). She fought through it to become WC - understandably - but instead of taking time to recover, she'll have to continue train fully competitively until mid-April. Then show season (in Russia at least) will start, which is a little less demanding, sure, but still requires readiness. Then the pre-Olympic training camp in Novogorsk. When's that girl gonna get the break she really, really needs? I'm sure she wants to go and WTT is a fun competition with nice prize money but this is the year before the Olympics and it's really not smart to risk your health like that. It would be very sad if this backfires on her - she's basically Medvedeva's age going into next season and I think we all remember that the first injuries from overtraining showed up for her at that time. And she, unlike Shcherbakova, didn't have to deal with pneumonia a mere months before.

Send Nugumanova, if Kostornaya is still recovering. It's not a serious event and she'd deserve some international exposure.
Send Nugumanova or....

Aliona the first alternate for Worlds!

As you pointed out and it's time for Anya to rest for several weeks.
 
I still find the rules a bit ridiculous, regardless of whether Anna should go or not. I mean, as others have stated this is the World Team Trophy. It’s not really that serious a competition, and even if it was, no skater should be forced by the ISU to go. The rules state that you need medical notes and such, and that the ISU has to approve. They also state that if a skater does withdraw due to illness or injury, they can’t compete until the ISU says ok. Like why? I understand that they want to be able to hold an event, but forcing athletes to compete if they don’t want to, especially for rest, doesn’t seem to me like a good way to hold a fun competition.
 
I'm sad Sasha wasn't chosen to go to WTT. It's a low-stress competition and there will be fans and the results still count as official scores. She would have the opportunity to do everything she wants with no consequences and if on the off chance it works, she could set a new WR. I do understand why though.
 
Send Nugumanova or....

Aliona the first alternate for Worlds!

As you pointed out and it's time for Anya to rest for several weeks.
They won't send Liza N. They can't. It's only available to ISU skaters who have qualified for participation in the World Team Trophy. That's based on the 2019-2020 GP/GPF (or if necessary the JGP/JGPF) and World's 2021 (or Euros 2020/World Juniors 2020). Liza N didn't go to ANY of those and has 1 international senior competition EVER - 2019 CS Warsaw. So she's not even eligible. And regardless doesn't have close to a high enough ranking.

Aliona they can send! Either she or Sasha are next in line. But Aliona is in even worse shape than Anna and further from a complete recovery.
 
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I really question why Shcherbakova would go. She's been having health issues basically all season long and both at the Worlds and the Channel 1 Trophy she looked rough (at the Cup she had tapes all around her knees). She fought through it to become WC - understandably - but instead of taking time to recover, she'll have to continue train fully competitively until mid-April. Then show season (in Russia at least) will start, which is a little less demanding, sure, but still requires readiness. Then the pre-Olympic training camp in Novogorsk. When's that girl gonna get the break she really, really needs? I'm sure she wants to go and WTT is a fun competition with nice prize money but this is the year before the Olympics and it's really not smart to risk your health like that. It would be very sad if this backfires on her - she's basically Medvedeva's age going into next season and I think we all remember that the first injuries from overtraining showed up for her at that time. And she, unlike Shcherbakova, didn't have to deal with pneumonia a mere months before.
Anna likes competing. :shrug:
 
I'm sad Sasha wasn't chosen to go to WTT. It's a low-stress competition and there will be fans and the results still count as official scores. She would have the opportunity to do everything she wants with no consequences and if on the off chance it works, she could set a new WR. I do understand why though.
As I understand:

Anna's points come from Grand Prix Final (720) + World's 2021 (1200) = 1920
Liza's points come from Cup of China (324) + World's 2021 (1080) = 1404
Sasha's points come from Grand Prix Final (648) + World's 2021 (972) = 1620
Aliona's points come from Grand Prix Final (800) + Euros (840) = 1640 - so they actually used Aliona's points in calculating it/qualifying because it goes by highest - at least her GPF points - because it's cumulative best. But Liza gets the spot based on best World's appearance (of Liza Sasha and Aiona) - and they would have used her World's points - as I understand it. And it Aliona's case they would just be like she's ill/injured/recovering.

So really they used Grand Prix Final: Aliona's 800 + Anna's 720 = 1520
And World's: Anna's 1200 + Liza's 1080: 2280

That's how I understand how they determined the ladies' qualification..

No other events other than World's, Euro's, World Junior's, GPF, GP, and JP are used. (So Liza N is not even close to eligible to go as she hasn't even been to one of those in the counting years.)

Note: Liza T and Sofia S could go in 2019 because that year both of them made the GPF (Liza T got bronze), Sofia won Euro's, and Sofia went to World's. So they actually had eligible events - and therefore an actual top ranking.
 
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Well explained BC.

We will certainly have a little more diversity in talent next season. Although Anna Liza and Sasha are all different for sure.

This worlds for the ladies was kind of mediocre compared to Russian Nationals where so many Russian ladirs were absolutely sensational. I mean you will probably agree that Sasha followed by KV followed by Anya was among the best back to back to back ladies free skate we've ever seen!. Then Dasha capped it all off as the last skater with a superb performance of her own.

I certainly look forward to seeing what Zhenya can do next season when she's healthy and you know she is going to be hungry to compete.
If she can get things figured out physically I think she can score in the 220 point to 230 point range if not more. Will Zhenya get the so called EG bonus and will judges be thrilled to see her? I believe so.
I’m right with you on all of this Scott 👍 RusNats was a gift. Competition of a lifetime.

I think Zhenya can return and do well if she wants to. She wouldn’t have gotten eaten alive this season with her 2019 layout and form. She would’ve fared very well actually. Even just 7 months ago she was landing different 3-3s and made it through a SP, and that was with injuries. Her injuries must be feeling better after recovery, so it’s entirely up to whether she wants to compete or not. Covid recovery is also a factor. I think and hope she could do it.
 
I’m right with you on all of this Scott 👍 RusNats was a gift. Competition of a lifetime.

I think Zhenya can return and do well if she wants to. She wouldn’t have gotten eaten alive this season with her 2019 layout and form. She would’ve fared very well actually. Even just 7 months ago she was landing different 3-3s and made it through a SP, and that was with injuries. Her injuries must be feeling better after recovery, so it’s entirely up to whether she wants to compete or not. Covid recovery is also a factor. I think and hope she could do it.
Evgeniss injuries have hopefully healed and she can have a normal off season and then go to test skates raring to go.

Liza was in the Saint Petersburg wilderness for years after she won worlds and people are thrilled she's hung around all these years. So I find it ironic so many people want Zhenya to retire when she's 3 years younger than Liza.
It kind of made she go hmmm. They both get to retire whenever they feel like it.
 
I do wonder if Elizaveta mindset will change now that her perseverance has finally paid off with a Worlds medal. Kinda like how Mirai Nagasu after many years of persevering and winning olympic team bronze, withered away very soon afterwards. In the kiss n cry, it felt like Elizaveta had finally accomplished her ultimate goal of getting back on the worlds podium. I dont know if her goal also includes making the olympic team which is another heck of a challenge. Of course you could say, she made the team this year so why couldnt she next year. But next year she wont be as lucky as there was just her and Alena fighting for the 3rd spot this year. There will be Kamila, Anna, Alexandra, Alena, Daria and Maiia. And the thing is all 6 of them has had a higher domestic season best score than Elizaveta. Which means she will need to count on their mistakes to get into the team. She will require 4 of them to have a bad season. I just dont think her motivation will be the same again after the euphoria of finally winning a Worlds medal again and having to fight against all these girls.
 
Lol. Yesterday the ISU said any skater who didn't perform at the Gala would be penalized.
Why? That’s just ridiculous. The gala.... Like why???
Seriously, does anyone here know the official reason?
 
Why is everyone assuming that the skaters don't want to go to WTT?

I'm sure most of them are happy to have another competition after Worlds to look forward to, specially since it's in Japan and with an audience and the more relaxed and fun team event format (and the possibility of earning prize money).

I think the skaters would actually be very happy to be invited. At least the ones who have commented or posted about it on social media seem excited.
 
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