2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[halulupu]

They didn't exactly have an empty group of skaters before, I'm not sure why all of a sudden they add 1 more skater and people think its doom. Eteri already had Usacheva, Valieva, Khromykh, Shcherbakova, Kostornaia, and then also Tursynbayeva, Medvedeva and Zagitova the latter 3 thing this season off.

She has been played when she couldn't choose,was in a weak position. When she joind only 4 where fighting for 2-3 spots, now six for 2-3 spots. Eteri made big words. Little difference. Personally I never really believed in a successful comeback at the top, guess she personally wanted it though, now all odds are against her.

This is going to be an interesting social experiment. Atmosphere will soon sour, puberty tennies, overambitious parents, all want that spot. If someone can command such a flok, only Eteri the Great

 

[Zora]

Medo is the biggest loser of this whole situation. She would really need personal attention to restore her (now inferior) tech content. But now she won't get it.

I expect her to switch to coaching sooner or later and she is at the perfect place for that... so this could still be a good situation for her.

 

[Jeanie19]

I expect her to switch to coaching sooner or later and she is at the perfect place for that... so this could still be a good situation for her.

My thoughts on this.
I don't think Evgenia is in a worse situation. She knows how to train on her own, she was only in Canada about 7 months out of the year. Once she is close to 100% healthy, she will still get help with her jumps. She has a competitive mindest. And I think having an older skater Evgenia T there will help her a lot.

Secondly, this team needs another choreographer, so she should be able to step into that role, especially for the younger skaters.

 

[Zagipatra]

Medo is the biggest loser of this whole situation. She would really need personal attention to restore her (now inferior) tech content. But now she won't get it.

Yes, all the "older" skaters are...Lilbet will likely suffer as well even though she at least had a quad...

If Alina was thinking about returning to competition I'm sure she has abandoned these thoughts by now.
Zhenya returning wasn't a threat but Alena and Sasha mean that she isn't just in place 5 or 6 priority wise but instead in place 7 or 8.
Also, I fairly doubt that RusFed cares about Zhenya or Alina competing seeing as the young girls will (most likely) be sweeping the podiums at the Olympics.

I really hope that at least Zhenya switches, maybe to Raf? She has lived in North America before and is fluent in English.
Alina is gonna retire before she changes coaches (language problems, family, imo misplaced loyalty to Eteri), unfortunately, so there is little hope to see her returning.

 

[Scott512]

I believe during the 19-20 season 1 of the girls that was part of the '3A' voiced displeasure with the nickname - I don't mean to be telling people how to talk but I think we as fans should be respectful of not calling skaters by nicknames they don't like

I'll try to make sure it's a one-time-only thing and try to refer to them as Anna Sasha and Aliona. Even though it takes more effort to do that they are worth it.

I am surprised they are back together again. I don't think anyone thought it would happen.

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

For skating fans older than me - Has this situation ever happened before? - across all disciplines, throughout history - where one coach, one team, one country, one discipline, has (almost) all the skaters?

Well, the only case I can think of that comes somewhat close is Mishin's men from the 1990s to the early 2010s, but they never dominated to the extent of the Eteri girls. Mishin had a string of Championship winners, but they more or less came one after the other, there never was such depth at the same time. In fact, when the competition between Yagudin and Plushenko within the same training group became to tense, Yagudin left for TAT.

I hope all the girls will withstand the intense direct competition in the coming season and be able to perform to the best of their abilities! However, I am almost certain that we will see some departures from Eteri's group after the Olympics. I just don't believe this huge group is sustainable, if they don't change the way things are run (e.g. splitting the girls into smaller groups, ...)

 

[Scott512]

For skating fans older than me - Has this situation ever happened before? - across all disciplines, throughout history - where one coach, one team, one country, one discipline, has (almost) all the skaters?

Nyet.

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

Figureskatingmemes never disappoint :

 

[halulupu]

Yes, all the "older" skaters are...Lilbet will likely suffer as well even though she at least had a quad...

If Alina was thinking about returning to competition I'm sure she has abandoned these thoughts by now.
Zhenya returning wasn't a threat but Alena and Sasha mean that she isn't just in place 5 or 6 priority wise but instead in place 7 or 8.
Also, I fairly doubt that RusFed cares about Zhenya or Alina competing seeing as the young girls will (most likely) be sweeping the podiums at the Olympics.

I really hope that at least Zhenya switches, maybe to Raf? She has lived in North America before and is fluent in English.
Alina is gonna retire before she changes coaches (language problems, family, imo misplaced loyalty to Eteri), unfortunately, so there is little hope to see her returning.

For Alina it shouldn't be a problem. She only trains to stay in reasonable shape for shows. Libet is a foreigner, she cannot expect full attention in an Olympic year

 

[halulupu]

For skating fans older than me - Has this situation ever happened before? - across all disciplines, throughout history - where one coach, one team, one country, one discipline, has (almost) all the skaters?

In other sports (most of wintersoorts like skiing) it is actually often the norm that there is a nation team coached by national head coach

 

[Zagipatra]

For Alina it shouldn't be a problem. She only trains to stay in reasonable shape for shows. Libet is a foreigner, she cannot expect full attention in an Olympic year

Yeah, it's not a problem if she plans to retire soonish.

My point was IF she had any plans to return, those would probably be null and void now because skaters like Zhenya and Alina would need special attention to become competitive again. With 6 other girls that are actually in the running for the Olympic team that is more than unlikely to happen.

 

[lurkerghost1]

For skating fans older than me - Has this situation ever happened before? - across all disciplines, throughout history - where one coach, one team, one country, one discipline, has (almost) all the skaters?

Marie-France and Marina Zueva both in the last decade have had this sort of thing in ice dance no?

 

[Scott512]

Figureskatingmemes never disappoint :

Sasha will have to share the ice once again with aliona this season. It's going to get quite crowded on the ice which fantastic lady skaters at one time. But a year from now after the Olympics season I don't think EG will have all these unbelievable skaters.

Everything will turn out fine this is a business move for both girls and we have to see it play out and what happens.

 

[ELEk3k]

Sasha will have to share the ice once again with aliona this season. It's going to get quite crowded on the ice which fantastic lady skaters at one time. But a year from now after the Olympics season I don't think EG will have all these unbelievable skaters.

Everything will turn out fine this is a business move for both girls and we have to see it play out and what happens.

When I thought how many medals of the Olympic Games and other international competitions are being skating on one rink at the same time (0:00–01:21) - it blow my brain. And now plus Trusova. I, of course, am proud, but I think that this is too much for one ice rink and one country.

 

[Amei]

Yeah, it's not a problem if she plans to retire soonish.

My point was IF she had any plans to return, those would probably be null and void now because skaters like Zhenya and Alina would need special attention to become competitive again. With 6 other girls that are actually in the running for the Olympic team that is more than unlikely to happen.

Well its not like the group trains all day. Theoretically if Zagitova and Medvedeva wanted special attention (aka private lessons) to get back into more competitive shape, they both would have the cash from endorsement deals to pay Eteri or her other coaches for some private lessons/training time outside of the regular group training. I'm sure the Fed would help track down some ice to be available if there was not available ice at Sambo.

 

[snowflake]

I recently read an article about some skater, can't remember who, and they had to skate at 2am. People find a way and make sacrifices. If I had the chance at an entire rink to myself I would take it. But I require only five hours of sleep a day. Especially it being the Olympic season you'd think everyone would be searching for that extra edge. Maybe just practice stroking and on skating skills from 2a-6a, sleep for six hours then full practice from 12p-6p, sleep/nap to 2a, or WHATEVER. Thing is I'd figure it out in an Olympic season to maximize ice time. Or any season if skating was my "job".

I remember reading Alena Leonova getting choreo from Morozov in the middle of the night

Also heard of Japanese figure skaters skating very late or very early

Agree that motivated skaters will do anything they can to get ice time.

 

[Amei]

For Alina it shouldn't be a problem. She only trains to stay in reasonable shape for shows. Libet is a foreigner, she cannot expect full attention in an Olympic year

Tursynbayeva is a paying customer to Eteri so she should get the attention that she pays for regardless of the fact that she's a "foreigner".

 

[[email protected]]

I’m seriously considering booking my ticket to Russia... this will be a competition of a lifetime! Olympics will have nothing on Russian nationals!

Wow, I always thought that you were from Russia...or Kazakhstan.

 

[ELEk3k]

Wow, I always thought that you were from Russia...or Kazakhstan.

I think our community in St. Petersburg and Russia should think about consolidating and organizing a visit to the tournament for our colleagues from goldenskate.

When ticket sales will start I try to buy 6 tickets just for our goldenskate without extra cost and my margin. It will be clear tickets cost like for russians.

 

[Scott512]

When I thought how many medals of the Olympic Games and other international competitions are being skating on one rink at the same time (0:00–01:21) - it blow my brain. And now plus Trusova. I, of course, am proud, but I think that this is too much for one ice rink and one country.

For sure.

I've said for years and it's why I've come in-and-out of the sport as a fan I wish figure skating would do more like a ranking system like tennis and golf due to see who gets into events and if in tennis and golf if most of the players are Americans so what they earn their way in. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that Russia can only have 3 ladies singles and only 3 pairs teams when they should have 4 pairs and more than 4 singles in ladies. And I'm not saying that if Russia has 8 of the top 10 ladies in the world at 1 time that they should have 8 spots but they should definitely warrant more than 3. And I believe to create longevity in the sport skaters that medal at 1 Olympics should get a wild card into the next Olympics if they're still competitive. And if they are not competitive then the country they come from gets to pick and choose who takes their place. No that's progress that's thinking that's marketing that's management that's moving the ball foward.