Just realised that besides the new records for free program score and total score, Valieva also broke the record of highest tech score with 102.89. The previous record was Sasha's 100.20 from Skate Canada two years ago. Both have -1 in deduction for falls.
2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating
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- Dec 31, 2019
I'm concerned about Aliona's PCS. On one hand, they're still very high and it's not like she really deserved much higher. On the other hand, for her they are low (in a competition where scores were high overall). However, the judges haven't seen her in almost two years. And she's not quite to her peak yet. With all that taken into account, she's still quite competitive.
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- Mar 20, 2019
This program as it is for Aliona just does not deserve high PCS that's a fact. Her PCS for the SP for a first performance of the season is really high! And her jump GOEs so high. And spin GOEs too (which honestly surprises me). But all of this shows she has nothing to worry about with the judges. Just get better. 10 weeks is time on the table.
I mean she has more to worry about with the Russian judges, which is both funny and sad. Mostly sad.
I mean she has more to worry about with the Russian judges, which is both funny and sad. Mostly sad.
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- Mar 16, 2019
Yes, when she put 2T after 2A I was like “Aliona why… you’re such an experienced competitor, you can do that decision right on your feet”. She got a +Rep on her second lutz as a result unfortunately.
But it just shows how panicked and shocked she probably was by her mistakes, she couldn’t even think straight. I think her older self wouldn’t think twice and make the right decision easily, but today just wasn’t her day. I know she’ll comeback stronger, it wouldn’t be her if she didn’t.
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- Mar 20, 2019
Is there much more Liza needs to do from her end by RusNats?
Same with Kamila. Aside from the 3A, everything else is pretty much there already.
Same with Kamila. Aside from the 3A, everything else is pretty much there already.
Depends on what you mean for RusNats - do you mean put out a great performance or put out something that could medal and be a serious consideration for the Olympic team? If you mean the former - I don't think so. If you mean the latter - she needs to dump that stupid SEQ jump for a triple-triple at the very least.
Yes, but we know Liza. She changes her layout all the time. I'm sure she knows what she needs...and that darn SEQ must go.
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- Dec 31, 2019
Kamila just needs to work on consistency and getting her 3A solid.
As for Liza..it's harder. She needs to outscore consistently (not just once) one of Anna or Sasha (or Kamila). Even her skates here wouldn't do that. Anna and Sasha can both beat that without being at full strength. Anna can beat her SP score here without a 3A and her FS score with only one quad (and it doesn't need to be completely clean). Sasha can beat her total score with only a quad or two. And that's internationally. Scored domestically and it would be even higher. Plus, Anna and Sasha both have the potential to score even higher. Sasha could land a 3A in the SP and 5 quads in the FS. Anna could land a three quad FS. Liza doesn't have anything more (unless she lands her quad). At the minimum she needs to get a triple-triple combo for her FS and even that might not outscore Daria, Aliona, or Maiia if they're clean.
Finally, Liza doesn't have a PCS advantage (domestically or internationally) to either Anna or Sasha or Kamila. So she doesn't have a buffer to them and all of them can outscore her technically. And significantly enough that their PCS advantage won't save them and that the RusFed doesn't still take them for their potential and international reputation.As there are only three spots, she needs to hope one of them falters (and it isn't just a fluke) and she NEEDS to stay ahead of Aliona, Daria, and Maiia.
Do we know when Kamila and Anna will compete against each other for the first time (is it not until GPF or are they both assigned to something before that)? Very curious to see how they will be scored--there isn't much room for Anna to get a Worlds champ PCS bump over Kamila if Kami's scores from Finlandia are anything to go off of.
As of right now Valieva and Shcherbakova won't meet until either GPF (assuming they both get there) or Nationals, however there is a question of what's going to happen with GP France for the Russian athletes which is currently Shcherbakova's second GP assignment, so if she has to be sent to a different GP she could potentially meet Valieva at GP Russia.
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- Mar 6, 2021
Everyone says Liza needs to place top 3 at Rusnats (aka beat one of Anna Sasha Kamila) but I don’t think that’s true at all. If Liza consistently scores 230+ this season which she did here even without 3Lz-3T or 4T, she will have a chance of going even if she places 4th at nationals.
Why? Because if Sasha continues having skates scoring below 220 she is liable to be passed by Kihira or Sakamoto or Liu or even Hendrickx and Tennell. Heck she got 216 at US Classic and I’m not even sure I’d call that a meltdown. The point is if Russia has Kamila + Anna as a guaranteed 1-2 which seems likely, why would they risk Sasha who could either win it all or place 6th if Liza is consistently delivering bronze-worthy performances? Russia doesn’t care if it’s Kamila or Sasha winning gold but they do care if Sasha is off the podium entirely which at this point seems way more possible from a probability standpoint than Liza.
If Sasha struggles throughout the season but suddenly puts it together at Rusnats I see her being skipped over even if she places 2nd or 3rd, the risk is too high. Or even maybe she’s named to the Euros team and bombs there and then Liza in 4th is switched in. Really, if any of Kostornaia/Khromykh/Usacheva are consistently scoring 230+ they could make the team as a guaranteed bronze winner but Liza at this point seems more consistent than them.
Why? Because if Sasha continues having skates scoring below 220 she is liable to be passed by Kihira or Sakamoto or Liu or even Hendrickx and Tennell. Heck she got 216 at US Classic and I’m not even sure I’d call that a meltdown. The point is if Russia has Kamila + Anna as a guaranteed 1-2 which seems likely, why would they risk Sasha who could either win it all or place 6th if Liza is consistently delivering bronze-worthy performances? Russia doesn’t care if it’s Kamila or Sasha winning gold but they do care if Sasha is off the podium entirely which at this point seems way more possible from a probability standpoint than Liza.
If Sasha struggles throughout the season but suddenly puts it together at Rusnats I see her being skipped over even if she places 2nd or 3rd, the risk is too high. Or even maybe she’s named to the Euros team and bombs there and then Liza in 4th is switched in. Really, if any of Kostornaia/Khromykh/Usacheva are consistently scoring 230+ they could make the team as a guaranteed bronze winner but Liza at this point seems more consistent than them.
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- Mar 6, 2021
Wow she sounded very confident and seems ready to do Olympic champion interviews in English. When do all these girls have time to learn such good English? Anna in particular speaks almost like a native speaker but Kamila, Aliona, Liza, Sasha all speak confidently too.
I think Gubanova and Marin Honda had R+J the same season in 2016-2017 which were both two of the best junior programs ever. Aliona had it in 18-19 which was also amazing. But I don’t agree that Aliona will restore her 3A as easily as she did two years ago, she is not coming in with the same confidence level which makes everything harder.The heads of figure skating need to come together where where the artistry and interpretation and other aspects of presentation are a factor who have it and penalize those who don't. Just the way those who can't do quads and triple axles get penalized for that it should be the same way with those who don't have artistry interpretation and presence should get penalized for that but they don't
I miss Romeo and Juliet Anastasia.
I think they did Romeo and Juliet's the same season and it was fantastic. Aleona will be fine once she gets those two 3As s down in a free skate. I think that's very doable for her.
Not easy but doable.
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- Nov 24, 2006
I think I finally turned the corner on Valieva's Bolero. This new outfit is sooooo much better in conveying the original modern dance that Kamila was emulating. When she debuted it last year in a body suit and the gloves, while in character it seemed too casual for an Olympic program. Then she got those crazy ultra-adorned dresses that made me think more Cleopatra and definitely not modern dance. So I had no clue what she was even going for with the progam. But this dress has the sparkles/showiness and is more "glam" while attaining a minimalist look, if that makes any sense. It seemed Kamila was really getting into the modern choreography much more, which she is a pro at. Bolero might not have been my first choice, but I think she's brilliant with it.
I guess we didn't need to worry that Kamila might be lowballed in her first senior international? lol
I guess we didn't need to worry that Kamila might be lowballed in her first senior international? lol
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Some great performances from the Russian women today at Finlandia.
I can see Kamila really is starting to come into her own for Bolero now and I'm sure it will be iconic. I'm not a fan of some of her jumps but her 4T is glorious.
The Empress Liza was on fire
that has to be the best she's ever skated and she's still improving. So much respect. 
That wasn't Aliona's best but Aliona's best is a high bar anyway so I'm not upset. I'm glad she went for the 3A but it the second mistake seemed to throw her for a bit. I'm simultaneously worried and not worried for her. The part of me that wants her at the Olympics is freaking out cos she needs to get it together faster but the part of me that doesn't care is just happy to see her improving. But she seemed to be not distraught today so I'll be content.
TIL though that stepouts are judged -5??? Neither of her hands even touched the ice so that felt a bit harsh...
I can see Kamila really is starting to come into her own for Bolero now and I'm sure it will be iconic. I'm not a fan of some of her jumps but her 4T is glorious.
The Empress Liza was on fire
that has to be the best she's ever skated and she's still improving. So much respect. That wasn't Aliona's best but Aliona's best is a high bar anyway so I'm not upset. I'm glad she went for the 3A but it the second mistake seemed to throw her for a bit. I'm simultaneously worried and not worried for her. The part of me that wants her at the Olympics is freaking out cos she needs to get it together faster but the part of me that doesn't care is just happy to see her improving. But she seemed to be not distraught today so I'll be content.
TIL though that stepouts are judged -5??? Neither of her hands even touched the ice so that felt a bit harsh...
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- Feb 27, 2014
Yes Marin too. It was an unbelievable couple years for R & J
It was an unbelievable couple years for Romeo and Juliet. Hondas R & J was outstanding too.
Nastya did it when she was 13 to15 I would love to see her bring it back in her early late teens or early twenties.
You are right that things are not as easy for Aliona as they were two seasons ago but if she puts her heart and soul in it I believe she can get it done and make the Olympic team.
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- Jan 25, 2013
Valieva’s Bolero still isn’t my cup of tea but there’s no denying that she has the technical goods and that’s always been my number one priority. The judges really do need to assess her PCs more fairly but given her technical advantage, it doesn’t even matter at this point. Her quads at Finlandia were just astonishing, like I don’t know how she gets that float on them and the rotation is so assured. Her spins are divine too. So from a sport standpoint she is doing everything to deserve all the wins but I still think there are better artists out there. But who cares when you can reel off more/better quads than most of the men. She attempted/executed 3 quads more than Brown who won the men’s.
Well I think its important to note that all we have seen this season thus far from the ladies has been at Challenger events which are generally used as a tune-up for the GP events.
If Trusova's quad layout continues to be a messy result - I do wonder if the Fed steps in and tells her that the 5-quad layout has to go or she won't be on the team as its a gamble that hasn't paid off (again this is predicated on the assumption of what happens this season). Because 1 thing I agree with you on - the Fed I don't think particularly cares who wins gold as long as its a Russian; a clean Trusova like at Nationals last year or just a 3 quad FS would very likely be unbeatable by a non-Russian lady.
Kostornaia I agree with at this point. However I wonder where you get that Tuktamysheva is more consistent than Khromykh and Usacheva; last year at the Russian Cup Final and Nationals (though Tuktamysheva was recovering from illness there) they both beat her, Usacheva also went head-to-head against her at a Cup stage and beat Tuktamysheva. Had they been age-eligible she would not have went to Worlds. While this was a great event for Tuktamysheva, last year she struggled to be clean on her layout, having step-outs and turn-outs on her landings that ate at her GOE, its imperative that she's squeaky clean given the layout that she does because her current layout doesn't leave any margin for errors - on the GP circuit in the 19-20 season Tuktamysheva did almost the exact same layout she did here today and she lost to Bradie and Satako.
Not me. Valieva is incredible, but the program for me is not worthy of her talent. What a great choreographer could do for her...I shudder to think. I think sometimes team Eteri does an incredible job-Alina's Olympic program for example. But even if you insist on using Bolero, the program could be so so so much more interesting. And then Aliona's FS-just slow and boring, twilight was much better, I don't know what happened there, and parts of it were almost like she was making it up as she went along.
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- Nov 29, 2020
I love Kamila Valieva SP dress ! Salmon-pink and grey look good on her and different in a good way !
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- Mar 6, 2021
Actually by scoring a World Record here Kamila actually has also obliterated the records of highest score for senior international debut. Congratulations! I thought it was very well deserved.
| 1 | Kamila Valieva  | 249.23 | 2021 Finlandia |
| 2 | Alexandra Trusova | 238.69 | 2019 Ondrej Nepela |
| 3 | Alena Kostornaia | 234.84 | 2019 Finlandia |
| 4 | Alysa Liu  | 219.24 | 2021 Lombardia |
| 5 | Alina Zagitova | 218.46 | 2017 Lombardia |
| 6 | Anna Shcherbakova | 218.20 | 2019 Lombardia |
| 7 | Rika Kihira  | 218.16 | 2018 Ondrej Nepela |
| 8 | Polina Tsurskaya | 210.19 | 2017 NHK Trophy |
| 9 | Ekaterina Kurakova  | 201.47 | 2019 Warsaw |
| 10 | You Young  | 200.89 | 2019 Lombardia |
| 11 | Ting Cui | 199.79 | 2018 Tallinn |
| 12 | Anna Tarusina | 198.76 | 2018 CS Alpen |
| 13 | Marin Honda | 198.42 | 2017 US Classic |
| 14 | Yuhana Yokoi | 191.90 | 2019 Finlandia |
No one else to my knowledge has scored above 190 in their senior debut, although Sotksova (189.96) and Mihara (189.03) got very close and Safonova (192.49), Asada (then WR of 199.52), Sotskova (200.36), and Medvedeva (206.01) reached this score in their second senior event.
Will be very interesting to see where Usacheva, Khromykh, and Sinitsyna fall into the chart this season! They can all realistically get in the top 10.
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