2025-26 Russian Grand Prix - Stage 5 - Omsk

[qivotj]

This time, many strong ones are here - I think many will try ultra-c tomorrow. But she has quality skat, at least if she can do all of her 7 jumps correctly with good GOE, she can catch-up.

I am just hoping for a clean skate

 

[Jumping_Bean]

@Jumping_Bean

BTW, you mentioned in Kazan that you feared Benoit would set Muravieva a turtle-neck dress. Funny thing: in one of Zagitova's vlogs, Zagitova asked Muravieva if there are any sort of skating dresses she hates, and of course she specifically named the turtle-necks.

That's a relief then for both of us - Sofia and me.

The thing is, I don't even have anything against turtleneck dresses in general, I just don't like the Benoit-style ones enough to see them as often as he seems to like to give them to skaters.

 

[yume]

Russians have been using Indila for a while.

But, yea. It's true.

I started watching internationals more and the Japanese programs are the best by far. Russia struggles with music choices severely.

Not only they often use the same musics, as if it was given in a family package (i remember the many programs on "i put a spell on you" or that song with a lady screamin on it, forgot the title), but they also seems to like emo songs these last years.

 

[qivotj]

Muravieva is such a good actress with very good expressions. It is difficult to look away from her skating even when she makes mistakes. She’s also exceptionally beautiful which definitely helps

 

[Mathematician]

Muravieva is such a good actress with very good expressions. It is difficult to look away from her skating even when she makes mistakes. She’s also exceptionally beautiful which definitely helps

She is an actress in this program. I think it is a step down from what she otherwise can be, which is sincerely herself on ice. Not to say I don't think this program is brilliant.

Many skaters can act, but it is rare you find an emotionally charged skater who naturally takes to figure skating for their artistic catharsis. Frolova is this way more than anyone, probably. Muravieva has shown it more than once—more than most.

 

[yume]

Not really, unfortunately. Without two stable triples in the Short, she wouldn't do well internationally either.
A 3Lz+2T and 3F in the Short wouldn't be the worst thing, but that content isn't really competitive either (especially with the new Seniors next season).

Nah. I wasn't talking about her performance. I was saying that anywhere else she wouldn't be wasted. In the sense that she would have the time to heal correctly (physically and psychologically) and bounce back. She wouldn't even have needed her Rusnats champ form, triples would have been more than enough. I think we saw last season that she had them in the legs (even the quad) but not in the head. In a less competitive pool, less pressure, she wouldn't have been wasted.
But since she's competing in Russia i guess people are even surprised that she's still skating.

 

[qivotj]

She is an actress in this program. I think it is a step down from what she otherwise can be, which is sincerely herself on ice. Not to say I don't think this program is brilliant.

Many skaters can act, but it is rare you find an emotionally charged skater who naturally takes to figure skating for their artistic catharsis. Frolova is this way more than anyone, probably. Muravieva has shown it more than once—more than most.

I’ve watched all of Muravieva’s comps from the past 3(?) seasons. You always provide the most insightful responses. Are there any specifics you are referring to here? I am going on a Murathon (haha)

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Nah. I wasn't talking about her performance. I was saying that anywhere else she wouldn't be wasted. In the sense that she would have the time to heal correctly (physically and psychologically) and bounce back. She wouldn't even have needed her Rusnats champ form, triples would have been more than enough. I think we saw last season that she had them in the legs (even the quad) but not in the head. In a less competitive pool, less pressure, she wouldn't have been wasted.
But since she's competing in Russia i guess people are even surprised that she's still skating.

While I do agree that there would have been less pressure to get all of her jumps back despite still being injured in a less competitive field, it's not necessarily as easy as that, unfortunately.

If she had been skating for a smaller federation, her financial support would have also been a lot less, and she might have had to retire altogether (there are lots of examples across European and Asian small to mid-sized feds) or try and push through injury to make some money (see Rika - though Japan is not a small federation).

 

[Mathematician]

I think we saw last season that she had them in the legs (even the quad) but not in the head. In a less competitive pool, less pressure, she wouldn't have been wasted.

The triples, sure. The quad wasn't really in the legs either though, IMO. She never rotated it in practice or warm-up, from what we saw at least.

They did mess up in putting her back on the ice early. They admitted it. The biggest issue was the injury's timing taking her off the ice for her entire growth-spurt. Her body changed completely.

less pressure, she wouldn't have been wasted.

I still think it's quite mean to say she has been "wasted". She hasn't, really.

But since she's competing in Russia i guess people are even surprised that she's still skating.

I mean, people say this about everyone. Multiple people have said Muravieva should just retire as well. Preposterous.

I’ve watched all of Muravieva’s comps from the past 3(?) seasons. You always provide the most insightful responses. Are there any specifics you are referring to here? I am going on a Murathon (haha)

I think her Gatsby program is the best junior program of all time.

Regarding my comments, I think her FS at Nats from 23/24 is a perfect example of the disposition I suggested. It was glorious for Muravieva fans. She was sincerely grateful just to skate the program for it's own sake.

 

[KhinSuShein]

Ilya MAVLYANOV is only 16. No idea from which region he come, he also looks Asain.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Sad that Denis Khodykin didn't travel to the event. Would like to see him rooting for his sister.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Let's go Zhenya!

 

[yume]

While I do agree that there would have been less pressure to get all of her jumps back despite still being injured in a less competitive field, it's not necessarily as easy as that, unfortunately.

If she had been skating for a smaller federation, her financial support would have also been a lot less, and she might have had to retire altogether (there are lots of examples across European and Asian small to mid-sized feds) or try and push through injury to make some money (see Rika - though Japan is not a small federation).

Maybe. Some bounce back, others don't.
It's indeed more difficult without money. But still more doable that in the situation she's in now.

 

[yume]

They did mess up in putting her back on the ice early. They admitted it. The biggest issue was the injury's timing taking her off the ice for her entire growth-spurt. Her body changed completely.

Indeed.

 

[KhinSuShein]

OMG!

 

[flanker]

Andrei, why are you doing this to me. Just when I want to start cheering you pop your Axel...

 

[Mathematician]

2A or even a fall would've been fine but 1A is devastating

 

[yume]

Backstreet boys program with a costume that looks like something d'Artagnan could have wore?

 

[AlexBreeze]

I agree with Yagudin. It's before and after the pop. Sad.

But it's better than previous stage.

 

[thatdarncat]

Ohh Andre, I was getting all excited when he landed two quads, then missed the axel