Daniil Gleikhengauz & Sergei Dudakov Live Press Conference: Live on May 8th

[MashaOfficial]

Join us for a Live Press Conference with Daniil Gleikhengauz and Sergei Dudakov from Team Tutberidze!
They are currently on a seminar in Mexico City and I'll be broadcasting Live from there!
*Feel free to send comments or questions, use the YouTube Super Chat. They won't be answering non approved questions. They asked the press to send questions in advance, so hopefully some of us in the press conference will ask the questions that are on your mind
*
The press conference will be live on instagram and YouTube. See you there! (If you're not able to watch live, you'll be able to watch it on the same link)

https://youtu.be/rK3AhsOKPOc

 

[Azikin]

So will it be in Russian, English or Spanish?

 

[ELEk3k]

Masha, it's grate news! I am watch your channel with English subtitles. Thanks for what you are doing!

 

[MashaOfficial]

So will it be in Russian, English or Spanish?

English and Spanish

 

[Minz]

English and Spanish

Luckily English is my first language and I learned Spanish in school for 7 years!

 

[MiraiFan]

Oh dear god, from what I read Dani G needs to keep quiet. And yeah, two pieces of shrimp do not nourish a high-level athlete. I dread the stories that will come out in the coming years, just like we are seeing in the gymnastics community.

 

[el henry]

I will not listen to the interview because the quotes I have read I hope are out of context, as they horrify me. Such incredibly outdated thinking.

Trying to attribute weighing teenagers every day to health. To health. As in that twenty year old unscientific nonsense that it's unhealthy to try jumps unless you weigh the exact same weight every day

Oh please, tell it someone who is going to buy that happy hoo hah. And no, winning medals doesn't justify the practice. And doesn't make it scientific. And doesn't make it healthy.

I sincerely pray it was a misquote.

 

[[email protected]]

Such incredibly outdated thinking.

Based on what you wrote you think that you understand this sport better than Eteri, Sergei, and Daniil? Sorry, I would rather rely on their "outdated thinking" when we are talking about ladies and quads than on anybody elses including other coaches because only Sambo school has shown the results so far.

When Daniil says that keeping the same weight while learning quads is essential for staying clear off injuries I am sure that he knows what he is talking about. And it is in the skaters' best interests to listen to him rather than relying on "modern thinking" if it says that weight fluctuations are normal while learning quads.

 

[el henry]

Based on what you wrote you think that you understand this sport better than Eteri, Sergei, and Daniil? Sorry, I would rather rely on their "outdated thinking" when we are talking about ladies and quads than on anybody elses including other coaches because only Sambo school has shown the results so far.

When Daniil says that keeping the same weight while learning quads is essential for staying clear off injuries I am sure that he knows what he is talking about. And it is in the skaters' best interests to listen to him rather than relying on "modern thinking" if it says that weight fluctuations are normal while learning quads.

Oh sweet Bejeebus, does that mean he actually said that? Very disappointing And I think I said in my first post, winning medals is meaningless to me when evaluating whether a practice is healthy.

Daily weigh-ins by authority figures have been shown to lead to eating disorders, which is one reason Skate Canada forbids weighing skaters other than by a health professional. There are two threads on the subject ETA: of eating disorders and how weigh-ins may lead to them, one under the heading of Jessica Dubé, and another thread regarding male skaters speaking out about unhealthy behaviors.

Eating Disorders among men in skating: Shawn Sawyer, Joe Johnson, Sean Rabbitt speak out

Changing the direction of this thread (and thanks to @apgold and @Ic3Rabbit for the links) as more men skaters have been speaking out more recently: Joe Johnson: (IG link below) I dealt with an eating disorder for almost a decade. .... What I want to say is this: it did not help me. It did...

www.goldenskate.com

Jessica Dubé ready to say that she retired due to bulimia

Separating this out for its own thread: The struggle and pressure put on "pairs girls" to weigh less:( affected Jessica and she retired due to her struggles with bulimia essica Dubé suffered from bulimia at the end of her career (articles in French, very informal translation of parts mine)...

www.goldenskate.com

Also for how to maintain healthy attitudes to weight among teen athletes: Promotion of Healthy Weight Control Practices in Young Athletes by the American Academy of Pediatrics

So yes, I do listen to those experts who say that such practices for maintaining healthy, optimum weight for sports performance are outdated and unnecessary. There are healthier ways to maintain optimum weight than weighing a teen girl every day.

 

[Flying Feijoa]

When Daniil refers to keeping the same weight - is it normalised by height (e.g. BMI) or just the absolute mass? Girls grow taller until the age of 16 or so when their growth plates fuse. Over the course of a season, an individual could realistically grow 10 cm. If they start off at 160 cm/50 kg (BMI 19.5, low but still healthy), and are expected to maintain the same weight without adjusting for added height, by the end of the season at 170 cm/50 kg their BMI would drop to 17.3 (underweight). In the absence of more information I would hope height is factored in.

Body composition is another significant factor. Muscle weighs twice as much as the same volume of adipose tissue, but it contributes to a favourable strength-to-weight ratio (to varying degrees, since muscle bulk doesn't strictly correlate with muscle strength). This is the basis for why men have been jumping quads decades earlier than ladies. Midori Ito, Tuktamysheva and Trusova are visibly more muscular, while Scherbakova is less so. This is fine - not everyone has the same type of physique - however, girls with more lean muscle would weigh more for the same height (with no associated reduction in jumping efficiency), which is something that is not accounted for purely by weight measurements.

As for fat, if it drops below a certain threshold in girls it will result in oestrogen deficiency. Oestrogen deficiency is much more than a 'reproductive thing' as it causes loss of bone density which increases risk of stress fractures and osteoporosis. The threshold can vary between individuals so it would not be possible e.g. to introduce a universal 'safe' body fat limit.

On the subject of hormones, over the course of a month's cycle the differences in fluid retention alone can easily cause +/-1 kg in weight. This is something that can't be avoided in a post-menarche skater except by dehydration or certain types of contraceptive pills (both of which are of negligible benefit to performance).

I just hope I've explain clearly that it's not 'modern' thinking, just physics and biology. It's also not an East vs West thing. I doubt many Russian men do daily weigh-ins - would be interested to know if Rukavicin or Mishin's girls bother with this either. OTOH Tutberidze seems to, and from interviews Davydov is also very weight-focused. But some North American coaches have/had similar mentalities, as was discussed in the 'eating disorders' threads.

 

[alexocfp]

Daily weigh-ins by authority figures have been shown to lead to eating disorders, which is one reason Skate Canada forbids weighing skaters other than by a health professional. There are two threads on the subject ETA: of eating disorders and how weigh-ins may lead to them, one under the heading of Jessica Dubé, and another thread regarding male skaters speaking out about unhealthy behaviors.

That‘t the beauty of international sports. One country does it one way and another country does it differently. Then we make them compete with each other and see which way is better (AKA who goes home with the medals).

 

[anonymoose_au]

Then we make them compete with each other and see which way is better

I don't know if you can make it that simplistic...

Sure Yulia L won the Team Gold at Sochi as well as other medals, but she had an eating disorder that ended her career before she was even 18 and also endangered her life.

She's doing a lot better now, but I'm not sure if you asked her she would say the medals were worth it.

As others said there's the fact you gain weight throughout the day anyway. So how strict is this "no difference in weight day to day" thing?

 

[el henry]

That‘t the beauty of international sports. One country does it one way and another country does it differently. Then we make them compete with each other and see which way is better (AKA who goes home with the medals).

I don't mind saying it a third time. When it comes to health and eating disorders, better in no way, shape or form equals more medals. So for me the AKA doesn't work.

Bela Karolyi had a system that produced a boatload of medals. It wasn't "better".

I am not saying that the Russian ladies are not remarkable athletes. They clearly are. I am saying that, based on the experts I have read and the words of the skaters themselves, weighing a teen girl every day may lead to eating disorders and there are better methods (ways that don't lead to eating disorders) to achieve optimum weight, muscle mass, and everything else needed for performance.

 

[Amei]

I don't know if you can make it that simplistic...

Sure Yulia L won the Team Gold at Sochi as well as other medals, but she had an eating disorder that ended her career before she was even 18 and also endangered her life.

She's doing a lot better now, but I'm not sure if you asked her she would say the medals were worth it.

As others said there's the fact you gain weight throughout the day anyway. So how strict is this "no difference in weight day to day" thing?

This was a documentary based on Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics, different sport, but similar to figure skating in a focus on weight - 1 of the girls in the documentary struggling with not being at her ideal competition weight, the segment I copied the girl talks about what she eats for meals and talks about water consumption during practice...Could it be a bit metaphorical and not literal, possibly but not based on how it's presented.



in defense a bit of the coach, at the beginning of the documentary she does mention that every gymnast has their ideal weight and she currently has 3 extra kg's that stops her from practicing properly which doesn't sound like crazy talk, neither does the skater not being at the right weight to train quads situation, now how healthy they go about getting to/maintaining that weight's a different story.

 

[alexocfp]

I don't mind saying it a third time. When it comes to health and eating disorders, better in no way, shape or form equals more medals. So for me the AKA doesn't work.

Bela Karolyi had a system that produced a boatload of medals. It wasn't "better".

I am not saying that the Russian ladies are not remarkable athletes. They clearly are. I am saying that, based on the experts I have read and the words of the skaters themselves, weighing a teen girl every day may lead to eating disorders and there are better methods (ways that don't lead to eating disorders) to achieve optimum weight, muscle mass, and everything else needed for performance.

There are an overflow of people wanting to win a medal. You can’t stop a top athlete. They are where they are because they are willing to push harder than a mere mortal.

You have to be reletively thin, agile and athletic to be a top figure skater. That’s just the way it is. Half a kilo can be the difference between succes and failure.

And whatever rules or safeguards you put in place, the line is long for those that want to bend or break those rules if it means getting an advantage.

You could not stop Anna from risking her health and the health of those around her, for a chance to win a Russian Championship. And that mentality is part of the reason the Russian ladies are lapping the competition.

Long story short, I watch and enjoy the sport, and I will not tell anyone involved how to train or not train for it. From a selfish standpoint, I want to see a 5 quad ladies program sooner than later. Even 6 or 7.

Nobody is forcing anyone to do this for a living. People chose this as a career. And just like any job, there are sacrifices that need to be made. Some make more than others.

Finally, I do not follow, not care to follow, gymnastics so I can’t comment on what goes, or doesn’t go, on in that sport.

 

[Flying Feijoa]

That‘t the beauty of international sports. One country does it one way and another country does it differently. Then we make them compete with each other and see which way is better (AKA who goes home with the medals).

It seems to vary a lot between coaches in the same country though. Yablokov pilfered an ice cream from the K&C at every Russian Cup stage, pretty sure Volchkova trusts him to manage his own weight. While over in Canada, Jessica Dube's coaches weighed her.

I don't think Russia's sporting success is directly related to coaches monitoring their skaters' weight... They have a lot of other constructive factors like popularity, state subsidised clubs, abundant facilities for off-ice exercise and dance (all those Russian ballet teachers), Mishin's textbooks and vestibular apparatus (spinny devices)...

in defense a bit of the coach, at the beginning of the documentary she does mention that every gymnast has their ideal weight and she currently has 3 extra kg's that stops her from practicing properly which doesn't sound like crazy talk, neither does the skater not being at the right weight to train quads situation, now how healthy they go about getting to/maintaining that weight's a different story.

Yeah, I wouldn't say that statement by itself is crazy. The girl's words in the video that you linked is, though. Interestingly, just a bit further on in the video the doctor diagnoses her with a metatarsal stress fracture. The way the video is cut implies that the fracture is due to excessive weight even though the opposite is probably true (overtraining and amenorrhea are common risk factors).

When she says her coach can see an extra 100g on her - thinking logically, the difference in added weight between her training/warmup clothes and a costume is already a few hundred grammes. If she can practice the same in both costumes, that weight difference has no physical impact. Viner's kids do well because they practice lots, not because of <1 kg weight control.

 

[Flying Feijoa]

You have to be reletively thin, agile and athletic to be a top figure skater. That’s just the way it is. Half a kilo can be the difference between succes and failure.

Not questioning the first part, just the second.

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Here's a retired mid-tier Japanese skater Shu Nakamura (the max he could do was a 4S at his absolute peak several years ago) with 500 g weights attached to his wrists, landing a 3Lo on his 2nd attempt.
A bit later in the video, his friend (even lower-profile, never managed a 3A) with 1.5 kg worth of arm bands, landing a 3T on his 1st attempt.

- YouTube

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Consider that these guys had the weights around their arms, far away from their rotational axis, which affects their centrifugal force/arm timing a lot, and that the weights were suddenly added with almost no adjustment time. In real life, weight gain is gradual which gives people time to get used to it, plus the weight is distributed more evenly across the trunk and limbs.

I hope I don't sound like a psychopath for saying this, but seeing an unsubstantiated/illogical assertion bandied about as gospel truth annoy me even more than said assertion's tendency to cause EDs. It's like saying that cold temperatures will make you catch a cold - there's a correlation but it's a vast oversimplification.

So take a skater, wrap a 500g weight belt around their waist, give them a few minutes to warm up and see if they can do a quad.
Oh wait, I think we already got the answer from Yuzuru Hanyu, given how heavily decorated his costumes are.

 

[ELEk3k]

Guys, how many times can you come back with questions about weight? The problem is that when the body grows, the muscles cannot keep up with the weight. They send girls to the scales when they are looking for a problem if the jump suddenly stops working. Many singles athletes in different sports have their own optimal weights, but this does not mean that girls should be locked in their weight as they grow up. They normally relate to the fact that the weight is walking, but if suddenly an athlete is gaining sharply, then something needs to be done about it. All athletes follow certain diets and this is normal for high performance sports. In a recent interview, Maya Khromykh said that Eteri is against starvation! Kamilla Valieva also said that the weight should be monitored, and she notices that if she gains weight, it becomes more difficult to get into the jump, and the jump height becomes lower. It is a race between muscle and weight until the muscles catch up with the weight and you have trouble jumping.

 

[nussnacker]

Not questioning the first part, just the second.

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youtu.be

Here's a retired mid-tier Japanese skater Shu Nakamura (the max he could do was a 4S at his absolute peak several years ago) with 500 g weights attached to his wrists, landing a 3Lo on his 2nd attempt.
A bit later in the video, his friend (even lower-profile, never managed a 3A) with 1.5 kg worth of arm bands, landing a 3T on his 1st attempt.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

Consider that these guys had the weights around their arms, far away from their rotational axis, which affects their centrifugal force/arm timing a lot, and that the weights were suddenly added with almost no adjustment time. In real life, weight gain is gradual which gives people time to get used to it, plus the weight is distributed more evenly across the trunk and limbs.

I hope I don't sound like a psychopath for saying this, but seeing an unsubstantiated/illogical assertion bandied about as gospel truth annoy me even more than said assertion's tendency to cause EDs. It's like saying that cold temperatures will make you catch a cold - there's a correlation but it's a vast oversimplification.

So take a skater, wrap a 500g weight belt around their waist, give them a few minutes to warm up and see if they can do a quad.
Oh wait, I think we already got the answer from Yuzuru Hanyu, given how heavily decorated his costumes are.

They didn’t say a skater physically can’t jump. They said suddenly adding something like 1kg might potentially cause injuries, that the body needs to get used to it first.
Sergej gave an example with throwing a ball: that if a person gets used to throwing a ball and getting it into a basket, and then the ball suddenly gets 1kg heavier, the person might not be able to adjust immediately.

Plus, I haven’t heard anything about 2 shrimps, is this twitter you‘re all getting your info from?

 

[ELEk3k]

Plus, I haven’t heard anything about 2 shrimps, is this twitter you‘re all getting your info from?

Yes, Dudakov did not talk about it.