Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin | Page 78 | Golden Skate

Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

So proud of these 2. I went through the the old I/K split thread for some laughs. Oh how far we have come!

Haven't we?:cheer2:
The russian commentator today had only good things to say, about their chemistry, the way they interact on the ice, and how she managed to win that one she always missed with her ex partner.
I'm so proud of them really
 
Haven't we?:cheer2: The russian commentator today had only good things to say, about their chemistry, the way they interact on the ice, and how she managed to win that one she always missed with her ex partner. I'm so proud of them really

This was so great to see. It almost feels like it's a personal accomplishment. But then again good fans like us bring life!
 
This was so great to see. It almost feels like it's a personal accomplishment. But then again good fans like us bring life!

I just have a feelin they are going to make a movie or write a book about this in years to come. How many ice dance teams make the GPF in their first season together and win nationals, right after being so humiliatingly dumped at worlds? Not to mention the unfortunate string of departures from the Kustarova team, prompting not many to believe that I/Z could even be a "good team". These were TAT's words: "It is still unclear as to whether Ruslan and Lena could make a good team". I am still curious. Why was everyone so quick to brush them off given their obvious attributes? Do beauty and politics and reputation (Zueva) have so much pull over common sense? These nationals will remain with me for a while.
 
I just have a feelin they are going to make a movie or write a book about this in years to come. How many ice dance teams make the GPF in their first season together and win nationals, right after being so humiliatingly dumped at worlds? Not to mention the unfortunate string of departures from the Kustarova team, prompting not many to believe that I/Z could even be a "good team". These were TAT's words: "It is still unclear as to whether Ruslan and Lena could make a good team". I am still curious. Why was everyone so quick to brush them off given their obvious attributes? Do beauty and politics and reputation (Zueva) have so much pull over common sense? These nationals will remain with me for a while.

I wonder what Tat is saying now. Those are questions I think Ruslena has silently answered. They were never about interviews and fluff, they let their skating do the talking. I can't help but wonder if Nikita and Vila are a bit salty...
 
I wonder what Tat is saying now. Those are questions I think Ruslena has silently answered. They were never about interviews and fluff, they let their skating do the talking. I can't help but wonder if Nikita and Vila are a bit salty...

Probably nothing good out of spite or just to protect Katsalapov. Honestly sometimes I just have shake my head.
 
I wonder what Tat is saying now.

Now she starts to talk about her beloved Stepanova\Bukin when being asked about IZ and says that Stepanova and Bukin are the real stars who could go for an Olympic gold medal if they represented any other country except Russia.
 
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Now she starts to talk about her beloved Stepanova\Bukin when being asked about IZ and says that Stepanova and Bukin are the real stars who could go for an Olympic gold medal if they represented any other country except Russia.

Completely mental :rolleye:
 
Now she starts to talk about her beloved Stepanova\Bukin when being asked about IZ and says that Stepanova and Bukin are the real stars who could go for an Olympic gold medal if they represented any other country except Russia.

:laugh2:
 
Now she starts to talk about her beloved Stepanova\Bukin when being asked about IZ and says that Stepanova and Bukin are the real stars who could go for an Olympic gold medal if they represented any other country except Russia.

So in twisted words Tat finally gives I/Z respect. Sort of.
 
She doesn't like them, both of them, and they kind of ruin her plans...
And I was a bit surprised by twp russian journalists,that wanted so much to have some kind of scandal between the ex partners and still mention them together, even took Chernyshev's words that he preferred S/K , posted what he said and then repeat in their articles ' as many experts say, mainly Chernyshev'. When you don't get the drama and rivalry you want, you have to create one:laugh2:

And these I/Z are far too normal to be interesting to these kind of journalists:laugh2:
 
Now she starts to talk about her beloved Stepanova\Bukin when being asked about IZ and says that Stepanova and Bukin are the real stars who could go for an Olympic gold medal if they represented any other country except Russia.
:slink: Don't tell me she is saying Stepanova is the new Navka...:drama:
 
Can someone please explain to me how Tarasova determines who she likes and supports and who she wants to bring down at any costs?!
I mean what criteria does this women have? I could never stand her but it kinda gets worse every day.
She loves basically all skaters I don't necessarily support and drags down about 80% of the skaters that I like:shocked:

Whatever, the judges don't seem to listen to her at least given their scoring of I/Z, neither to the skating fans and the Russian public who love them.
The German and English commentators, and as I hear also the Russians, have only positive things to say and I'd go as far as saying that the Spanish completely fan-girl over them.:laugh:
Combine that with success- way to go I/Z.
 
Can someone please explain to me how Tarasova determines who she likes and supports and who she wants to bring down at any costs?!
I mean what criteria does this women have? I could never stand her but it kinda gets worse every day.
She loves basically all skaters I don't necessarily support and drags down about 80% of the skaters that I like:shocked:

Whatever, the judges don't seem to listen to her at least given their scoring of I/Z, neither to the skating fans and the Russian public who love them.
The German and English commentators, and as I hear also the Russians, have only positive things to say and I'd go as far as saying that the Spanish completely fan-girl over them.:laugh:
Combine that with success- way to go I/Z.

While she infuriates, we should really cut her a bit of slack. She has her personal prejudices that she will never let go, she will never change. So we might as well save our breath.

To a certain extent I understand where she's coming from but it completely escapes her that ice dance is a much more objective/competitive sport than it was two to three decades ago. If S/K (apparently her pets) were going to take on such bold choreography and declare to the world that they are the better partners, they should have backed it up with the technique which they didn't. Tarasova should have ensured that they had a better coaching arrangement, but alas she really does not have as much pull as she used to. Otherwise these two would have gone to either Krylova or Igor. If in four years the Shib sibs have not returned to the technical brilliance they had in 2011 that says a lot. On the contrary look how far C/B and W/P have come in the same time.

S/B are improving but at the moment they need a bit more confidence to add to their presence on the ice. It is my belief that she backs S/B in part because she doesn't want to praise I/Z for fear of bruising the fragile ego of a certain skater. For a person of her ranking to be so unprofessional though is really sad for all of Russian ice dancing. Though she may have her favourites, in her position she should be publicly praising the best attributes of each pair while encouraging all to improve.
 
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Totally different topic: what do we think of their chances for Euro?
I checked the season rankings just now and just going by that, I/Z are the 9th European pair. BUT, obviously they have only done 2 GP events to count towards their total, where all the others have at least one other event counting too. Considering scores and placements so far this season, I wouldn't be surprised if I/Z will pull ahead of 4 of those, if not 5 (or even 6). 2 of those 4/5/6 they have already beaten at Nationals (S/B and M/K), the other 4 of them have not scored higher than I/Z at GP events (Z/G, G/F, H/D, N/N). So then there's just C/B and P/C.
I mean I'm scared to say it, but a bronze is not totally out of reach? *KNOCKS ON WOOD FOREVER*
 
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