Evgenia Medvedeva

[Jeanie19]

I want this sight to be a place that Evgenia fans can go and not get upset. The gloom and doom that has been on this board directed at her is hateful. I wish that people that are not fans to post somewhere else.

 

[Fluture]

A huge part of what needs to be gained is basic form, no perfect fit is required for that. What would she need to do, sip coffees at off-ice training sessions for that not to improve? She herself has said "more cardio". All of this barring another injury of course, knock on wood. Choreography and programs are another matter, but for instance transitions are something which also requires effort, it's not just the jumps that drain energy, better physical shape - more transitions would make sense. I wish they had chosen an easier music to interpret for her than Mumuki though, she already has enough to deal with.

I‘d have preferred had they just made her Memory exhibition into a program or used music she is more comfortable skating to in the FS. Next year would have been a lot of time for an awesome tango, she would have had all off-season without disruption and could have really learned how to “live and feel“ a tango. And her SP would still have been a totally different style for her. Now it‘s all kind of in a hurry. But I respect her decision and I‘m sure she‘ll be fine.

For the record of this being Zhenya‘s fanfest: I‘d ask people to be realistic any day but if I see “doom and gloom“ and ”no improvements at all“ posts, I‘m going to get annoyed.

 

[neusw]

I want this sight to be a place that Evgenia fans can go and not get upset. The gloom and doom that has been on this board directed at her is hateful. I wish that people that are not fans to post somewhere else.

I am not an Evgenia super-fan but I appreciate aspects of her skating and lurk here occasionally. All exaggerated reactions, positive or negative, are unreasonable at this stage, because we literally have a sample size of....1....for all skaters. Everyone should calm down until we can collect all the relevant data points and reassess at the end of the season.

As for doom and gloom predictions for the next few years, it's all premature. She may make it to Beijing, she may not make the World's team next season. Both possibilities are equally likely--she'll pass that bridge when she gets to it.

 

[TGee]

I've posted back to the thread on the Edge for discussing Zhenya's season.

That brings it back up into view at the top.

Or one can follow the link to my post:

https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2200027

Can those who want to go beyond the 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all' type of discussion, please take it there?

Those of us who are Zhenya's fans and are up for something a bit more critical, will join you there.

 

[vorravorra]

Perhaps I'm overreacting, but my understanding was that the fan fests were created to allow true fans of a skater (and now training site) to gather in a positive and 'safe' place.

The way I imagine it, is that if a new fan of Zhenya's or Zhenya herself, were to lurk here, she'd get good vibes.

So, we need to be constructive, and careful to not go too far here as I see it. And to me, it feels that some if us are getting caught in a very negative loop.

I'm keeping in mind that at the end of last season, the fests were the only place that true fans of certain skaters could take refuge. Even when their favourites were winning, the vicious criticism on the competition threads or the Edge was too much.

I like that GS brings together a diverse group. I don't want all of Zhenya's fans to go to her own board...as has happened with some other top skaters.

All said, I feel that this is not intended to be a place for hard edged discussion. And the 'we need to be prepared for the worst' comments are feeling like they are going that direction.

To me the place for 'confronting' things is on the Edge. There is actually a 2018-2019 Evgenia Medvedeva season thread on the Edge. I stopped posting there because I felt I was talking to myself.

I think that some of the angst being worked through here might better be discussed there.

The problem with the Edge is that people who are not fans of Zhenya and do not wish her well are perfectly welcome to post there. I think the purpose of a Fan Fest thread is to limit discussion to those who want the best for a skater, not to restrict everything but flowers and fluffy bunnies, that's what skaters' Instagram accounts, VK groups and such are for, lest a skater reads them and gets upset. True fans of a skater can have some genuine concerns, and such are discusses in the threads of other skaters. Nothing but negativity is of course the other extreme that should also be avoided.

 

[Jeanie19]

The problem with the Edge is that people who are not fans of Zhenya and do not wish her well are perfectly welcome to post there. I think the purpose of a Fan Fest thread is to limit discussion to those who want the best for a skater, not to restrict everything but flowers and fluffy bunnies, that's what skaters' Instagram accounts, VK groups and such are for, lest a skater reads them and gets upset. True fans of a skater can have some genuine concerns, and such are discusses in the threads of other skaters. Nothing but negativity is of course the other extreme that should also be avoided.

Constructive criticism is fine. Suggestions are fine. But I'm a huge lurker and I know the users that are not fans and it's not nice to post here. And I agree with Fluture that the memory exhibition skate being made into the free skate would have been nice.

 

[el henry]

I freely admit that I started following Zhenya much more closely when she and Jason joined TCC.

But there is a huge difference between folks who have posted here for some time saying I think changing thus and such would accentuate her great skills in X, Y and Z, and folks who have *never* posted (and post often in other skaters’ fan feats) dropping in to say, oh this is where another skater is better and this is so sad she’s so much worse. In my opinion, that’s not Fan Fest worthy.

If I don’t enjoy a skater, or if I no longer enjoy a skater, I stay out of the Fan Fest. I don’t know why that is a difficult concept:scratch3:

 

[Jeanie19]

I freely admit that I started following Zhenya much more closely when she and Jason joined TCC.

But there is a huge difference between folks who have posted here for some time saying I think changing thus and such would accentuate her great skills in X, Y and Z, and folks who have *never* posted (and post often in other skaters’ fan feats) dropping in to say, oh this is where another skater is better and this is so sad she’s so much worse. In my opinion, that’s not Fan Fest worthy.

If I don’t enjoy a skater, or if I no longer enjoy a skater, I stay out of the Fan Fest. I don’t know why that is a difficult concept:scratch3:

So agree :agree: And I am the mirror image of you. I became a bigger fan of Jason because of Evgenia. I am so happy they are friends.

 

[NoviceFan]

I freely admit that I started following Zhenya much more closely when she and Jason joined TCC.

But there is a huge difference between folks who have posted here for some time saying I think changing thus and such would accentuate her great skills in X, Y and Z, and folks who have *never* posted (and post often in other skaters’ fan feats) dropping in to say, oh this is where another skater is better and this is so sad she’s so much worse. In my opinion, that’s not Fan Fest worthy.

If I don’t enjoy a skater, or if I no longer enjoy a skater, I stay out of the Fan Fest. I don’t know why that is a difficult concept:scratch3:

I have just recently posted here but had been a lurker of this forum(only) for a bit since I “discovered” Evgenia. I am pretty thick skinned and not affected by negative commentaries - but I understand the purpose of keeping this thread purely positive.

 

[Jeanie19]

I have just recently posted here but had been a lurker of this forum(only) for a bit since I “discovered” Evgenia. I am pretty thick skinned and not affected by negative commentaries - but I understand the purpose of keeping this thread purely positive.

I was a lurker for a year and a half before I started postings, because I'm extremely thin skinned. I think the reason I'm such a huge fan of Evgenia is because I admire how strong she is.

 

[chasseneige]

Rewatched Evgenia’s Europeans 2018 gala program (Kukushka) about 4 times today. The first time I saw the performance online (in February? March?) I thought it was nice but didn’t have the same connection to the performance that I do now. When I watched the performance today, I just felt really emotional but also so appreciative of Evgenia and her ability to convey such passion and feeling through her skating.

Similarly, I needed time to warm up to her free skate from the 2016-2017 season in order to really appreciate it. Even though the voiceovers are kinda tacky and not very tasteful, there are these nuances in the music that she perfectly captures through her skating. What I love about Zhenya’s performances is that she is always so immersed in her role/character and really brings out the exact mood of the music she skates to. From looking at her old programs, I can see why some fans are worried about her new programs. Hell, even the people who complained about her miming are worried. And I get it, I definitely felt nostalgia from watching her 2017 worlds program. But what I really want is for Zhenya to skate for herself and find fulfillment in what she loves most. Earlier, someone in the fan fest said that this season might be a difficult time for Zhenya’s fans. I completely agree with this statement and kind of understand the frustration in this thread because I truly want her to be in her best shape even though she’s already gone through so much- an injury, a coaching change, unnecessary drama from the press, etc. But I need to remind myself that Zhenya is a determined young woman who is always trying her best and my job as a fan is to love and support her- especially now when she needs it the most.

 

[pandatours]

I was reading an interview with Meagan Duhamel (https://fs-gossips.com/meagan-duhamel-i-was-happy-when-i-was-skating-and-now-im-just-as-much-happy/)

Some parts of the interview regarding Evgenia have been posted but I thought it was interesting how she said Evgenia told her that she started experiencing health problems when cutting meat out of her diet. Meagan simply says that there seems to be some nutritional imbalance. I don’t know if Evgenia’s diet was adjusted after that but nutrition certainly has an impact on the athlete and it makes me more impressed how Evgenia was able to stay dominant with all of this going on in the background.

 

[Mrs. P]

I was reading an interview with Meagan Duhamel (https://fs-gossips.com/meagan-duhamel-i-was-happy-when-i-was-skating-and-now-im-just-as-much-happy/)

Some parts of the interview regarding Evgenia have been posted but I thought it was interesting how she said Evgenia told her that she started experiencing health problems when cutting meat out of her diet. Meagan simply says that there seems to be some nutritional imbalance. I don’t know if Evgenia’s diet was adjusted after that but nutrition certainly has an impact on the athlete and it makes me more impressed how Evgenia was able to stay dominant with all of this going on in the background.

That was a great interview, thanks for sharing it. It was really interesting to hear that she's confident about Zhenya's progress under Orser.

 

[Ladogaboy]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but here the host calls Zhenya "world champion in football", and the look she gives him is awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSUjH8vC0Hs

 

[NoviceFan]

I was reading an interview with Meagan Duhamel (https://fs-gossips.com/meagan-duhamel-i-was-happy-when-i-was-skating-and-now-im-just-as-much-happy/)

Some parts of the interview regarding Evgenia have been posted but I thought it was interesting how she said Evgenia told her that she started experiencing health problems when cutting meat out of her diet. Meagan simply says that there seems to be some nutritional imbalance. I don’t know if Evgenia’s diet was adjusted after that but nutrition certainly has an impact on the athlete and it makes me more impressed how Evgenia was able to stay dominant with all of this going on in the background.

Thanks for sharing! Great read!

 

[Wheelz]

I was reading an interview with Meagan Duhamel (https://fs-gossips.com/meagan-duhamel-i-was-happy-when-i-was-skating-and-now-im-just-as-much-happy/)

Some parts of the interview regarding Evgenia have been posted but I thought it was interesting how she said Evgenia told her that she started experiencing health problems when cutting meat out of her diet. Meagan simply says that there seems to be some nutritional imbalance. I don’t know if Evgenia’s diet was adjusted after that but nutrition certainly has an impact on the athlete and it makes me more impressed how Evgenia was able to stay dominant with all of this going on in the background.

What I don’t understand is how the Russian Figure Skating Fed can spend millions of dollars training these girls, but they don’t spend money getting them nutritional counseling. The coaches can teach these girls how to jump and spin, but they’re not experts on what a growing girl needs nutritionally to be healthy. Instead of telling them to stop putting food in their mouths in order to keep puberty at bay, get expert advice.

 

[nervosa]

What I don’t understand is how the Russian Figure Skating Fed can spend millions of dollars trading these girls, but they don’t spend money getting them nutritional counseling. The coaches can teach these girls how to jump and spin, but they’re not experts on what a growing girl needs nutritionally to be healthy. Instead of telling them to stop putting food in their mouths in order to keep puberty at bay, get expert advice.

Sometimes federations are a little stupid like that. Like the Korean skating fed pushing Yuna and Junhwan to compete through injuries. I really wonder why. Maybe it's because the federation isn't made up of athletes or people who understand the human body? That sounds like a bad idea, but it's just speculation on my part.

Also, if people want the Experience ex back in one part, maybe I can do it later today? I have some limited ability with video editing, but it should be simple.

 

[VenusHalley]

What I don’t understand is how the Russian Figure Skating Fed can spend millions of dollars trading these girls, but they don’t spend money getting them nutritional counseling. The coaches can teach these girls how to jump and spin, but they’re not experts on what a growing girl needs nutritionally to be healthy. Instead of telling them to stop putting food in their mouths in order to keep puberty at bay, get expert advice.

It really bothered me when Eteri's retort to "your skaters are like robots" was to point that nobody weights over 45 kilos... like that would have something to do with human qualities.

Russian sports culture is rough.... what matters the winning athlete has Russian flag besides their name... not if that person is healthy and happy.

Hopefully Zhenya will come to state of mind where winning is great but well being matters more. It was sad to see her be sad over Olympic silver.

 

[TGee]

Russia and Korea aren't the only federations with a history of scientific blind spots.

Girls in both Canada and the US were NOT allowed to even train or attempt triples until after peak growth and puberty up until relatively recently. Completely backwards in terms of the science, and even with both federations trying their best to change the thinking most North American girls are still behind in jump development for age.

So if nutritional science or rehabilitation science are behind elsewhere, it's worth flagging but not totally surprising.

 

[Jeanie19]

Yes please, post the experience exhibition skate.