It could be and should be good for both of them.
I agree with your amazing post and final analysis. The only one who benefits from this is Rika. Also great point if Brian took Nathan now. Yuzu would be rightfully pissed off.
It will either make Zhenya stronger or break her. And I don't see it breaking her.
Your take is certainly possible and we have to hope it is.
Aw, now I feel honored.
I haven‘t posted in here for a while but I‘ve meant to anyway and now that we have some actual news that are at least indirectly concerning Zhenya..
Of course I understand Maia‘s points very well - my brain too tends to have an automatic response of worrying whenever it comes to Evgenia, I guess it‘s a fan‘s duty or something..
However, I try to see the positive in this situation as well.
I‘m trying to word this very carefully so as to not offend anyone: one of the reasons I was happy when Zhenya announced her coaching change was Brian Orser‘s known approach focusing specifically on individual training for each athlete. Meaning, that unlike in Zhenya‘s previous team, direct rivals are NOT encouraged (and yes, even driven) to seek on-ice battles and turn every ice time into yet another full blown competition. Case in point the Olympics. Yuzu and Javi, too, were competing against each other and training in the same team. When Brian felt it was too much for one of the other, he separated them, coaching each one individually. This is different from being forced to watch your competitor throw down quad after quad after quad in front of you even as you‘re nearing your mental breaking point. Now, I‘m not saying Zhenya and Rika are similar to Yuzu and Javi, the two had a very unique friendship. But what I am saying is that Brian and Tracy are very conscious of their athletes‘ mental states and they make sure to do their best to help them.
Secondly, Zhenya and Rika are from different countries. This seems like an obvious point but it‘s also what makes it different to the OG2018 situation and beyond. The two know that they will never have to compete for spots with each other. In a country with a field as deep as Russia, this is significant.
This is just my personal interpretation of the situation (and we‘ll never know for sure unless Zhenya tells us) but I don‘t think she ever had a real problem training with competitors. She was the leader of the team for years, got along with the youngsters very well, gave tips and advice, all the younger skaters named her as their idol and role model... What I believe her problem was that there was no individualistic training approach suited for her as an adult as well as the fact that her coach was actively guiding and training her replacements. This is different from how it‘s like with Rika and Zhenya because Rika isn‘t coached to replace anyone, Brian (and we still do not know for sure who is going to work with her, right?) and the others will help her grow but not in the literal aim to dethrone Zhenya. I don‘t know how to explain this any better but I‘ll try and say it like this: In Evgenia‘s former team there‘s always a leader in terms of results and prestige (last season was peculiar in that there were three) who gets overthrown a few years later by a younger champion. With Rika and Evgenia, however, it‘s more working next to each other and learning from one another. They‘re competing, too, yes, but somehow I feel like this detail will make it easier.
Additionally, so far Brian will be Rika‘s secondary coach. Of course it‘s entirely possible (and maybe even likely?) that this will change - as the current situation with the virus might not allow Rika to frequently travel back and forth between her two training locations. But from what‘s known at the moment, we can conclude that Rika will probably not spend the entire time in Canada.
Another personal impression incoming: I do have a feeling Brian has gotten attached to Zhenya. Meaning, he cares for her as a person beyond just coaching her for the money. I think that he‘d refuse to train Rika if he thought it could hurt Zhenya in any way. Of course, I also feel conflicted because I want someone to be in Zhenya‘s corner 100% - she deserves it. I just hope him training Rika will not hurt her.
Finally, I think Zhenya can benefit from observing Rika‘s technique, mainly on the lutz. Whereas Rika can learn from Zhenya in terms of expression and artistry. I see that Rika landing quads and 3A in front of Zhenya might be intimidating, but at the same time she‘s a tough competitor, what if she‘s there thinking: “if she can make that 4S, so do I!“ instead? It can be inspiring and motivating. And if there should come a point when she‘s overwhelmed, I believe Tracy and Brian would take her aside and coach the two individually. Honestly, if done right, this could be benefiting for both of them.
Now, where I see potential problems (and I‘ve seen some of them before that already, Rika‘s case now only aggravate them) is when it comes to the Olympics. Maia has raised some of them but I‘d like to take it in another direction. I worry what will happen to Zhenya if she does not make the team, which at this point, let‘s be honest, is more likely than not. Before she would have had to watch Yuzu, Jason, Jun and Katia go to the Olympics with their coaches, now it‘s Rika as well who looks like she‘s a good candidate for a medal, maybe even the Gold. Watching your training partner win the Gold while you have to settle for Silver is bad but having to watch someone win Gold while you‘re sitting at home, is even worse. I worry what this would do for her mental state.
I‘ve also admitted to myself (no matter how much it hurts) that Zhenya‘s goals likely have changed. I‘m pretty sure she went to Brian with the goal of Olympic Gold but seeing the level rise to what is probably unattainable for her (I mean, even if she gets a quad, there‘s skaters out there who have three or four or five), I guess she‘ll now settle for having a long career and a healthy body. This still doesn‘t mean that the Olympic season is going to be easy to take and having to watch her coaches celebrate the Games with another top lady... well, it will hurt. This is my major worry here and I don‘t know how to voice it. I have a lot of respect for Brian and I want to trust him and his team. But in the back of my mind, I have the fear that this move was mainly inspired by Zhenya likely not making the Olympic team. Rika will make it, all I‘m saying. I hope this is just me being overly pessimistic.
Concluding: yes, I do have my doubts and my worries but I try not to focus on them too much, especially not two years in advance. So much is uncertain in our sport (and the whole world) right now, so much can change. I think for Rika, this was a very wise decision and a great step. For Zhenya, it can prove to be advantageous in some aspects and negative in others. I‘m not decided yet, I will have to wait for the season. I can only hope everything will turn out fine for Zhenya and we‘ll get to see her soon again.
I agree with you, I don‘t want her to break again either, she had and still has to endure a lot.
But here I think (and hope) the situation will be different. Zhenya is very competitive, yes, but Brian and Tracy will make sure that she won‘t compete in training until her breaking point. Their system is fundamentally different when it comes to this. We also don‘t know yet how the situation with Rika will look like exactly, how much time she will spend in Canada, etc. I worry too but imo, it‘s a bit too early to tell.
Also; just a short question: you said we have (distant) proof that Zhenya‘s training in Japan? How? What have I missed? Thanks in advance.
Yes this Rika to TCC / BO news could put Zhenya in beastmode with the attitude to learn a 3A and a quad now!
Glad you got a kick out of that :agree: What you saif about Rika perhaps not being able to travel back and forth is a good point. That might limiit her time at home or in Toronto and with Brian and Tracy etc, That might not help Rika being tom between 2 countries an coaches.Aw, now I feel honored.
I haven‘t posted in here for a while but I‘ve meant to anyway and now that we have some actual news that are at least indirectly concerning Zhenya..
Of course I understand Maia‘s points very well - my brain too tends to have an automatic response of worrying whenever it comes to Evgenia, I guess it‘s a fan‘s duty or something..
However, I try to see the positive in this situation as well.
I‘m trying to word this very carefully so as to not offend anyone: one of the reasons I was happy when Zhenya announced her coaching change was Brian Orser‘s known approach focusing specifically on individual training for each athlete. Meaning, that unlike in Zhenya‘s previous team, direct rivals are NOT encouraged (and yes, even driven) to seek on-ice battles and turn every ice time into yet another full blown competition. Case in point the Olympics. Yuzu and Javi, too, were competing against each other and training in the same team. When Brian felt it was too much for one of the other, he separated them, coaching each one individually. This is different from being forced to watch your competitor throw down quad after quad after quad in front of you even as you‘re nearing your mental breaking point. Now, I‘m not saying Zhenya and Rika are similar to Yuzu and Javi, the two had a very unique friendship. But what I am saying is that Brian and Tracy are very conscious of their athletes‘ mental states and they make sure to do their best to help them.
Secondly, Zhenya and Rika are from different countries. This seems like an obvious point but it‘s also what makes it different to the OG2018 situation and beyond. The two know that they will never have to compete for spots with each other. In a country with a field as deep as Russia, this is significant.
This is just my personal interpretation of the situation (and we‘ll never know for sure unless Zhenya tells us) but I don‘t think she ever had a real problem training with competitors. She was the leader of the team for years, got along with the youngsters very well, gave tips and advice, all the younger skaters named her as their idol and role model... What I believe her problem was that there was no individualistic training approach suited for her as an adult as well as the fact that her coach was actively guiding and training her replacements. This is different from how it‘s like with Rika and Zhenya because Rika isn‘t coached to replace anyone, Brian (and we still do not know for sure who is going to work with her, right?) and the others will help her grow but not in the literal aim to dethrone Zhenya. I don‘t know how to explain this any better but I‘ll try and say it like this: In Evgenia‘s former team there‘s always a leader in terms of results and prestige (last season was peculiar in that there were three) who gets overthrown a few years later by a younger champion. With Rika and Evgenia, however, it‘s more working next to each other and learning from one another. They‘re competing, too, yes, but somehow I feel like this detail will make it easier.
Additionally, so far Brian will be Rika‘s secondary coach. Of course it‘s entirely possible (and maybe even likely?) that this will change - as the current situation with the virus might not allow Rika to frequently travel back and forth between her two training locations. But from what‘s known at the moment, we can conclude that Rika will probably not spend the entire time in Canada.
Another personal impression incoming: I do have a feeling Brian has gotten attached to Zhenya. Meaning, he cares for her as a person beyond just coaching her for the money. I think that he‘d refuse to train Rika if he thought it could hurt Zhenya in any way. Of course, I also feel conflicted because I want someone to be in Zhenya‘s corner 100% - she deserves it. I just hope him training Rika will not hurt her.
Finally, I think Zhenya can benefit from observing Rika‘s technique, mainly on the lutz. Whereas Rika can learn from Zhenya in terms of expression and artistry. I see that Rika landing quads and 3A in front of Zhenya might be intimidating, but at the same time she‘s a tough competitor, what if she‘s there thinking: “if she can make that 4S, so do I!“ instead? It can be inspiring and motivating. And if there should come a point when she‘s overwhelmed, I believe Tracy and Brian would take her aside and coach the two individually. Honestly, if done right, this could be benefiting for both of them.
Now, where I see potential problems (and I‘ve seen some of them before that already, Rika‘s case now only aggravate them) is when it comes to the Olympics. Maia has raised some of them but I‘d like to take it in another direction. I worry what will happen to Zhenya if she does not make the team, which at this point, let‘s be honest, is more likely than not. Before she would have had to watch Yuzu, Jason, Jun and Katia go to the Olympics with their coaches, now it‘s Rika as well who looks like she‘s a good candidate for a medal, maybe even the Gold. Watching your training partner win the Gold while you have to settle for Silver is bad but having to watch someone win Gold while you‘re sitting at home, is even worse. I worry what this would do for her mental state.
I‘ve also admitted to myself (no matter how much it hurts) that Zhenya‘s goals likely have changed. I‘m pretty sure she went to Brian with the goal of Olympic Gold but seeing the level rise to what is probably unattainable for her (I mean, even if she gets a quad, there‘s skaters out there who have three or four or five), I guess she‘ll now settle for having a long career and a healthy body. This still doesn‘t mean that the Olympic season is going to be easy to take and having to watch her coaches celebrate the Games with another top lady... well, it will hurt. This is my major worry here and I don‘t know how to voice it. I have a lot of respect for Brian and I want to trust him and his team. But in the back of my mind, I have the fear that this move was mainly inspired by Zhenya likely not making the Olympic team. Rika will make it, all I‘m saying. I hope this is just me being overly pessimistic.
Concluding: yes, I do have my doubts and my worries but I try not to focus on them too much, especially not two years in advance. So much is uncertain in our sport (and the whole world) right now, so much can change. I think for Rika, this was a very wise decision and a great step. For Zhenya, it can prove to be advantageous in some aspects and negative in others. I‘m not decided yet, I will have to wait for the season. I can only hope everything will turn out fine for Zhenya and we‘ll get to see her soon again.
I agree with you, I don‘t want her to break again either, she had and still has to endure a lot.
But here I think (and hope) the situation will be different. Zhenya is very competitive, yes, but Brian and Tracy will make sure that she won‘t compete in training until her breaking point. Their system is fundamentally different when it comes to this. We also don‘t know yet how the situation with Rika will look like exactly, how much time she will spend in Canada, etc. I worry too but imo, it‘s a bit too early to tell.
Also; just a short question: you said we have (distant) proof that Zhenya‘s training in Japan? How? What have I missed? Thanks in advance.
