Irina Retiring... (?)

[Ptichka]

Interesting. Not quite sure if this means she felt she deserved better from the judges or she was disgusted with herself and her effort. I think rather than throw it in the trash you should have given it to Fumie Seguri. She would have LOVED an Olympic medal of ANY color.

I do not think she felt she was treated unfairly by the judges. Nor do I think was she angry with herself. It's just a realization that something she worked very hard for for 4 years has just slipped away. Similarly, one feels frustrated when, say, their property is destroyed by a hurricane. It's not anybody's fault, but it still hurts.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

If Irina crying on the podium was bad, then MK crying in 2002 was also bad. Everyone's held to the same standard.

Is this about Michelle? or Irina?. We could talk about Sasha in many Kiss and Cry scenes storming out of the building. Let's not, and stick to the topic.

Apparently Irina is emotional and that is understanding. I'm thinking the word 'tantrum' is an invention by the originator and that she didn't throw her medal away. Crying by the way is a perfectly human reaction to sadness. Nothing wrong with it.


Joe

 

[cutiepatutie]

It is no secret that Irina doesn't accept defeat easily. So I am not surprised by her actions. Sasha on the other hand was very grown up acting. And when is a silver or bronze (for that matter) a reason to get so darn upset? They should be very happy and proud of them...And in all my days of watching Sasha skate I have never seen her storm out after not winning..She is one classy lady....

 

[hockeyfan228]

And when is a silver or bronze (for that matter) a reason to get so darn upset?

When you've been dreaming of the Wheaties box since you were six years old. When you've been dreaming about being the first gold medallist from your country. When you've been working hard day-in-day-out for four years with one goal in mind, putting aside family and/or having family put aside its life for you. When you've grown up in the US, where only gold seems to count. When you've dominated a sport for a couple of years, despite illness that would have knocked down most mortals, and then are beaten in the big competition. When millions of dollars of endorsements disappear in four and a half minutes. When your federation president has little public shows of respect for its Ladies skaters, and there are rumors everywhere that the judges will not allow a Russian sweep. When you've read articles every day about what a choker you are.

They should be very happy and proud of them...

It took Linda Fratianne decades to come to terms with her silver medal. Maybe someday, they will be happy and proud of them.

 

[R.D.]

Well...Irina did it in private? now that's different, I feel. So she didn't do it publically then. So how did the story get out? Was this Zimmerman guy there and then told the press about it later? In any case, Irina is not exactly quiet when it comes to handling a loss. Not everyone handles it the same way.

 

[R.D.]

We could talk about Sasha in many Kiss and Cry scenes storming out of the building. Let's not, and stick to the topic.

At which competition(s) did she do this?

 

[Sk8n Mama]

Oh, I can certainly see why she'd be upset. She's trained for four years for that. She could have walked away from the sport when doctors told her skating was over for her but she hung in there, I'm sure at least partially in hopes of Olympic gold. If I put myself in her shoes, I'd be really ticked off, mostly at myself. I'm sure her "tantrum", or whatever it was, was caused more by her disapointment in herself than placing third. At the same time, I just think these experienced athletes like Irina, know that the media is watching when they're in public. Sasha didn't look too pleased on the podium there herself (the smile seemed very fake, to me) but she gritted her teeth and dealt with it away from the media glare. I wish Irina had done that.

I do wonder when this happened, though, and whether there were a lot of people around at the time. For all I know, she did wait til most people had left and John just happened to see it.

 

[FreeKatie]

I think crying on the podium is OK. It's the tantrums that show poor sportsmanship, IMO.

If Irina crying on the podium was bad, then MK crying in 2002 was also bad. Everyone's held to the same standard.

yes, if MK had thrown her Salt Lake City bronze medal in a trash can backstage I don't think I would be a fan of hers anymore... same goes for Irina. Disgraceful, I don't care how much stress she was under. Somebody steal the Bronze and give it to the rightful owner - Fumie Suguri

 

[clairecloutier]

Irina has been competing on the World senior level for over 10 years. In that time, I would have thought she would have learned how to handle the disappointment of losing. No one wins all the time; everyone needs to be prepared for the possibility of losing. Yet it seems like emotionally, Irina hadn't prepared herself for this at all. I could understand her crying in disappointment--that's happened to many skaters and athletes. But to go so far as to throw her Olympic medal in the trash? That's very immature.

 

[R.D.]

well, not everyone handles stress or disappointment the same way. We are not all machines.

 

[slutskayafan21]

I hope she goes to worlds in Calgary and then leaves this crooked sport. I will miss her skating but I would be anxious to get out of it as well.

 

[mzheng]

Irina has been competing on the World senior level for over 10 years. In that time, I would have thought she would have learned how to handle the disappointment of losing. No one wins all the time; everyone needs to be prepared for the possibility of losing. Yet it seems like emotionally, Irina hadn't prepared herself for this at all. I could understand her crying in disappointment--that's happened to many skaters and athletes. But to go so far as to throw her Olympic medal in the trash? That's very immature.

That's the fair comment. I just couldn't believe she did this, imo, so childish.

 

[cammie]

The more competitive you are, the more you HATE to lose, and if you're competitive, coming in anywhere but at the top of the podium is losing. (And if you don't think so, you probably don't have what it takes to be a world-class athlete).

So, back to Irina, I can't fault her for throwing the bronze in the garbage in a moment of utter frustration, as for her right now the bronze isn't a symbol of success, but of four years of work that led to failure.

 

[R.D.]

yes. It definitely depends on who you are. And nothing wrong IMo with thinking of silver or bronze as a failure if you are at the top. It's when the press starts saying that a person is a failure WITHOUT LETTING HIM OR HER DECIDE FOR HERSELF that it gets to be too much...

 

[shdotz]

I agree

While it might be silly to throw the medal away we can't really imagine the stress she was under at the time. I feel bad for anyone who has to go through that kind of pressure, i.e. Irina, Michelle, Sasha, etc.

____________________________

Is it possible that Irina waited and worked out for the past four years with determined anticipation that she'd win the gold? She was everyone's favorite - well, that's a HUGE statement, but I've heard Scott Hamilton and others say that she was the best and was the favorite for Gold.

It was like it was a given.

And I can understand that.

I was sorry when I learned about Michelle Kwan's need to withdrawal; I didn't think for a moment that Sasha Cohen would do a clean skate and therefore she wouldn't medal at all. Wasn't I surprised!!!

I personally am glad to know that MK is retiring, that Irina Slutskaya wants to make babies; as well, I hope Sasha Cohen can heal and eventually start skating again, but only as a professional. Too many groin injuries - totally debilitating.

It was a good Olympic Skate for all divisions. A comedy of errors and a warm delight for those who focused and skated so beautifully.

Maybe in four years the then figure skaters will have worked the extra points into their programs with grace and beauty; smoothly, without effort.

Time will tell. shdotz

 

[FreeKatie]

The more competitive you are, the more you HATE to lose, and if you're competitive, coming in anywhere but at the top of the podium is losing. (And if you don't think so, you probably don't have what it takes to be a world-class athlete).

So, back to Irina, I can't fault her for throwing the bronze in the garbage in a moment of utter frustration, as for her right now the bronze isn't a symbol of success, but of four years of work that led to failure.

I just can't believe all the excuses people make up for Irina - if Michelle or Sasha had thrown away their medals they would be crucified.

 

[R.D.]

I just can't believe all the excuses people make up for Irina - if Michelle or Sasha had thrown away their medals they would be crucified.

True that. But I think it's because Irina is EXPECTED by many people to do things like that. MK and SC, on the other hand, are known for better behavior so if they did anything like that it would come as a complete shock to most.

 

[curious]

I haven't heard anyone condemn Irina (or anyone else) for crying on the podium. She is being criticized (by some) for throwing the medal away. IMO, she threw her "tantrum" when she thought she was in private -- skaters should feel free to handle disappointment in any (lawful) manner they see fit when they are alone. John Z had no business printing the story.

Of course this was not done to make Irina look bad just like they did with T/M. Too bad "The eville russians" anthem is not working anymore

 

[Mathman]

"The eville russians" anthem is not working anymore

I miss the cold war. In the good old days we could send out our gallant Olympians to fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way. Now -- meh.

MM

 

[FreeKatie]

True that. But I think it's because Irina is EXPECTED by many people to do things like that. MK and SC, on the other hand, are known for better behavior so if they did anything like that it would come as a complete shock to most.

That is called a Double Standard.:disapp: