Is Irina Really A Nice Person?
- Thread starter Kwan101
- Start date
Another way to put it, BTW, is lack of fandom. The hype on her this year is starting to kill me. And I can't stand overbearing hype. Not to mention some of her fans, and some of her non-fans thinking I'm a fan, etc, etc.
Anyway, that's off topic. The Topic is, Is Irina Really a Nice Person? And I say no. But that's JMO, and I have no way of verifying that. But the impression I get is that she's a very tough competitor and can get a little carried away at times. But is someone like Irina who is honest and says what she thinks with no censoring better than someone who stares daggers and always has the game face on, yet says nothing and always smiles? Hmm, something to think about. Depends on your taste.
Anyway, that's off topic. The Topic is, Is Irina Really a Nice Person? And I say no. But that's JMO, and I have no way of verifying that. But the impression I get is that she's a very tough competitor and can get a little carried away at times. But is someone like Irina who is honest and says what she thinks with no censoring better than someone who stares daggers and always has the game face on, yet says nothing and always smiles? Hmm, something to think about. Depends on your taste.
kyla2 said:
Go ahead and start it, if that's how childish you wish to be.
I seriously doubt that this thread, and it's title, is the worst thing ever said about Slutskaya, or most prominent skaters. A person gets into the public view, where every word and action is so carefully scrutinized, they have to thicken their hide a little, and expect such scrutiny. I doubt that Irina is Mother Theresa on skates, and I doubt she is Jeffry Dahmer in the rink. I do think she is probably something in between....as most human beings are.
As far as the topic goes, ITA with Red Dog and others who say we really have no way of knowing and that Irina is probably like most people, a complex combination of many qualities.Red Dog said:
I also totally agree with RD's comparison to another type of skater, "one who stares daggers and always has the game face on, yet says nothing and always smiles? Hmm, something to think about. Depends on your taste." Do you think we would ever see an article on the negative aspects of the personalities of popular US skaters in US magazines? Not as long as they're bringing in the big bucks, are winning, and have large fan bases. And I'm not just talking about one skater but any and all US skaters who fit this profile.
Also, lest we forget that this article was published sometime prior to the '02 Olympics. I don't know if Irina's personality has changed as she has matured or not, but she certainly has been through a lot since then, ie, her mother's health crises and Irina's own.
Slightly off-topic, but I know a former dancer very well whose personality ranged from high calibre b**** to big sense of humor about herself to serious concentration about her work to dedication to her family and loved ones and everything between, especially from the time she started dancing professionally at age 19 through some tumultuous years with her company that lasted until she was about 23. Eventually she settled into her identity in this group and had developed the balance of tough skin, fighting for what she believed, and care for others that she'd been working towards. A lot of it involved ignoring the people in her company who hated her for no reason other than her mere existence. One thing she learned over the years is that nobody knows the pressures any given individual is under, whether she is an elite athlete or your average person.
I love Irina's skating. I enjoy the personality we see of her in her sport, even including her opinionated "I should have won gold medal!" quotes after the '02 Olympics. I love that we see more of her whole personality than we do most most US ladies skaters, but that's just my preference.
But most of all I agree with what Mathman said on p1 of this thread. I paraphrase, "I remember the tempest in a teacup this created when it first came out. Whatever."
Whatever is right.
Rgirl
Irina has alway been a sore loser. I remember reading about when she was rude to Tara in an elevator. She also whined after losing '01 Worlds and refused to do an interview in English. Then after SLC she was nasty towards Sarah!!! And she made not so nice comments about her so-called "friend" Michelle Kwan.
Irina is nice to faces, but mean and vicious behind backs and in the Russian Press. Maybe a new agent would be a good idea?
Far as her illness goes, she is stronger than the other ladies and more powerful. She is faster, has higher jumps. She is skating better now than she ever has. It's easy to see why some think the illness was faked, or that her medications have given her the advantage.
wval, you have stated you didn't believe Michelle's injury many times. Why is it different to question Irina's illness? Not that I am, but you seem to think you are the only one that is able to make question of it.
Irina is nice to faces, but mean and vicious behind backs and in the Russian Press. Maybe a new agent would be a good idea?
Far as her illness goes, she is stronger than the other ladies and more powerful. She is faster, has higher jumps. She is skating better now than she ever has. It's easy to see why some think the illness was faked, or that her medications have given her the advantage.
wval, you have stated you didn't believe Michelle's injury many times. Why is it different to question Irina's illness? Not that I am, but you seem to think you are the only one that is able to make question of it.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Hi Fossi, glad to see back posting. We need all the Sarah fans we can get around here, LOL. Are you rooting for Emily this year to make the Olympic team?
I think you are a little too hard on Irina. I agree with the posters that say she speaks her mind, but sometimes it doesn't come out with quite the nice wording that we might have wished for. Oh well.
Mathman
I think you are a little too hard on Irina. I agree with the posters that say she speaks her mind, but sometimes it doesn't come out with quite the nice wording that we might have wished for. Oh well.
Mathman
Dare you to show me where I have said I did not believe Michelle was injured. Post one link to any where that I have said that she is not injured. You are making a statement of fact, going board to board with it and I'm calling you on it.
I think the moderators here should require that posters who decide to continue to make these generalized comments be required to back them up with links. Otherwise it should be considered as board dragging and not allowed.
I have said (and I am not afraid to repeat it here) that some of Michelle's fan fans have tried to take an injury that is not uncommon in atheletes and make Michelle a cripple from it. I have stated the fact that she has/had a pulled ligament in her hip. It's apparent she is not needing major surgery or she would not have continued to train or to prepare for competitions i.e the cheesefest. She competed at the cheesefest which indicates from a competitive standpoint that she is healthy enough to be skating and training and there is no reason to believe that she should not be ready for Nationals or Olympics. The fact is she is and has been training post injury since mid October and was off the ice for a whole of two weeks, give or take a couple of days . These are the facts as stated in the media by her agent and on public televeision and media reports. There is no need to make anything up.
There are those who continue to suggest that Irina and a whole team of Russian specialists throughout Russia and in the United States are lying about her illness and trying to manipulate the whole system! There have also been and continue to be statements made about her medications andl treatment by those who not only don't know what they are talking about but also are not on Irina's medical team or in anyway connected with her.
Again, we can look at the newspaper print and media for the most unbiased account of Irina's medical condition. US journalist Phil Hersh gained permission to look at Irina's medical charts and her various hospital admissions during the initial 6 months she was being treated, he published his findings in US media print. ABC followed Irina for a whole season documenting her illness, battle and recovery. These media have no reason to lie. The attacks regarding Irina's use of medications necessary for her to not only live but to be able to compete have been totally unfair and to some extent quite ridiculous, because anyone who posts on these message boards know that the ISU must approve any medication an athlete uses, there is extensive paperwork that must be turned it before and after each event. The fact is nobody here knows what type of medication Irina might need to use from day to day .... however, it seems to be easy enough for many to continue to say she's cheating and using "DRUGS" that enhance her performance.
- Joined
- May 11, 2004
I can't believe Irina would punch that boy in the chest (2 or 3 times??) and call him a little poo (not her word but whatever...lol). What the heck man?!?!? If I were that kid I'd been punching her in the jaw and saying, "and you're dog fart.."
S
SkateFan4Life
Guest
Well, I thought Irina made some interesting comments after she finished second to Mao at the GP Final. She was asked about Mao, and she pretty much dismissed her. "She's only 15 years old. I'd like to see her compete at this level when she's 25".
Hmm.....not exactly the most gracious comment.
hwell:
Hmm.....not exactly the most gracious comment.
hwell:
S
SkateFan4Life
Guest
Red Dog said:
Excuse me. I thought the title of this thread is "Is Irina Really a Nice Person?"
I wrote some supportive comments on Irina, and I also wrote that we really cannot make a judgement call, as none of us know the lady. Everyone has good and bad characteristics. My latest post concerned Irina's reaction at the Grand Prix Final, where she finished second to Mao. Was her response gracious? I think not. Was she entitled to express her feelings openly and honestly? Of course.
S
SkateFan4Life
Guest
Red Dog said:
I understand where you're coming from, Red Dog. Women figure skaters have been expected to live up to a "Ice Queen" ideal of perfect behavior, skating, comments, etc. It's always a shock to some of us when they show themselves to actually be human beings, with flaws, just like the rest of us!
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
Who cares if she's "really a nice person"?????? Irina kicks ***!
Irina has a very long history of "wuz-robbed" comments. In an interview after the 2002 Olympics, she ran down a list of all the competitions she "shoulda" won or placed higher in, and was unfairly placed.
Among them was, believe it or not, 1999 Russian Nationals, where Irina placed 4th (she was going through a bout with the puberty bug, had gained weight and in the process, lost her jumps). She claimed that she had skated flawlessly and could not understand why the judges had placed her 4th.
I saw some of her GP competitions prior to 1999 RN, and Irina was clearly struggling with her jumps, falling on some and doubling others. She finished behind skaters like Liashenko, Suguri, Malinina, Sokolova and Soldatova during the GP series. So it was not at all surprising that she finished 4th at RN and failed to make the 1999 World Team.
Among them was, believe it or not, 1999 Russian Nationals, where Irina placed 4th (she was going through a bout with the puberty bug, had gained weight and in the process, lost her jumps). She claimed that she had skated flawlessly and could not understand why the judges had placed her 4th.
I saw some of her GP competitions prior to 1999 RN, and Irina was clearly struggling with her jumps, falling on some and doubling others. She finished behind skaters like Liashenko, Suguri, Malinina, Sokolova and Soldatova during the GP series. So it was not at all surprising that she finished 4th at RN and failed to make the 1999 World Team.
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2004
I thought it was well-put and true. When you're competing against someone 10 years younger.....SkateFan4Life said:Well, I thought Irina made some interesting comments after she finished second to Mao at the GP Final. She was asked about Mao, and she pretty much dismissed her. "She's only 15 years old. I'd like to see her compete at this level when she's 25".
Hmm.....not exactly the most gracious comment.
Of course, you could take it another way to mean: "she's good now, she should be awesome in 10 years, when she has become a seasoned and experienced skater."
