Kamila Valieva: Anti-doping Case and Follow-ups

[el henry]

Noting the travels of the true gold medalists who, after two and a half years are finally getting their merited medals, cannot be gloating?

I am most happy for Vincent, who would not have been able to attend a ceremony in Beijing due to the COVID diagnosis and now can attend a ceremony.

 

[rabidline]

This is how the medalists are received at Champions Park, by the way, under the sunlight with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop:



Note that Champions Park itself is not the place to award the medals, it's done in their respective venues, so we haven't seen how the crowd reacts to a full medal ceremony. It's a crowd that loves sports- hopefully they gave the medalists a warm welcome and celebration.



It's also important to note that during Beijing, the attendance of the coaching teams and families were very restricted- I don't think any skater has their family with them except when they're credentialed as a coach (think Yuma and his father), so to have the families flying in- Nathan's sister already reserving places in Paris, Zach D meeting his mother after a year, is probably one of the best rewards after such a long period of uncertainty caused by this case.

I think I.AM is also sending multiple coaches in to Paris, Drew Meekins is on his way- and one of the most notable- Todd Sand (who suffered a heart attack in 2022) and Jenni Sand is also on their way for Alexa and Brandon.

Will start a new thread once the photos and videos from the ceremony starts coming in.

 

[TallyT]

Maybe it's a cultural thing, I was always taught that cheering at someone's tragedy, especially that of a child no matter what part they played in it, is... well, I'll leave the rest and the thread to let the cheerers cheer.

 

[alexikeguchi]

Maybe it's a cultural thing, I was always taught that cheering at someone's tragedy, especially that of a child no matter what part they played in it, is... well, I'll leave the rest and the thread to let the cheerers cheer.

Say what? We're celebrating the achievements of the US and Japanese teams, not Kamila's doping suspension.

 

[4everchan]

Maybe it's a cultural thing, I was always taught that cheering at someone's tragedy, especially that of a child no matter what part they played in it, is... well, I'll leave the rest and the thread to let the cheerers cheer.

There is only one real tragedy here : Canada not getting the bronze

I think it's been long enough now for people to start moving on and cheering for the skaters who had won medals (no matter the color) but had to wait almost 2 years to get them...

 

[rabidline]

Maybe it's a cultural thing, I was always taught that cheering at someone's tragedy, especially that of a child no matter what part they played in it, is... well, I'll leave the rest and the thread to let the cheerers cheer.

Are the rightfully earned Olympic medals not being distributed for 2,5 years- to the point that half of the teams are no longer active competitors- not a tragedy? Is the lost Olympic moment and opportunities that come after not a tragedy?

Because I think seeing Olympic medalists returning to their country with an empty case and an Olympic torch was a very hard moment to take. Especially the two teams that will go to the medal ceremony. Even before the medals are reallocated, they have been the rightful silver and bronze Olympic medalists, and they couldn't celebrate for 2,5 years. Put into consideration that this is one of the most difficult Olympics to prepare for, it being fully in isolation and they were separated from most of their support system- even when they trained back home their families have to be careful to not infect them with COVID. Some of them did become individual medalists, but what of those who came close and didn't medal?

I know the team competition in the figure skating Olympics has yet to have the history of other team events in other sports, but just look at how team medalists from US and Japan are celebrated in this Summer Olympics. What happened to the figure skaters in Beijing was incredibly sad and as we reach the conclusion of this case, the effects of that conclusion is also a relevant topic to this case.

A tragedy befell a child, and it impacted the lives and careers of 17 other athletes. Both of that can be true.

 

[4everchan]

^^ perfect post but i would include more than 17 athletes and it would be even more perfect

 

[lariko]

Do I think more countries should be banned? Yes, sure. But if it took three violations to ban one country, it's actually more hypocritical to ban others after one violation already.

In the interest of world peace and Olympic sports' relevance to it, one military campaign of wanton destruction should be it for everyone, as well as campaigns of mass terror and/or sexual violence against their own people. If it's just me who thinks so, well, so be it. I cringed, looking at a boat with only men on it for one.

At any rate, I agree with ISU decision as it stands now on the balance of all variables in respect to figure skating. Congratulations to Teams Japan and USA, sorry to hear that Uno can't attend and I hope that Canada focuses on recruiting and supporting its figure skaters for 2026 Team competition. I assume that before the next Olympics, the rules will be spelled out as clearly as ISU can spell out its rules (or better than average).

 

[4everchan]

I hope that Canada focuses on recruiting and supporting its figure skaters for 2026 Team competition.

Except that since figure skating didn't get any medals in 2022 for Canada, funding may not be optimal from Sports Canada. It may be tougher to support the team this time around. The only redeeming factor may be the results in pairs and dance at worlds in Montreal, especially if these two teams were to repeat their successes this season and/or the next.

 

[lariko]

Except that since figure skating didn't get any medals in 2022 for Canada, funding may not be optimal from Sports Canada. It may be tougher to support the team this time around. The only redeeming factor may be the results in pairs and dance at worlds in Montreal, especially if these two teams were to repeat their successes this season and/or the next.

Sure. But Korea, Germany and Georgia or whoever else would be contesting Canada for that bronze will all be in the same exact situation. So, Canada needs to be hungrier than them. Is Canada hungry? Then it will win. If it's more into personal self-expression on ice and not the end result, well, then it won't. That's how it goes. Wringing hands doesn't help it.

 

[4everchan]

Sure. But Korea, Germany and Georgia or whoever else would be contesting Canada for that bronze will all be in the same exact situation. So, Canada needs to be hungrier than them. Is Canada hungry? Then it will win. If it's more into personal self-expression on ice and not the end result, well, then it won't. That's how it goes. Wringing hands doesn't help it.

I think Italy is the biggest threat and their athletes are certainly going to be well supported with home games. In any case, I don't think it is very relevant to mention other competitors when we are talking about how Sports Canada will fund our athletes. Each country has their own rules... However, for having followed other disciplines, when Sports Canada cuts funding because of lower results, it becomes extremely difficult for athletes. Figure skating is already so expensive, that medal was important to the athletes, not only in reward of their hard work but also in order to continue thier careers. Doping has cost a lot of grief to so many athletes. Read the Christine Girard story, if you want a hint.

 

[lariko]

I think Italy is the biggest threat and their athletes are certainly going to be well supported with home games. In any case, I don't think it is very relevant to mention other competitors when we are talking about how Sports Canada will fund our athletes. Each country has their own rules... However, for having followed other disciplines, when Sports Canada cuts funding because of lower results, it becomes extremely difficult for athletes. Figure skating is already so expensive, that medal was important to the athletes, not only in reward of their hard work but also in order to continue thier careers. Doping has cost a lot of grief to so many athletes. Read the Christine Girard story, if you want a hint.

Great, and Italy. Those who are the hungriest will still win. Fortunately for the sport, good skaters and teams are becoming more wide-spread now, between far more countries than before. In team event, there could be a lot of blocking and playing spoilers. Go figure skating, and may the best team win.

 

[4everchan]

Great, and Italy. Those who are the hungriest will still win. Fortunately for the sport, good skaters and teams are becoming more wide-spread now, between far more countries than before. In team event, there could be a lot of blocking and playing spoilers. Go figure skating, and may the best team win.

Hungriest as long as they don't eat strawberry dessert.

Joking aside, I am thrilled that the team event is no longer a three country race. That is awesome and I agree that it is exciting to see it develop. That was one of the goals of the team event : send a message to nations only focusing on singles that pairs and dance are important.. it certainly worked. The sport is indeed developing wider.

 

[Skating91]

Only the individual and pairs medals mean anything in figure skating. The team event was created in order to have more content for television in the first week. It only means something to skaters who never had any chance of winning big medals individually.

If some people need their team gold or opportunistically try to take a team bronze to justify their careers, then so be it, but I kind of feel sorry for them. This is what I admire about Valieva, she had everything taken from her as the world record holder and best of all time, but carries on without complaint.

Vincent Zhou has been quite vocal but no-one will be rewatching his performances at the Olympics, but Valieva's performances at the Olympics (and all of them) will be rewatched for the next century. Over and over again.

 

[4everchan]

Only the individual and pairs medals mean anything in figure skating. The team event was created in order to have more content for television in the first week. It only means something to skaters who never had any chance of winning big medals individually.

If some people need their team gold or opportunistically try to take a team bronze to justify their careers, then so be it, but I kind of feel sorry for them. This is what I admire about Valieva, she had everything taken from her as the world record holder and best of all time, but carries on without complaint.

Vincent Zhou has been quite vocal but no-one will be rewatching his performances at the Olympics, but Valieva's performances at the Olympics (and all of them) will be rewatched for the next century. Over and over again.

if the team event meant nothing really, why did ROC appeal to keep their gold ?

 

[Skating91]

if the team event meant nothing really, why did ROC appeal to keep their gold ?

They have to look like they are fighting for the athletes and for each federation it's important (seems like it's just a game of one up-manship), but it's a contrived exhibition type of event to create additional TV content at the Olympics. Not to single out particular skaters, but Karen Chen never medaled at a GP stage but she's an Olympic gold medalist, Madeline Schizas the same but was nearly holding an Olympic bronze medal.

ROC was stacked with skaters who can win individual medals at Grands Prix, etc, so I guess the Olympic medal would mean more to them than to skaters who would never be able to medal on their own.

Any GP medal > Olympic team medal

 

[4everchan]

Any GP medal > Olympic team medal

if you say so. I'd like to know what the athletes themselves would say about that. I doubt they would agree with you. For instance, look at the Canadian golden team.... pretty much all of them had GP gold... some GPF gold... and still.. it was so darn important that they won the team event in 2018.

BTW.. just because I was curious.. .did you know that Gabby Daleman never won a GP medal, YET, she won bronze at worlds. What do you make of that ? Of course, she is also an Olympic champion, whether you think the team event is garbage or not.

 

[NanaPat]

I rhought the team event was invented so Russian skaters could win an additional gold medal in Sochi. Plushenko seemed to think the team medal was worth something; he wanted to skate in the team event but not the individual one.

 

[lariko]

I like team events, though I prefer the Junior Olympics format where the teams are mixed. The Japanese tournament is great, as well as Russian own team event. Milan is going to be wild with (hopefully) more teams qualifying and results not being a foregone conclusion. It really lets the same skaters have more disciplines to compete in, chances to win a medal, an incentive to develop all 4 disciplines and keeps spectators in a warm field house instead of freezing their butts off outside... like, it does a lot of good. If they only added a jumping tournament to the Oly we'd have even more FS content!

 

[4everchan]

I like team events, though I prefer the Junior Olympics format where the teams are mixed.

the teams are no longer mixed if you are talking about Youth Olympics.

The Japanese tournament is great, as well as Russian own team event. Milan is going to be wild with (hopefully) more teams qualifying and results not being a foregone conclusion. It really lets the same skaters have more disciplines to compete in, chances to win a medal, an incentive to develop all 4 disciplines and keeps spectators in a warm field house instead of freezing their butts off outside... like, it does a lot of good. If they only added a jumping tournament to the Oly we'd have even more FS content!