Li Zijun

[Yatagarasu]

Well if you remember, before Zijun went to Mishin, there was that giant mess with her previous coach, that she left on her own. So who knows what's going on there internally.

I feel really sorry for Zijun, it's the worst when you get caught in something like this and hopefully that hilarious statement means that the outcry of the Chinese fans is stirring the waters enough to maybe cause them to change their minds. Of course, even if they do, terrible intro to the Worlds.

 

[Meoima]

I am sorry for Zijun. It seems Chinese fed is trying to win French when it comes to stupid decision making. :hopelessness:

 

[Violet Bliss]

The Chinese fed's priority is always for the team and national glory. Zijun defied the fed's coaching choice for her and returned to China instead of training under Li Mingzhu in the U.S. Her fed then went with her wish to go to Mishin in Russia, evidently wishing for her to be the best skater she could be. It does not make sense for them to subotage themselves at this stage, right before the all important Worlds ahead of the next Olympics.

If the Chinese fed wants to punish her, no conspiracy is necessary. The Chinese official has stated that she is not currently healthy and that the final list of Worlds entries will be announced later. Assuming or assigning the most witless of motives and actions to the Chinese fed may be satisfying but not astute. I'll watch further development and wait for their final selections.

I wish the best for Zijun, especially for her health as she seems to have adjustment issues in Russia, including getting proper nutrition.

 

[Eclair]

if the Chinese fed always only has the national glory in it's mind, why didn't they send Yu/jin to worlds last year no matter if they intended to split them up later or not? then there would have been three sports for the Chinese Pairs this year.

I think people here are confused why the federation just decided over Zijun's head that she's an alternative now. Usually if there is a injury or sickness the procedure will go as with Han Yan: the athlete stay in the list, the federations talks to the athlete and looks whether his condition gets better and according to that the skater then skates or withdraws.
Usually injured or sick skaters don't get swapped to being the alternate.

 

[Yatagarasu]

I'll take the skater's own Weibo ahead of the Federation, thanks.

The Chinese fed's priority is always for the team and national glory.

And stuff like this cracks me up so badly. All federations are messy, to a smaller or greater extent and the Chinese one is no exception.

 

[Violet Bliss]

if the Chinese fed always only has the national glory in it's mind, why didn't they send Yu/jin to worlds last year no matter if they intended to split them up later or not? then there would have been three sports for the Chinese Pairs this year.

I think people here are confused why the federation just decided over Zijun's head that she's an alternative now. Usually if there is a injury or sickness the procedure will go as with Han Yan: the athlete stay in the list, the federations talks to the athlete and looks whether his condition gets better and according to that the skater then skates or withdraws.
Usually injured or sick skaters don't get swapped to being the alternate.

Zijun has a consistency problem even when healthy so moving her to substitute status if her health is questionable is a way to leave room for her reinstatement. After all, a healthy inconsistent Zijun is still the best Lady they've got. I don't really know what is happening but this is as good an explanation as any based on an exclusively negative view of the Chinese fed.

 

[Violet Bliss]

I'll take the skater's own Weibo ahead of the Federation, thanks.

Zijun's weibo was not clear on its meaning.

And stuff like this cracks me up so badly. All federations are messy, to a smaller or greater extent and the Chinese one is no exception.

Federations are imperfect. Their decisions are always criticized, especially on hind sight when the results are not so desirable even if better results could not have been assured with different decisions. But it's not credible to think they make decisions with agenda against their best skaters and the fed's best interests.

Fans are equally imperfect in their views, speculations, and judgements.

 

[skatefan22]

I think moving her out of the list is a very difficult decision for the Chinese fed to make. Think about how much they've invested in her all these years. Choreo from Lori Nicole, training with Frank carroll and Alexei Mishin, etc. There must be a reason behind the decision. Let's wait. After all, didn't the fed say they will release an official statement before they leave for worlds?

 

[yyyskate]

just some rumors/versions circling around at the moment as for why zijun was swapped suddenly right before worlds given out by alleged official/jounalists

1 allegedly from Chinese FS national team leader "zijun condition is not good"

2 allegedly from Chinese sports bureau (the highest governing body of sports in China) "in order to cultivate new comers, this is normal personnel change"

3 from alleged insider Chinese skating fans "zijun attempted avoiding doping test (flight doping test?)) "

4 from a journalist "Zijun herself applied to withdrew from 2017worlds because, this worlds decide next year OG spots, Chinese winter sports center's idea is to send zijun and another girl to get as many spots as possible, but zijun thought there is an after-worlds competition to get spot, the competition in worlds is very high and difficult to get good result thus hard to get spots, therefore had conflict with Chinese winter sports center officials, ""and no matter how officials persuade her, she insist to come back to Changchou" from a worker in Chinese winter sport.

 

[yyyskate]

All these rumors/excuses are really hilarious to me as an outsider skating fan watching these whole thing unfold. De javu.
my opinion:

1. zijun is undoubtedly No. 1 Chinese lady at the moment.the only hope for China to get 2 spots, the reason she cannot go is only one -- injury

2. if really injured, should given out specific situations. like in Satoko's case. not unclear like alleged by officials here. also if it is not serious injuries, a countrie's NO1 usually will not withdraw, happened to every skaters, every country. yet Zijun is NOT even withdraw is swap into sub.

3. if she has serious misconduct that has to be punished. such as avoiding doping test (and what is flight doping test?). Then why do they NOT punish/expose her right on the spot at the time, but just pop out now. Did they planned/saved this long time ago to use it against zijun now?

4. the comments about Zijun herself applied to withdraw, is really ridiculous, just read it. lol, also zijun-fan-site posted, they(officials) forced zijun to write application to withdraw and bought the flight(back to changchun) ticket for her.

5, if all responsibility is on Zijun's fault why did not give the reasoning right away, but so many different versions floating around.

6, if to cultivate new comers, there are many opportunities, choose the world before OG? are you kidding.

 

[Andrea82]

4 from a journalist "Zijun herself applied to withdrew from 2017worlds because, this worlds decide next year OG spots, Chinese winter sports center's idea is to send zijun and another girl to get as many spots as possible, but zijun thought there is an after-worlds competition to get spot, the competition in worlds is very high and difficult to get good result thus hard to get spots, therefore had conflict with Chinese winter sports center officials, ""and no matter how officials persuade her, she insist to come back to Changchou" from a worker in Chinese winter sport.

This last one makes no sense.
If the two other Chinese girls qualify an Olympic spot in Helsinki, Chinese ladies couldn't get any more spots at Nebelhorn Trophy (the final 6 spots are reserved to countries stil without a spot). If they both bomb and China get no spots in Helsinki, they can qualify just 1 spot at Nebelhorn (the final 6 spots must go to 6 different countries).

 

[yyyskate]

This last one makes no sense.
If one of the other Chinese girls qualify an Olympic spot in Helsinki, Chinese ladies couldn't get any more spots at Nebelhorn Trophy (the final 6 spots are reserved to countries stil without a spot). If they both bomb and China get no spots in Helsinki, they can qualify just 1 spot at Nebelhorn (the final 6 spots must go to 6 different countries).

I also can not make any sense out of it.

 

[Violet Bliss]

From Zijun's two recent twits, she seems to be going through a difficult time and trying to be strong. I wish her well and hope she will compete at Worlds 2017 and skate her best. But most of all, I wish for her to he healthy and happy, and hopefully a long and brilliant skating career reaching her potential.

Some rumours are a bit convoluted and not credible.

 

[yyyskate]

zijun recent weido, if interested go and visit yourself http://weibo.com/u/1911237367?topnav=1&wvr=6&topsug=1 if you understand Chinese judge it by yourself.

I will translate some recent one (that is relevant) here.

"I will forever thankful to those people who are still by my side during such time"

she liked ZheTang Ning's post , Chinese famous super talented swimmer known for being sabotaged by Feds
"people are always stronger than one might thought, especially when you look back, you will find that you walked an route never expected, Thank experience, thank growth, thank your support, accompany and encouragement along the way, Brave people will grow stronger quietly, the desire to advance forward will never cede, THERE IS POWER IN EVERY GAME IN MY LIFE, happy Chinese new year"

the deleted post as others posted before, something around the lines "reality is difficult, conspiracy is even more brutal"

 

[yyyskate]

zijun's condition, he won Asian Winter game silver medal, as you all know.
After that, she also won the gold medal of a domestic competition about 2 weeks ago, some say that Zijun's condition is not good due to inconsistent training?

 

[Violet Bliss]

zijun's condition, he won Asian Winter game silver medal, as you all know.
After that, she also won the gold medal of a domestic competition about 2 weeks ago, some say that Zijun's condition is not good due to inconsistent training?

I don't think there is any direct blame on inconsistent training. It is conceivable that she is not in the best of health with adjustment issues in Russia as she has revealed, and that she may not be in regular training because of it. She is not eating as well as she could and does look very thin. I can't speculate on what is really causing her distress but can only wish for the best for her and watch the event unfold. Really want to see her at the Olympics if not Worlds coming up.

 

[yyyskate]

CCTV5: Team leader Ms Tang says, Zijun's health condition is not good recently, always having a fever, didn't do normal training. She said final decision will be made before departure.

but many fans think this is a lie, and think that there is no sign/indication that Zijun is sick or having fever.

I just post info I gathered, also post some opinions from Chinese fans (skating communities)

As for coaching adjustment, her diet, blabla etc. Her result this season is getting better and better, and she is peaking towards worlds and she just won a domestic competition recently. these are the facts we know.

Although the decision is not final yet. but some insider Chinese fans think that Zijun very possibly cannot go to worlds.

 

[OS]

For goodness sake, it is human to get ill and get over it. There's time for healing and there's time for competing. Ms Tang sound like she is trying to save face now after a rash decision.

Athletes prepare their entire year for the biggest event, it would be a terrible tragedy if they are robbed of this chance just because of federation 'unilateral decisions'. If Zijun's team feel they are healthy enough to compete, the federation should be supportive. In any case, always look at the big picture, she is their best chance. She is one of China's big stars, and that is important to nourish and build up PCS for any chance of competition.

I can't imagine any other federation pull this on their stars can you? Soo crazy!! I hope Chinese skating fans make their opinions heard... loud and clear!!! Zijun need their support NOW!

 

[skatefan22]

According to Ziquan Zhao's weibo, she is currently suffering from injury (on her feet) and has to have cortisone injections. Wenjing Sui commented to Ziquan Zhao's post saying that she felt sorry for her suffering.

So the Chinese fed is replacing an apparently healthy athlete (Zijun) by an apparently injured one (Ziquan)... What exactly is the reason that compelled the fed to make such a weird decision??

Let's summarize the changes that the Chinese fed has made to the entry list lately:

First version:
Zijun Li
Ziquan Zhao
Xiangning Li (Substitute)

Second version:
Zijun Li
Xiangning Li
Ziquan Zhao (Substitute - probably due to her injury)

Third version:
Xiangning Li
Ziquan Zhao
Zijun Li (Substitue - due to what???)

 

[Violet Bliss]

For goodness sake, it is human to get ill and get over it. There's time for healing and there's time for competing. Ms Tang sound like she is trying to save face now after a rash decision.

Athletes prepare their entire year for the biggest event, it would be a terrible tragedy if they are robbed of this chance just because of federation 'unilateral decisions'. If Zijun's team feel they are healthy enough to compete, the federation should be supportive. In any case, always look at the big picture, she is their best chance. She is one of China's big stars, and that is important to nourish and build up PCS for any chance of competition.

I can't imagine any other federation pull this on their stars can you? Soo crazy!! I hope Chinese skating fans make their opinions heard... loud and clear!!! Zijun need their support NOW!

So why do you think the Chinese fed alone would pull this on their stars? Are they inherently and particularly stupid and intent on self sabotaging against all sane logic?

Fan's opinions? Since when are they always right and sane? Often an over protective intention whips them up into a demonizing frenzy against the perceived enemy without any logical basis. As the sport is young in China and the internet is populated mostly by the young, the online Chinese fans tend to be young, smart and some of them quite rash. As in the partner switch event, a few of them registered at English forums for the sole purpose of dramatizing and spinning the event and vilifying their fed, and Zhang Hao in that case, quite easily since most forum members here can't read Chinese. I however looked up some sourced articles and found extreme manipulation by these information/drama providers. More over, not all Chinese fans are of the same opinions and some, I found out, were embarrassed by those stirring up outside China.

I admit I don't know all that's happening and can only react on what is actually known and what seems logical. I would rather wait for real info and development than to insist on someone doing crazy things and calling them crazy when there is no good reason for them to do the crazy thing.