Medvedeva leaving Eteri

[Scott512]

WHAT

WHAT

WHAT

I was sure we would see Alina leave Eteri before we'd see Evgenia leave Eteri. Evgenia has always been the favorite, apparently, and she's leaving????

I don't think anything about her skating would improve by moving to CSKA. She'd be top dog there, but I think we'd be likely to see her jumps and skating decline. Whereas I think Brian and Tracey could help her become a hands-down, inarguable GOAT.

(ETA: I wouldn't be surprised if she's having a Michelle Kwan leaving Frank Carroll moment. She's ready to be more independent and find out what kind of skater she is without the "molding" of the coach she's trained under for so many years. I'm sure she wants to work with different choreographers and train with great skaters who aren't threatening to replace her.)

Thank you for saying it all in your first sentence.

It must have gotten to Zhenya to have Alina and Eteri's teen queens around her all the time. I don't blame her. Zhenya needs to be where she can max out her skating career and Eteri may be more focused on Alena, Sasha, Anna and Alina and more. Maybe Orser can help her improve a this stage of her career more than Eteri would have. But Yulia and now Zhenya leaving Eteri has to hurt Eteri alot.

Zhenya is an important sportswoman for Russia. I do not see her changing citizenships.

 

[charlotte14]

Interesting. I don't know if Armenia is her origin, but I was thinking that representing a smaller fed would be ideal. I'd love to see Evgenia have a long career where she continues to develop. And I feel like that's what she wants. If she won olympic gold in 2022, she'd be 22 years old. That's practically elderly, among Russian ladies! But having said that, she's shown she's passionate about being Russian and representing Russia.

Carolina Kostner has the ideal situation: a country (and fed) who supports her enthusiastically. She had/has competition in Italy, but not so much that she ever had to worry about losing her spot to Worlds, Europeans or Olympics to someone else.

Carolina was more a jumper/beautiful technique skater when she emerged into the international spotlight. Now, everyone thinks of her as the ultimate example of an artistic skater.

That's what can happen when a skater has time to develop, and the desire.

The sad thing is will Russian fed ever release Med even if she’s no longer top contender when their juniors go up? I am afraid not.

 

[plushyfan]

Evgenia may represent Armenia, Armenia can pay Orser. She doesn't need sponsors.

 

[skylark]

Well of course you are correct. But both can be winners and go to the same coach. Javi 2 times world champion and Olympic medalist, Yuzuru 2 times Olympic champion. And both D/W and V/M are Olympic Champions and I'm pretty sure P/C will be in 2022.
.

There's the rub. I totally agree with you about this truth: Both Javi and Yuzuru are winners. And there are many, many ways of defining "winning." Developiing longevity, and/or developing their skating in a new, challenging direction is also a win, or at least a very worthy goal.

(which again, so that I stay on topic .... I'll repeat that I think this is what Evgenia wants and hopes to do, by changing coaches.)

And yet ... and yet. There's also the truth that to the general public and to many devoted figure skating fans, one hasn't reached that pinnacle or maybe even earned the moniker of "winner" unless an OGM is in the trophy case. Evgenia's a winner already, of two World Championships and many other titles. Someone else may be a winner with any World or Olympic medal. Didn't the Shibs say about their individual Olympic Bronze medal, "it feels like gold"? I really admire that. Nathan said about his World gold medal that he "wouldn't trade" it. Ashley's world silver was a triumphant moment, and it was as much due to the experience of skating that program in that moment, for that audience .... all those were feelings she, (and everyone) enjoyed before the results were revealed.

We all want our skaters to have results, but every skater has to decide and maybe evolve. For instance, most agree that Aljona persevered until she won the OGM, but the most impressive part of it for me is that she transformed herself into a completely different skater with Bruno. At the risk of being judged OT, I'll post a link to this eloquent article by Jean-Christophe Berlot, who thanks Tatiana Flade for her book, which provided some of the background information. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2018/04/27/273798642/savchenko-wills-herself-to-reach-mountaintop

Apologies for the topic: I couldn't help myself! If anyone wants to refer me to a better thread to move this long post to, I will comply.

 

[Mrs. P]

While that being in a competitive pressure cooker has its benefits, getting OUT of that same pressure cooker also has benefit. Honestly, think of it this way. When you're in that environment--you're constantly thinking of competition, competition, competition. You're constantly thinking about how you're doing relative to the other girls -- that's why you see an Eteri girl during a JGP look so dejected even if they won a competition. I think Evgenia has actually done really well in maintaining composure even when she loses --- but after a while, it gets old constantly having compete in practice.

Sometimes, new scenery allows you to get to know what you TRULY want as a skater and as a person. I think Evgenia is very competitive -- that's why she has the results she received, but it's obvious to me that she wants more than that. She wants to see the world, learn about other cultures, develop valuable friendships. I know they say that they're all friends at the Eteri camp and I don't deny that but I think it's really hard to have much depth because everything revolves around skating and competition...but I think that's why her friendship with Wakaba is so valuable and refreshing -- because while they became friends because of skating -- they also can leave that environment and enjoy a dinner out or talk about other things.

 

[olegbar]

As to switching citizenship for Armenia, (the rumor has appeared today in Russian media, as it was in March), but it's interesting that Averbuch was the only one who commented on it today openly for Russian media. He said: 'For Armenia, it's definitely no'.

 

[Kelti]

As to switching citizenship for Armenia, (the rumor has appeared today in Russian media, as it was in March), but it's interesting that Averbuch was the only one who commented on it today openly for Russian media. He said: 'For Armenia, it's definitely no'.

Even if the russia fed agrees to release her, she would then probably lose all her sponsor deals which we assume is the main financial backup. Of course she probably will be able to earn money from shows to self finance herself as Javi has done so in the past. The situation does get a lot more tough (financially and fed support wise) Plus i don’t think Russia would release her to another country anyways.

 

[charlotte14]

While that being in a competitive pressure cooker has its benefits, getting OUT of that same pressure cooker also has benefit. Honestly, think of it this way. When you're in that environment--you're constantly thinking of competition, competition, competition. You're constantly thinking about how you're doing relative to the other girls -- that's why you see an Eteri girl during a JGP look so dejected even if they won a competition. I think Evgenia has actually done really well in maintaining composure even when she loses --- but after a while, it gets old constantly having compete in practice.

Sometimes, new scenery allows you to get to know what you TRULY want as a skater and as a person. I think Evgenia is very competitive -- that's why she has the results she received, but it's obvious to me that she wants more than that. She wants to see the world, learn about other cultures, develop valuable friendships. I know they say that they're all friends at the Eteri camp and I don't deny that but I think it's really hard to have much depth because everything revolves around skating and competition...but I think that's why her friendship with Wakaba is so valuable and refreshing -- because while they became friends because of skating -- they also can leave that environment and enjoy a dinner out or talk about other things.

Best comment of the day!
I’ve read so much depressive words about Med’a chance is going down because she’s too old. Even someone on Twitter said Eteri told Med to retire and that she has no chance. At least we should know there’s more than just that in skating.

 

[moriel]

As to switching citizenship for Armenia, (the rumor has appeared today in Russian media, as it was in March), but it's interesting that Averbuch was the only one who commented on it today openly for Russian media. He said: 'For Armenia, it's definitely no'.

Actually skating for a small fed may screw her up a big deal.
You know, she will have less benefit of doubt on her lutz, for example, and so on if skating for a small fed. Also, not sure if Armenia could afford Orser and living in canada for her.

 

[saturdaysun]

It's taken me a whole day to get through this thread and digest the news and I'm still shook! But happy for her, this is a big, bold move to take control of her own career and destiny. What a fighter she is. Now, if this works out, please help Alina do the same...

Beyond just Evgenia's own career, with this development, as well as the Chinese teams going overseas, I hope this season sets a precedent and we see more places previously closed off to international training really start to open up. More ideas, techniques, etc. flowing back and forth across countries and continents can only help the sport grow.

 

[Ophelia]

Actually skating for a small fed may screw her up a big deal.
You know, she will have less benefit of doubt on her lutz, for example, and so on if skating for a small fed. Also, not sure if Armenia could afford Orser and living in canada for her.

If Kazakhstan can afford Elizabet, Armenia can afford Med.

 

[yume]

The fed can also say that she has enough money

 

[olegbar]

The Director of Sambo-70 an hour ago made another interview. He said: both Eteri and Evgenia keep silence and don't say anything to me: https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1062871643.html
+ In Russian social media today Alena Kostornaia was quoted as: "As to Evgenia and Polina, I don't comment, they'll say it by themselves". It may mean that Polina Tsurskaya's shift from Eteri to Buyanova might be more than just a rumor.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Polina and Masha seemed to be besties at one point. If they start to train together it could be a really cool thing for the two of them. Plus Anastasia will be there too. Now that’s s pretty cool team of skaters

 

[yume]

Buyanova has now Radionova, Sotskova, Tsurskaya, and Gubanova. She needs a jumps specialist.

 

[Rina RUS]

Алексей Ягудин: " Не могут два человека, готовые побеждать, ужиться у одного тренера
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6o0xpKoDNo

Oh, I think such weird videos are just awful (if they can be called "videos").
Where did they take Yagudin's words?..
Here?.. I translated this text:
http://tass.ru/sport/5178099

Yagudin: "It is not the first time that I say, that two athletes desiring to win, can't share one coach, even if the coach does his best to get it right. I compare to the situation which I had with Plushenko and Mishin. Two can practice together, but anyway one of them will be mentally crushed. I was a boy aged 18, when I understood I needed to leave, staying would be a dead-end road. Maybe Medvedeva felt the same.
They can continue practicing together, but always one will win, another will lose. If two athletes skate at the same level, if none of them wants to be the 2nd, the person seeks for a way to change his life. We should support any Zhenya's decision. Obviously, she is one of the leaders in ladies figure skating, as well as Alina who won the Olympic gold with good reason.
There are many cases when athletes change their coaches, many different situations, and people who don't really know the situation - like me and you - don't have a right to say whether it is good or not, we don't have a right to blame any side, to say, that they didn't do something they should have done. This is their world, their situation. We can only wait, that the situation will be better than it was. We wish good luck to Eteri's group where Alina stays and many other talented kids, not only girls, they also have boys now. I am a father of two daughters, and I don't have a right to be a judge and to look for negative sides of the situation.
I am just a fan of Russian sport... I'm a person who switches on the TV to see our ice hockey team playing at Worlds now. I wish everything what happens may help our athletes to make their dreams come true. I want to see the triumph of the Russian sport."

by the way, Yagudin asked Medvedeva about the situation in the group, when he did an interview with her.

Evgenia: "Actually, I'm a non-confrontational person, I feel how I should skirt contentious issues. /.../ There is no relashionship without controversies. In my opinion, after some small conflicts, if we find a decision, the relashionship becomes stronger. I would't say, that I like small controversies, but I'm OK with them, I treat them as a matter of course."

and etc.
(with subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vmPMTXEyeM

 

[VenusHalley]

Wow. I was expecting Alina to leave Eteri, not Evgenia. But then again, with her injury and touring in Asia so long... she may find impulses that made her want to change. Like for example, I wondered, why she always had such overdramatic programs, when she seems so fun and happy outside of competitions. It worked for the points and general audience, but did she enjoy it truly? And so on and so on.....

I wonder if we will now see nasty rumors about how Zhenya is lazy and problematic :/

Or maybe she just wants to move on, since Eteri seems more like children's coach and Evgenia is now a woman (whose body is getting ready for babies.... J/k!!!!!) and wants somebody more fit for this stage of career.

 

[MsLiinaLii]

Ok. Even though I do not think that leaving Eteri is the right choice, I kind of get it. But if Evgenia changes country, I will unfortunately not be rooting for her that much. Even though you do perform for yourself, you also represent the country and to trade the Fed that spent so much on her so easily is not the most ethical decision.

 

[RemyRose]

Buyanova has now Radionova, Sotskova, Tsurskaya, and Gubanova. She needs a jumps specialist.

You mean a better jump specialist? Because why else would Uspenski be there? Plus she has a brand new rink so maybe she will add more specialists to help as she has never had this many senior students before and she also has Kovtun and Voronov plus a couple of juniors (Selitskaya helps with at least 1 of them).

 

[charlotte14]

Ok. Even though I do not think that leaving Eteri is the right choice, I kind of get it. But if Evgenia changes country, I will unfortunately not be rooting for her that much. Even though you do perform for yourself, you also represent the country and to trade the Fed that spent so much on her so easily is not the most ethical decision.

No country will do political support for her better than Russia anyway. Also she gets sponsors from Russia. I bet she won’t change country.