In the opinion of experts and the executive committee of the (federation), Kovtun has better chances of getting into the top ten skaters in the world than the other national pretenders," the federation said...
In the opinion of experts and the executive committee of the (federation), Kovtun has better chances of getting into the top ten skaters in the world than the other national pretenders," the federation said...
If he wanted to go to worlds he should have been skating like this ten years ago!!!!!! Lol lol or based on kovtun and gachinski ages 13 years ago!!! Ageism!!
I have to agree with karne saying 'another Gachinski all over again...cause I still believe that Artur should have stayed in the junior circuit one more season after winning 2010 Jr Bronze medal, in order to win the junior title in 2011 then to move to the senior. It's just very sad to see him now struggle so much. :no: He must have not been 'fully' ready to compete at the senior level, mentally especillay I would say, even though he did win the bronze medal at 2011 Worlds at his first senior season.
BTW, Russia is not alone in this sort of activity.
The USA sent Dornbush to senior Worlds, when Dornbush finished second in Seniors at US nationals to Ryan Bradley. He had won the JGPF, and was positioned to win or medal at Jr. Worlds, but was sent to Sr. Worlds instead. He skated a bit scratchily, but without falling at Sr. Worlds, and finished top 10, a respectable debut. Likewise, Ross Miner, who finished third, also skated well, and finished one place behind Richard. And the result was that they did not qualify for 3 spots for the following year, since Bradley did not skate well, but retired. Both Ross & Ricky came in for a lot of negative press, despite skating as well as they could have at Worlds. Neither was getting an rep points from the judges.
I don't think that sending Ricky to Senior Worlds was the right decision for the US. I don't think it particularly helped his career either. Guys that skate the fall JGP as juniors should go to Jr. Worlds unless they win the Senior championship outright; it's too much of a shock of a way to start their Senior careers. And then there's the fact that their Senior LP is a bit different (and longer) than the junior LP they have been practicing.
I have to disagree with you there. I believe Artur was perfectly ready for Seniors when he started; his first Senior season was very respectable and finished with that bronze. His second Senior season was also reasonable, he came on song mid-season when he won silver at Russian Nats and then Euros. Whatever happened at Worlds was obviously unexpected but the amount of blame heaped on him (especially in comparison to Voronov who pretty well got away with it scot-free!) for the loss of the two spots was inexcusable (considering Artur was the reason they had two spots in the first place). He was publicly berated by his own federation. Even Plushenko rebuked him publicly. I imagine that might have been what did his head in.
And that's my fear for Kovtun. If he doesn't get the two spots, I bet he'll be subject to the same trial by fire that Gachinski was. Though maybe not, since he is a Tarasova student.
I don't think that sending Ricky to Senior Worlds was the right decision for the US. I don't think it particularly helped his career either. Guys that skate the fall JGP as juniors should go to Jr. Worlds unless they win the Senior championship outright; it's too much of a shock of a way to start their Senior careers.