Mikhail Kolyada

[lavenderblossom]

So he was 12! He looks like 8 or 9. Those trousers are too big for him

I want to wish him good luck in the individual event. I think he is a really talented skater and and a kind person, and I agree with your assessment of his character, that he cares too much. I think his problem is that he can't really say what he feels or that he's had to learn to act a certain way to take up the mantle of the next Russian star, but he needs to be able to take things one step at a time instead of rushing to where people expect him to be. It seems to have really taken a toll on his confidence.
I hope for his own sake he can skate well so he can come away with positive memories of the Olympics. I was worried for him after the short, and really happy when he came put and performed the FS as much as he could in spite of his jump troubles. And his smile! Taking out 4S is a good idea imo, it's even more unstable than the 4Lz, and he needs stability.

 

[evanescence9696]

Well, as for me, I'd rather return back the 4S because we see that something went wrong with 4T during Nationals and there's again a chance to get a REP, so better fall on 4S (a chance to do it clean also exists - I saw some good attempts at Rostelecom Cup, Nationals and Euros during practices) and do triple lutz-double toe in the end of the program, than get two 4T or popped into 3 one. After it he will start to worry about triple REPs and count what he can do.

 

[vorravorra]

So he was 12! He looks like 8 or 9. Those trousers are too big for him

I want to wish him good luck in the individual event. I think he is a really talented skater and and a kind person, and I agree with your assessment of his character, that he cares too much. I think his problem is that he can't really say what he feels or that he's had to learn to act a certain way to take up the mantle of the next Russian star, but he needs to be able to take things one step at a time instead of rushing to where people expect him to be. It seems to have really taken a toll on his confidence.
I hope for his own sake he can skate well so he can come away with positive memories of the Olympics. I was worried for him after the short, and really happy when he came put and performed the FS as much as he could in spite of his jump troubles. And his smile! Taking out 4S is a good idea imo, it's even more unstable than the 4Lz, and he needs stability.

13, he was born in February 1995.

 

[vorravorra]

Well, as for me, I'd rather return back the 4S because we see that something went wrong with 4T during Nationals and there's again a chance to get a REP, so better fall on 4S (a chance to do it clean also exists - I saw some good attempts at Rostelecom Cup, Nationals and Euros during practices) and do triple lutz-double toe in the end of the program, than get two 4T or popped into 3 one. After it he will start to worry about triple REPs and count what he can do.

Yes, there is no point in jumping a 4T there unless it's good. I am feeling like maybe he should take out the 4Lz from the SP at this point, because it also seems to be having a detrimental effect on his 4T right now, and he can't afford it there.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I think the one upside of having the 4t instead of the 4s is that Misha is more used to competing it, and can save it more than the 4s, which he never landed in competition yet. It's good that he landed one in the FS of the team event, maybe it'll help him get a handle on things.

 

[vorravorra]

Looks like Misha took yesterday off and jumped a bunch of triples with one 4T in the morning practice. Must still be saving his strength. I hope he can recover sufficiently for the individual event.

Kolyada: 3T3T, 2A3T, 3T, 3T3T, 2A2T, 2T, 3A, 4T,3S, 3S, 2T, 3T, 3S, 3S

 

[vorravorra]

I think the one upside of having the 4t instead of the 4s is that Misha is more used to competing it, and can save it more than the 4s, which he never landed in competition yet. It's good that he landed one in the FS of the team event, maybe it'll help him get a handle on things.

He had a 4T<<, how is that at all useful? His 4Ts are not as reliable as they used to be, which means a high risk of a REP. With 4S he doesn't need to save it, he can fall on it as long as it is rotated.

The 4T is the real problem, not whatever happens with the 4Lz and 4S. He needs 4Ts and 3As, the rest should follow.
Still worried about the combo in the SP. Only one chance to do it.

 

[Flyflybutterfly]

Hello everyone!!!

I'm new on this place! Just because I do like this amazing skater and because all what has happened last Friday I decided to subscribe to GS. I’m not an expert in figure skating in fact I just begin to understand this discipline but I’ve always enjoyed watching it. This is one of that sports that makes me not to switch off TV when I saw it there. And this is how I discover him once upon a time.... when he was competing at Boston Worlds. I just want to wish him the best luck at individual event. Hope he can overcome that nightmare and demonstrate what he is capable to do. Sorry, my English is poor but I think you can understand it. So, here I am. See you.

 

[Tutto]

He had a 4T<<, how is that at all useful? His 4Ts are not as reliable as they used to be, which means a high risk of a REP. With 4S he doesn't need to save it, he can fall on it as long as it is rotated.

The 4T is the real problem, not whatever happens with the 4Lz and 4S. He needs 4Ts and 3As, the rest should follow.
Still worried about the combo in the SP. Only one chance to do it.

I support two 4Ts, yes it is a risk but considering his mental state he does not need now that worry about 4S on the top of 4lz and 4T. If he concentrates now on 4T I think he hasn't lost it completely he did the second one in LP (not good enough for the combo but okayish). It is all between the ears at the moment with Mika (using the favourite expression of BESP guys). I totally understand why they were delaying the decision to take out 4S for so long - the layout becomes a bit problematic but it is a right decision and should have been made after GP season when it became clear it was not working.
Re: SP His main goal for SP to keep his place in the last flight, if they take 4lz out it means losing the battle even before it starts.
My dearest wish that Nina Mozer would have time to be there for him, as far as I remember she mentioned in the interview that she leaves on the 17th. Looking back I think she was instrumental in his success in Boston too. Valentina said in the interview how important it was for Mika to train along the Champions when they were with Mozer group for 2 weeks prior to Boston
Thats a really tough situation when you are nervous and you see that your coach is even more nervous than you. Mika badly needs someone with real experience right now. Hopefully the Fed understands the problem now and doing something too.
I agree with you they could put the easiest jump after 4lz in FS to give him a time to re-group in fact I would put any jump but 4lz first but I know it is not going to happen. The fact is there is no time for major changes, the new layout with two 4ts at least they have been working on for some time and I think they should stick to that plan.

 

[Tutto]

Some distraction: Mika is gaining global fame:

https://www.graceland.com/news/details/olympic-skater-performs-to-elvis-medley/8419/

With thank you to his VK Group for this info!

Also read on Russian forum:
Philippe Candeloro was commentating on French TV -he seems to be in love with Mika, would love to have him as his student, thought that he should have been ahead of Patrick in FS!!! I so hope someone would tell this to Mika because he loves Philippe and his Musketeers's program is his absolutely favourite.
I hope during these last difficult days Mika's realised not only how many haters are out there but how much support he has around the world! Go Mika!!!!!

 

[Tutto]

I think there's a certain amount of stupidity in hating him because he had a problem in the SP. But he did fuel the haters, which their only work is to celebrate when he does something wrong - even if they try to make it seem like it's nothing personal. There's a number of them in GS.

But I'm still wondering what might have happened with Dmitri? They had to choose a man that could skate both, and they obviously didn't send Dmitri, which was the one that competed much better in the last competition. I still wonder why's that. But it's not like we can do anything about that now. Misha has his Olympic medal, and hopefully he can manage to get good results this week, it could be a huge milestone for his career, and maybe bring back some of the confidence he's lost.

He could have done better or bombed we will never know. But it was a perfectly reasonable decision to choose Mika for a team event. The decision like this are not made on the basis of one competition and Dmitri hadn't been most consistent skater prior to Euros. Besides who deserved the team medal more based on previous seasons? Who earned a second spot for Olympics that allows Dmitri to be at PC in the first place? The answer is obvious I think.

Sergei would have been a perfect choice for the Team competition, in my opinion.

I would not be sure. Sergei has a history of bombing when it mattered most - Nats, Worlds... where was the guarantee he would not do same at Olympics?

Because overall Misha had shown better results this season. Which is why I've been saying there was zero reason to send him to Euros at all, it didn't change anything. And Dima would have been unlikely to pull off four Olympic programs for reasons of stamina. It took all he had to skate that FS at Euros. Making him skate the SP could have been a good idea, but they were dead set on not substituting men as you have said. Or they could have simply had Misha skate Dima's content in the SP which could have helped, but that didn't happen for whatever reason.

There was a hope that he might have beaten Javi and that would have set him up well for the Olympics. Besides traditionally Russian skaters never skip Euros.
I think a mistake was in a training plan there was no rest planned between the Nats & Euros at all - no wonder he got burned out.

 

[vorravorra]

I support two 4Ts, yes it is a risk but considering his mental state he does not need now that worry about 4S on the top of 4lz and 4T. If he concentrates now on 4T I think he hasn't lost it completely he did the second one in LP (not good enough for the combo but okayish). It is all between the ears at the moment with Mika (using the favourite expression of BESP guys). I totally understand why they were delaying the decision to take out 4S for so long - the layout becomes a bit problematic but it is a right decision and should have been made after GP season when it became clear it was not working.

I am fully behind the 4T layout as long as he can do it. It is definitely the right decision overall, I am just worried about right now. Saved okayish 4Ts won't do it, at least one has to be good enough for a combo, and his 4T has become wonky.

Re: SP His main goal for SP to keep his place in the last flight, if they take 4lz out it means losing the battle even before it starts.

Also the right decision as long as he doesn't miss that stupid combo.

My dearest wish that Nina Mozer would have time to be there for him, as far as I remember she mentioned in the interview that she leaves on the 17th. Looking back I think she was instrumental in his success in Boston too. Valentina said in the interview how important it was for Mika to train along the Champions when they were with Mozer group for 2 weeks prior to Boston
Thats a really tough situation when you are nervous and you see that your coach is even more nervous than you. Mika badly needs someone with real experience right now. Hopefully the Fed understands the problem now and doing something too.
I agree with you they could put the easiest jump after 4lz in FS to give him a time to re-group in fact I would put any jump but 4lz first but I know it is not going to happen. The fact is there is no time for major changes, the new layout with two 4ts at least they have been working on for some time and I think they should stick to that plan.

4Lz as not the first jump isn't physically workable I suspect. Hanyu wouldn't risk losing the combo (how many times did that go wrong?) with a solo 4Lo in the SP if he could do the 4Lo as the second jump, it isn't due to an inability to count as some people keep insisting.

Mozer wasn't by the boards in Boston, so let's hope her not being there at that particular moment isn't crucial. Right now she won't be in the mood to cheer anyone up anyway. But I wish Valentina would get a grip on herself (sorry to be harsh, also not in the best mood after pairs. I prefer Sui/Han to Aliona/Bruno and I am not a fan of D/R at all). A skater who is as responsible and inclined to take it all upon himself as Misha needs someone to be a rock and tell him it will all be fine, not let it show through just how much he has let her down. When he already feels like it's the end of the world he doesn't need any "help" in that department. It may even be better if she was angry and not despondent. Actually, I think it's time for Misha to get angry too, mentally tell everyone to go to hell and skate for himself and not for anyone else on this planet as well as he can. None of that "I need to redeem myself" stuff, it never does any good.

P.S. Maybe they should have brought Olga with them, she is the tougher one.

 

[vorravorra]

Morning practice:

Kolyada: 3T, 3Lz, 3Lz, 3T3T, 3Lz1/2Lo2S, 2A, 3A, 3T, 4T, 3Lz

Still not really jumping. I think there is simply not enough time to recover between the team and individual events, particularly for guys with quads, particularly if they skate both programs. What enemies of figure skating have designed it this way?

 

[coldblueeyes]

A skater who is as responsible and inclined to take it all upon himself as Misha needs someone to be a rock and tell him it will all be fine, not let it show through just how much he has let her down. When he already feels like it's the end of the world he doesn't need any "help" in that department. It may even be better if she was angry and not despondent. Actually, I think it's time for Misha to get angry too, mentally tell everyone to go to hell and skate for himself and not for anyone else on this planet as well as he can. None of that "I need to redeem myself" stuff, it never does any good.

P.S. Maybe they should have brought Olga with them, she is the tougher one.

I want to see Misha angry, too. I think he has to get out all the frustrations he's had since forever, and now is the perfect time. After T/M lost the podium, I don't know what people expect from Misha now, and he shouldn't even think of that. He has to skate for himself, because appeasing to haters, fans or the wishes of the fed doesn't really work for him.

 

[Flyflybutterfly]

Hello to everyone,


It's late night here and I feel like . Probably I won't be able to see Misha performance. I want to wish him all the luck of the world. That dominates its anxiety and skates I clean. I wish him to be able to classify as high place as possible.

 

[Tutto]

Despite the mistakes on the jumps it was a beautifully skated program and 3A was so good (in fact the popped 3lz was beautiful) 4T is .
Praying for a good outcome tomorrow by which I mean not good placings or scores but the program Mika can be reasonably be satisfied with for now.
After all this is over I'd prescribe a 2week holiday and starting a new.
Lots of love & support :luv17:

 

[vorravorra]

So, the same 4T problem rearing its ugly head in the SP. That's what Misha says right after the skate is ended "what's wrong with the toe again?" Otherwise it seemed like he didn't expect much more than that. It's the same loss of axis-leaning backwards issue that started at Euros and I don't think it's all in the head. The 3A pop in the last SP was solely nerves, this is more than that. Maybe too much attention was paid to other jumps because 4T was stable so it ended up becoming less stable like 3A last season.

Being ready to jump 3Lz+3T since he'd tripled the lutz anyway would have been a good idea of course. That's what Aliev has done a few times this season. Misha has tripled the lutz but never added a combo to it.

I am even less keen on the 2 4T layout for tomorrow. If Misha can rotate the 4S, he should go with it, it gives better BV even if he screws up all the quads.

 

[Tutto]

So, the same 4T problem rearing its ugly head in the SP. That's what Misha says right after the skate is ended "what's wrong with the toe again?" Otherwise it seemed like he didn't expect much more than that. It's the same loss of axis-leaning backwards issue that started at Euros and I don't think it's all in the head. The 3A pop in the last SP was solely nerves, this is more than that. Maybe too much attention was paid to other jumps because 4T was stable so it ended up becoming less stable like 3A last season.

Being ready to jump 3Lz+3T since he'd tripled the lutz anyway would have been a good idea of course. That's what Aliev has done a few times this season. Misha has tripled the lutz but never added a combo to it.

I am even less keen on the 2 4T layout for tomorrow. If Misha can rotate the 4S, he should go with it, it gives better BV even if he screws up all the quads.

That's a big if (4S) has he even been training it recently? I still think it is more mental problem with 4T - a botched takeoff leads to axis lean - my guess I am no expert but it could have started due to nerves and now sort of stuck IDK
Who could have thought that the first Oly experience will be like this for Mika- but well, what doesn't kill - makes us stronger...

 

[vorravorra]

That's a big if (4S) has he even been training it recently? I still think it is more mental problem with 4T - a botched takeoff leads to axis lean - my guess I am no expert but it could have started due to nerves and now sort of stuck IDK
Who could have thought that the first Oly experience will be like this for Mika- but well, what doesn't kill - makes us stronger...

I think it may be both nerves and technical and both of these exacerbate each other in a feedback loop. Which needs to be broken. But it's unlikely to happen by tomorrow.

 

[Tutto]

I think it may be both nerves and technical and both of these exacerbate each other in a feedback loop. Which needs to be broken. But it's unlikely to happen by tomorrow.

No it is unlikely I am not too optimistic about tomorrow. I sooo wish for a miracle to happen and for him just to go out there and enjoy himself like he did in the second half of his team FS but...
Good luck Mika all the same - you haven't had much of it lately!