Mikhail Kolyada

[coldblueeyes]

I do know I'm the ones that are always harping on him about his mistakes, even though I try to have a more respectful approach, and I fully support his decision of doing a one-quad SP. Saying that, even though he made many mistakes this season he still is the most condecorated russian male skater after Plushenko. It might not seem much, but he was on the podium of most of his competitions this year, and people might want to downplay that, but it's been years since any russian guy managed that. And I'm happy with that.

 

[vorravorra]

I just noticed that his name is Japanese completely omits the "k". It reads as mihairu. Can any Japanese speakers shed some light for me why the "k" is omitted since the "ka" kana could also be used to make it "Mikairu"?

Actually, Mikhail doesn't have a "k" in it, but a kind of harder "h" which does not exist in English and is traditionally transliterated as "kh". It does not exist in Japanese either, but Mihairu is as legitimate as Mikairu. Neither of them are 100% correct, but at least "h" is a fricative so you could say it is actually closer to the original than "k".

 

[Danibellerika]

Actually, Mikhail doesn't have a "k" in it, but a kind of harder "h" which does not exist in English and is traditionally transliterated as "kh". It does not exist in Japanese either, but Mihairu is as legitimate as Mikairu. Neither of them are 100% correct, but at least "h" is a fricative so you could say it is actually closer to the original than "k".

Thank you! That is very helpful!

 

[vorravorra]

Thank you! That is very helpful!

If anyone is interested in linguistic intricacies, "kh" is this sound:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_velar_fricative

 

[vorravorra]

I fear TAT won't rest till she destroys him - it is really sad and scary... one would imagine that it is about time the Fed intervened?
I guess Mika knows well enough that it is the price he has to pay for his success. And fortunately he gets a lot of support too from his club & his fans.

At that press conference you mentioned he said that changing the layout for SP at Worlds was the right call and one of just a handful of good decisions made this season...
It sounded rather sad, he knows how much different things could have been...
What he and his team have gained though is the massive experience, he even looks older (no wonder Oly team event probably took some years off his life!)

Yes, he also said in an interview this season was "educational".

 

[SnowWhite]

I finally got around to watching some of the Worlds gala, and I really enjoyed his Nothing Else Matters program. IMHO it suits him better than most of the competitive programs he's done recently. Not that his SP this season was bad, and Nicolas Nadeau has probably just ruined all other Elvis programs for me. But it was the first time I really enjoyed his skating. I'd love to see him do something like NEM next season, or even adapt it. He's got so much quality to his skating, so I'd love to see him with great programs.

 

[Heleng]

Yes, falling apart would bring him to the vicinity of Boyang and Vincent at this Worlds. He generally keeps mistakes down to a reasonable number.

Also, when are the journalists going to learn that falls are not the absolute worst that can happen? They still express surprise any time anyone wins anything with falls. And now they are all repeating TAT's "Kolyada skated a ladies' short program at Worlds". Because ladies routinely do a 4-3 combo and a 3A in the second half This is a skater who won the first World medal in men since 2011 and together with Aliev brought back three spots for the first time since 2004. And all they can do is bash him. TAT's comments were as if Aliev brought back three spots all by himself: "yeah, yeah, Kolyada was third, but look at Dima with his seventh place!" And her words thеn get bounced around over and over in a media echo chamber. Even at the press conference Misha got attacked rather than complimented.

LOL, I guess she forgot that Misha was fourth at his first Worlds (with Javi, Yuzuru, and Patrick all there)?

 

[Heleng]

I finally got around to watching some of the Worlds gala, and I really enjoyed his Nothing Else Matters program. IMHO it suits him better than most of the competitive programs he's done recently. Not that his SP this season was bad, and Nicolas Nadeau has probably just ruined all other Elvis programs https://youtu.be/dOm0LK0-ttQfor me. But it was the first time I really enjoyed his skating. I'd love to see him do something like NEM next season, or even adapt it. He's got so much quality to his skating, so I'd love to see him with great programs.

In case you missed it, his Hallelujah exhibition from last season was also great. :luv17:
https://youtu.be/dOm0LK0-ttQ

 

[Tutto]

With the rules changes in the coming season it is hard not to speculate how it would affect Mika though we don't know all the details yet. If it is true that quads will be limited to one attempt per type that won't bode well with his reliance on 4Ts, he will have to make at least either 4lz or 4Sal more consistent, at the same time the falls will be penalised more harshly so it is a lose lose situation it seems. On the bright side, his quality elements sure will be scored higher due to extended GOE scale. Your thoughts?

 

[Danibellerika]

With the rules changes in the coming season it is hard not to speculate how it would affect Mika though we don't know all the details yet. If it is true that quads will be limited to one attempt per type that won't bode well with his reliance on 4Ts, he will have to make at least either 4lz or 4Sal more consistent, at the same time the falls will be penalised more harshly so it is a lose lose situation it seems. On the bright side, his quality elements sure will be scored higher due to extended GOE scale. Your thoughts?

I am hoping that he has a better season this season with more consistency and this season was an adjustment period for incorporating more quads. But we'll see.

 

[Tutto]

I am hoping that he has a better season this season with more consistency and this season was an adjustment period for incorporating more quads. But we'll see.

TBH I regard his 2016-17 season as the transitional one when he added 4lz to his LP and this season more of cementing his place at the very top. Medal wise this season was the best he ever done - on the podium in every event except Finlandia & individual Oly. But a clean LP unfortunately just didn't happen and I am sure, consistency is what Mika & his team focus now on but alas with the new rules coming into play, everything is so uncertain now, we shall see...

 

[coldblueeyes]

If anything, with the upcoming changes Misha would need to have a consistent 4sal and 4z, otherwise he might struggle to reach the very top - but I surely wouldn't mind seeing him with programs with less quads and the quality he achieved in the SP at Worlds, especially if the judges will be looking for that.

 

[yinchulin]

My wish list to Misha next season will be transitions, steps, and one maybe just one classical/cliché program.
Because if he did do those things, it was such a beauty. It's a shame that the music construction and jumping consistency interrupt the flow. Of course, I would love to see better choreography or something can hoist him up. But from the interviews he did, they gave me an impression he is a stubborn and slightly difficult person, so I wouldn't give too many hopes on that. (I love him though)

 

[Tutto]

My wish list to Misha next season will be transitions, steps, and one maybe just one classical/cliché program.
Because if he did do those things, it was such a beauty. It's a shame that the music construction and jumping consistency interrupt the flow. Of course, I would love to see better choreography or something can hoist him up. But from the interviews he did, they gave me an impression he is a stubborn and slightly difficult person, so I wouldn't give too many hopes on that. (I love him though)

I am genuinely interested how you got that impression because from what people who know him personally say he seems a very easygoing likeable guy. I am sure there are situations when he has to be 'stubborn' but one won't get far in elite sport without resilience & perseverance.
The situation with outside choreographers is rather complex because at first Mika's team simply had no money to get someone else to do the programs for him, then there is such thing as loyalty which makes it difficult for him to turn down Olga. Last season we finally saw him going to Lambiel even if it was only the stqs but it was the beginning and I have a feeling this coming season either Lambiel or someone else will choreograph the total programs or at least one. I for one hope it wont be Lambiel. I think his step sequences are beautiful but too difficult and it played a role in Mika's inconsistency this season.

 

[yinchulin]

I am genuinely interested how you got that impression because from what people who know him personally say he seems a very easygoing likeable guy. I am sure there are situations when he has to be 'stubborn' but one won't get far in elite sport without resilience & perseverance.
The situation with outside choreographers is rather complex because at first Mika's team simply had no money to get someone else to do the programs for him, then there is such thing as loyalty which makes it difficult for him to turn down Olga. Last season we finally saw him going to Lambiel even if it was only the stqs but it was the beginning and I have a feeling this coming season either Lambiel or someone else will choreograph the total programs or at least one. I for one hope it wont be Lambiel. I think his step sequences are beautiful but too difficult and it played a role in Mika's inconsistency this season.

I understand everything you said . This is a bad habit of me; 'cause I'm new fan of him, and I'm afraid that I held anticipations too high that I would end with devastation.

On my own defense, this kind of backlash rumors came from something Valentina had said: "he's a complicated man", along with some interviewer referred him as "difficult"(probably based on the fact that he turn down TAT or something I'm not aware of). For sure he's a loyal, talented, clear-headed young guy. I have no doubt with that.

As for the choreography, he did have a problem to keep the level up in the free program…though I do love how difficult and fascinating it is (as we saw in the Olympics individuals).

 

[Tutto]

I understand everything you said . This is a bad habit of me; 'cause I'm new fan of him, and I'm afraid that I held anticipations too high that I would end with devastation.

On my own defense, this kind of backlash rumors came from something Valentina had said: "he's a complicated man", along with some interviewer referred him as "difficult"(probably based on the fact that he turn down TAT or something I'm not aware of). For sure he's a loyal, talented, clear-headed young guy. I have no doubt with that.

As for the choreography, he did have a problem to keep the level up in the free program…though I do love how difficult and fascinating it is (as we saw in the Olympics individuals).

I am probably a little too 'protective'. You are right Valentina did refer to his character as not easy one in a recent interview (I was slightly surprised at such admission toward her favourite 'son') I am sure he can be stubborn sometimes, aren't we all
and yes his immense talent, evident to all (even his critics) bring with it the weight of expectations which can be a burden. I often get annoyed when he pops jumps (especially 3lo!) and then I have to remind myself that it is so easy sitting in a comfy armchair to criticise but all it takes a loss of concentration for a split second.
Lately I wonder if partly the reason for the mistakes in LP was that Elvis was a very 'outward' program and to try and perform and interact with the audience (which he loves doing) AND keep his focus at the same time, it is something he is still learning to do?

 

[yinchulin]

I am probably a little too 'protective'. You are right Valentina did refer to his character as not easy one in a recent interview (I was slightly surprised at such admission toward her favourite 'son') I am sure he can be stubborn sometimes, aren't we all
and yes his immense talent, evident to all (even his critics) bring with it the weight of expectations which can be a burden. I often get annoyed when he pops jumps (especially 3lo!) and then I have to remind myself that it is so easy sitting in a comfy armchair to criticise but all it takes a loss of concentration for a split second.
Lately I wonder if partly the reason for the mistakes in LP was that Elvis was a very 'outward' program and to try and perform and interact with the audience (which he loves doing) AND keep his focus at the same time, it is something he is still learning to do?

Oh, I just recalled I had read something from the Chinese fan community. Apparently they have somebody who have SNS contact with his father, and they suggested to his father that he probably should consider changing his couch after Olympic or this season. His father responsed with the general idea: he's a recalcitrant kid. I will convey this thought to him, but he's the one to make the call.

So, yeah, I love him. It's interesting for me to see from this perspective. [emoji14]

For the performances, I find it funny that fans likely have sync mindset with Valentina, when he pop jumps or fall.

 

[Tutto]

New interview with Mika in a local paper:

https://vecherka-spb.ru/2018/04/06/mixail-kolyada-znayu-chto-nado-delat/

Not much new there, just a few little 'hints' like:
-the team got even more united in the course of preparation for the Worlds as they knew it would be a difficult competition so soon after the Oly [is it an answer to those who advocates a coaching change?]
- he appreciates Orser's opinion that most of his problems lay in mental preparation but doesn't feel it is necessary true, admittedly multiple quads in the program do make skating it clean very hard
6 quads in LP is crazy health wise

 

[coldblueeyes]

I think people really can't expect a six quad program from any of the russian men competing right now in seniors, it's just not feasible, and I might have to bite my tongue later, but Ithink it's completely unattainable, be it for Samarin, Aliev, or Misha. Perhaps Erokhov might have a different luck coming from Eteri, but I don't know, he's barely half a year younger than Nathan. The thing is, you can't just come out one season with three, four new quads and land them like nobody's business, and I feel like Misha is always having to defend himself in these questions because he knows he never will be able to do that.

Also, skating under Valentina lets him stay close to the family, and unless he moves to Rukavicin, or someone else in Spb other than Mishin who's always around the world, I don't see him going as far as Moscow to train, much less Canada. I don't know, I don't see it. He loves skating, but I think he relies a lot in this environment that makes him feel good, and I don't know if he'd be willing to move away - which is his prerrogative, and might cause him to be stuck back in the rankings, but that's his decision.

For an outsider, or a fan that wants results more than anything, it's easier to say, why not move away, why not try a different coach, and a bunch of different things. It's the same people keep saying about Russian ID, why don't the skaters go out of the country to train, but it's not just an easy decision to be done with. If a skater is already training in NA for example, moving camps might seem a bit less straining, though I don't see how it can be something easy. But just imagine having to move to the other side of the world where you don't have any buffers, where you don't speak the language, and you still won't be able to escape from the pressure of the Fed and general public when your results are bad. That can't be an easy decision to be made, and I'm not even going into the financial side of things, which is a whole another game.

Misha has great professionals around him that are also learning how to cope with his changes and the way his career goes. I'm sure many wish things were different, I do that all the time, but this is the way he wants to go, and I'd rather support him this way than fight everything he or Valentina does.

 

[Tutto]

I think people really can't expect a six quad program from any of the russian men competing right now in seniors, it's just not feasible, and I might have to bite my tongue later, but Ithink it's completely unattainable, be it for Samarin, Aliev, or Misha. Perhaps Erokhov might have a different luck coming from Eteri, but I don't know, he's barely half a year younger than Nathan. The thing is, you can't just come out one season with three, four new quads and land them like nobody's business, and I feel like Misha is always having to defend himself in these questions because he knows he never will be able to do that.

Also, skating under Valentina lets him stay close to the family, and unless he moves to Rukavicin, or someone else in Spb other than Mishin who's always around the world, I don't see him going as far as Moscow to train, much less Canada. I don't know, I don't see it. He loves skating, but I think he relies a lot in this environment that makes him feel good, and I don't know if he'd be willing to move away - which is his prerrogative, and might cause him to be stuck back in the rankings, but that's his decision.

For an outsider, or a fan that wants results more than anything, it's easier to say, why not move away, why not try a different coach, and a bunch of different things. It's the same people keep saying about Russian ID, why don't the skaters go out of the country to train, but it's not just an easy decision to be done with. If a skater is already training in NA for example, moving camps might seem a bit less straining, though I don't see how it can be something easy. But just imagine having to move to the other side of the world where you don't have any buffers, where you don't speak the language, and you still won't be able to escape from the pressure of the Fed and general public when your results are bad. That can't be an easy decision to be made, and I'm not even going into the financial side of things, which is a whole another game.

Misha has great professionals around him that are also learning how to cope with his changes and the way his career goes. I'm sure many wish things were different, I do that all the time, but this is the way he wants to go, and I'd rather support him this way than fight everything he or Valentina does.

What a thoughtful post :thumbsup:
Re 6 quads - we don't even know if Nathan himself will be able to maintain his content over any longer period of time. Mika is not 18, his back problem dictates how much he can train. New rules hopefully will slow down the 'arm race' a bit because it is a madness.
Re coaching change - if even he was willing to relocate it is not given that Orser would be a magic answer to all the problems. IMHO his issues are mostly lack of a self belief if he could skate with more confidence the sky is his limit - quads or no quads. But something is holding him back, only he knows what... Hope that now that stress of Oly is over, lots of things only can get better.