Mikhail Kolyada

[coldblueeyes]

He said in the last interview that it was chronic and he hadn't been able to get rid of it with treatment. I think athletes cannot use regular nasal decongestants like xylometazoline because it is on the list of banned substances. What do they do to unblock the nose?

No idea at all. But it does seem to be bothering him.

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

Also, finally! Misha found the time to visit a hairdresser. For those who are superstitious, it's a good sign. He is the opposite of Samson, longer hair seem to detract from his strength and power.

https://pp.userapi.com/c845420/v845420592/10a790/GPrMytXaaSI.jpg

Awwww, he looks so boyish now :agree2:

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

He said in the last interview that it was chronic and he hadn't been able to get rid of it with treatment. I think athletes cannot use regular nasal decongestants like xylometazoline because it is on the list of banned substances. What do they do to unblock the nose?

As someone with allergic rhinitis, i can tell you it is quite difficult. One can try the washing with salt-solution or inhalation with water/herbal infusion steam. I wonder if he can try to get permission for use of banned substance on health reasons. I don't know if some alternative practices like acupuncture or osteopath may help in his case, but he could try it.

 

[vorravorra]

I also know how difficult it is. Misha may not even need a decongestant, maybe his nose is just runny and doesn't get blocked. It's just that having to skate with a blocked nose would be my personal nightmare, I can't sleep or function with a blocked nose.

 

[Tutto]

As someone with allergic rhinitis, i can tell you it is quite difficult. One can try the washing with salt-solution or inhalation with water/herbal infusion steam. I wonder if he can try to get permission for use of banned substance on health reasons. I don't know if some alternative practices like acupuncture or osteopath may help in his case, but he could try it.

:thumbsup: from a fellow sufferer! only my allergic rhinitis quickly 'progressed' to a chronic sinusitis and frankly it is a nightmare. I've consulted ENT specialists in three countries with no avail. So I just have to stick to washing my nose with salty water in the morning and evening, it does not cure it but it helps to keep an inflammation at some bearable level.

I also know how difficult it is. Misha may not even need a decongestant, maybe his nose is just runny and doesn't get blocked. It's just that having to skate with a blocked nose would be my personal nightmare, I can't sleep or function with a blocked nose.

If this a chronic problem for Mika (ant it looks that way) it is a blessing in disguise that he can't use decongestants because the side effects well overweight any good these do short term. And definitely a no no long term. His doctor must find out what is the cause of the problem first. I don't remember Mika suffering from colds/flu that much in the past apart from his back problem and inevitable injuries he always seemed to be quite strong. If he was catching these things in the summer it means his immune system is down. Which makes me think again about all the horrible stress he'd been through at Oly and things like that tend to make you pay for afterwards unfortunately. I always worry and wonder how skaters can keep healthy with all the demands on their bodies and at the same time having to limit the food intake, it seems just impossible to balance. Also I wonder if athletes are allowed to use herbal preparations. if they do it is good and ironic at the same time because there are plenty of herbs more potent than some doping. I wish Mika could read this and try a Iceland moss -a miracle herb widely used in Scandinavia - absolute marvel for colds/flu, weakened immune system etc etc

Okay, now to lighten the mood, Mika posted an old pic from his trip to Switzerland:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo50wIVlHg1/?taken-by=mikhail_kolyada

:luv17:

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

I watched old videos from Mika, as old as his Panin Memorial skate in 2010. One thing i like at Mika is how he keeps improving and keep his own personality. I can see the roots of his present skating in that program from 2010. But his speed is so great now, his steps and edges are so superior now that i could hardly recognize them in 2010. His basic skills were already there, but bam! he appeared at COR 2015 like a totally matured skater. And he still keeps improving!

But IMO after watching lots of programs his most bland program and not suited to him was exactly last year with the FS on Elvis music. He was so great on every kind of music even on that No zaiet nu pagadi music, but his Elvis must be his worse program for him as senior. Such a pity that this happened in Oly year. I think he struggled with it and he couldn't let himself carried and supported by the music like in all other programs. So, better to skate on war-horses if this suites his soul than in something that where he don't get a bond with the music. He has a quirky style and his quirky humor and his own personality - he should not go against them. He still can explore so many kind of music which would suit him a lot.

 

[rachno2]

You know, rewatching the Elvis, I don’t think the program itself was that bad or that poorly suited to him. It was just so technically (and thus psychologically) demanding that he could never skate it with confidence. And if you don’t skate Elvis with confidence, it can look very awkward. But I think a calmer, cleaner, non-Olympic season Misha could have done quite well with it. As it was, there were moments in the season where his performance ability came out (Rostelecom, Olympic individual, worlds). I’d like to see him take some of that swagger into the muse sp, which hasn’t quite clicked for me yet

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

You are right, perhaps this is why is seems to me unsuited to him. I actually liked his Muse program at Finlandia. I think till the end of grand prix it will really sit well. I see this year all men having problems adjusting, it might be the fatigue after the Oly year, but till now no SP from other skater impressed me more than Kolyada's.

 

[Tutto]

I watched old videos from Mika, as old as his Panin Memorial skate in 2010. One thing i like at Mika is how he keeps improving and keep his own personality. I can see the roots of his present skating in that program from 2010. But his speed is so great now, his steps and edges are so superior now that i could hardly recognize them in 2010. His basic skills were already there, but bam! he appeared at COR 2015 like a totally matured skater. And he still keeps improving!

But IMO after watching lots of programs his most bland program and not suited to him was exactly last year with the FS on Elvis music. He was so great on every kind of music even on that No zaiet nu pagadi music, but his Elvis must be his worse program for him as senior. Such a pity that this happened in Oly year. I think he struggled with it and he couldn't let himself carried and supported by the music like in all other programs. So, better to skate on war-horses if this suites his soul than in something that where he don't get a bond with the music. He has a quirky style and his quirky humor and his own personality - he should not go against them. He still can explore so many kind of music which would suit him a lot.

For me the worst program contest wins his Cirque du Soleil LP - I just couldn't watch that program even with all my love for Mika's skating - the music itself was uninspiring (to put it mildly), the choreo was bland, the costume so unbecoming that even Mika's perfect lines could not save it - forgive me Mika but that was a disaster
I rather agree with Rachno2 on Elvis - we simply hadn't got a chance to see it clean, reportedly at the Russian close test skates where he skated it without jumps - he melt the ice! However, the idea itself was not a good fit I think and as Lambiel observed it required some larger than life personality Mika hasn;t got. Also North American music often feels generic when skated to by Russian skaters.

You know, rewatching the Elvis, I don’t think the program itself was that bad or that poorly suited to him. It was just so technically (and thus psychologically) demanding that he could never skate it with confidence. And if you don’t skate Elvis with confidence, it can look very awkward. But I think a calmer, cleaner, non-Olympic season Misha could have done quite well with it. As it was, there were moments in the season where his performance ability came out (Rostelecom, Olympic individual, worlds). I’d like to see him take some of that swagger into the muse sp, which hasn’t quite clicked for me yet

Well, as I said above I totally agree with you on Elvis. The Muse SP clicked for me right away (though I could not care less about Muse) but the program has everything it should - its dynamic, compelling, has a change of tempo unlike some many 'a one note music' programs this season which makes his SP stand out even more.
BTW I'd love Mika to skate to Rach No 2 one day I know it is a warhorse but I think it could be perfect for him - the power in his SS + his Russian soul.

 

[vorravorra]

For me the worst program contest wins his Cirque du Soleil LP - I just couldn't watch that program even with all my love for Mika's skating - the music itself was uninspiring (to put it mildly), the choreo was bland, the costume so unbecoming that even Mika's perfect lines could not save it - forgive me Mika but that was a disaster
I rather agree with Rachno2 on Elvis - we simply hadn't got a chance to see it clean, reportedly at the Russian close test skates where he skated it without jumps - he melt the ice! However, the idea itself was not a good fit I think and as Lambiel observed it required some larger than life personality Mika hasn;t got. Also North American music often feels generic when skated to by Russian skaters.

He didn't skate it without jumps, he skated it without quads.

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

Watching the Grand prix, i cannot stop thinking that, if Mika doesn't stabilize at least a second kind of quads, he will have no chance to be in top 5 at worlds. he has already two difficult Grand prix, where he has to show everything to qualify to the final. I worry.

 

[coldblueeyes]

Watching the Grand prix, i cannot stop thinking that, if Mika doesn't stabilize at least a second kind of quads, he will have no chance to be in top 5 at worlds. he has already two difficult Grand prix, where he has to show everything to qualify to the final. I worry.

I wouldn't be this quick to write him out yet. He needs a second quad in the FS to fight for podiums in the second half of the season, but he also needs to skate clean. I'd wait to see what will happen during the GPs. He can make a lot of points with GOE, and with the recallibration of PCS he can also gain a lot of points. But he needs to go clean.

 

[vorravorra]

I wouldn't be this quick to write him out yet. He needs a second quad in the FS to fight for podiums in the second half of the season, but he also needs to skate clean. I'd wait to see what will happen during the GPs. He can make a lot of points with GOE, and with the recallibration of PCS he can also gain a lot of points. But he needs to go clean.

There was only one >90 result in the Skate Canada SP and almost everyone was clean or close to clean. (Shoma excepted, he is in his own category anyway). I am not seeing anything terribly frightening yet.

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

But this is his great problem: being clean. How many times did he skate both programs clean and without any pop? Let's say that he won't be with too many points behind if he does in short 4T-3T, 3L and 3a and all other are clean (like 10 out 12 in Canada), but in the last time he had problems either with the axel or with the 4T. But in the free, with only one 4T , his PCS won't save him.

 

[vorravorra]

But this is his great problem: being clean. How many times did he skate both programs clean and without any pop? Let's say that he won't be with too many points behind if he does in short 4T-3T, 3L and 3a and all other are clean (like 10 out 12 in Canada), but in the last time he had problems either with the axel or with the 4T. But in the free, with only one 4T , his PCS won't save him.

All others are not going to be clean, that never happens in men's skating. And I doubt he is planning to jump only one 4T in the FS in the GP.

 

[coldblueeyes]

But this is his great problem: being clean. How many times did he skate both programs clean and without any pop? Let's say that he won't be with too many points behind if he does in short 4T-3T, 3L and 3a and all other are clean (like 10 out 12 in Canada), but in the last time he had problems either with the axel or with the 4T. But in the free, with only one 4T , his PCS won't save him.

In Finlandia he wasn't healthy enough to compete well - yet he controlled himself and didn't fall on the FS. In Nepela he fell once, had minor problems in some landings, but competed well. Also, as vorravorra said, 10 out of twelve guys landed their stuff in SC and most of them were still below 90. Misha can totally reach 100 in the SP. He can get over 180 with a clean FS and two quads. The thing is, he has to go clean, which is what he's working on. It won't do him any good trying to put quads in his programs if he's going to botch them. And it doesn't change anything debating whether he's going to win or lose before he even gets on the ice. No one hoped he was going to medal as much as he did last season. This season he already got two outings under his belt, and they weren't all that bad. I'd say give him a vote of confidence.

 

[coldblueeyes]

All others are not going to be clean, that never happens in men's skating. And I doubt he is planning to jump only one 4T in the FS in the GP.

He's already doing two in fact. And there's the salchow. On paper, he has three quads in the FS. But he's saving himself to avoid the fall - that's why he's tripling the salchow regularly, and did only a 3t in Finlandia.

 

[QueenOfTheRoad]

Uffff, i hope you are right. You know how the Russian Federation is and how they give their support to those landing the most quads. I am not ready yet to see Samarin as the Russian no 1 :.

 

[rachno2]

Watching the Grand prix, i cannot stop thinking that, if Mika doesn't stabilize at least a second kind of quads, he will have no chance to be in top 5 at worlds. he has already two difficult Grand prix, where he has to show everything to qualify to the final. I worry.

Me too, I am so nervous :sad21: I find his skating mesmerizing no matter how many quads he does, but I know RusFed (and, more importantly, he himself) are expecting great results. The pressure he puts on himself is what worries me the most, even more than the technical content. I know he's a grown man and we shouldn't infantalize him, but the way he was beating himself up after Finlandia does have me worried about his confidence.

GP Helsinki is going to be so exciting and so terrifying :hopelessness: hopefully his great programs and haircut will save the day :agree:

 

[yinchulin]

Did anybody think Misha's programs are actually quite nice compared to others? I mean in men's filed, I find it superior in some ways, and it kinda confuse me, 'couse I don't think it ever happened before.
I'm worried about him too. But it made me panic sometimes, so I decided to quit worrying. I hope we have better camera angles next week, and he won't mess up his twizzles again. Finger crossed.