Papadakis publishes book; Cizeron challenges claims

[peepsquick]

And that's how you feel, which I respect. I was brought up in competitive sport and we learned fair play and respect and if once of the kids said I anything ill about a competitor, our coaches certainly didn't tolerate that behavior.

We all have different perspectives and that's fine.

It might be that we are dealing with a cultural difference here. Gabi is honest about what she was thinking at the time (It's not done in the USA and maybe also not in Canada to say anything that is not politically correct). This speaks also of her inner turmoil after the RD (she spent the night in tears) and I see no disrespect toward V/M.

 

[fsfs1980]

Do we continue to focus on a silly thought that happened in one event but pay scant attention to the tragedy of the abusive culture that exists in certain areas of figure skating that she's attempting to bring additional light to because it's easier?

 

[TallyT]

However, let's not pretend that if Scott Moir had said the same thing, he wouldn't have been SKEWERED for saying it on this and the other FS forum. And people would not have been as forgiving.

Probably, people don't really like his personality much, though I doubt it would have been cloaked in faux-concern for his mental health.... and I would still have been eyerolling at an Olympic level for the faux-outrage over a private thought from eight years ago.

I've seen a video of Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue watching Yuzuru's FS in 2013 (at a time when their friend Patrick Chan was still seen as the lock for Sochi gold that he so desperately wanted) and honestly if looks could kill there would have been blood all over the ice... you could almost see what they were thinking blazoned in neon over their heads, the neon thoughts wasn't at all pretty, and not for one minute would I blame them, not now, not at the time. News at 6, people are allowed to be human, even elite figure skaters. (Tessa plastered on a fixed smile when she realised where the cameras were, Scott couldn't manage it )

 

[Magill]

Do we continue to focus on a silly thought that happened in one event but pay scant attention to the tragedy of the abusive culture that exists in certain areas of figure skating that she's attempting to bring additional light to because it's easier?

So much on point!
Based on printed reviews and fragments, this book is talking about most dark places in the sport involving, among other things, parents obsessively focusing on their kids' careers and achievements while neglecting offering them emotional support, multiple cases of sexual abuse (the word "rape" is being used) of a teen athlete by a coach, special position of men in the sport and resulting feeling of unequal treatment, more support offered by TPTB to alleged abusers than to alleged victims, silencing the victim by her skating partner by threatening to end their partnership if she files SA charges, culture of silence, victim's loneliness and her growing depression.
No matter if we believe Gabby or not, this is what this book is about.
And some posters choose to turn the page on this all and redirect discussion and attention to an old incident of her wishing for 5 minutes that her rivals would make a mistake allowing her to win OGM.
Why and how this discussion took this turn is beyond me.
I admit I see it as the strangest set of priorities. And yet it is hard not to notice that it is comfortably allowing to avoid more difficult and controversial subjects, while focusing on criticizing the victim and alleged flaws in her character and completely walking away from the core problem here and taking a deeper look into those around her.

 

[TallyT]

Do we continue to focus on a silly thought that happened in one event but pay scant attention to the tragedy of the abusive culture that exists in certain areas of figure skating that she's attempting to bring additional light to because it's easier?

Oh but of course... it enables people to avoid paying that attention.

 

[peepsquick]

i just can't talk about a book I haven't read yet and I never trust quotes taken out of context.

 

[Ares]

I doubt Gabriella would be making up lies.

 

[Arigato]

I am shocked how Aymoz is getting away with everything

Make your case. Try to include a bit of logic.

 

[rabidline]

Gabriella's comment about wishing VM to fall in 2018 isn't newly revealed, it's very well known among VM fans and it's something they do hold very much against her for years and justifies many of the insults thrown against her, until her experience (or fans' interpretation of her experience) becomes something that can be used against IAM dominance. Is it classy? Not really. She admitted it's a desperate thought, and that's exactly what I think of athletes who do that: desperate (and a bit pitiful). She's not the only one who does this in figure skating.

Personally I think Gabriella Papadakis doesn't need to be a perfect person to have her story written and heard around the world. The handwringing over her imperfection is taking away from her story, which while I haven't read the full book, is quite fraught and compelling from the excerpts. Makes me think about what kind of sport ice dance is and what goes into it. Especially because most disintegration of partnership happens early and not to long-time succcessful partners who are still the reigning OGMs. Is this another sign that times have changed for figure skating? That skaters may have realizations late in their career that what they experienced didn't sit right with them after they learn how to put a name on it?

I also think she better have all of her correspondences in writing. The part of her interview where she said NBC informed her of being let go from the Olympic commentary team because of Guillaume's letter through "a call" is ringing alarm bells in my head.

 

[Mathman]

However, let's not pretend that if Scott Moir had said the same thing, he wouldn't have been SKEWERED for saying it on this and the other FS forum. And people would not have been as forgiving.

That's quite true. For some reason everybody always considered Scott Moir to be a jerk.

Or was that just Davis and White fans?

 

[Chantilly]

That's quite true. For some reason everybody always considered Scott Moir to be a jerk.

Or was that just Davis and White fans?

To be fair he invited it a bit with the "I hate this event" and "It's a piss off" comments.
However, I thought it was honest if inelegant. And one comment was about the team event, which these athletes were forced to do after a very long season.
Scott has no false modesty but I don't think he's arrogant.

 

[TontoK]

To be fair he invited it a bit with the "I hate this event" and "It's a piss off" comments.
However, I thought it was honest if inelegant. And one comment was about the team event, which these athletes were forced to do after a very long season.
Scott has no false modesty but I don't think he's arrogant.

I was a Davis/White supporter during their storied rivalry. But it didn't bother me one bit whether Scott was arrogant. If you can't be arrogant with three Olympic gold medals in your trophy case, when can you be?

Scott Moir was real, and as near as I can tell, he still is. I respect him more for it. I'll take that over fake K&C plastered smiles and press conferences that seem like mini-competitions to see which skater can be the most boring.

 

[readernick]

That's quite true. For some reason everybody always considered Scott Moir to be a jerk.

Or was that just Davis and White fans?

To be honest, I think the documentary show about Scott and Tessa did them no favors either. While it tried to make Davis and White (especially Davis) the enemies, it really just made Tessa and Scott seem insecure and somewhat petty imho. However, that was "reality" TV and I'm sure it was edited with maximum drama in mind. ( It was honestly still just quite boring) .

Anyway, I'm not going to make assumptions about any of these skaters. I don't know them personally. Additionally, people are complicated and even good people have bad thoughts at times. Good people just have enough mortality to get their thoughts under control and not let them control their actions. I think it's perfectly ok to hold yourself to a high, almost impossible standard of thought and action. It's a very bad idea imho to hold other people to such a standard. And, honest people, especially those with high standards for themselves, will have to acknowledge that they have had negative, unkind thoughts at times especially in the midst of stressful situations. Self reflection and humility makes it harder to judge others. Imho that's what we all need when reading these quotes.

 

[Kitt]

If I could cheer Gabi up, I would let her know that I thought she would have won in 2018 if she hadn't had to hold her top on in the rhythm dance! (I mean, the score despite this was so close).

 

[Arigato]

It might be that we are dealing with a cultural difference here. Gabi is honest about what she was thinking at the time (It's not done in the USA

If anyone shoots their mouth off as they please, it's in the USA.

 

[yfan1]

i just can't talk about a book I haven't read yet

That's why I haven't commented on the discussion much.

 

[4everchan]

i just can't talk about a book I haven't read yet and I never trust quotes taken out of context.

fair.. but with the excerpts shared already, do you still intend to read it ?

 

[CelticRose22]

It's a shame the book isn't available in English at this time.

 

[Magill]

It's a shame the book isn't available in English at this time.

They could make it available in English at least as an e-book.

 

[pearly]

They could make it available in English at least as an e-book.

I honestly don't understand why they haven't done that. All that promo and media, the launch date set for a time when it can make the most impact, only to release it in French and not English.