Why blame coaches and skaters...
I read the article and I am a bit sad, sad, because the skater or her Coach is blamed, blamed for something that the media, audiences and if you will the whole figure skating union is responsible of. If the current judging system, put´s so much pressure on an athlete to fit a certain role (tiny, little snow flake) then what are coaches and skaters supposed to do?
If you want to win, then this is your only chance. Look at all these wonderful ladies that we have, ladies who put such a feminine skate on the ice and yet, are not rewarded for it, just because they didn't land a triple Lutz - triple Toe or it just looks heavier, like with Pogorilaya.
I sit at many ice rinks throughout the year and it´s shocking how less applause a skater will get, if he or in that matter she, is a bit heavier and if I say heavier then we are not talking about a dinosaur, but a panda bear.
The issue is the system and the expectations of many figure skating fans, who always want more difficulty and younger athletes performing them. I remember Yulia during the Olympic season, she was a little girl and she acted like a little girl off ice. Her attitude was seen as arrogant by many, but the truth was that she was just a shy girl, overwhelmed by all what happened around her. After she did not claim gold at the ladies, she was rejected by her "fans", she was seen as a no longer interesting skater, as she had grown up a bit and her body changed. Her programs are still beautiful, they are much more mature, but she is not rewarded for it, but pretty much left in the cold.
In my opinion, are some fans and those who write about skaters pretty cold hearted. I don´t mean this to be rude, but let´s face it, the expectations force athletes into a certain role, do you guys remember the days when some NA skaters were called out for looking a bit less skinny than before? I still remember the discussions at this very forum here, about a young Canadian and Russian athlete, who all of a sudden were no longer respected by the audience and even called fat and ugly.
This whole figure skating world is a bit like the modeling business these days, you have to fit into the clothes and if you don´t then you will be rejected by the designer or in our case, by fans, media and judges. I have a friend, she is very beautiful and did model, she has a normal body, but the designers insulted her as she was not a skinny broomstick like the other models and she lost the job.
It´s quite funny actually, at one hand, athletes are no longer allowed to look like athletes. Look at Serena Williams and what she has to go through all the time, is that fair? No, it´s not and the same sad story we have with figure skaters, who are becoming a woman.
At the other hand, the judging systems of sports, especially gymnastics, figure skating ... demand a very specific body type, if you want to get a high score and then all of a sudden, skaters are blamed for their body type, by the same people who celebrate triple jumps, day in and day out.
You can not have both things, it´s as simple as that.
Personally and I said this before, I like Yulia 2.0 much more than Yulia 1.0 and if Evgenia will grow up, then I am sure something similar could happen. Both skaters and I also include Elena here, are extremely talented with the right programs and I do not need the super jumps to be entertained. Sadly, and this I am afraid will never change, is my opinion in that matter, as important as a bag of rice falling from a ship at the ocean.
The changes need to happen first in our all heads and those of the judges, after that, skaters can change too.
P.S.
We also have to consider, that not every human being is the same. I for instance eat a lot, go to the fitness studio three times a week and yet, look like a ski jumper. :eeking: Some people have sickness you might not know about or it´s in their gene´s. Not all must be intended, one of my friends is almost 30 and looks like 18
The winner always gets enemies.:agree2:
