State of Russian Ladies in skating: 2014-15 Season

[Tsuzuriko]

Could you share the link?

http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta...a_Sotnikovoj_v_chempionate_Jevropy_bez_otbora

 

[Amei]

I know about the "replacement rule", and i said, sacrifice the pairs or dance, no way in hell you touch women discipline.

Could you explain what you mean by 'sacrifice' pairs or dance, and not touch the women's discipline?

No discipline is 'better' than another - the Fed has to think about the whole spectrum of the team, and the logical decision is to not sacrifice any discipline - Yulia's problem wasn't exhaustion in the individual event it was the stress of the media hounding the girl constantly. My point was that maybe someone in the Fed used their brain and reasoned that since the ladies individual event was last & that person would have the most chance to rest after the team event.

 

[Ophelia]

Here comes all the infighting amongst the Russians.

 

[Tsuzuriko]

Guys, i have no desire to explain the obvious, if you think that in Russia all disciplines are equal, that's fine for me.

 

[Alba]

My point was that maybe someone in the Fed used their brain and reasoned that since the ladies individual event was last & that person would have the most chance to rest after the team event.

By the way, could Russia chosen not to present any men in the Team Event? I'm thinking about Plushenko now. Maybe it would've been better not to make him compete there, and do singles only.

Guys, i have no desire to explain the obvious, if you think that in Russia all disciplines are equal, that's fine for me.

We're not saying Russia wasn't yearning for an OGM in ladies. Especially taking in consideration the skaters they have now in that discipline. But please, let's not pretend that Pairs and Dance, or Men, are somehow lower. They put together V&T after Vancouver in order to get back the gold medal in Sochi, and it's thanks to Pairs and Dance, mostly, that Russia had the domination in this sport. That much should be obvious to you too.

 

[yay]

Tsuzuriko, thanks.

Here comes all the infighting amongst the Russians.

You know, I blame the fed, I do, that's their fault!
I mean, now they turn Russian supporters against Adelina, like it was not enough that she's almost despised (which is hella wrong) by lots of people from the rest of the world because of Sochi.

 

[Amei]

By the way, could Russia chosen not to present any men in the Team Event? I'm thinking about Plushenko now. Maybe it would've been better not to make him compete there, and do singles only.

I wouldn't think so, I would assume that to enter the Team Event you would need an eligible skater in each discipline.

 

[Alba]

I wouldn't think so, I would assume that to enter the Team Event you would need an eligible skater in each discipline.

Right. That makes sense.

 

[Amei]

Tsuzuriko, thanks.


You know, I blame the fed, I do, that's their fault!
I mean, now they turn Russian supporters against Adelina, like it was not enough that she's almost despised (which is hella wrong) by lots of people from the rest of the world because of Sochi.

Me too, I'll point out that if this was my favorite skater I would still be saying the same things, in a discipline like ladies its going to be hard for selecting the team as it is if everyone was skating - to let someone onto the Euro or Worlds team without skating competitively on the major international events in the current season is bad. I think that a skater should be required to have participated in at least 1 major international event (like a GP event) to be considered for a European or World championship - especially if you are not going to participate in Nationals, or that if you don't skate at any major event that you have to win Nationals to go.

 

[Amei]

Right. That makes sense.

I do wonder if they could have told him to skate 1/2 speed, and not do as difficult jumps or something - especially in the free skate. They were incredibly secure in their other disciplines that they could have afforded a lower difficult program from him and still won.

 

[Alba]

You know, I blame the fed, I do, that's their fault!

It's hardly a new thing though. But I agree with Amei's suggestions.

I do wonder if they could have told him to skate 1/2 speed, and not do as difficult jumps or something - especially in the free skate. They were incredibly secure in their other disciplines that they could have afforded a lower difficult program from him and still won.

Well, he basically had jumps only in his programs though.

 

[Ophelia]

Tsuzuriko, thanks.


You know, I blame the fed, I do, that's their fault!
I mean, now they turn Russian supporters against Adelina, like it was not enough that she's almost despised (which is hella wrong) by lots of people from the rest of the world because of Sochi.

1) The Russian ladies field is already deep enough that skaters are imploding from the pressure (ex: Pogorilaya), and 2) Sotnikova already has a target on her back due to Sochi. Add those two together and it does no favors to Sotnikova to be seen as being given favors over other skaters. I foresee a lot of resentment being directed her way by her Russian peers if she gets a pass to Euros.

Question that no one has answered yet - are coaches able to politick for their own skaters during Russian nationals?

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

So many people already hate her...there's really nothing the girl can do to to lessen that.

It's a very vocal minority. The people that hate Adelina will hate her no matter what. Most people are intelligent enough to realize that all any of these competitors do is go out there and try to skate their best. She will be fine.

 

[cooper]

lol @ minority..

 

[Amei]

It's a very vocal minority. The people that hate Adelina will hate her no matter what. Most people are intelligent enough to realize that all any of these competitors do is go out there and try to skate their best. She will be fine.

And most of all of the comments on this thread - they aren't comments specific to hating on Adelina, but more of the potential that a skater can forego skating the entire season up to Euros/Worlds, including Nationals, and be named to those 2 teams over someone that has competed all season and accomplished very good results. It's hating on the process or rules, not necessarily a certain skater.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

And most of all of the comments on this thread - they aren't comments specific to hating on Adelina, but more of the potential that a skater can forego skating the entire season up to Euros/Worlds, including Nationals, and be named to those 2 teams over someone that has competed all season and accomplished very good results. It's hating on the process or rules, not necessarily a certain skater.

The Russian Fed is making a decision based on who they think can place the highest at Euros/Worlds. Every federation does this; the USFSA did it last year, Japan has also done it in the past. Anna and Julia have had good placements but not consistently strong performances. I'm not sure how anyone can argue that Julia's LP outings this season should have secured her a spot to Euros merely because she competed all season.

 

[stryke]

And most of all of the comments on this thread - they aren't comments specific to hating on Adelina, but more of the potential that a skater can forego skating the entire season up to Euros/Worlds, including Nationals, and be named to those 2 teams over someone that has competed all season and accomplished very good results. It's hating on the process or rules, not necessarily a certain skater.

This ^^^. I dislike her attitude off the ice but I don't hate Adeline. She is an awesome skater. There are two elements she does that are imo second to none. But the way they are going about this is going to draw hate towards her.

The Russian Fed is making a decision based on who they think can place the highest at Euros/Worlds. Every federation does this; the USFSA did it last year, Japan has also done it in the past. Anna and Julia have had good placements but not consistently strong performances. I'm not sure how anyone can argue that Julia's LP outings this season should have secured her a spot to Euros merely because she competed all season.

And what has Adeline done this season that has secured her spot to Euros? I'm not sure how you can make an argument that Adeline's accomplishments last season secure her a spot to Euros a year later without competing at all this season and unable to skate at Nationals on top of it all.

 

[Alba]

Question that no one has answered yet - are coaches able to politick for their own skaters during Russian nationals?

Yeah, I would imagine so. But I don't really think that the Fed would send a weaker, or shall we say less prepared/ready, skater at Euros or Worlds just because of their coach.

 

[kiara_bleu]

I wonder if this is just the Russian federation applying some fire to the other Russian girls, especially Julia and Anna P. since they had some struggles lately. I think sending Adelina to either Europeans or Worlds is just setting her up to fail. I'm not saying that she does not have the motivation, talent, or skills to compete. She is coming off an overwhelming Olympic experience (win + dealing with controversy), an injury, and zero competitions since February. Look at how Yuna, who has more experience dealing with pressures that come with being a top skater than Adelina, struggled during Worlds 2011 and she was not even recovering from injury.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

And what has Adeline done this season that has secured her spot to Euros? I'm not sure how you can make an argument that Adeline's accomplishments last season secure her a spot to Euros a year later without competing at all this season and unable to skate at Nationals on top of it all.

I'm not saying Adelina is more deserving of the spot, I'm saying that not one of Adelina, Julia, or Anna has earned it so the Russian Fed should choose who they think will best represent the team.