Tough topic - do you think Eteri Tutberidze is capable of managing 4+ elite ladies skaters for a long period of time? :think:
The number of 1st places, podium finishes and national team spots is limited. So is the fame, hype and money in still only developing popularity sport of figure skating.
The skaters may repeat ad nauseam how it's all about delivering two good performances, but the insane level of competitiveness is such, that sooner or later somebody starts losing, no matter how good she performed. Two, three, four lost direct duels, season or two off national team, less love from the fans, less media interest, less advertisement contracts and minds may start to seek explanations, improvements, guilt, way out...
It's rather naive to picture all the stars lining up for all these ambitious girls and distributing everything equally - would they even want it? Besides, Alina has already huge experience and time advantage over the Alexandra, Alena and Anna - they all want to catch up!
Then there is Liza Tursynbayeva, who's going to (get well!) fight along for everything but NT spots and super talented juniors who have to be managed, before they join these hunger games as well.
We've witnessed Alina's growing pains in her second season. Most of this is waiting for the younger girls as well. Can we really picture three looong seasons of Alina Zagitova, Liza Tursynbayeva, Alena Kanysheva, Sasha Trusova, Alena Kostornaia, Anna Shcherbakova, Kamila Valieva, Dasha Usacheva, Maya Khromykh competing for their 2022 Olympic dream under the same roof? :confused2:
The number of 1st places, podium finishes and national team spots is limited. So is the fame, hype and money in still only developing popularity sport of figure skating.
The skaters may repeat ad nauseam how it's all about delivering two good performances, but the insane level of competitiveness is such, that sooner or later somebody starts losing, no matter how good she performed. Two, three, four lost direct duels, season or two off national team, less love from the fans, less media interest, less advertisement contracts and minds may start to seek explanations, improvements, guilt, way out...
It's rather naive to picture all the stars lining up for all these ambitious girls and distributing everything equally - would they even want it? Besides, Alina has already huge experience and time advantage over the Alexandra, Alena and Anna - they all want to catch up!
Then there is Liza Tursynbayeva, who's going to (get well!) fight along for everything but NT spots and super talented juniors who have to be managed, before they join these hunger games as well.
We've witnessed Alina's growing pains in her second season. Most of this is waiting for the younger girls as well. Can we really picture three looong seasons of Alina Zagitova, Liza Tursynbayeva, Alena Kanysheva, Sasha Trusova, Alena Kostornaia, Anna Shcherbakova, Kamila Valieva, Dasha Usacheva, Maya Khromykh competing for their 2022 Olympic dream under the same roof? :confused2: