- Joined
- Mar 9, 2011
Watching the Rostelecom Cup this week, the conclusion is inescapable that both Liza T and Artur Gachinski are going backwards rather than forwards. I think Gachinski stands no chance of making the Olympic team. His results this season and last have been awful. For a skater who finished 3rd at the 2011 World Championships and 2nd at the 2012 European Championships, it will be extremely disappointing to miss out on his home Olympics. Had he been in form last season, it would have been him rather than Kovtun who competed at Worlds, and had he been in anything like his form at 2011 Worlds, then Russia would have secured more spots for the Olympic team. With only 1 spot, which will almost certainly go to Plushenko or Kovtun, then, as stated, he will almost certainly miss out.
As for Tuk, I really can't see her obtaining one of the 2 spots available. Lipnitskaya will almost certainly get one of the spots, and with Liza failing to qualify for the GPF, Sotnikova and Pogorilaya are far better placed to obtain the final spot. Tuk has also not developed to a great extent artistically over the past couple of seasons. Whilst Mishin is well regarded as a technical coach, even in that area LIza has regressed. Her jumps have become very inconsistent, and she still has not resolved her SP issues, which persistently leave her well behind the competition by the FS stage
I think Mishin has taken Tuk and Artur as far as he can. Hence, is it time for both to switch coach? If so, which coach should they change to?
Also, with competition for places in the Russian team strengthening in terms of the next quadrennium, it is likely that both Tuk and Artur will find it even tougher to make the 2018 Olympic team. Hence, should they both follow the lead of Polina Shelepen and change country? If so, what are the options for both in terms of a change of country?
As for Tuk, I really can't see her obtaining one of the 2 spots available. Lipnitskaya will almost certainly get one of the spots, and with Liza failing to qualify for the GPF, Sotnikova and Pogorilaya are far better placed to obtain the final spot. Tuk has also not developed to a great extent artistically over the past couple of seasons. Whilst Mishin is well regarded as a technical coach, even in that area LIza has regressed. Her jumps have become very inconsistent, and she still has not resolved her SP issues, which persistently leave her well behind the competition by the FS stage
I think Mishin has taken Tuk and Artur as far as he can. Hence, is it time for both to switch coach? If so, which coach should they change to?
Also, with competition for places in the Russian team strengthening in terms of the next quadrennium, it is likely that both Tuk and Artur will find it even tougher to make the 2018 Olympic team. Hence, should they both follow the lead of Polina Shelepen and change country? If so, what are the options for both in terms of a change of country?