Will this Olympic cycle be a hollow victory?

[Parksideprince]

I think Amber Glenn, Alyssa Liu and Isabeau Levitó are great. Their nationals free programs did make me nervous and Amber and Alyssa were not flawless. Because they and their Japanese rivals are basically doing the same elements, the Olympic medals will be awarded to the flawless performers. Let's hope American nerves don't cause them to fold as they did in 2018.

But what's really bothering me is that this will seem like a hollow victory since the Russians can't perform. Does it take the Eastern Europeans being banned for American ladies to have a chance at a medal? Can we call this a real competition if some of the most ferocious skaters aren't allowed on the playground. Sasha had to skate against Irina in 2006. It just seems a bit scaled back to me. Thoughts on this topic and on American nerves, please.

 

[4everchan]

There will be a "Russian" at the games. Adelia Petrosian

May I remind you that Russians are beatable... Even by Canadians. In 2018, Kaetlyn Osmond finished in third place ahead of one Russian and everyone else. The year before, in 2017, Both Osmond and Daleman, from Canada, were on the podium with only one Russian beating them.
Kaetlyn Osmond even added to her pedigree, beating all the Russians, including the reigning Olympics champion at Worlds in 2018.

So, no, the next Olympic Champion will not be less deserving. That's my take on it.

 

[melsh]

Yes and no.
It should be called the 'Finally-a-Chance-for-Japan-and-the-USA Olympics.'
Petrosyan is competing with a severe handicap. She wasn't allowed to build her reputation internationally, and figure skating today is all about the 'name,' especially when the jumps are just so-so. Admitting only one Russian might look like a 'good deed' by the IOC, but it reeks of a patronizing attitude toward Tutberidze and a thirst for money, as millions of Russians will still tune in to watch their little Adeliia.
And at the end of the day, the lack of real artistry in the programs, and the lack of drama which is the hallmark of every Olympic, will be another major cause for disappointment.
From the athletes' perspective, however, it’s still an incredibly heavy ccompetition and the chance of a lifetime. The hype, the pressure, the sheer terror, and the grueling training are the same as any other Olympics. They are out there trying to do their absolute best, even if many of them choose not to 'risk it.' There are still some solid triple Axels being performed, and landing one,or more, in a context like this is no small feat.

 

[NanaPat]

There will be a "Russian" at the games. Adelia Petrosian

Not to mention all the Russians skating for other countries, in women's singles and other disciplines. Georgia is especially notable for their Russian born, raised and trained crew.

 

[Mathman]

Meh. You can only beat the people you skate against. If you win a prize, you win the prize. It is, frankly, not very interesting to speculate about what someone else might have done if circumstances had been different. It is what it is.

As for American nerves, competitors of all nationalities get nervous.

That said, we do admire those few athletes who earn a reputation for being a "clutch player." The more the pressure builds, the better they perform.

 

[labgoat]

All of the medal contenders are talented skaters who are enjoyable to watch. I hope that they can compete as best as they can to the best of their ability on the biggest stage and be satisfied that they gave an Olympian worthy effort. May the best skaters win from wherever they call home. I will of course be rooting for my countryman but just as loudly for many skaters from other countries that have become near and dear to my heart.

 

[Arigato]

No.

 

[noskates]

I don't think this Olympics will be a hollow victory. A lot of people have worked very hard for most of their lives to reach the pinnacle of their sport and just because 1 country won't be there shouldn't change the enormity of the competition.

 

[TallyT]

It doesn't seem to be generating a lot of interest worldwide, but hey, that happens when there are no outstanding worldwide stars and other stuff overshadows it. And I doubt the current Russians would make much difference.

As for hollow... does Shcherbakova feel hers was hollow?

 

[dorispulaski]

And the Russian champions in men and in women's will be there. Of course, the victory will not feel empty to whomever wins.

If Petrosian wins, should she feel her victory is hollow?

 

[TontoK]

You know who else won't be there? John Curry. Should the Olympics feel hollow because the greatest Olympic performance ever is not on the ice?

Of course not. The competition is among the skaters in the field, not those who didn't make their national team, not the ghosts of past champions, not those who aren't there for any reason.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I feel kind of meh about these Olympics. Yes, some of it has to do with missing Russians but I’m just not seeing much media buzz about the Games. I also find skaters less relatable than I did in the past. That’s largely a function of my getting older and me not changing as fast as the world around me is, but I used to watch with a sense of fantasy, wanting to be out there and skate like Michelle or Yuna or Evgenia. I don’t feel that way about the skaters or their programs now.

 

[jenaj]

I think Amber Glenn, Alyssa Liu and Isabeau Levitó are great. Their nationals free programs did make me nervous and Amber and Alyssa were not flawless. Because they and their Japanese rivals are basically doing the same elements, the Olympic medals will be awarded to the flawless performers. Let's hope American nerves don't cause them to fold as they did in 2018.

But what's really bothering me is that this will seem like a hollow victory since the Russians can't perform. Does it take the Eastern Europeans being banned for American ladies to have a chance at a medal? Can we call this a real competition if some of the most ferocious skaters aren't allowed on the playground. Sasha had to skate against Irina in 2006. It just seems a bit scaled back to me. Thoughts on this topic and on American nerves, please.

As others have said, a Russian skater will be there as will Russians skating for other countries. Russia currently doesn't have a crop of age-eligible skaters who are comparable to their 2022 team. When people talk about "the Russians," i always wonder who are they talking about?

 

[Azikin]

At least being an Olympic champion will have a bit more credibility than being a "World without Russia" champion...

 

[Magill]

I agree there is no pre-Olympic excitement in the air at all here, and mind you, Olympics are not far, within Europe. It used to be very different before Paris Summer OG, it was all over the media then, people talked about it in casual conversations. Now if not for GS I would hardly notice there is an OG starting in a few days at all. Everyone is busy with other things.
The main sort-of-related story I keep stumbling upon in the news is ... Valieva's comeback to competitive ice in domestic competitions in Russia her photos with Putin and flashbacks to the doping scandal in Beijing. Not the best bait to watch the new Games, really.
I agree lack of new big stars and new great news stories is obvious.

 

[icetug]

To think about a podium finish, you'd need to score over 220 points. And while at the 2022 Russian Nationals there were seven Russians who scored 220+ points, five of whom were old enough to compete in the Olympics—at the 2026 Nationals only two scored 220+, and only Adelia is age illegible. Adelia will compete. So what "hollow victory" you are talking about?

 

[Senseo]

To think about a podium finish, you'd need to score over 220 points. And while at the 2022 Russian Nationals there were seven Russians who scored 220+ points, five of whom were old enough to compete in the Olympics—at the 2026 Nationals only two scored 220+, and only Adelia is age illegible. Adelia will compete. So what "hollow victory" you are talking about?

Zakharova, Frolova, and Murvaieva come to mind, athletes who could have competed for important medals. Not to mention the pairs. We must not bury ourselves. Without the Russians, there will always be an asterisk, like for the 1984-1980 Olympics.

 

[throw_triple_flip]

The world does not revolve around one country.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I always feel that winning the Olympics is a hollow victory, because they do not have a full-sized field like there is at the World Championships. Or even the European Championships.

If you are going to win a Major Championship, you want to be abe to say you have beaten everybody. Not just beaten an artificially cut down field.

We all know there are lots of skaters that have the minimum TES's for the Olympics, and should be there, but aren't because of the IOC's drive to reduce the number of people for whom they have to provide accomodation, food, etc.

And having further restrictions on certain countries justs adds to that feeling of hollowness.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[freedomlover]

I agree there is no pre-Olympic excitement in the air at all here, and mind you, Olympics are not far, within Europe. It used to be very different before Paris Summer OG, it was all over the media then, people talked about it in casual conversations. Now if not for GS I would hardly notice there is an OG starting in a few days at all. Everyone is busy with other things.
The main sort-of-related story I keep stumbling upon in the news is ... Valieva's comeback to competitive ice in domestic competitions in Russia her photos with Putin and flashbacks to the doping scandal in Beijing. Not the best bait to watch the new Games, really.
I agree lack of new big stars and new great news stories is obvious.

Agree with that as someone from Germany. The Paris Games were everywhere.... Milan is... not, even with Haase/Volodin as german medal contenders. Might have to do with world politics being shitty in general right now, so.