Yu/Jin & Peng/Zhang switch partners

[Tastetherainbow]

Basically, Y/J and P/Z split because the Chinese Fed considers the "German and Russian" model of S/M and V/T a success and wants to try it. They are hoping for a top six finish. Best part is that the fed spokesperson admits that both pairs didn't like the idea, but "decided to go with it in hopes of better results".

I'll be honest, I understand the Chinese Fed's mindset. Peng can't jump, and Jin doesn't have the technical such as the quad twist to compete with top teams. Most likely what is going to happen is that Y/Z will land the jumps and go for quads, while P/J will most likely be left in the dust. However, splitting at this time when next season is an important determinant of the Olympics doesn't really make sense. Both pairs are now going to have to start from the beginning in terms of PCS and GOE and are going to have to climb their way back up. Quite frankly, to even think of achieving a top six finish at next year's Worlds is quite ridiculous. I would assume that had Y/J attended Worlds, China might still have three spots and the Chinese pair program wouldn't have to go through all this mess.

On a positive (and unrelated) note: S/H are done with next season's programs and will undergo surgery this week. Hope everything goes well!

 

[solar]

I honestly can't see any benefits resulting from this situation. I'm just puzzled, upset, and disappointed. I'll need time to come to terms with this, because Yu/Jin were my 2nd favorite Chinese pair after S/H, and I'm really sad about this news.

What makes this terrible to accept is that Yu/Jin seemed really happy on Weibo as they were traveling to Canada to get new programs (after getting dumped at Worlds after a last-minute test skate). Not only were they blindsided by this decision, they were constantly being neglected by the Chinese Fed and given recycled costumes, recycled programs, and always being entered as a Junior pair in Chinese domestic competitions for no reason. This whole issue is an awful blow to them, and the potential they have. Last season people were even predicting that they had the best potential out of all the Chinese pairs!

And it's not as if Yu/Jin weren't finding competitive success either. People may see them as one of China's lesser pairs, but just as a reminder, they made the GPF two years in a row, right after their senior debut, and have been World Junior Champions two years in a row as well. Who knows where they could've placed, had they been sent to senior Worlds this season and the last. This wasn't a team that had issues clicking together, this was a team that found success after success and were extremely compatible together.

I can't even picture in my head what this swap will look like, or what programs they could possibly do together. China went from having 3 pairs to 2, and I think this decision may leave Team China with 2 spots for a while... Especially since Sui is having surgery and may not be in top form immediately.

 

[Giselle]

I'll be honest, I understand the Chinese Fed's mindset. Peng can't jump, and Jin doesn't have the technical such as the quad twist to compete with top teams. Most likely what is going to happen is that Y/Z will land the jumps and go for quads, while P/J will most likely be left in the dust. However, splitting at this time when next season is an important determinant of the Olympics doesn't really make sense. Both pairs are now going to have to start from the beginning in terms of PCS and GOE and are going to have to climb their way back up. Quite frankly, to even think of achieving a top six finish at next year's Worlds is quite ridiculous. I would assume that had Y/J attended Worlds, China might still have three spots and the Chinese pair program wouldn't have to go through all this mess.

Peng's jumps are fine in practice so hopefully without the huge pressure that she had when she was skating with Zhang, she can gain her confidence back and land them in competitions. That's about the only positive thing I get from that mess. Does Yu even have 3S? Yu/Jin did 2A2A sequence.

 

[tinlizzie]

Zhang is NOT an appealing pairs partner/skater to me. I love Yu/Jin as a beautiful pair and can't comprehend how this came about

 

[Violet Bliss]

尽管队员刚开始有点接受不了，但为了队伍成绩的提升，任洪国期待于小雨与张昊的组合能够尽快磨合，在明年世锦赛上冲击前六名。

This has been translated quite correctly already by lyndichee. But there are some subtle meanings or ambiguity due to the language uniqueness.

Firstly, there is no singular or plural differentiation in Chinese nouns but it is usually implied circumstantially. The text says 队员 (team member(s)) could not accept it initially, leaving no clue as to who or how many it refers to. To me it sounds like all team members resisted the idea.

Secondly, the term 尽管 is much stronger than 虽然 (although), closer to "regardless of" or "in spite of", an implication of futility. All in all, the writing indicates to me an imposition or order that was not popular with the skaters. As it was taking quite a while for the confirmation from any credible source, Chinese or Canadian, to come out, I suspected there was a strong resistance, probably most strongly by Yu, before the switch was finally accepted and could be announced. Edited to add: Actually, the article does not mention skaters' acceptance but Ren's hope for the new team of Y/Z.

The motivation is to have the new Y/Z Pairs placed in the top 6 at the pre-Olympic Worlds. The inspiration is the regrouping of German and Russian Pairs to team up the strong skaters. S/H is acknowledged to be the top team with WC potential. I suppose the fed assume they will finish in the top 3. No indication of what hope they have for P/J. What is the importance of the top 2 Pairs receiving 9 points or fewer at next Worlds?

 

[annesigin]

Even though Yu/Zhang and Peng/Jin would get better results in the next two seasons, I do not think this desicion can be justified. S/M and V/T were willing to switch partners, but Yu and Peng are not.
The Fed cheated Yu/Jin by telling them to choregraph with Lori. When they were isolated abroad, the Fed told them to switch partners. Yu was obliged to delete her 'like' on the social network, and the Fed claimed that Peng's weibo was not reposted by herself. How can I believe that the skaters are free consindering all these things? Fans' appeal on the social network has always be ignored either, of course. Who cares about the skaters, the fans and the figure skating itself? The Fed only cares about the grades in their phantasia.

It is hard to imagine Yu/Zhang can achieve top six after one year. Only one year! Judges would have enough reasons to give them low PCS.
When Peng/Zhang couldn't get high points, it was said all Peng's fault. Peng's jumps in the practice are fine. But IT IS ALWAYS PENG'S FAULT，how can a 21-year-old girl jump as usual under such pressure? After Peng fell in the short program of 2016 WC, Zhang seemd to be so cruel. If Yu/Zhang failed again, whose fault it is? How many partners Zhang Hao need to prove himself? And Zhang must retire after 2022. Whom Yu can skate with after Zhang's retirement?

 

[caitie]

Such a trash, utterly garbage decision on the part of the fed. Meddling at its worst. I'm furious about this. It will be difficult and perhaps impossible for me to root for Yu/Zhang and Peng/Jin, I'll just be thinking about what we are missing out on. And I never ever want to be a fan of Chinese teams again since they can clearly be split totally capriciously no matter how successful and promising they are or what the skaters think. *fumes*

 

[irriya]

I'm so disgusted. I see what is going on now. Chinese teams would very possibly only get 2 spots for pairs in 2018 Olympics. While Y/J is rising, P/Z will become the third. So in order to let Zhang be able to compete the Olympic, they split Y/J so Zhang can get the other spot since S/H will no doubt get one. That is why Y/J, two time Junior Championships and 5th in GPF but unable to compete in Championships. So disgusted. Shame on the so-called leaders.

 

[irriya]

And I can guarantee that Zhang will not be able to enter GPF, or get anything better than what he got in Boston. We'll see.

 

[Violet Bliss]

This is a lengthy article about all the ice and snow sports, with assessment by Ren Hongguo, who is in charge of Winter Sports in China, in an interview. The regrouping of the Pairs is a very small part of the whole article.

Ren did not indicate who made the decision except to mention the need to adjust the program and the split and switch. We assume reluctant "team members" refer to the Pairs skaters themselves, but it could include the coaches. It seems to me a governance by decree from the top bureaucrats with little consideration and inputs from the "team members". Ren expressed his wish regardless of the team members' resistance.

 

[Crossover]

:hopelessness:

 

[annesigin]

It is said that Peng had commented Zhang in private. She said that it was hard for her to understand Zhang's impatience but Zhang was the only person she could trust after she went to Beijing for practice.

I am disappointed with Zhang after hearing this.

 

[Lota]

I remember that when Zhang's baby was born, there were photos of Peng visiting the family and holding the baby, so the two of them were obviously on quite friendly terms in the partnership, probably up until the split. I do think think that he was probably getting a bit impatient with her though. It's important to understand that it takes two to tango (or skate in pairs ), so while her solo jumps are on her (she doesn't really handle pressure well, does she? although more support from her surroundings (partner, coaches) would be welcome), but such things as throws are not only on her, but on him as well.

Anyway, I don't know Zhang personally, but I don't think he'd be the kind of person to just ask for a different partner and basically throw away the old one. I'm quite happy to know that, from what I understand, none of the members of the two teams were in support of such a decision. I mean, of course this means that the situation is bad for all of them, but I'm glad to know to that not some of the skaters, but the FEDERATION was dumb enough to make this decision.

Anyway, since these are Chinese teams we are talking about, I don't think we'll be hearing many details from them, but I hope that throughout the season maybe we'll get some more interviews.

Also, just a short note... Examples such as V/T and S/M are great and all, but the Chinese Fed forgot one teeny tiny detail - they actually WANTED to team up and work together

 

[snowday]

Since the Chinese Fed says pairing up Yu and Zhang is for next year's Worlds (top 6, kidding me?) and we all know China only has two spots, do you see what they mean (let's assume Sui/Han make a timely recovery)? Peng and Jin, Wang and Wang are not going to Worlds next year and it's so decided BEFORE THE NEXT SEASON EVEN STARTS.

 

[Giselle]

Also, just a short note... Examples such as V/T and S/M are great and all, but the Chinese Fed forgot one teeny tiny detail - they actually WANTED to team up and work together

This!

Plus both Robin Szolkowy and Stanislav Morozov were done competing and wanted to retire so Aliona and Tatiana had to look for another partner, which is clearly not the case for Yu & Jin!

 

[sarama]

The only silver lining I can see in this is that at least Xiaoyu will be allowed to go to worlds for once and maybe even Olympics, but that's definitely not how I wanted it to happen

 

[karne]

Disgusting, stupid, idiotic decision. Even an admission that the skaters didn't want it.

But let's face it. Considering who's in charge, are we really surprised that this went ahead even if Yu didn't want it?

 

[solani]

It's finally announced and this must also mean that at least Yu and Zhang do considerably well together. I just hope that both teams are going to enjoy skating together, because there's really not much any of them can do about it anyway. Good luck to all of them!

 

[snowday]

The first whistle-blower who announced the split on Baidu Tieba in early April reappeared earlier. He (or she) said the split decision was made BEFORE this year's worlds. He (or she) attributed the decision to Zhang. I don't want to be lectured by other posters on this topic again. I just relay the information and you're free to decide for yourself.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I remember that when Zhang's baby was born, there were photos of Peng visiting the family and holding the baby, so the two of them were obviously on quite friendly terms in the partnership, probably up until the split.

You know, for all the talk in this thread about Zhang being a bad partner, and being cruel to Peng, I always got the impression that they had a good relationship and genuinely got on.

So, I really hope that this meddling by the Fed has not destroyed that friendship.

Also, just a short note... Examples such as V/T and S/M are great and all, but the Chinese Fed forgot one teeny tiny detail - they actually WANTED to team up and work together

Yes, the partner changes involving Savchenko, Morozov and Volosozhar did work out good in the end, with Volosozhar and eventual partner Trankov becoming the dominant Pairs partnership in the world.

But the other teeny tiny detail is that it led to Savchenko going off and skating for a country (Germany) that was well out of the Russian sphere of influence, rather than staying with a country (the Ukraine) which, at that stage, still was (that Morozov was Russian born and they had a Russian coach is indication enough of who was pulling the strings. Then you add in the fact that he is now coaching in Russia).

It may not have worked out in the way Russia intended, but it was very good for Savchenko and her new partner (Szolkovy) as well!

CaroLiza_fan