Yulia Lipnitskaya

[coldblueeyes]

I am so happy with this interview. Just knowing that she actually wants to train more, that she is falling in love again with figure skating is amazing. And it seems like she is moving forward, especially because of the way she talks about performing the free better and improving since her move to Urmanov. Let's just wait for the best.

 

[yuzuandyulls]

Honestly, I expected that I wouldn't be able to do anything at all today, because I wasn't ready, not mentally, not at all. I was sitting in the hotel room before the free, and all I wanted to do was to cry and to run away from here. I must do something with the mental background of the free, because I develop such an anxiety that it's like I really don't know what to do and how. I don't even know myself what I'm scared of. I really can't understand it. Like, I am afraid of not doing it right, or letting everybody down. All of it at once.

Has Yulia tried seeing a sports psychologist? I am worried about this.

 

[sjid]

Poor Yulia. It's so hard to deal with such an enormous pressure for anybody, letting alone she is very young. I often think, if I had a daughter, I would not send her to competitive figure skating.
I think that is a very wise arrangement. Yulia would be able to get away from (and feel less judged by) her skating when she is with mom.I envy her. Most importantly, she is happy, hopeful, and in good hands. As her fan, I cannot ask for more.

Yamita, I had the same reaction (I would not allow my children to be competitve skaters) a few months ago when Yulia said she constantly thought of quitting but knew nothing else so could not quit, and complained that she did not know why she was having problems performing. They start so young, I'm not surprised she felt trapped even at the tender age of 16. When they start that early the brain can be shaped physically-structurally, in addition to demanding mental descipline. Her mother hasn't watched her compete for more than a year. The arrangement was that she would accompany Yulia to competitions, but stay in the locker room while Yulia skated. We can be certain that these last two years have taken a toll on her mother. Ilya Averbukh always mentions how difficult she is, how could she be otherwise?
Yulia is very fortunate to be in Sochi. Not only for Urmanov, also for nature. Yulia has an exceptional appreciation of nature. She is in for some wonderful experiences. Below are links, one to a field of rhododendrons blooming in the spring in the wilderness; and the second a description of one of the natural treasures of the world, the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve. We can expect many happy reports from her when she discovers the secrets in the mountains just outside Sochi. I also hope for a strong bond between her and Urmanov, very beneficial to a child raised by a single mother. She can heal and flourish in the broad opportunities of this environment. https://500px.com/photo/113183689/f...dim-trunov?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=22741
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Caucasus

 

[sjid]

Honestly, I expected that I wouldn't be able to do anything at all today, because I wasn't ready, not mentally, not at all. I was sitting in the hotel room before the free, and all I wanted to do was to cry and to run away from here. I must do something with the mental background of the free, because I develop such an anxiety that it's like I really don't know what to do and how. I don't even know myself what I'm scared of. I really can't understand it. Like, I am afraid of not doing it right, or letting everybody down. All of it at once.

Has Yulia tried seeing a sports psychologist? I am worried about this.

This topic was discussed at length a few months ago. Some were in favor of sports psychologists, others knew of several cases where the results were negative. Recently we have gotten a clearer picture of her experience in the last two years, much of it extremely negative. Just getting away from that may help hugely. Urmanov has made remarks in interviews about the limited role of psychology. Many Olympic and world champions have trouble after reaching the top. There seems to be some sort of conflict reaction, as if they want to continue success, but having been #1 they now feel acutely vulnerable to failure. Yulia needs understanding, encouragement and success. Urmanov said that he wants her in competitions soon. That makes a lot of sense. I think we can count on him to adjust strategy according to experience with sensitivity and intelligence. Based on what I know I think he is a very good choice, but until recently I had the same opinion of Eteri.

 

[sjid]

Its probably very difficult to have close friends with how much she trains - the only people that she's around are her fellow skaters and there is (or at least was) probably an issue of you're competing against each other daily, that has to make being 'close friends' with each other difficult.

You're right. She herself said this in an interview. She said she has friends at the rink, but closeness is limited by the competitive spirit. She said her closest friends are still in Yekaterinburg. Interview was sometime in the last year.

 

[Aestheticprawn]

Honestly, I expected that I wouldn't be able to do anything at all today, because I wasn't ready, not mentally, not at all. I was sitting in the hotel room before the free, and all I wanted to do was to cry and to run away from here. I must do something with the mental background of the free, because I develop such an anxiety that it's like I really don't know what to do and how. I don't even know myself what I'm scared of. I really can't understand it. Like, I am afraid of not doing it right, or letting everybody down. All of it at once.

Has Yulia tried seeing a sports psychologist? I am worried about this.

Poor girl. Maybe she just needs a therapist just to help her calm down. She has so much anxiety. More then I want her to win, I want her to be happy.

 

[UnNamed]

I don't want to be rude but i remember, maybe after sochi, someone said she had to go to pychologist or therapist... no please no, she doesn't have some serious mental problem, she only suffer stress, she need to find herself the reasons to skating, she need a motivator, not a psychiatric.

 

[Aestheticprawn]

I don't want to be rude but i remember, maybe after sochi, someone said she had to go to pychologist or therapist... no please no, she doesn't have some serious mental problem, she only suffer stress, she need to find herself the reasons to skating, she need a motivator, not a psychiatric.

She has pre competition anxiety. Anxiety can be very serious. In her case she just needs to calm down. If she lets it get out of hand (she has already started too) she could feel anxious when she's not competing. After Sochi and last season she said she was very depressed. I don't think she has "official" anxiety but Yulia needs to just relax. A therapist would help.

 

[Amei]

She has pre competition anxiety. Anxiety can be very serious. In her case she just needs to calm down. If she lets it get out of hand (she has already started too) she could feel anxious when she's not competing. After Sochi and last season she said she was very depressed. I don't think she has "official" anxiety but Yulia needs to just relax. A therapist would help.

I think before they go down the road of a therapist they should see how she does being out of Eteri's group for an extended period of time, not to bash Eteri but it seems like it was an environment that did nothing to help her with the anxiety/stress/pressure that she experienced after the Olympics. She talked in the interview after nationals how she never skated the FS clean in Eteri's group but skated it clean a couple times in Urmanov's group. I think once she is with him longer and he's had time to get her technique better that will give her more confidence going into the competitions will help her anxiety.

 

[coldblueeyes]

Well, having anxiety influence her competitions this way it's a bit worrying, let's be real, it's closing on two full seasons without a clean FS. I don't know if she talks with a psychologist, a shrink or a counselor regularly, but I think it would be at least beneficial for her to have that kind of help. Taking medication is a whole other step, but not doing anything certainly isn't good either. Just changing coaches is not going to do all the magic, but it's seems to be helping so far. If this kind of behavior in her competitions continues to happen, then maybe it would be a bit more worrying for her and her team.

 

[geiger]

Thanks Alba

Here is an interview with Urmanov, taken at about the same time. Link to the original: http://tass.ru/sport/2559713

In Sochi, the Olympic Champion of the Games-2014 team event, remembered anew how much she loves figure skating. This is the opinion of her new coach, Aleksei Urmanov, with whom she started working three weeks ago.

"For a long time Yuila has been carrying a colossal psychological burden, but after coming to Sochi, she warmed up a bit" - said Urmanov. "And this is very important for her. This was just the place that she needed - calm and comfortable. I should say that she is a really hard worker - she's been practicing from day one, right after she came. She's been working very hard all this time"

Urmanov said that their goal in attending the Nationals in Yekaterinburg has been to present what they've achieved so far.

"Yuila is very strong. We had no such plans as to get into top three, four, ten etc. We were going to the Nationals to show what we've accomplished so far. And I can say that her short program was a real bomb! An emotional explosion! Everybody appreciated this. Everybody saw her tears after the skate, while our own tears remained inside. Because it was really great."

The coach emphasized that there was very little time. "But even within such a short time period, much was done - we completely changed the two programs, rearranged all the elements, although it was risky. However, our business is a professional sport, not a fitness club. This means that you have to take risks, and sometimes you have to deal with losing. The main thing that has to be present - forward momentum, desire and will to achieve, sportive anger, character. All these qualities are very important for an athlete. I can say that we have a tandem by now. We understood each other quickly, understood what each of us wants" - so said Urmanov.

"Yulia has always loved figure skating" - emphasized the coach. "For a while, this feeling was in hiding. But not far at all. It's back now, she loves skating, and always will. She simply has a complicated period, and she will overcome it. But this is how an athlete builds his character. I know what to do next. Yulia is ready for this work."

 

[coldblueeyes]

The coach emphasized that there was very little time. "But even within such a short time period, much was done - we completely changed the two programs, rearranged all the elements, although it was risky. However, our business is a professional sport, not a fitness club. This means that you have to take risks, and sometimes you have to deal with losing. The main thing that has to be present - forward momentum, desire and will to achieve, sportive anger, character. All these qualities are very important for an athlete. I can say that we have a tandem by now. We understood each other quickly, understood what each of us wants" - so said Urmanov.

"Yulia has always loved figure skating" - emphasized the coach. "For a while, this feeling was in hiding. But not far at all. It's back now, she loves skating, and always will. She simply has a complicated period, and she will overcome it. But this is how an athlete builds his character. I know what to do next. Yulia is ready for this work."

This man, wow. I don't even know what to do with his words. He is so on point in everything he says about her, and so down to earth, ready for the hard work. I think he realized what kind of talent he has in his hands now, and if he does a good job with Yulia, this can catapult not only her career, but also his. For him, that has been somewhat in the shadow, putting Yulia back on track can be a turning point for the partnership.

If Yulia is ready for the work, god, I think we are all more than ready to see her becoming the start we know she can be.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I'm just happy that someone has made her their priority. Alexei seems to be a calming presence and I agree they can be good mutually for each other.

https://pp.vk.me/c7002/v7002625/12731/twIkRpwzSas.jpg

 

[Clairechang]

honestly we all know that Yulia has never been a lovely little sun like Elena who's comfortable and happy around everyone. And I think Adelina really enjoyed her fame after the OG and handled it well but apparently Yulia didn't.But all these characters and drawbacks make our Yulia special, different from others. I believe all she needs now is a peaceful and comfortable condition that makes her feel that she's protected. And time ,of course,maybe a couple of months.So glad to see she is happy now in Sochi.

 

[sabinfire]

Here's an in-depth analysis today from Sports.ru with the new changes made to Yulia's SP at Nationals:

http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/dobroefk/875778.html

(The author also uses my 4-screen Yulia SP YouTube video. )

 

[piona]

Has anyone a better video of Yulias warm-up fail at the Nationals?
http://webm.land/w/GiN0/

 

[solani]

honestly we all know that Yulia has never been a lovely little sun like Elena who's comfortable and happy around everyone. And I think Adelina really enjoyed her fame after the OG and handled it well but apparently Yulia didn't.But all these characters and drawbacks make our Yulia special, different from others. I believe all she needs now is a peaceful and comfortable condition that makes her feel that she's protected. And time ,of course,maybe a couple of months.So glad to see she is happy now in Sochi.

Hmm .. I doubt that Elena is comfortable and happy around everyone. She certainly seems happier (and more successful) when her main coach is around (remember when her coach was missing because of illness). I agree that she has a happier disposition overall than Yulia, but don't underestimate the importance of a coach. There are certainly skaters (like Fernandez or Hanyu) that don't depend so much on the sole attention (and affection) of a coach, but just think of f.e. Katarina Witt. If there's something like a helicopter coach Jutta Müller most certainly was one. And I doubt that Witt would have been as succesfull without her. And Yulia was degraded in Tutberidze's group (I don't want to blame anyone, there are advantages and disadvantages in being in a large group) and this obviously hurt her confidence and self-esteem in a already very difficult time. There's nothing better than to have someone you respect believe in you.

 

[Alba]

Here's an in-depth analysis today from Sports.ru with the new changes made to Yulia's SP at Nationals:

http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/dobroefk/875778.html

(The author also uses my 4-screen Yulia SP YouTube video. )

Bravo! Well deserved. Youìve done a great job with these videos. :thumbsup:

 

[geiger]

Lots of cool new photos in Yulia's VK group. I especially like this one for some reason, it just makes me smile https://pp.vk.me/c7002/v7002782/120f5/n_EbBjA9e-k.jpg

 

[Clairechang]

Hmm .. I doubt that Elena is comfortable and happy around everyone. She certainly seems happier (and more successful) when her main coach is around (remember when her coach was missing because of illness). I agree that she has a happier disposition overall than Yulia, but don't underestimate the importance of a coach. There are certainly skaters (like Fernandez or Hanyu) that don't depend so much on the sole attention (and affection) of a coach, but just think of f.e. Katarina Witt. If there's something like a helicopter coach Jutta Müller most certainly was one. And I doubt that Witt would have been as succesfull without her. And Yulia was degraded in Tutberidze's group (I don't want to blame anyone, there are advantages and disadvantages in being in a large group) and this obviously hurt her confidence and self-esteem in a already very difficult time. There's nothing better than to have someone you respect believe in you.

Yeah I see what you mean...Sometimes I'm a little bit jealous of the good relationship between Elena and Inna I agreed that attention and protection is not so important for some people , but Yulia really needs it.I believe Yuzuru and Javier enjoy training together. I don't wanna blame Erti(did I spelled it properly?)actually...It's just how things goes..Just happy to see Yulia finally got what she needed: