I know this is a very weird time for a first post, but I would just like to add that I absolutely ADORE this kid!
I know that last night was shocking to say the least, and that yes, she definitely should've gone to the ceremony if she physical could have. The excuse was poor and beneath an athlete of her calibre. This is pure speculation and over-worrying on my part...But honestly, last night after all the CoC chaos, I saw a jptv video of Yulia crying, followed by a twitter pic of only Liza and Kanako on the podium, and I was severely worried something serious had happened (or god-forbid were to happen), I hoped that either Eteri or her mother was keeping an eye out for (/on) her. She's one tough introverted kid, but she is also soooo vulnerable to something as public and scrutinised as this. I read on another forum that Tarasova she said both 'the athlete, and the coach is to blame' (or something along those lines) for the lack of decorum and respect, I agree yet there is ONE huge exception. Under certain circumstances, "saving face" should be put strictly aside for the well-being of an athlete, which is second to none. If that was the case, then I commend and am grateful to Eteri. Again, I am purely speculating.
For me, Yulia's magnetism extends beyond just skating. Her blunt, fiery, unpredictable, impulsive personality is one of her greatest qualities, yet it can also be her achilles heal, and can be an extremely easy and vulnerable target for folks and critics to attack. I am Chinese-by-birth, and I do believe Yulia was born in the year of the Tiger. So forgive me if I go off on a little tangent here.
'Tiger people are daring fighters, they are capable of standing up to the better end for what they think is right. Although they could be selfish from time to time in the little things, they are capable of great generosity. Tigers are unpredictable, always tense. and like to be in a hurry. Tiger people are difficult to resist, for they are magnetic characters and their natural air of authority confers a certain prestige on them. They are tempestuous yet calm, warm-hearted yet fearsome, courageous in the face of danger yet yielding and soft in mysterious, unexpected places. Tigers are very confident, perhaps too confident sometimes.'
I adore her, and hope above all else she mentally recovers from all this, and learns from this. I love her skating (she reminds me of younger, less refined version of S.Cohen, whom I use to watch as a kid), but her health and well-being should be put first.
My only wish is that they hadn't made up the "didn't know" excuse (if it indeed is an excuse); I'd rather she came out and sad, "Look, I felt terrible, I was angry at myself, I really didn't want to go." I doubt that'll come over any better with FS fans, but I appreciate blunt truth.
Hope things get back to normal soon. Wow did Yulia get really big or has Elizaveta always been so dainty? Beautiful smiles all around to lighten the mood over that horrendous competition.
. She should have just stuck with 
