Will Sotnikova and Tuktymasheva have the same impact on the Sr. level as Mao/YuNa?

[victoriaheidi]

I think the three to watch headed into 2014 are Kanako, Liza and Adelina. So yes, I think they will move over well.

Frankly, if anyone follows gymnastics, I always think of Liza/Adelina along with Viktoria Komova and Aliya Mustafina as Russia's return to dominance.

[Marco]

So far, Sotnikova is the one to beat. She has a natural ease and elegance to her skating and is packaged very well. Tuktymasheva in contrast is extremely poorly packaged and her Plushenko-esque style is so outdated.

Still, there're 3 more years before Sochi so they have plenty of time to improve. They can't compete at senior Worlds until 2013 anyways, right?

[Marco]

I don't know, to be honest. I can't comment on Tuktamysheva's 3+3, but I rewatched Sotnikova's and it looked rotated for sure to me.

Exactly. Sotnikova's jumps are very clean and are done withe excellent form. Let's hope the puberty monster is kind to her.

She seems to be quite consistent this season, so hopefully she isn't that big of a head case.

[Kitty Hu]

3 year is a too long time to say something about the girls . after torino, every one mao her self included thougt she will have the best chance to win in vancouver, but Yuna got it.

[orientalplane]

after torino, every one mao her self included thougt she will have the best chance to win in vancouver

How do you know what Mao thought?

[pinky166]

3 year is a too long time to say something about the girls . after torino, every one mao her self included thougt she will have the best chance to win in vancouver, but Yuna got it.

And let's not forget Kimmie Meissner and Caroline Zhang, also expected to be podium threats in 2010. Funny how that worked out...

[miki88]

And let's not forget Kimmie Meissner and Caroline Zhang, also expected to be podium threats in 2010. Funny how that worked out...

Adelina and Liza are far more talented than these two though and have better technique. It's far too early to predict who's going to be the next OGM winner but I think it's very likely they will be in the running. I'm only really concerned about Liza's Mishin-style packaging but then it never detered Plushenko from reaching the top.

[victoriaheidi]

Random Adelina question: I can't help noticing that her birthday is July 1, 1996. This would have made her 13 in time for the 2009-10 JGP, no? And hadn't she just won the Russian Nats on the senior level? Was there ever an explanation given as to why they waited a year to send her out?

[falling_dance]

Random Adelina question: I can't help noticing that her birthday is July 1, 1996. This would have made her 13 in time for the 2009-10 JGP, no? And hadn't she just won the Russian Nats on the senior level? Was there ever an explanation given as to why they waited a year to send her out?

I wonder if that's a typo on her ISU bio; this one says that her birthday is actually July 11.

[Marco]

And let's not forget Kimmie Meissner and Caroline Zhang, also expected to be podium threats in 2010. Funny how that worked out...

I never expected them to be podium threats. They already had all sorts of technical issues back in 2006/7, and that was pre-puberty for them. And technical issues are even harder to fix during or post-puberty.

Mao and Yuna had, and these two young Russian girls have, a legitimate shot because they had/ have everything at a young age. The only variables were puberty.

[pinky166]

I wonder if that's a typo on her ISU bio; this one says that her birthday is actually July 11.

Icenetwork says her birthday is January 1, 1996

I'm confused

Anyways, I think if she is born on July 1 she is to young, she would have to have been 14 BY July 1st and she turned 14 ON it (if that's her actual birthday).

[oleada]

IceNetwork is definitely wrong. I think they saw the 01.06.1996 birthday and assumed it was January 1st, 1996, since that's what it would be in America, but in European countries - which is the format the ISU uses - it's June 1st.

IceNetwork is wrong more often than it's right, so don't rely on them for accurate info.

[Domshabfan]

IceNetwork is definitely wrong. I think they saw the 01.06.1996 birthday and assumed it was January 1st, 1996, since that's what it would be in America, but in European countries - which is the format the ISU uses - it's June 1st.

IceNetwork is wrong more often than it's right, so don't rely on them for accurate info.

Shouldn't it be January 6th, if they were following American system. So Icenetwork, like its preview of JGP events is wrong on multiple levels.

[oleada]

Shouldn't it be January 6th, if they were following American system. So Icenetwork, like its preview of JGP events is wrong on multiple levels.

Remember when they didn't include Sotnikova in their preview of the JGP in Austria?

[ciocio]

So far, Sotnikova is the one to beat. She has a natural ease and elegance to her skating and is packaged very well. Tuktymasheva in contrast is extremely poorly packaged and her Plushenko-esque style is so outdated.

I really believe that plushenkomania should appear in the psychiatry and psychology books. It will be a huge breakthrough for the psychic pathology.

[Autumn_girl]

Random Adelina question: I can't help noticing that her birthday is July 1, 1996. This would have made her 13 in time for the 2009-10 JGP, no? And hadn't she just won the Russian Nats on the senior level? Was there ever an explanation given as to why they waited a year to send her out?

Last year Russian FSF asked ISU to allow Adelina compete at the JGP, but ISU said no. The rules says skater must turned 13 before July,1. Adelina's coach said it in the interview after JGPF

[Eris]

Elizaveta's surname is Tuktamysheva. Correct the title if you can, please.

[Marco]

I really believe that plushenkomania should appear in the psychiatry and psychology books. It will be a huge breakthrough for the psychic pathology.

Sure.

But the fault really lies with Mishin.

[judgejudy27]

Ultimately I wouldnt bet on either winning the 2014 Olympic Gold. If even Irina Slutskaya, by far the greatest Russian female skater in history, couldnt do it, then I dont think the odds of either of these 2 youngsters as talented as they are is that great.

[ciocio]

Sure.

But the fault really lies with Mishin.

I´ve heard people complaining that Sotnikova is a mini Mao, so we already have a maomania vs a plushymania. Tarasova and Mishin should provide a cure!