Alexander Majorov insults the Swedish federation on Facebook (and later apologizes)

[Evilynn]

Yes, that is what Wikipedia mentions, but I think that he moved to Sweden much later. I seem to remember having read that as the family was moving from Russia they also contacted the Finnish Skating Federation, but got an answer from Swedish Skating Federation quickly. All that makes me believe that he must have been some kind of a skater already in the time of their moving?

Majorov Sr started teaching in Sweden in 1992, but it was part time at first, and I don't know if he moved his family right away. He's said he did 3 months the second year, and then 5 months and in the 4th year they stayed (from this Absolute Skating interview), so if he didn't bring his family until then I suppose Jr would've been about 4? Most local news I've read about Majorov over the years says he's been in Luleå since he was 1, as does Skate Sweden. He didn't start skating until he was 5-6, and that was at a camp in Luleå.

Yes, this. When I met him, maybe 6 years ago, his Swedish was very poor. I don't know how it is today though.

I don't know if I ever heard him speak before he was in his teens, but he's never had much of an accent apart from a Luleå accent to my ears. If you know he's Russian you might pick up some small inflections, but these days I doubt most people would. He wasn't in public daycare as a kid, so I suppose he would've spoken mostly Russian until he started school at age 7.

2) Admitting that he doesn't feel Swedish at all, that Swedes are a separate group to him - a PR disaster for somebody who's supposed to represent this country

I agree with most of your post, but where has he said he doesn't feel Swedish at all? In most interviews I've read or heard he's said he likes Russia, but Sweden's home to him, it's where all his friends are (which makes sense, since he's lived here since he was a toddler).

I missed the whole mess because I was travelling, but I hope he learned his lesson. The Swedish version of the n-word is taboo and further down in his comments he's calling the federations "c**ts" in Swedish which is a lot more offensive than calling someone "jävla idioter", and while teenagers might be less sensitive to bad language, he certainly would've known he was being offensive.

Apparently the Swedish federation had said that Nationals wasn't the determining factor for who got chosen to go to Euros (although it usually is), which is why he was so pissed off in the first place, but looking at how Berntsson skated at Nationals, I'd still give the nod to him rather than Majorov.

[siberia82]

but looking at how Berntsson skated at Nationals, I'd still give the nod to him rather than Majorov.

Before the Facebook travesty, I actually did think it was somewhat unfair that Sasha was left off of the Euros team. (I'm not a fan of using national rankings as the sole determing factor.) Majorov did have stronger international results in the fall, and since he's the future of men's skating in Sweden, I would want him to have more experience on the "big stage".

Berntsson was the clear winner at Nationals, but he didn't have a great LP, and coupled with his subpar scores this season, I just don't have a lot of confidence in him at the moment. Not that I'm implying that Kris will crumble at Euros, but he hasn't proven to me yet that he's over-all a better competitor than Sasha. As much as I adore Koffe (I'm probably his biggest fan on FSU), I know that he's a headcase.

However, the situation being what it is now, Majorov isn't emotionally mature enough to represent Sweden at big senior-level competitions like Euros and senior Worlds IMHO. A true athlete is a champion on and off the ice, and Sasha is clearly having trouble with the last part. I'm surprised the Swedish federation are still allowing him to fight for a Worlds spot at Nordics. I wouldn't have been so generous; he could still compete there, but I wouldn't name him to the 2011 World team even if he did skate better than his teammates. Denying Majorov a trip to Tokyo would be my "punishment" for his adolescent outburst, and hopefully it will force him to grow up a little.

[Excidra]

I am certain that he could've expressed himself using more appropriate words. I hope he realizes that this isn't the only disappointment he will encounter in his life, especially considering that he's part of a sport where the odds of success is stacked against him. Hopefully he's learned a great deal from this experience and is better equipped to handle his anger/disappointment(s) in a more positive manner next time.

[Veronica]

However, the situation being what it is now, Majorov isn't emotionally mature enough to represent Sweden at big senior-level competitions like Euros and senior Worlds IMHO. A true athlete is a champion on and off the ice, and Sasha is clearly having trouble with the last part. I'm surprised the Swedish federation are still allowing him to fight for a Worlds spot at Nordics. I wouldn't have been so generous; he could still compete there, but I wouldn't name him to the 2011 World team even if he did skate better than his teammates. Denying Majorov a trip to Tokyo would be my "punishment" for his adolescent outburst, and hopefully it will force him to grow up a little.

I also think that being taken out of consideration for the worlds team would have been a suitable punishment here. While I do feel rather sorry for him (I don't think he would get this much exposure in Swedish media even if he medaled at junior worlds), his reaction was very childish and makes it pretty obvious that he is not ready for senior worlds yet.
I guess it's a case of the Swedish federation needing Majorov as much as he needs them. They don't want to alienate him (and have him quit or leave Sweden) or have to be dependent on Berntsson if he scores really low at Euros.
It could of course also be the case of the federation knowing Majorov well enough to know that this behaviour is very uncharacteristic of him and feeling confident that he won't do anything similar in the future.

Either way I rather hope Berntsson and Schultheiss do really well at euros and get to go to worlds.

[Evilynn]

Berntsson was the clear winner at Nationals, but he didn't have a great LP, and coupled with his subpar scores this season, I just don't have a lot of confidence in him at the moment. Not that I'm implying that Kris will crumble at Euros, but he hasn't proven to me yet that he's over-all a better competitor than Sasha. As much as I adore Koffe (I'm probably his biggest fan on FSU), I know that he's a headcase.

Except that Majorov is usually an even worse headcase. His nerves got the better of him at Nationals, and I still remember his last outing at Euros where he fell 4 times in the FP (admittedly Schultheiss had a crap outing that year too). He's older now, but I don't know if his nerves are any better. If Berntsson implodes he tends to still perform his other elements reasonably well and will have higher PCS.

That said, if Majorov beats Schultheiss and/or Berntsson at Nordics, send him to Worlds. He needs the experience. I don't think most Swedish people gives a damned what he said or didn't say on FB (possibly because 99% of the population probably has no idea who he is ), so I don't think there'll be any in regards to him representing Sweden.

[Jun Y]

Just because many young people think it is doesn't make it so. People can lose their jobs or suffer consequences far greater than they would have by posting things publicly on Facebook than they would if they just vented to a few of their closest friends (even if a few of their closest friends have big mouths).

Sheesh, I didn't condone his rant. I just said I didn't understand why people were getting their shorts all in a bunch for a 19-year-old guy ranting stupid stuff on Facebook. Nor do people need to get their shorts all in a bunch over me stating that people do or say stupid things all the time. If I got a nickel for everyone who writes stupid offensive stuff on Facebook and Twitter for the world to see, I'd be so rich ...

Weeks later this post is still on the first page, I'd say that's pretty weird.

[siberia82]

I guess it's a case of the Swedish federation needing Majorov as much as he needs them. They don't want to alienate him (and have him quit or leave Sweden) or have to be dependent on Berntsson if he scores really low at Euros.

After watching the Men's SP for Euros, I think the Swedish fed may now be worried that Schultheiss might quit after this season. (Perhaps they were already aware about his depression, and it could partially explain why they were very supportive when Koffe announced he would compete for one more season.) I think you make a very good point as to why they were more lenient on Sasha than what we would've expected.

Except that Majorov is usually an even worse headcase. His nerves got the better of him at Nationals, and I still remember his last outing at Euros where he fell 4 times in the FP (admittedly Schultheiss had a crap outing that year too). He's older now, but I don't know if his nerves are any better. If Berntsson implodes he tends to still perform his other elements reasonably well and will have higher PCS.

I haven't forgotten that Sasha can be inconsistent as well , but what I meant to say that he has been a better competitor over-all this season than Kristoffer so far. I should have made that clearer.

I don't think most Swedish people gives a damned what he said or didn't say on FB (possibly because 99% of the population probably has no idea who he is ), so I don't think there'll be any in regards to him representing Sweden.

I can only speak for myself, but if a similar situation happened in Canada where a young athlete in a not-so-popular sport said racist/sexist comments, I wouldn't want him/her to represent my country at a major international event. I may not follow the sport s/he is competiting in, but I still care about how an athlete's behaviour might effect how other nations perceive us.

[Ziggy]

I agree with most of your post, but where has he said he doesn't feel Swedish at all? In most interviews I've read or heard he's said he likes Russia, but Sweden's home to him, it's where all his friends are (which makes sense, since he's lived here since he was a toddler).

I used a hyperbole, as usual. Sorry.

What I meant is that by saying "Swedish pussies..." if he identified Swedes as "them" - a group separate from himself.

I imagine that you don't talk about your Swedish friends or Swedish tv because being a Swede who lives in Sweden those things are implicit and obvious to you.

You mention the nationality when identifying those elements which are different.

Of course Alexander might feel Swedish but in a moment of sadness and anger, could feel that he was not being seen so by the federation, that it was something that contributed to the decision not to select him for the national team.

Anyhow, just my musings.

I was over the top in my post, myself but I felt really angry with his outburst because I know too well what it's like being on the receiving end of speech like this.

[siberia82]

I know this is old news, but in the interest of fairness, I thought I would post whiteskates' translations of the video and radio interviews that I've shared earlier. Now that Sasha will be at senior Worlds, there may be some non-Swedish speakers who want to hear more of his side of the story.

http://svtplay.se/v/2277111/majorov_...er_sina_pahopp

Majorov: I didn't mean what I said. It has been blown up out of proportion.

Reporter: Why did you write it then?

Majorov: I wrote it in anger. It was just an impulsive thing and was unnecessary, and I'm not proud of it, but I did delete it shortly afterwards. I hoped everything would be OK and that no one from the figure skating association would see it. And then I thought about things and realized it was partly my fault because I didn't skate well at the Swedish Championships.

Reporter: So what now? A new start or...?

Majorov: I don't know. I hope the figure skating association forgives me and understands that I didn't mean to criticize them. I was a bit angry at myself and took it out on others. But if they forgive me, all I can do is keep going and try harder.

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel...rtikel=4252233

Majorov: Hmmm... I feel really bad. What I wrote on Facebook was mostly for my friends. My parents weren't at home, so I couldn't tell them how I felt. I was crossed because I didn't get to go to Europeans, so I posted just to get some consolation from my friends and some comments with their opinions. But I did understand that it was wrong of me to write it, so I deleted it maybe ten or twenty minutes after I had written it and had calmed down. Then my mother woke me up and she was in tears and I immediately understood why.

Reporter: The first thing that you wrote which you yourself have quoted, for example "F*** you, idiots..." If you had been standing in front of the national team leaders, would you have been able to say it to their faces then considering the anger that you felt inside?

Majorov: Absolutely not! They know I never use bad language, I usually say nothing at all. What happened just happened, but I did delete it because I understood that what I wrote was wrong. I didn't think, I just wrote…bad words. I don't know why I did it, it was like if you hit your toe, you use bad language, it's the same thing. An impulsive thing that I did and I'm not proud of it.

Reporter: Do you think this will affect you in future in competitions?

Majorov: I hope it won't, but that's what I fear right now. I don't know if people are angry with me now or not, but some may understand what I meant, maybe they understand how sad I was because they've seen me work quite hard. But some may be angry and misunderstand me.