Russia 3rd Ladies Worlds & Euros Spot

[haribobo]

Not that Leonova and Sotnikova are sure bets, but so far the way things are going, they should be there. Who do you see as most likely to join them on the team?

[pinky166]

Not that Leonova and Sotnikova are sure bets, but so far the way things are going, they should be there. Who do you see as most likely to join them on the team?

Umm no one is a sure bet now, based on what we saw last week Sotnikova and Leonova certainly shouldn't be locks, and Tuk was the best of the Russian ladies at SC but still was not that impressive compared to usual. I think any hope for Shelepen is gone though, judging from the loss of her consistency and plummeting of her scores since leaving Tutberizde on top of the fact that she's prone to URs and her PCS are in the low 6s on a good day. Korobeynikova bombed the SP at Cup of Nice, but I still think she's probably the most talented and all-around skater capable of scoring the best when "on". Sotnikova and Leonova both came off as very sloppy and unpolished at SA. I know it's early in the season, but..

[briancoogaert]

I want Polina Korobeynikova to be in the russian team. She is so beautiful to watch. I don't care about the jumps she lands. She has good basics, good jumping technique and overall technique, and she is beautiful !

[love_skate2011]

Tuk just showed at Skate Canada she is a fighter !!!
she is more of a shoo in than Leonova or Sotnikova, imo

Pola K. is a hot mess atm, she bombs too much

[briancoogaert]

Tuk just showed at Skate Canada she is a fighter !!!
she is more of a shoo in than Leonova or Sotnikova, imo

Pola K. is a hot mess atm, she bombs too much

I'll be the only vote for Polina ?

[love_skate2011]

I'll be the only vote for Polina ?

Polina K. just bombed Cup of Nice her score is like 44+ in SP

Liza I really admire her, she never gives up !
even when she fell on her 3Lz she added more fire after that to her program

[hanca]

Tuk just showed at Skate Canada she is a fighter !!!
she is more of a shoo in than Leonova or Sotnikova, imo

Pola K. is a hot mess atm, she bombs too much

She has just won Cup of Nice!

[briancoogaert]

She has just won Cup of Nice!

OMG, I can't believe it.

[love_skate2011]

OMG, I can't believe it.

she did , 11th in SP but won the FS

[haribobo]

Here are scores so far this season:

Lipnitskaia 188 (but too young)
Sotnikova 168, 168
Tuktamysheva 168
Makarova 154
Leonova 153
Korobeinikova 149
Zaseeva 146
Shelepen 124, 147
Agafonova 139
Biryukova

[Cherub721]

Wow, so Makarova would still be top 3 among age eligibles so far. That is hilarious.

[briancoogaert]

Wow, so Makarova would still be top 3 among age eligibles so far. That is hilarious.

That is devastating ! lol

[alchemy void]

Leonova has peaked at Worlds the past two years. She will improve as the season goes on and is a lock to make the team. She is the anchor.

Tuktamysheva and Sotnikova should round out the team. Both had decent debuts, nothing earth shattering but the rest of the Russian girls are a hot mess.

I know Korobeinkova is universally loved here but she has a long way to go to even be part of the conversation. Yeah, she won Cup of Nice and landed 5 easier triples, but totally bombed the SP. Her program is slow and empty of any transitions or any choreography for that matter. It is good to ser her land jumps but she is very far away from being competitive.

Poor Shelepen, has she grown? Or does her new coach suck that much? Impressed with her attitude in the K&C after the LP disaster.

Who knows, maybe Biryukova will shock us at Cup of China and put herself in the conversation?

[lulu]

Just saw Ksenia's Skate Canada LP on NBC, mistakes on the jumps not withstanding, I really enjoyed the program.

[Lyinna]

I hope so badly that Makarova can get the third spot! I love both her programms and she's such a lovely skater

[SamuraiK]

Leonova is not a lock , not even a semi lock by any meas. If anything Adelina and Liza should be the ones left ouf of the poll.

[SamuraiK]

she did , 11th in SP but won the FS

Thats great for Polina K. but is not something to hang onto when it comes to the RUS fed deciding who to favour on nationals. Polina bombs way too much at least one program.

[judgejudy27]

I dont see anyway it isnt Tuktamysheva, Leonova, and Sotnikova unless 1 of them bombs badly at Nationals. Leonova is the reigning World silver medalist and while I dont expect her to be on the podium this year, she will still be protected for this year anyway unless she skates super bad at Nationals. Elizaveta and Sotnikova are both just stronger than the other young Russians.

Next year though one of them will be left off the Olympic team in favor of Julia Liptnitskaya who will be the #1 Russian and by far top Russian gold hope in Sochi.

[jlai]

I went back to look at Russia's junior world records in ladies. Between 95 to 01, Russia produced 9 junior world medalists. One became world champion, two became one-time world medalist (Soldatova early in her career and Sokolova much later in her career), one a European medalist (Volchkova) and 5 disappeared soon after winning their junior world medals.

Russian ladies could be having an unpleasant surprise at London. (NA competition, girls with little competition experience, etc etc.)

Third lady: Probably Tukt, but I don't consider her 3rd lady

[Bournekraatzfan]

I have faith that my Tukt will get that spot!