From Russia With Love - Winter 2012/13

[Sally1214]

Huge congratulations to Evgeni and Yana on the birth of their son. And, welcome to the world, Alexander! What a wonderful Christmas indeed.

[Katarzyna]

Congratulations to Zhenia & Yana!

Impatiently waiting for the first pictures of the lovely little family to come up!

[Moka-Ananas]

Congrats to Plush and Yana

BTW: Does anybody know why Ivan Bariev was not at Russian Nats?

[Eislauffan]

Congrats to Plush and Yana

BTW: Does anybody know why Ivan Bariev was not at Russian Nats?

Yes, he injured ligaments in his ankle in a fall in training and resumed skating just shortly before Nationals, according to his coaches.

[Katarzyna]

Yes, he injured ligaments in his ankle in a fall in training and resumed skating just shortly before Nationals, according to his coaches.

Thank you for the Info, Eislauffan! What a pity! I really liked him at Nebelhorn and wished he'd do well at Nats.

[Eislauffan]

Interview with Alena Leonova: http://www.team-russia2014.ru/article/7672.html (in Russian).

She talks about her failure at Russian Nationals, doesn't give concrete reasons what happened other than that maybe pressure got to her. She claims her practices leading up to Nationals went well. She said she won't give up and wants to fight for a spot at Worlds.

[Eislauffan]

The Russian minister of sports, V. Mutko, told the press that within the next couple of days a final decision will be made if M. Kovtun or K. Menshov will go to Europeans.
Article: http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-s...145944618.html
However, it doesn't really sound like a change can be expected. Mutko states that there was no violation of rules (in naming Kovtun to the team) as the coaches' council can recommend the third skater. Mutko said that the decision wasn't taken really publicly and therefore they (his ministery) asked the Federation to discuss the selection again.

[Kasey]

Thank you Eislauffan. I know for myself, I didn't expect them to change their minds. They are playing within their own rules, even if I personally don't think it's fair. I am sure others feel the same.

[Marco]

This is absurd. They saw promise in someone and are willing to bet on him. They are doing it within their rules of selection. Why the outrage?

Was there such outrage when 4th placed Slutskaya was selected over 3rd placed Sokolova for 1998 Europeans and over 2nd placed Soldatova for 1998 Olympics?

I hope there is no change, simply because doing so would undermine the Russian Fed doing what's within its power to do.

[yaya124]

This is absurd. They saw promise in someone and are willing to bet on him. They are doing it within their rules of selection. Why the outrage?

Was there such outrage when 4th placed Slutskaya was selected over 3rd placed Sokolova for 1998 Europeans and over 2nd placed Soldatova for 1998 Olympics?

I hope there is no change, simply because doing so would undermine the Russian Fed doing what's within its power to do.

They have not changed the list. Kovtun is on the official entries for EC2013, Gachinski and Menshov are the substitutes.

[misskarne]

They have not changed the list. Kovtun is on the official entries for EC2013, Gachinski is the first subsitute, and Menshov the second.

Now THAT is wrong. If they insist on sending Kovtun, Menshov should be first sub. I love Gachinski, but Menshov is in MUCH better form right now.

[Moka-Ananas]

This also sucks for the athletes since now they do not know what to prepare for and how to practice now because they would want to achieve the peak of their shape by Euros and/or Junior Worlds respectively.

[C_T_T_]

They have not changed the list. Kovtun is on the official entries for EC2013, Gachinski is the first subsitute, and Menshov the second.

Now THAT is wrong. If they insist on sending Kovtun, Menshov should be first sub. I love Gachinski, but Menshov is in MUCH better form right now.

Substitutes are listed in alphabetical order on the offical entries list.

[winterchik]

Why would people need convincing? Did many people think that Bobrova and Soloviev shouldn't have won?

In short YES,but allot more went on

[Moka-Ananas]

In short YES,but allot more went on

What the heck is wrong with people?! Did they really think I/K's craptastic programs are worthy of a Russian Championship gold medal?
Sometimes I really question the taste of my people.

[misskarne]

Substitutes are listed in alphabetical order on the offical entries list.

So why are they referred to as "first" and "second" substitutes? Shouldn't they just be "subs"?

[C_T_T_]

So why are they referred to as "first" and "second" substitutes? Shouldn't they just be "subs"?

They are just listed as substitute entries. The official list for russia says....

23 Maxim KOVTUN RUS 18
24 Evgeni PLUSHENKO RUS 18
25 Sergei VORONOV RUS 18
Artur GACHINSKI RUS 18 S
Konstantin MENSHOV RUS 18 S

Some people may have assumed Gachinski is the first substitute because he is listed first but the list is alphabetical for both entries and substitutes.

[Sylvia]

Disputed Menshov Decision Upheld: http://en.rsport.ru/other_sports/201...639020606.html

An federation executive committee meeting voted nine to one Thursday to uphold the decision to include Kovtun at Menshov's expense, Gorshkov told R-Sport.

[Stephanie]

Nikol Gosviani made the SP TES for worlds (and euros) in Poland today! She scored 51.16 with a TES of 29.50. She had a 1 point deduction for something. Results so far: http://www.pfsa.com.pl/results/2012/MNNTC13/SEG014.HTM

[yaya124]

So why are they referred to as "first" and "second" substitutes? Shouldn't they just be "subs"?

Sorry I made a mistake on claiming the first and second...... Please forgive me

I have edited my post above. Sorry.