UPDATED/CONFIRMED: Evgenia Medvedeva leaving Tutberidze for Orser

[Choupette]

With all the political nonsense going on in the US I would not even want to visit there.

But Putin supported Trump, and unsurprisingly, the Russian press followed. The Russians were the only ones, IIRC, who thought Trump would win and the election actually made them more interested in the US.

I was surprised to see a hockey player who had been in the NHL for at least 15 years, who had even taken the Canadian citizenship to remain in the country after his carrer, publicly support Putin on Twitter not too many years ago. So an athlete who has never even lived out of Russia may very well not feel the way you described, even if I personally feel like you.

 

[bardtoob]

She has to wait 2 years if they refuse to release her. And a year, if they don’t. An eternity.

Or enough time to really see the results of working with Orser . . .

 

[Fairuza]

Or enough time to really see the results of working with Orser . . .

Paying for the pleasure is going to be hard.

 

[barbarafan]

Or enough time to really see the results of working with Orser . . .

Paying for the pleasure is going to be hard.

I don't think she would change countries unless she felt she was undermarked at Russian nationals or in some way treated unfairly there. The ISU does not force countries to release athletes even though the country is supposed to follow the rule.

 

[IloveFS]

Isn't this just about a change in training site?

I don't think that she would want to compete for another country. Didn't she advocate for Russians to be able to skate under the Russian flag at this years Olympics?

 

[bardtoob]

I don't think she would change countries unless she felt she was undermarked at Russian nationals or in some way treated unfairly there. The ISU does not force countries to release athletes even though the country is supposed to follow the rule.

I think with Orser's jump technique, she could dominate Russian Nationals even as she gets into her 20s. She might only get 2nd if some upstart keeps her quads, but, nonetheless, she would remain a factor for a long time.

 

[Fairuza]

I think with Orser's jump technique, she could dominate Russian Nationals even as she gets into her 20s. She might only get 2nd if some upstart keeps her quads, but, nonetheless, she would remain a factor for a long time.

There’s quite a lot to work on, though. But it’s good she want to push beyond her own limitations.

 

[Holy Headband]

Guys.......... she'll never switch to a different federation. You can take this to the bank and move on to more productive topics.

 

[Polaris]

Guys.......... she'll never switch to a different federation. You can take this to the bank and move on to more productive topics.

There were ppl who said she would never switch coaches, and now here we are.

 

[Fairuza]

There were ppl who said she would never switch coaches, and now here we are.

Yeah, coach changing doesn’t entail two years of quarantine, but changing your country does. So it’s less likely.

 

[Holy Headband]

There were ppl who said she would never switch coaches, and now here we are.

I can't speak to other people's comments, but I never "said she would never switch coaches," and I'm telling you now she'll never switch federations.

 

[berthesghost]

Gosh FSU sure does love it a good apples to oranges comparison! Switching coaches is very usually in skating especially for someone at a crossroads like med currently is. A two time world champ switching countries is almost unheard of. Who would she switch to? Is Canada in the habit of taking Russian ladies skaters whom just recently beat a Canadian lady at Olys and worlds? It all sounds kinda far fetched and fantastical imo

 

[hanca]

She has to wait 2 years if they refuse to release her. And a year, if they don’t. An eternity.

That’s not true. If they don’t, she may wait indefinitely. There is no rule that after two years one can compete for another country WITHOUT being released from their previous country.

 

[Rock2]

I wouldn't rule out Armenia, but I would consider it a last resort, when it's clear the Russian Federation has given up on her.
That would probably take at least two years of being left off the world team and even the GP circuit. Given that we continue to see Leonova on the GP, I would call Armenia a long shot at best this coming Olympic cycle.

 

[Rock2]

In all fairness I think Orser (or anyone) could only make Medvedeva 20% better at what she currently does. Repackage her and boost her skating skills...tidy up the choreo.

I'd be shocked if they tried to tear down her skating and build it back up again.
1. That's tough to do with someone at her level and age
2. Her results would likely be poor over the next two years, which would be problematic for her and her standing with the Federation.

So, expect a different look with a few little improvements, but not an entirely new skater.

(On a related note, let's consider the scenario where she REALLY improves under Orser. How would the Russian federation react to a situation where a foreign coach took her to another level? Given what it might say about Russia's homegrown coaches, would the federation be reluctant to throw too much support behind her?)

 

[arakwafan2006]

I really don't understand why the North-Americans think they have the best coaches, their choreographers creat the best programs,etc.

Sounds like you probably can’t understand what time it is or how many fingers someone is holding in front of you either.

 

[arakwafan2006]

Brian's strength seems to be helping a skater vs making them over. He seems less heavy handed in how he wants things than say Frank Carrol. For instance, Yuna and her Layback and Spiral. Many coaches would have fought her on her free foot position. Brian let it be. Also, Javier and Yuzuru. They didn't morph with him in terms of them looking the same. He learned their jump style, worked on the take off and timing but let their natural style be what it was. Even Rafael changes the way skaters do take-off's of their jumps instead of letting them be.

Brian is a talented coach. His skaters do well. T. Wilson makes sure that their blade work is sound as well. I would not expect him to do a Mao Asada/Nabou Sato situation with Evgenia but, she does do the Eteri style of jumping which Brian does NOT teach. It will be interesting.

 

[DimaToe]

Good luck to Janny, very good choice. Tutberidze is very good at what she does, but her skaters tend to have a shelf life with her. Once something major comes across (injury,growth spurt, etc. ) she doesn’t seem to yet have the abilities to get her skaters back on the right track. This move makes me think that Janny is serious about skating for 4 more years and I could not be happier. Here’s hoping that this also means that Averbukh choreographing her programs is also over with.

 

[MAXSwagg]

Brian's strength seems to be helping a skater vs making them over. He seems less heavy handed in how he wants things than say Frank Carrol. For instance, Yuna and her Layback and Spiral. Many coaches would have fought her on her free foot position. Brian let it be. Also, Javier and Yuzuru. They didn't morph with him in terms of them looking the same. He learned their jump style, worked on the take off and timing but let their natural style be what it was. Even Rafael changes the way skaters do take-off's of their jumps instead of letting them be.

Brian is a talented coach. His skaters do well. T. Wilson makes sure that their blade work is sound as well. I would not expect him to do a Mao Asada/Nabou Sato situation with Evgenia but, she does do the Eteri style of jumping which Brian does NOT teach. It will be interesting.

They tried very hard to get Yuna to fix her foot. SHE didn’t try hard enough. And frankly, the judges didn’t care so why would she have been concerned with fixing it?

It’s the same with Med. Someone said she needs to boost her components to stay competitive because they can’t see her getting more tech content. What boost? Her PCS are already maxed out! She also is not switching countries either.

 

[Herpderp69]

I really don't understand why the North-Americans think they have the best coaches, their choreographers creat the best programs,etc.

I dont think it's that exactly- I got the sense that it would be interesting to see her work with a different coach/choreo/ style.

 

[Carolla5501]

Do not take that tone with me, thank you very much.

I probably should have reworded my first post on the matter, so for that I apologize, but Orser definitely hinted that Hanyu was weighing his options.

If you can't take the heat don't dish out gossip to stir things up.


After you've stirred everyone up you don't get to lecture on the responses.

 

[Vash01]

If I get it right... yes. They waited forever to release Lubov even when they had all the strong pairs. I don’t think Russian fed would ever release Med even after 2022.

They probably have 10 ladies that could beat Zhenya in 2022. I think they will eventually let her go. Certainly not next season.

 

[Japanfan]

I really don't understand why the North-Americans think they have the best coaches, their choreographers creat the best programs,etc.

What North Americans are you referring to? Posters on the board?

North America happens to have some distinguished coaches like Orser, Dubreil/Lauzon and Artunian. Some of those distinguished coaches are not North American born. And distinguished choreographers.

But Russia, Japan and other countries also have had/have distinguished coaches and choreographers - for example, Misha Ge has a flourishing career in choreography away from him. Tat, Mishin and Moskvina are legendary.

Recognizing that North America has distinguished coaches/choreographers does not mean that other countries do not have the same.

 

[berthesghost]

I really don't understand why the North-Americans think they have the best coaches, their choreographers creat the best programs,etc.

ok, I missed the section where everyone kept suggesting she go to Robin Wagner for superior coaching and choreo!

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

If it's true, it is a very smart decision by Janny. And I don't think it's purely skating-drien. Janny comes across as intellectually curious, brave and adventurous. Working with an international group of skaters would be FUN. And having an English-speaking coach would allow her to prepare for life after skating in a whole different way.

 

[bardtoob]

It is interesting to note that Janny is going to the only coach that, in recent years, has been more dominant in singles than her own.

 

[barbarafan]

If it's true, it is a very smart decision by Janny. And I don't think it's purely skating-drien. Janny comes across as intellectually curious, brave and adventurous. Working with an international group of skaters would be FUN. And having an English-speaking coach would allow her to prepare for life after skating in a whole different way.

Besides if they need any interpreting Lubov Stephen and I am sure other born Russians are at Cricket.

 

[screech]

While those at the Cricket Club aren't tied to David Wilson and Jeff Buttle, it'd be nice to see Evgenia exposed to some different choreography (and maybe even costuming???), and I think either of them could do well with her.

And while Brian does have a youngster doing quads, he's been really great at limiting how often Gogolev can work on them, helping to prevent injury in that regard, so he would be a good person to have in charge if she wants to push herself technically. IIRC he also tried to limit how often Hanyu worked on the quad loop.

Since Javi hasn't retired, but is pulling back on competing, I think he's spending most of his time in Spain now instead of Toronto (though I wouldn't be surprised to see him training there occasionally). This definitely opens up an elite spot at the club. Evgenia could also do like Hanyu did, and spend time training both in Toronto and at home.

Besides if they need any interpreting Lubov Stephen and I am sure other born Russians are at Cricket.

Tursynbayeva also speaks Russian.

 

[bardtoob]

Evgenia could also do like Hanyu did, and spend time training both in Toronto and at home.

I wonder if she would have trouble getting ice time without being a member of a club at home.

 

[screech]

I wonder if she would have trouble getting ice time without being a member of a club at home.

I thought the original statement said she'd have a different coach at Sambo.