Russian women news & updates, 2021-22 season

[Evgeniafan]

Who wants to guess where she is switching? Kazakstan? Uzbekistan?

France needs a leading lady.

 

[Scott512]

Yes, it means she's out of Nationals.
Interestingly, also Tsibinova didn't show up at Russian Cup 4. Maybe both of them are changing nationality?

We can only hope so otherwise they will be buried so deep in Russia they will never have careers and they're too good not to.

 

[Scott512]

On September 20, 2021, Lilbet posted this: "
Dear fans,

I decided to end my career as a professional athlete. It is not easy for me to share this news with you ...
Many of you know that my back has been bothering me for a long time. Unfortunately, I did not manage to overcome this injury to the end, and therefore full-fledged training became impossible.

For me, the completion of this chapter in my life means the beginning of a new one.
At the moment I am in Kazakhstan, and until the end of the year I will work here, helping children, inspiring them and sharing my experience with them. I have always wanted to develop figure skating in my country, and I finally got this opportunity.

I am infinitely grateful to my parents for everything they have done for me and continue to do.
Thanks to everyone who helped me become stronger and always supported me: the leadership of the Kyzylorda region, the National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Sports and Culture.

I would also like to thank the entire coaching staff of Tutberidze: Eteri Georgievna, Sergey Viktorovich and Daniil Markovich for the work done with me, for the historical moments in my career, for faith in me, for the best programs.
I want to thank every coach I have ever worked with.
Now I have invaluable experience that I can share with the future generation.

My first start in the international arena was in 2011, exactly ten years have passed since this tournament, more than 50 international starts (Asian Games, Youth Olympic Games, World Winter Universiade, Championships of four continents, World Championships, Olympics and other international starts) and 39 medals of various denominations.

Sixteen years in big sports ... there was everything: the joys of the first victories, and despair, and injuries. But all these years you have always been there, my dear fans. Your wishes and sincere support inspired and inspired me, I felt that you, my people, needed me, and this gave me tremendous energy. Your faith in me and in the future will help me to reach new heights in various fields."

Amazing words from Lilbet. Good luck to her and her coaching career and she was a world silver medalist and landed the 1st ever quad is the 1st ever quiet at worlds for the ladies.

 

[Scott512]

Also no Konstantinova in Russian Cup 4. I thought her target this year was Nationals. I wonder is she planning country switch or maybe she is injured. At least Shulkskaya is there.

I don't think she will be changing federations but I wouldn't blame her if she did. Stanislava recently left the Saint Petersburg figure skating federation and I guess they were not happy about her move to Moscow. Making that move I would think she was going to stay representing Russia. But why haven't we seen her competing yet? It's too late in the season for her to even make nationals.

Stasya will be great in shows and I'm sure once she's done competing she will have her pick of the litter.

 

[Tobbe]

Also no Konstantinova in Russian Cup 4. I thought her target this year was Nationals. I wonder is she planning country switch or maybe she is injured. At least Shulkskaya is there.

I heard someone say that Konstantinova got sick in covid and couldn't practice.

 

[Tobbe]

France needs a leading lady.

They really do. They have two women WD-ing at GP France and they couldn't even get two new French girls in there. They are given their own host spots to Japan and Korea.

 

[Jeschke]

Tarakanova missing too.

 

[Tobbe]

Tarakanova missing too.

It was reported a couple of months ago that Tarakanova has ended her career.

 

[Jeschke]

It was reported a couple of months ago that Tarakanova has ended her career.

Thanks, must have missed that.
A shame - her happy moments during RC series last season were some of my highlights.

 

[Lizziebeth]

Neither can the ISU evidently.

I would like a more merit-based system to make the Olympic team or a World's team and use the Grand Prix season to do that and if one country has great dominance in the Grand Prix events in a discipline or two like Russia does then they should get an extra spot in the Olympics. The television people won't exactly be upset with that because figure skating in the Winter Games is Big Time ratings.

The Olympics and World Championships are supposed to be world events. The number of skaters entered in these events is limited and subject to tech minimums already, so it is not true that competitors from other nations are not worthy. There are only three medals available in each discipline. What would be the point of having more than three entries in an event from any country?

Let the Russian women fill all six places in the Grand Prix Final if they can.

 

[Prancer]

Competition discussion belongs in the Kiss and Cry section, not here.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

RusNats is going to be similar to USN in that I expect at least one junior skater to be on the podium. However, both Akatyeva and Samoldekina could beat Shcherbakova if she's off.

 

[ChelleC]

Is Akatieva old enough for senior nationals?

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

Is Akatieva old enough for senior nationals?

Yes, she turned 14 on 7/7 so she should be eligible, as she also made JGPF.

 

[Wyliefan]

While we're on the subject, we should get the spelling of her name figured out. Her ISU bio has Akateva, but almost everyone I've ever seen post about her has used Akatieva or Akatyeva. Is this some Russian rule of spelling where it can go either way?

 

[Sylvia]

While we're on the subject, we should get the spelling of her name figured out. Her ISU bio has Akateva, but almost everyone I've ever seen post about her has used Akatieva or Akatyeva. Is this some Russian rule of spelling where it can go either way?

I was told AKATEVA is how her name is spelled in her Russian passport and that's why her ISU bio spelling matches it.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

While we're on the subject, we should get the spelling of her name figured out. Her ISU bio has Akateva, but almost everyone I've ever seen post about her has used Akatieva or Akatyeva. Is this some Russian rule of spelling where it can go either way?

Yes, in short. I'm presently trying to learn it, and the one thing that a lecturer stressed is that Russian isn't exact, so don't sweat it!! Don't go all OCD like I am! But yes, there are many different spellings, none of them really incorrect... basically my nightmare... lol.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

I also started this thread a few months ago about learning the Russian alphabet: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/russian-alphabet-test.108602/

It's been fun trying to learn Russian on my own, and I'm scheduled to formally study it at Rice University down the road from me in January. I'm excited to finally make some sense of all of it!

 

[Frau Muller]

Russian names are often transliterated as they’re pronounced.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

Russian names are often transliterated as they’re pronounced.

Yes, that's why I often write out Alyona or Usachyova to make the distinction between Cyrillic "e" and "ë". It made sense to me after growing up reading about Mikhail Gorbachëv, and he was usually called Gorbachov but it was actually Gorbachyov sounding. But some pronounce it Gorbachev... there apparently is no "King's Russian" to perfectly learn the language... eek

 

[Immortelle]

While we're on the subject, we should get the spelling of her name figured out. Her ISU bio has Akateva, but almost everyone I've ever seen post about her has used Akatieva or Akatyeva. Is this some Russian rule of spelling where it can go either way?

The “e” is pronounced “ye” if stressed as far as my limited Russian knowledge goes, so Akatyeva would be a better spelling if you want to pronounce it correctly?

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

The “e” is pronounced “ye” if stressed as far as my limited Russian knowledge goes, so Akatyeva would be a better spelling if you want to pronounce it correctly?

Yes. Also Sofya has interesting spellings. I've seen her name spelled in Cyrillic as Софя (Sof-ya) and София (Sof-i-ya). I've been reassured not to sweat these inaccuracies/inconsistencies, but it's hard... lol

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

I found this interesting chart of Russian women skaters and which seasons they begin competing. It doesn't have all the ones to watch, but it's a good start.: https://i.redd.it/nn3f2myqnmy71.png

 

[Scott512]

The Olympics and World Championships are supposed to be world events. The number of skaters entered in these events is limited and subject to tech minimums already, so it is not true that competitors from other nations are not worthy. There are only three medals available in each discipline. What would be the point of having more than three entries in an event from any country?

Let the Russian women fill all six places in the Grand Prix Final if they can.

They won't fill all six because Sasha is hurt.

In some ways a Grand Prix final is a greater competition than the Olympics because the Olympics limits the number of elite skaters there.

To answer your question what would the point be it would be to have the best talent showcasing the sport and figure skating unfortunately is a niche sport. This should be able to be done by adding a couple more entries four countries dominating disciplines like never done before. That is the way this could work and it would not take away spots from smaller countries.

 

[skatingguy]

They won't fill all six because Sasha is hurt.

They could still fill all six slots depending on how Young You & Kaori Sakamoto do this weekend, and how Kostornaia does next week.

 

[Karen-W]

They won't fill all six because Sasha is hurt.

In some ways a Grand Prix final is a greater competition than the Olympics because the Olympics limits the number of elite skaters there.

To answer your question what would the point be it would be to have the best talent showcasing the sport and figure skating unfortunately is a niche sport. This should be able to be done by adding a couple more entries four countries dominating disciplines like never done before. That is the way this could work and it would not take away spots from smaller countries.

This is as likely to happen now as it was in 1991 when the USA became the first country to sweep the ladies discipline at Worlds. Which is another way of saying, if it didn't happen back in 1956 when the US men swept the Olympic medals, or 1952, 1955, 1956 (US men swept), 1969, 1988 (USSR swept pairs), 1992, 1993 (CIS/former USSR/Russia swept dance), then it's not going to happen now. Every single discipline has had periods where one country has been dominant and the ISU has firmly stuck to the 3 entrants per country max rule.

 

[Scott512]

This is as likely to happen now as it was in 1991 when the USA became the first country to sweep the ladies discipline at Worlds. Which is another way of saying, if it didn't happen back in 1956 when the US men swept the Olympic medals, or 1952, 1955, 1956 (US men swept), 1969, 1988 (USSR swept pairs), 1992, 1993 (CIS/former USSR/Russia swept dance), then it's not going to happen now. Every single discipline has had periods where one country has been dominant and the ISU has firmly stuck to the 3 entrants per country max rule.

The sport was small then and wasn't such a world wide sport like it is now.. Figure skating has grown over the years internationally much like golf and tennis have but on a smaller scale.

 

[Maximillian]

The sport was small then and wasn't such a world wide sport like it is now.. Figure skating has grown over the years internationally much yeah play much like golf and tennis have but I want a smaller scale.

The sport was small in 1991? (shrugs) sure...whatever you say...

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

The sport was small in 1991? (shrugs) sure...whatever you say...

Actually, I do think Scott has a point. In terms of news availability, internet groups for figure skating, competitions being streamed, etc fans of figure skating can now in 2021 easily research skating events, watch them livestreamed, etc. That was not available in 1991, which you should well remember, Max.

 

[Scott512]

The sport was small in 1991? (shrugs) sure...whatever you say...

Smaller than it is today but I was thinking more of 1956 which Karen also included in her post as an example.