Maria Butyrskaya - Ilia Malinin is not even American

[olympic]

Maria Butyrskaya: “Malinin is also one of ours. He’s not even an American in the literal sense; he represents this country only by territorial indication.”

Translation of Maria Butyrskaya's comments about Ilia Malinin.

fs-gossips.com

I'm not sure what to make of this ...

He’s not even an American in the literal sense; he represents this country only by territorial indication since he was born there. His parents ended up in the USA at that moment probably because they were not very needed in Russia. May God give me such children. I also try to make my children like that —something to be proud of,” said Butyrskaya.

 

[Wyliefan]

Sorry, honey, he's ours now. Finders keepers.

 

[olympic]

Sorry, honey, he's ours now. Finders keepers.

Thinking he should be watched if he ever travels to Russia for competitions in the future

 

[skatingguy]

Maria Butyrskaya: “Malinin is also one of ours. He’s not even an American in the literal sense; he represents this country only by territorial indication.”

Translation of Maria Butyrskaya's comments about Ilia Malinin.

fs-gossips.com

I'm not sure what to make of this ...

Okay, I'm back on keep the Russians out forever.

 

[Karen-W]

Yeah, honey... but unlike many other Russian skaters who settled in the USA during the North American skating boom years, they decided to stay here. Why is that? Were they not good enough to be offered any lucrative contracts by Putin to come back to Mother Russia and train the next generation after the Vancouver debacle? Or maybe they didn't want to dope up their skaters to get results... whatever the reason, they stayed here and chose to raise their children here and Ilia has admitted he is conversationally fluent in Russian but can't really read or write in it. He certainly sounds pretty damn American to me.

 

[PRlady]

Everybody born here is an American because they were born here, you Putinesque twit.

 

[skatingguy]

Yeah, honey... but unlike many other Russian skaters who settled in the USA during the North American skating boom years, they decided to stay here. Why is that? Were they not good enough to be offered any lucrative contracts by Putin to come back to Mother Russia and train the next generation after the Vancouver debacle? Or maybe they didn't want to dope up their skaters to get results... whatever the reason, they stayed here and chose to raise their children here and Ilia has admitted he is conversationally fluent in Russian but can't really read or write in it. He certainly sounds pretty damn American to me.

And that doping up their skaters would include their own children.

 

[skategal]

Born and raised in America but not American?

That’s some mental gymnastics right there.

 

[CantALoop]

Born and raised in America but not American?

That’s some mental gymnastics right there.

From Otonal to delusional

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

At the risk of being labeled as a faux-Russian - Masha, Masha, Masha...

 

[skateboy]

Sure, Jan.

Maria Butyrskaya can bite me.

 

[coppertop1]

They did this at US Nationals last season, trying to take credit for three of the top fourin the Men's, (two of whom were children of Russian skaters).

 

[tony]

Butyrskaya and Malinina were super close friends back in the day and I’d imagine they still are. I remember she once said that after they both failed to qualify for the short at 1993 Worlds, they sat and cried together. I also still remember Tatiana being super supportive to Maria at 2000 NHK directly after the marks came up that gave Slutskaya the controversial win.

Maria is and probably will always be my absolute favorite skater. I maintained her official website two decades(!) ago and have been so happy to see her in photos and videos having fun with Irina in the last few years after that rivalry was built up. But she should’ve just skipped the quote here.

 

[PRlady]

Butyrskaya and Malinina were super close friends back in the day and I’d imagine they still are. I remember she once said that after they both failed to qualify for the short at 1993 Worlds, they sat and cried together. I also still remember Tatiana being super supportive to Maria at 2000 NHK directly after the marks came up that gave Slutskaya the controversial win.

Maria is and probably will always be my absolute favorite skater. I maintained her official website two decades(!) ago and have been so happy to see her in photos and videos having fun with Irina in the last few years after that rivalry was built up. But she should’ve just skipped the quote here.

Now I’m curious. Why was she your favorite skater? She was a gorgeous woman and she had a definite presence in the ice, but all I think of now is really stiff knees and very inconsistent performance. I seriously wouldn’t have though a techie like you would choose her as a fave, although we all change over twenty years.

 

[tony]

Now I’m curious. Why was she your favorite skater? She was a gorgeous woman and she had a definite presence in the ice, but all I think of now is really stiff knees and very inconsistent performance. I seriously wouldn’t have though a techie like you would choose her as a fave, although we all change over twenty years.

I always thought she had that it factor that commanded one to watch her. Her technique was so good but the nerves are what threw the jumps off a lot of the time, and that added to the excitement of it all. She had one of the best loops I’ve ever seen, one of the most pure Lutz takeoffs, and her basic skating (and even her camel spins) were glorious.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Here both the opening Lutz and following toe loop are just as perfect as they got.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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This exhibition, the flow in her skating, the 2A she does- also just glorious.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Her 2000 Worlds short program may very well be my favorite program of all-time. She had such a shaky season up to that point and then she convincingly won the short over Slutskaya and Kwan who were the clear favorites. Her 1999 Worlds free, 2001 Worlds free, and 2000 Europeans free were also glorious. I remember so clearly being SHOCKED and jumping out of my couch when she landed her 3/3 sequence (and so well) in the ‘01 Worlds long.

M. BUTYRSKAYA - 2001 JAPAN OPEN - FS

MARIA BUTYRSKAYA - 2001 JAPAN OPEN - FS

www.youtube.com

Also, this exhibition to a modern Carmen was another standout for me. The footwork sequence in particular was great (for the time, at least).

 

[Lynn226]

I'm no Maria Butryskaya fan, but she and Artur Dmitriev provided me with one of my favorite in person skating memories ever. I attended an exhibition in Dayton Ohio. The organizers had to let us in early because of the inclement weather outside. Once I was in my seat, I saw that the only skater on the ice was Maria. Artur was at the boards coaching her. She was attempting triple axels. None of them were clean, but she didn't fall on any of them. She must have tried it a half a dozen times. This was sometime between 1997 and 2002. It clearly meant something to her because she would get frustrated after each after each attempt.

 

[tony]

I'm no Maria Butryskaya fan, but she and Artur Dmitriev provided me with one of my favorite in person skating memories ever. I attended an exhibition in Dayton Ohio. The organizers had to let us in early because of the inclement weather outside. Once I was in my seat, I saw that the only skater on the ice was Maria. Artur was at the boards coaching her. She was attempting triple axels. None of them were clean, but she didn't fall on any of them. She must have tried it a half a dozen times. This was sometime between 1997 and 2002. It clearly meant something to her because she would get frustrated after each after each attempt.

She was trying Axels throughout the 95/96 season in practices, coming close at Nationals and landing at least one successful one at the Worlds practices. I think she put all of that on hold for a long while when she switched to Elena Tchaikovskaya, but then randomly during a pro-am in the Detroit area in fall 2000, the ABC team mentioned she was on the ice once again practicing the 3A.

See here for a 2footed but rotated 3A in the Edmonton Worlds practice:

Magic Memories on Ice III

A retrospect of the greatest moments in figure skating.

youtu.be

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

I always thought she had that it factor that commanded one to watch her. Her technique was so good but the nerves are what threw the jumps off a lot of the time, and that added to the excitement of it all. She had one of the best loops I’ve ever seen, one of the most pure Lutz takeoffs, and her basic skating (and even her camel spins) were glorious.

Her 2000 Worlds short program may very well be my favorite program of all-time. She had such a shaky season up to that point and then she convincingly won the short over Slutskaya and Kwan who were the clear favorites. Her 1999 Worlds free, 2001 Worlds free, and 2000 Europeans free were also glorious. I remember so clearly being SHOCKED and jumping out of my couch when she landed her 3/3 sequence (and so well) in the ‘01 Worlds long.

Also, this exhibition to a modern Carmen was another standout for me. The footwork sequence in particular was great (for the time, at least).

I agree with ALL of this! Scene d'Amour is also one of my all-time favourite programs, maybe most favourite ever and Sarah Brightman's music is under-utilized in skating IMO. Her performance in 2000 Worlds was absolutely breathtaking and it was so re-affirming for me to see Maria defy the naysayers who thought '99 was a fluke and beat Irina and Michelle in the SP. Also love her '98 SP to Fever, 99' SP to St. James Infirmary and of course her iconic LP in Otonal from '98/'99. I also fondly remember her '00 and '01 LPs which had her unique flare and great taste for music, along with the amazing Carmen exhibition you mentioned. Miss the days of programs like these.

Maria is and probably will always be my absolute favorite skater. I maintained her official website two decades(!) ago and have been so happy to see her in photos and videos having fun with Irina in the last few years after that rivalry was built up. But she should’ve just skipped the quote here.

100% agree! Maria is probably forever my favourite skater of all time. Her initials are even ingrained in my FSU user name I created 22 years ago where "MB Fan" stands for Maria Butyrskaya . @tony I remember finding your website back in the day and being so excited I wasn't alone in my love for Maria, I think I even won a contest you ran and got mailed a signed poster of Maria which used to be on my bedroom walls back in the day haha.

But alas, unfortunately, like other things in life, I have to separate and distinguish my love of her skating, perseverance and determination, with her political/cultural views that I do not share.

 

[Cachoo]

Oh for heaven’s sake this country is filled with first and second generation Americans. You can retain plenty of old country practices while solidly being a citizen of the new country. Is this not true in Russia as well? As for Maria I liked her story (emerging despite the lack of federation support) more than I liked her skating which sometimes seemed wobbly to me. Ilia is exciting, his folks are gorgeous, supportive…and whether this is Russian influence, North American or both it is working. Maybe something was lost in translation??

 

[Fiero425]

Butyrskaya and Malinina were super close friends back in the day and I’d imagine they still are. I remember she once said that after they both failed to qualify for the short at 1993 Worlds, they sat and cried together. I also still remember Tatiana being super supportive to Maria at 2000 NHK directly after the marks came up that gave Slutskaya the controversial win.

Maria is and probably will always be my absolute favorite skater. I maintained her official website two decades(!) ago and have been so happy to see her in photos and videos having fun with Irina in the last few years after that rivalry was built up. But she should’ve just skipped the quote here.

I recall that NHK event well! Maria definitely outskated Irina in Japan, but my sympathy was muted since she's token advantage to win events when she didn't deserve it! Judging has always been a bit shady; esp. back then! Maria was favored to win 2000 Trophee LaLique, but was awful in comparison to an American skater, Jenny Kirk! Jen was performing for the 1st time internationally so it wasn't surprising her marks were lowered awarding her only a Bronze medal! Maria wound up w/ Gold even though IMO she crashed & burned!

 

[Fiero425]

Now I’m curious. Why was she your favorite skater? She was a gorgeous woman and she had a definite presence in the ice, but all I think of now is really stiff knees and very inconsistent performance. I seriously wouldn’t have though a techie like you would choose her as a fave, although we all change over twenty years.

Maria had very stiff knees when performing! I called it a "stilted" technique, but she was usually preferred over someone like Surya who could out-jump her BIG TIME back in the 90's! I did love that Scene d'Amour program! She performed it the best at the NHK in 2000 hitting 2 Triple Lutzes the only time I can think of! It was a brilliant & smooth performance, but Irina was the favorite so the judges took the GOLD from Maria!

 

[Lanja]

Oh for heaven’s sake this country is filled with first and second generation Americans. You can retain plenty of old country practices while solidly being a citizen of the new country. Is this not true in Russia as well? As for Maria I liked her story (emerging despite the lack of federation support) more than I liked her skating which sometimes seemed wobbly to me. Ilia is exciting, his folks are gorgeous, supportive…and whether this is Russian influence, North American or both it is working. Maybe something was lost in translation??

I don't know how Russians specifically think about this topic, but I don't find it surprising that a European would express the idea that blood/ethnic origin trumps culture and place of birth. In most (all?) European countries, citizenship is not automatic by birth and naturalisation can be quite difficult.

I live in Norway and there is a distinction between Norwegian citizen, which is a legal status, and ethnic Norwegian. The latter has implications of ancestry, physical appearance, language, and culture.

 

[airgelaal]

I don't know how Russians specifically think about this topic, but I don't find it surprising that a European would express the idea that blood/ethnic origin trumps culture and place of birth. In most (all?) European countries, citizenship is not automatic by birth and naturalisation can be quite difficult.

I live in Norway and there is a distinction between Norwegian citizen, which is a legal status, and ethnic Norwegian. The latter has implications of ancestry, physical appearance, language, and culture.

For russians, everyone who was born in the USSR is “ours.” Everyone whose parents were born in the USSR is also “ours”.

 

[Hedwig]

For russians, everyone who was born in the USSR is “ours.” Everyone whose parents were born in the USSR is also “ours”.

and if someone is coached by a Russian or by someone whose parents were Russian they are "ours" too.

Well, they don't have much to be proud of so they need to grasp at straws.

 

[Frau Muller]

Heritage background.

 

[bardtoob]

Maria Butyrskaya: “Malinin is also one of ours. He’s not even an American in the literal sense; he represents this country only by territorial indication.”

Translation of Maria Butyrskaya's comments about Ilia Malinin.

fs-gossips.com

I'm not sure what to make of this ...

Maria basically said his parents were useless to Russia and/or its economy. On the other hand, Maria basically said that Russia and/or its economy was not good enough to support his parents. or the

On the other hand, I don't begrudge Japan if they are proud of Yamaguchi, China if they are proud of Kwan, etc., so let Russia be proud of Ilia*. He is still a product of the American way of fostering talent.

*Aren't his parents ethically Uzbeks that technically ended up in Russia because his grandparents moved from Uzbekistan to Russia for the same reason his parents moved from Russia to the USA?

 

[On My Own]

China if they are proud of Kwan,

Michelle's parents were from British Hong Kong, just for the record.

 

[Miezekatze]

and if someone is coached by a Russian or by someone whose parents were Russian they are "ours" too.

Well, they don't have much to be proud of so they need to grasp at straws.

I think they're just frustrated because being "the self-proclaimed greatest at everything" domestically is rather lame

But I think Butyrskayas quote doesn't come across so annoying when you see it in context of the question that was asked.

 

[bardtoob]

Michelle's parents were from British Hong Kong, just for the record.

That sort of enhances my point, given that Malinin is Uzbek.

 

[On My Own]

That sort of enhances my point, given that Malinin is Uzbek.

Well you added that in later.

I do agree that it literally doesn't matter if Russians are proud of him though. Ultimately, he's an American.