Ermolina's interview with Zagitova `Only the relatives and coaches knew what that victory cost me'

[Tinami Amori]

I think it's great that Zagitova uses "basic replies" now, instead of her earlier longer replies and opening her heart to the press, talking about missing parents, growing issues, and even shading a tear on occasion. With all the negativity and attacks against her and her Gold medal win that took place this year, all the provocations, it is best that she keeps her answers cliche and minimal.

I don't think Tuktamysheva is shy in her answers, on the contrary, she says and posts a lot of stuff that lead to discussions, and more. Medvedeva is on a "PR campaign" and i now don't believe a word she says, no matter how "clever" and etc. her comments are. Lipnitskaya's manner of talking to the press was not impressive either, nor did her any favors as far as reputation.

The funnest and often cleverest interviews came from Elena Sokolova.
https://www.peoples.ru/sport/fskating/sokolova/history1.html

 

[Wyliefan]

And the two skaters whose speech is duplicitous and unimpressive just HAPPEN to have one particular thing in common. Quelle coincidence.

 

[hanca]

And the two skaters whose speech is duplicitous and unimpressive just HAPPEN to have one particular thing in common. Quelle coincidence.

Of course. And I am sure Tinami forgot to mention how bad Panenkova and Tsurskaya’s speech is. But the connection among those skaters is purely accidental.

 

[Cherub721]

Whatever happened to Sokolova anyway?

 

[bardtoob]

Whatever happened to Sokolova anyway?

I think that strange Russian Fed President (cut from the clothe of an out of touch Soviet Administrator running a saw mill) said she just stopped practicing hard after her results in 2006.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

It is a stunning revelation that Tinami does not finds Lipnitskaya's and Medvedeva's manner of speaking to the press impressive. Shocking. Unbelievable. Mind-blowing. What a coincidence that the two skaters she labels as deceptive, PR-driven, and having a poor reputation are both Eteri refugees. I cannot wait to see what Tinami says about Alina once she grows up a bit, and runs away from Eteri too.

 

[barbarafan]

I think it's great that Zagitova uses "basic replies" now, instead of her earlier longer replies and opening her heart to the press, talking about missing parents, growing issues, and even shading a tear on occasion. With all the negativity and attacks against her and her Gold medal win that took place this year, all the provocations, it is best that she keeps her answers cliche and minimal.

I don't think Tuktamysheva is shy in her answers, on the contrary, she says and posts a lot of stuff that lead to discussions, and more. Medvedeva is on a "PR campaign" and i now don't believe a word she says, no matter how "clever" and etc. her comments are. Lipnitskaya's manner of talking to the press was not impressive either, nor did her any favors as far as reputation.

The funnest and often cleverest interviews came from Elena Sokolova.
https://www.peoples.ru/sport/fskating/sokolova/history1.html

So what you are saying is the problem with Med. is that she is classy and not a fishwife riding a broomstick.

 

[VenusH.]

And the two skaters whose speech is duplicitous and unimpressive just HAPPEN to have one particular thing in common. Quelle coincidence.

She talks quite excesivelly about her dog. So she is not shy. Just lately... she does not seem THAT excited about competitive skating, imho.

Though I prefer her talking about how much she loves her dog than about how she does not eat and how drinking water can make you gain weight.

 

[Tinami Amori]

So what you are saying is the problem with Med. is that she is classy and not a fishwife riding a broomstick.

What i am saying is that the problem with Med, is that now she is seen by many as a priest who preaches abstinence and then discovered to have a mistress and 2 babies on the side....

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

She talks quite excesivelly about her dog. So she is not shy. Just lately... she does not seem THAT excited about competitive skating, imho.

Though I prefer her talking about how much she loves her dog than about how she does not eat and how drinking water can make you gain weight.

Alina is very young... And she's very young for her age. It's not unusual for someone who focuses solely on competing to be less socially mature. I think she's just a shy kid, with limited interests outside the rink.... for now. She's very innocent, she loves her dog - and that's the subject she's comfortable speaking about. Medvedeva is an extrovert, and more of a risk taker socially. She wasn't shy speaking English even when she could barely put a sentence together. Everyone is different. And with water... I am afraid Zagitova is simply repeating what she's been taught in that regard.

 

[bardtoob]

What i am saying is that the problem with Med, is that now she is seen by many as a priest who preaches abstinence and then discovered to have a mistress and 2 babies on the side....

Maybe he is a Russian Orthodox priest and was married before being ordained but everybody assumes he is or should be celibate since that is the norm but not the rule.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Maybe he is a Russian Orthodox priest and was married before being ordained but everybody assumes he is or should be celibate since that is the norm but not the rule.

.. look up the difference between "wife/married" and "mistress on the side".

 

[bardtoob]

.. look up the difference between "wife/married" and "mistress on the side".

with two babies

 

[Tinami Amori]

with two babies

... don't start me thinking of Medvedeva as Rasputin, pleeeeese... she is not that bad.
https://writtenbydaphne.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/rasputin-alexandra.jpg?w=450

 

[Wyliefan]

Of all the directions this conversation could have taken, this one I did not foresee.

 

[DreamSkates]

Well she certainly is a hard worker and not afraid to try the hard jumps and go for the gold. Good for her she won at worlds this year.

 

[seruleane]

Long time Alina fan here, first time poster. I personally think Alina has not received enough credit or respect for everything she's been through. She didn't *have* to come back this season after winning the Olympics. She could have retired like Tara Lipinski, Sarah Hughes, Oksana Baiul, the list goes on. I feel so sad that she thinks people would view her Olympic Gold Medal as "accidental," and that she felt she had to prove herself this season. I think that was the source of a lot of her mental struggles. She rightfully won the Olympic Gold in Pyeongchang, no question about it. This season, everyone was writing her off, every time she fell or didn't perform as perfectly as last season, the naysayers were so quick to forecast her demise, gleefully too. Somehow, hating Eteri and her methods transformed into hoping Alina would bomb to prove their point that Eteri couldn't work with ladies once their bodies matured. I'm so thrilled that Alina proved everyone wrong and came back strong to win Worlds.

You may dislike her programs because they are too cluttered, or feel she doesn't have as good posture or skating skills as some of the other top ladies, but her jumps, spins and other elements are mostly great to excellent IMO. She is extremely talented, and has the grit to land the jumps and win major competitions when it really counts. I'm hoping Alina sticks around for a long time.

Finally, I love that Alina is honest and speaks her mind during interviews. No, she's not as media savvy or sophisticated as some of the other ladies (e.g. Evgenia), but Alina has a real strength of character that comes through. She is definitely not the type that just says something because she thinks it will win her fans or sound good to the media. Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now, but mostly I felt compelled to register here and post because I feel Alina gets so much snark and not enough love here.

 

[Wyliefan]

Given that Alina's not the one who gets called a two-faced liar and a hypocrite every time she gives an interview, I think her reputation is faring just fine.

 

[kwanfan1818]

She could have retired like Tara Lipinski, Sarah Hughes, Oksana Baiul, the list goes on.

Sarah Hughes competed at 2003 Worlds the year after the Olympics.

 

[bardtoob]

Sarah Hughes competed at 2003 Worlds the year after the Olympics.

Well, she showed up

 

[Madison25]

It is annoying that Alina's fans always try to make of her a victim. Many other athletes faced different challenges during their career, but their fans didnt try to overdramatize that.
She is a cute girl, full of luck, but lacks determination that other athletes like Medvedeva for example has. I ve never heard about Med or Tuk saying that they want to quit figute skating after some bad practices.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Well, she showed up

She was seeded .

 

[TAHbKA]

I think Lipnitskaya and Medvedeva are exceptions while everyone else is a rule. All the girls are using the same phrases to answer more or less the same questions. Obviously it's only Tutberidze girls who make it to the press conferences lately, so either Tutberidze gave them a pr advice (and a good one) or they learn from each other (and fortunately not from Lipnitskaya) how to behave at the press confs, which is also a good thing.
By the way add Sotskova to the list of standard answering ladies. Samokhvalov manages to get a personality out of her in the interviews, but that's him.
Unfortunately I have no clue how would Panenkova or Samodurova or Gubanova or other 20 fab skaters do - I've never been to a press conf with them.

 

[Ka3sha]

Unfortunately I have no clue how would Panenkova or Samodurova or Gubanova or other 20 fab skaters do - I've never been to a press conf with them.

Don’t know about press conferences , but Konstantinova seems to be well-spoken and articulate as well, I remember being impressed with some of her video interviews.

 

[lily]

It is annoying that Alina's fans always try to make of her a victim. Many other athletes faced different challenges during their career, but their fans didnt try to overdramatize that.
She is a cute girl, full of luck, but lacks determination that other athletes like Medvedeva for example has. I ve never heard about Med or Tuk saying that they want to quit figute skating after some bad practices.

I just didn't notice Alina complaining a larger quantity and more frequently than others about her problems with health, injuries etc. Also - if I watch her way to World Championships this year I can't say that she lacks determination or has it less than Medvedeva.

 

[Japanfan]

She talks quite excesivelly about her dog. So she is not shy. Just lately... she does not seem THAT excited about competitive skating, imho.

Though I prefer her talking about how much she loves her dog than about how she does not eat and how drinking water can make you gain weight.

I wouldn't use the word 'excessively'. She talks about her dog a lot because the dog (forget his/her name) is central to her life as a key source of companionship and unconditional love - hence a source of support.

Anyone who loves and lives with a canine companion understands what a central role a dog can play in a person's life. There is a reason for the enduring saying that 'a dog is humans' best friend'.

People have relationships with their dogs (and other animals), just as they have relationships with other people. And those relationships have a huge impact on daily life and can be very warm and loving. So of course an athlete would find the comfort, love and companionship that he/she gets from a relationship to a dog supportive.

Alina is very young... And she's very young for her age. It's not unusual for someone who focuses solely on competing to be less socially mature. I think she's just a shy kid, with limited interests outside the rink.... for now. She's very innocent, she loves her dog - and that's the subject she's comfortable speaking about. Medvedeva is an extrovert, and more of a risk taker socially. She wasn't shy speaking English even when she could barely put a sentence together. Everyone is different. And with water... I am afraid Zagitova is simply repeating what she's been taught in that regard.

Are you saying that being socially immature and/or innocent helps one to love a dog? Plenty of mature people with loads of life experiences both good and bad love dogs.

If that's what you think - well then I'm sorry you'll not ever know the joy and connection that comes with a relationship with a dog.

 

[Finsta]

I just didn't notice Alina complaining a larger quantity and more frequently than others about her problems with health, injuries etc. Also - if I watch her way to World Championships this year I can't say that she lacks determination or has it less than Medvedeva.

I haven’t seen interview with Zagitova or coach where I haven’t seen some kind of complaint or mention of Alina’s struggles, wanting to quit, hints of injury, tripping on chord, burning foot, anxiety, harassing fans, deserving her Olympic win, horrible Medvedeva for whatever, and the whole theme of her exhibition being a survivor. I wonder what coach is telling her to make her feel so defensive all the time.

 

[Finsta]

I like her. She’s an Olympic and world champion. I just hope they change her image next season. No more victim. Time to be confident and less quitter

 

[zounger]

I haven’t seen interview with Zagitova or coach where I haven’t seen some kind of complaint or mention of Alina’s struggles, wanting to quit, hints of injury, tripping on chord, burning foot, anxiety, harassing fans, deserving her Olympic win, horrible Medvedeva for whatever, and the whole theme of her exhibition being a survivor. I wonder what coach is telling her to make her feel so defensive all the time.

Are you talking about Zagitova herself or about the fans/blogs etc? Because the entire season, as far I remember, Zagitova never actually complained. The only time practically mentioned how difficult it was for her, was after Worlds.

 

[lily]

I haven’t seen interview with Zagitova or coach where I haven’t seen some kind of complaint or mention of Alina’s struggles, wanting to quit, hints of injury, tripping on chord, burning foot, anxiety, harassing fans, deserving her Olympic win, horrible Medvedeva for whatever, and the whole theme of her exhibition being a survivor. I wonder what coach is telling her to make her feel so defensive all the time.

In what sense defensive?!