From Russia With Love (#36) Spring into Summer 2020

[Perky Shae Lynn]

If things were to bad really bad, would she have insurance in Japan?

It depends on the terms of her contract. Skaters are usually covered in some way. But this is an unprecedented situation, both medically and legally.

 

[starrynight]

Almost all travel insurance policies and policies of insurance have p--mic exclusions (much like the terrorism, war etc exclusions).

If it is the case that the organisers of the show have demanded her to travel to Japan 2 months ahead of a show to sit there to prepare, in the middle of a p-----c and world wide border closures and travel bans, I certainly hope they have measures in place to protect her and provide her save passage home. If this was the show's decision, I would classify it as gross negligence - and I'd like to think she could sue them if anything went wrong (if they have any money at the end of it).

The show has international cast members - Andrew Poje, Dylan Moscovitch, Mirai Nagasu, Jason Brown etc. I feel sorry for them if they are sitting in lock down/isolation now wondering how they are going to deal with their contractual obligations.

 

[TAHbKA]

I watched it earlier today... who is that dude?

Who is the dude in Pogorilaya video? Pogorilaya's husband Nevski. Used to be an ice dancer

 

[muffinplus]

Who is the dude in the video? Pogorilaya's husband Nevski. Used to be an ice dancer

I mean in the Kostornaia interview.

 

[muffinplus]

Almost all travel insurance policies and policies of insurance have p--mic exclusions (much like the terrorism, war etc exclusions).

If it is the case that the organisers of the show have demanded her to travel to Japan 2 months ahead of a show to sit there to prepare, in the middle of a p-----c and world wide border closures and travel bans, I certainly hope they have measures in place to protect her and provide her save passage home. If this was the show's decision, I would classify it as gross negligence - and I'd like to think she could sue them if anything went wrong (if they have any money at the end of it).

The show has international cast members - Andrew Poje, Dylan Moscovitch, Mirai Nagasu, Jason Brown etc. I feel sorry for them if they are sitting in lock down/isolation now wondering how they are going to deal with their contractual obligations.

That's exactly what I thought... they have p--mic exclusions.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

Almost all travel insurance policies and policies of insurance have p--mic exclusions (much like the terrorism, war etc exclusions).

If it is the case that the organisers of the show have demanded her to travel to Japan 2 months ahead of a show to sit there to prepare, in the middle of a p-----c and world wide border closures and travel bans, I certainly hope they have measures in place to protect her and provide her save passage home. If this was the show's decision, I would classify it as gross negligence - and I'd like to think she could sue them if anything went wrong (if they have any money at the end of it).

The show has international cast members - Andrew Poje, Dylan Moscovitch, Mirai Nagasu, Jason Brown etc. I feel sorry for them if they are sitting in lock down/isolation now wondering how they are going to deal with their contractual obligations.

Some skaters NEED money to pay for training, choreo, costumes, rent, food, etc. Those that do not have a well-established financial situation (parents with a lot of money, to put it plainly), don't have much choice. The only skaters with "rich" endorsements are Asian and Canadian stars. Medvedeva no longer gets the same amount of financial support from the Russian federation. Her sports apparel contract(s) are scaled (you don't get as much as a "team member" as you do as a "world champion"). She likely cannot pay for training without the paycheck. Period. People need to be cognizant of the financial realities for elite skaters. Medvedeva is in a completely unique situation. She's one of the best skaters in the world, yet she's getting limited financial support while living abroad and having colossal training expenses. She is probably looking at a harsh reality of having to retire due to not being able to pay for training.

 

[starrynight]

Some skaters NEED money to pay for training, choreo, costumes, rent, food, etc.

I know. Which makes it terrible if organisers are taking advantage of them by forcing them into difficult and unsafe situations because they know the skaters need money. It’s exploitation.

This is why governments around the world are putting together financial assistance packages for workers so they can be safe.

In terms of training expenses, every skater is in this position now where all shows have been cancelled and funding to sports will likely be reduced in the inevitable austerity of the aftermath. I do wonder if some coaches are going to have to reduce their hourly rates for a while or risk losing their star students to cheaper coaches.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

I know. Which makes it terrible if organisers are taking advantage of them by forcing them into difficult and unsafe situations because they know the skaters need money. It’s exploitation

Bad situation for everyone. The headliner doesn't show up - there is no show. Arena fees, support crews (ice, sound, light, transportation), and local participants still have to get paid. The organizers are in a bind as well. The only solution is to postpone the show.

 

[muffinplus]

And... Japan is going to declare a state of emergency

Japan to declare coronavirus emergency, launch stimulus of almost $1 trillion: PM

Japan is to impose a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to contain the coronavirus, while the government prepares a $990 billion stimulus package to soften the economic blow.

www.reuters.com

 

[Bigbird]

It must be heartbreaking and so seemingly unfair to so so many. I hope going forwards she can make those hard choices that will protect herself and the interests of those around her. I understand the struggle to a degree, but some things and they're just things are not worth the price or aggravation. Praying for her best. Evgenia, is a great figure skater but she must believe there is more to her than competitive skating, many second and third acts await for the brave.

 

[mjb52]

I'm so impressed with these young Russian skaters who will go for it and answer questions in English; if I tried to answer questions in any of the many foreign languages I've studied (the many is part of the problem, I should have stuck with one instead of constantly switching around) I am not sure I could even form a coherent sentence.

 

[greenapple]

I wonder what Evgenia will do now. She can't go back to Russia because all the flights have been cancelled to repatriate Russian citizens. Not a good situation all round for her at this time.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

It must be heartbreaking and so seemingly unfair to so so many. I hope going forwards she can make those hard choices that will protect herself and the interests of those around her. I understand the struggle to a degree, but some things and they're just things are not worth the price or aggravation. Praying for her best. Evgenia, is a great figure skater but she must believe there is more to her than competitive skating, many second and third acts await for the brave.

I don't know what she's going to do. If Medvedeva doesn't take every show, master class, etc. offered to her - she can't afford Cricket. Her situations is bizarre. Had she stayed with Eteri, she'd be pushed out like Zagitova. Going to another coach in Russia was not an option. Moving to Canada and training with Orser is extremely expensive. She can't make the Russian team, nor can she realistically switch countries. Yet she is still young, and a great skater with so much to offer.

 

[nlloyd]

Some skaters NEED money to pay for training, choreo, costumes, rent, food, etc. Those that do not have a well-established financial situation (parents with a lot of money, to put it plainly), don't have much choice. The only skaters with "rich" endorsements are Asian and Canadian stars. Medvedeva no longer gets the same amount of financial support from the Russian federation. Her sports apparel contract(s) are scaled (you don't get as much as a "team member" as you do as a "world champion"). She likely cannot pay for training without the paycheck. Period. People need to be cognizant of the financial realities for elite skaters. Medvedeva is in a completely unique situation. She's one of the best skaters in the world, yet she's getting limited financial support while living abroad and having colossal training expenses. She is probably looking at a harsh reality of having to retire due to not being able to pay for training.

Are you sure about this (the sentence I bolded)? Do Shcherbakova and Trusova not have lucrative deals with Nike, Adidas etc.? And Zagitova with Shiseido?

 

[Japanfan]

Some skaters NEED money to pay for training, choreo, costumes, rent, food, etc. Those that do not have a well-established financial situation (parents with a lot of money, to put it plainly), don't have much choice. The only skaters with "rich" endorsements are Asian and Canadian stars. Medvedeva no longer gets the same amount of financial support from the Russian federation. Her sports apparel contract(s) are scaled (you don't get as much as a "team member" as you do as a "world champion"). She likely cannot pay for training without the paycheck. Period. People need to be cognizant of the financial realities for elite skaters. Medvedeva is in a completely unique situation. She's one of the best skaters in the world, yet she's getting limited financial support while living abroad and having colossal training expenses. She is probably looking at a harsh reality of having to retire due to not being able to pay for training.

Most people need to earn money to live. And right now, many people aren't earning money.

Generally speaking, elite skaters are not among the very poor - aren't relying on foodbanks or free meals.

In any case, with Japan going into a state of emergency, the show is likely to be cancelled and rinks are likely to close. And EM may be stuck in Japan for some time.

 

[aka_gerbil]

Tarasova/Morozov are back to Moscow and are `having a nice vacation' in their living rooms, according to Vaytsekhovskaya's latest interview with Zueva. Frankly, to me it sounds as if their vacation will never end and they will not go back to skating.

I’m not sure how you’re getting from that interview that they’re never going to return to skating when Marina talks about having a backup plan for Max to work with them in Russia, long distance training, and the very real possibility of more disruptions that all of the skaters have to deal with as things unfold with BB.

 

[starrynight]

Well according to social media videos, Trusova is outside jumping axels on roller skates. Which is one way to train I suppose.

I thought she was still in quarantine after being expatriated from Egypt?

 

[TAHbKA]

I’m not sure how you’re getting from that interview that they’re never going to return to skating when Marina talks about having a backup plan for Max to work with them in Russia, long distance training, and the very real possibility of more disruptions that all of the skaters have to deal with as things unfold with BB.

That's my impression that you don't have to agree with. I think TarMor will not go back to the USA and they are generally done.

 

[Stephanie]

I don't know what she's going to do. If Medvedeva doesn't take every show, master class, etc. offered to her - she can't afford Cricket. Her situations is bizarre. Had she stayed with Eteri, she'd be pushed out like Zagitova. Going to another coach in Russia was not an option. Moving to Canada and training with Orser is extremely expensive. She can't make the Russian team, nor can she realistically switch countries. Yet she is still young, and a great skater with so much to offer.

I thought she had a sponsor that was covering her training costs in Canada?

 

[starrynight]

Medvedeva has just posted on Instagram that she was given no choice to stay at home.

Gross negligence on the part of show organisers. I hope they aren’t putting other cast members through stress and worry too.

I can’t actually comprehend this. Stuff like this really makes an argument for the old amateur sporting rules. I guess this is the danger of athletes signing contracts for foreign shows where the Fed has no control and the foreign organisers have no reason to care about the athletes.

 

[muffinplus]

Medvedeva has just posted on Instagram that she was given no choice to stay at home.

Erm, where do you see this? In her Insta story she says she "made her decision to keep her and her mother safe"? Don't see anything about being given no choice to stay at home...

 

[starrynight]

She said ‘Stay at home if you have the opportunity. Because I hadnt’.

I interpret her saying that she had no opportunity to stay at home to mean that she had no choice.

Although, separately, I am confused why she says going to Japan to do the show would keep her mother safe. Unless this is about her leaving her mother to avoid contact.

I actually feel sad that skating has become so expensive and commercialised that it has come to this.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

I thought she had a sponsor that was covering her training costs in Canada?

She has sponsors, but the money isn't nearly enough to cover the cost of training and living. She doesn't have a wealthy or even average family like most skaters. Parents can't help out with basic expenses: rental apartment + utilities, car for her mother, gas, food, etc. And then, there is training, choreo, costumes, physio, travel, nutritionist and private health insurance. She has more costs than an average skater while having less funding than most skaters on team Canada. She's in a worse situation now that she's no longer a world medalist and doesn't get the same amount of $$$ from the apparel sponsor.

 

[muffinplus]

She said ‘Stay at home if you have the opportunity. Because I hadnt’.

I interpret her saying that she had no opportunity to stay at home to mean that she had no choice.

I'm not quite sure what to make of that because she said she made the decision 2 sentences earlier.

 

[starrynight]

Now that all that Medvedeva/Zagitova/Eteri nonsense has finished and all that hype will be disappeared by the end of the BB, I do wonder whether it would be just easier for Medvedeva to choose a Russian coach. If her finances are balanced on such a knife edge that dramatic and desperate acts are required, then it might be time to take a different path.

In other news, Mishin has given a very calming interview, sounding like the Yoda of figure skating that he is:

Alexei Mishin: Now our condition and philosophy of life can be compared with an anthill

Alexei Mishin about continuous work during self-isolation, horticultural successes, as well as what awaits figure skating after the virus.

fs-gossips.com

An interesting quote from Mishin:

This year’s World championships, I think, will not take place, but figure skating will live. No need for false panic, everything will be alright. I think that new times will give us new heroes and we will continue to enjoy life and figure skating.

And my favourite quote

People were born either grasshoppers or snails. Grasshoppers are jumping, snails are crawling. I advise snails to start moving faster, and grasshoppers to jump more calmly, balance their lives. A balanced style is always more creative.

 

[layman]

...She's in a worse situation now that she's no longer a world medalist and doesn't get the same amount of $$$ from the apparel sponsor.

Until another World Championships is organized...Medvedeva is the reigning World Bronze Medalist.

 

[nlloyd]

She has sponsors, but the money isn't nearly enough to cover the cost of training and living. She doesn't have a wealthy or even average family like most skaters. Parents can't help out with basic expenses: rental apartment + utilities, car for her mother, gas, food, etc. And then, there is training, choreo, costumes, physio, travel, nutritionist and private health insurance. She has more costs than an average skater while having less funding than most skaters on team Canada. She's in a worse situation now that she's no longer a world medalist and doesn't get the same amount of $$$ from the apparel sponsor.

Are you sure this is accurate (bolded sentence)? Isn't her mother an IT professional working in animation?

 

[nlloyd]

Erm, where do you see this? In her Insta story she says she "made her decision to keep her and her mother safe"? Don't see anything about being given no choice to stay at home...

I find this confusing too. How is it safe to travel internationally at this time? The safe option is to stay at home.

 

[starrynight]

I find this confusing too. How is it safe to travel internationally at this time? The safe option is to stay at home.

Maybe they feel Japan is safer than Toronto or Moscow? It’s probably what the organisers of the show have been telling them.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

Are you sure this is accurate (bolded sentence)? Isn't her mother an IT professional working in animation?

Her mother is not employed in Canada. Her mother has NEVER been employed in Canada, at least not in full-time employee capacity. Whatever she earned in Russia is irrelevant. They have an apartment, car, etc, in Russia. IF her mother were a long-time IT professional / animator in Canada (or the US), AND owned a house / car, had health insurance (premiums paid by the employer at least to an extent), 401k, savings account, a grandparents house that was inherited and sold - that would be different. Skating is an expensive sport in North America. Financially struggling families are unlikely to engage their kids in the sport. Middle class is where it needs to be, at least. And than, it's a struggle as well. Medvedeva is an elite skater with sponsorships who earns her own money. But she does need to hustle and earn it.