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

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How productive has yelling about it here and “debating” passionately with other posters on FSU been? Honestly, it’s beyond anyone’s control now. All the people who told her how bad her behavior was even in a reasonable and rational fashion will get lost in the rest. It’s been years in the making. The only thing one can do is say their peace as calmly as possible and just say it once. Either she’ll get the message or she won’t. Brow-beating her only serves to feed one’s need to antagonize.
I still didn’t get it what you suggest these Japanese people should do about it. Ranting about how it’s been going on for two years isn’t very productive either.
 
I still didn’t get it what you suggest these Japanese people should do about it. Ranting about how it’s been going on for two years isn’t very productive either.

I didn’t make any suggestions about what the Japanese people do about it as if they are a monolith with one opinion. I just made an observation that it’s a shame that the real and justified criticisms directed at her actions has probably been lost to her, which explains her reaction. She’s been receiving some crazy responses for years now and she learned to ignore it as a way to maintain her sanity. When that happens, unfortunately, real and justified outcry won’t be heard. It especially won’t be heard if people use loaded and antagonistic language to the point where no person would listen to that, which is what I posted about when I said the best thing an individual can do is just say their piece one time and calmly. If they are dissatisfied, then there are other channels to pursue than browbeating her and pushing endless anger onto her. Related to that, I think contacting the official channels was truly the best way to deal with the situation, even if it results in her expulsion from the country. Even if she won’t be forced to leave, possibly someone in an official capacity who doesn’t care about skating with the same fever and can see things in a neutral, clear, and rational way can explain why her actions were wrong and why she shouldn’t do it again.
 
In other words, now there’s something real to criticize her for but all the yelling and screaming isn’t fruitful because she’s been conditioned to learn a survival skill of not listening because of all the bs that had been directed at her from the past.

Um... I found in her past interviews she has definitely sounded quite rude/dismissive/less than diplomatic on occasions she didn't like certain things she was asked (and no they weren't all "BS" criticisms). So it's not because they were all BS, that she has been conditioned to ignore it, she just doesn't take criticism well. That's my opinion, but frankly I was not surprised that she is telling everyone to F** off instead of looking at what she is doing.
 
Then she’s living in a truly distorted world in which people interacting with her via social networks get neatly divided into ‘fans’ and ‘haters’? Perhaps you’re right. But that’s hardly those hapless Japanese people’s problems - they are angry, they criticise her through whatever channel she offers rather than go about through official channels. And what we get as a result is a PR disaster for Medvedeva, as she’s been digging herself deeper and deeper for a couple of days. It might get swept away in a while and get forgotten, it might yet affect her future in Japanese shows. But anyway, it was her own doing.
 
I don’t know, I guess it would depend on how much competition happens next season and if the 3As, Zagitova, Tuk etc are in form. Then the season after she’ll probably have Valieva and co to contend with. If no skating happens next season it could be all over for her. Maybe that’s why she’s chasing ice wherever she can get it.

I think the opposite. The longer skating gets disrupted, the worse it it is for Eteri & Co., since that school is all about timing wins before puberty hits (usually a 2-3 year window). I'm not sure the 3A will come out of this disruption with all their jumps intact.
 
BTW, Russian figure skating federation admitted that they intend to put Zagitova, Medvedeva and Tuktamysheva names on the main team list, as well as Kostornaia, Trusova and Sherbakova.

The full list of athletes will be named after an Executive Committee meeting, but they still have to decide how and when this meeting will be organized.
Really hoping Sinitsyna is included also since she did finish in the top 5 at nationals 🤞
 
Really hoping Sinitsyna is included also since she did finish in the top 5 at nationals 🤞
I doubt it. If there is usually six skaters on the team, and they are adding two (Zagitova and Medvedeva) who didn’t place in top six at the nationals, they will be able to add only top 4 from the nationals. So Sinitsina and Frolova will be either on junior team or in reserve. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made Sinitsina stay one more season in juniors. In seniors she has no chance of getting a GP event, whereas in juniors she will get JGP events. Besides, in the past they didn’t allow some skaters move to seniors in their first senior-eligible season. Sakhanovich had to stay junior one more year even though she had silver at junior worlds, Gubanova and Nugumanova also were made junior one more season. Sinitsina didn’t have such results that it would get her to the senior team and fifth place at the nationals won’t be considered such achievement that they would make an exception like they did last year and have seven ladies instead of six in the senior team.
 
I think the opposite. The longer skating gets disrupted, the worse it it is for Eteri & Co., since that school is all about timing wins before puberty hits (usually a 2-3 year window). I'm not sure the 3A will come out of this disruption with all their jumps intact.
But there are many more where they came from, and younger. Tutberidze and her team have a system and a rink where skaters face not only the strongest current competition daily, but also see who is aiming for their backs competitively.

This is not about protecting a specific skater, at least internally, but about producing a line of champions for the people who sponsor her. That's what their job is.
 
I doubt it. If there is usually six skaters on the team, and they are adding two (Zagitova and Medvedeva) who didn’t place in top six at the nationals, they will be able to add only top 4 from the nationals. So Sinitsina and Frolova will be either on junior team or in reserve. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made Sinitsina stay one more season in juniors. In seniors she has no chance of getting a GP event, whereas in juniors she will get JGP events. Besides, in the past they didn’t allow some skaters move to seniors in their first senior-eligible season. Sakhanovich had to stay junior one more year even though she had silver at junior worlds, Gubanova and Nugumanova also were made junior one more season. Sinitsina didn’t have such results that it would get her to the senior team and fifth place at the nationals won’t be considered such achievement that they would make an exception like they did last year and have seven ladies instead of six in the senior team.

I know last year they had seven (same as the six this year plus Sofia). While she struggled with some inconsistencies last season, she did score 215+ at a JGP & had a great FS at senior nationals. I could see them deciding to name her to the team - even though I think it's more likely that she will be on the reserve.

Also, would it really be that hard for her to get a GP? To maximize GPF chances, Russia will probably give 8 girls two spots and 2 girls one spot. Sofia and Stanislava struggled, Maria had a really bad season and Serafima didn't produce super notable results. I could see the RusFed giving her at least 1 (if not 2) spots.
 
I know last year they had seven (same as the six this year plus Sofia). While she struggled with some inconsistencies last season, she did score 215+ at a JGP & had a great FS at senior nationals. I could see them deciding to name her to the team - even though I think it's more likely that she will be on the reserve.

Also, would it really be that hard for her to get a GP? To maximize GPF chances, Russia will probably give 8 girls two spots and 2 girls one spot. Sofia and Stanislava struggled, Maria had a really bad season and Serafima didn't produce super notable results. I could see the RusFed giving her at least 1 (if not 2) spots.
Last year they had seven, but it was an exception. All seven ladies had some significant reasons to be included in the senior team, so the federation took one spot from men and used it or ladies. I don’t think they will do it again, because Sinitsina doesn’t have any significant wins that would make it hard not to include her.
 
But there are many more where they came from, and younger. Tutberidze and her team have a system and a rink where skaters face not only the strongest current competition daily, but also see who is aiming for their backs competitively.

This is not about protecting a specific skater, at least internally, but about producing a line of champions for the people who sponsor her. That's what their job is.

I don't think the younger ones are ready, at least not for 2022.
 
BTW, Russian figure skating federation admitted that they intend to put Zagitova, Medvedeva and Tuktamysheva names on the main team list, as well as Kostornaia, Trusova and Sherbakova.

The full list of athletes will be named after an Executive Committee meeting, but they still have to decide how and when this meeting will be organized.
Interesting that Samodurova is not in the list.
 
Why? She didn't have good results last season.
Samodurova was not that much worse than Medvedeva. I also don't recall a prime time national TV announcement by Zagitova she is back to training. Between these 3 I absolutely understand why Tuktamysheva is in the list, I don't see why Guliakova, who was the 2nd alternative or Samodurova if we assume not only the last season but 2 are taking into an account (that would explain and justify both Medvedeva and Zagitova being in the list) is not.
Didn't RusFed manage to support 8 ladies a couple of seasons ago? Sounds like they might as well again.

Re Sinitsina, does the rule of staying in juniors for another year apply for the ladies as well? If so she could be named in the juniors team and get the funding there while competing wherever?
 
Don’t know for sure but Mishin in his recent interview said that he is sure that Samodurova will show her next season , so I assume she is for sure continuing skating
 
Interesting that Samodurova is not in the list.
Why should she be in the list? 5th and 6th at the GP with scores only around 185, and 9th at the senior nationals, I don’t think that she deserves to get pass into senior team. She has a good chance to be in the reserve team, but the main team, that would be quite unfair.
 
Zagitova was ready with less than a full senior season behind her. And Vasileva, Usacheva, and Khromykh went 1-2-4 at 2020 Jr. Worlds, and each will be age-eligible for Beijing, each turning 15 in April or May of 2021.
Valieva. Though Vasilieva is pretty good as well
 
Valieva. Though Vasilieva is pretty good as well
And the juniors were always going to be a threat to the 3As by 2022. Valieva is going to hit the Olympic season at just the right time physically. Russian ladies depth is just too great to assume any skater is going to the Olympics this far out. Nothing has changed except one of them is likely not going to be a world champion which they likely would have been in March. But, there was no guarantee even that would happen.
 
Zagitova was ready with less than a full senior season behind her. And Vasileva, Usacheva, and Khromykh went 1-2-4 at 2020 Jr. Worlds, and each will be age-eligible for Beijing, each turning 15 in April or May of 2021.
Khromykh is quite tall, and that will be her disadvantage. She may end up like Tsurskaya, Shershak and other past tall ladies. Valieva and Usacheva could be ready, but they will need to get some quads to beat Scherbakova and Trusova. Valieva has only toe loop and Usacheva didn’t show any yet.
 
but they will need to get some quads to beat Scherbakova and Trusova. Valieva has only toe loop and Usacheva didn’t show any yet.
This was in response to a discussion about what happens if the 3A's don't retain their jumps in the next two years and remain competitive.
 
As Medvedeva is the only skater doing anything interesting/controversial right now ... probably not lol. It's either talk about Medvedeva or wonder if the Grand Prix Series will be cancelled.
I missed it -what Medvedeva is doing that is controversial?
 
That worries me. Is there a chance she could be added later? I hope so. Whatever anyone thinks of the world standings, she's pretty high up in them -- above Janny and Liza -- if that counts for anything.

She can but as there are only 6 men and 6 ladies on the main team, if she is added, one of the 6 ladies on the main team will need to be removed. There is funding only for 12 singles on the main team.

Didn't RusFed manage to support 8 ladies a couple of seasons ago? Sounds like they might as well again.

Re Sinitsina, does the rule of staying in juniors for another year apply for the ladies as well? If so she could be named in the juniors team and get the funding there while competing wherever?

I don't remember how many the fed supports but usually there is only 6 ladies for the main team. Last year there was 7 because the men under-performed and the ladies were given one of their spots. This year, there should be 6 guys on the main team.

Sinitsina can be named to the Jr team for funding and compete for seniors. The age limit is 19. Last year, they named Erokhov and Murashov to the junior main team and they both had aged out.
 
Another factor is that time off high intensity training will probably allow some of the junior girls’ bodies to develop a bit.

So that might put them in a position where they aren’t as tiny as they would otherwise have been at 15/16 for 2022.

Those girls are very small for that age compared to non-athletes.
 
Samodurova was not that much worse than Medvedeva.
International competitions:
Samodurova - GP events - 5th and 6th, scores 185 and 183
Medvedeva -GP events - 5th and 2nd, scores 209 and 225

none of them did Europeans, so the GPs are the biggest international competitions they did this season. The difference between them is 20 point and 40 points. Samodurova also didn’t help herself placing 9th at the nationals. I think she will be lucky if she gets to the reserve team, and that will be only thanks to the season before. If she doesn’t stand out the next season, she will gradually disappear.
 
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