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

[tony]

CTV 1999 Skate Canada-Ladies Short & Mens Free Skate

The entire program shown on Canadian television, no commercials. From Harbour Station, St John, New Brunswick **This is a copy of a copy that a very generous...

www.youtube.com

Listen to this minute of a segment of the interview.

He's pathetic. Rudy was 'helpful' when he needed it and didn't have any friends.

The rumors were also rampant regarding Yagudin back in 1998 and 1999 and he addresses that as well.

ETA- the video is long so even with the timestamp it's not going directly to the spot. Go to the 45 minute mark to hear it.

 

[Tinami Amori]

He's pathetic.

Oh yeah? i remember the times in early 2000's when "the West" preferred him the "westernized" (Yagudin) to "gloomy Russian" (Plushenko)... And how North American skating fans loved Yags for wearing a Canadian Team jacket during 2002 and stating that Sale/Peltrier should have won.... Many people also did not believe that he abused (verbally and physically) young Plushenko when they were both with Mishing in St. Pete.

I thought Yags was frequently a big jerk... if you can turn on your coach, skating mate, your country..... you can turn on a friend, or anybody.... including people "in the wonderful friendly West". Behavioral pattern recognition is your friend.

 

[tony]

Oh yeah? i remember the times in early 2000's when "the West" preferred him the "westernized" (Yagudin) to "gloomy Russian" (Plushenko)... And how North American skating fans loved Yags for wearing a Canadian Team jacket during 2002 and stating that Sale/Peltrier should have won.... Many people also did not believe that he abused (verbally and physically) young Plushenko when they were both with Mishing in St. Pete.

I thought Yags was frequently a big jerk... if you can turn on your coach, skating mate, your country..... you can turn on a friend, or anybody.... including people "in the wonderful friendly West". Behavioral pattern recognition is your friend.

You realize I was 13 when 2000 came around, correct? Not everyone is all-knowing and a genius like you, scouring articles that we can’t read to prove points. You sometimes bring up great points, but give me a break. A lot of the info we got in 2000 surrounding skaters came from IFS or BOI or telecasts shown in our countries.

 

[sykr]

To be exact she is pretty much saying (hinting) without calling it, that it is a Judeo-Masonic Conspiracy and the corrupt politicians of Russia and of many countries have been purchased/enticed into enslaving the world population and attempting to eliminate 7 bill. people. manipulated by mass media who is on a payroll of oligarchs and "those who hold the money and power". She claims that the Mayor of Moscow (Sabianin) has created a prison/concentration camp out of Moscow and took away people's freedom, while in various regions in France people are free to move around. And so on..

(there is a transcription of the video if anyone is interested. it is 7-8 paragraphs, quite long. the text is "hinting" partially and the rest of it are accusations and depiction of horrors-to-come.)

What else is there to say she sounds like a deranged cult devotee...the 2002 Olympic champions are quite scary...

Honestly, I'm really very worried about her. I loved her and Gwendal since 1997 and followed them closely. I feel like Marina was the perfect example of an athlete, who lives only for the sport and has no idea what to do with her life after retirement. She has fallen in love with a person, who was be actually very charming. I met him personally 2 times shortly after their marriage, talked with him and my thought was....ok, he's a really good actor, because, in a real-life, he's so cool, funny, talkative, incredible father (based on how he was taking care of their children,...), very charismatic, creating a lyrical album of songs, dedicated to Marina.... At the beginning, it all seemed innocent...yes, scandals here and there, but everybody looked happy. Then, something happened. As if he was aiming to bring attention to him by the scandals to promote his real work....and it somehow didn't work. He wants to be famous, he wants recognition.

Some 5 years ago, she's suddenly taken their 2 small children and escaped to France. She tried to divorce for the first time but finally "gave him one more chance". Then, their close friend died and she supposedly left a testament. The heritage goes into millions. Up to this day, they're still fighting for this heritage with the sister of the dead friend. At the same time came a second divorce attempt, which was honestly all kinds of disgusting, with the publishing of private unflattering videos, accusations of Marina paying for her OGM,... In the meantime, Marina kept it very classy. I had huge respect for her for dealing with that situation the way she did, taking in the consideration their young children,... There are some talk shows with her from that period, where she's completely rational.
Then, something happened. Although they're divorced officially, she suddenly completely changed her behaviour. Started to support every stupid idea he has, half of her feed is him or his thoughts. It goes as far as him writing instead of her, under her name. It is actually very clear when it is him publishing on her insta. He has a very specific way of talking and writing. As Tinami pointed correctly, the statement she was reading was written by him. Why did he make her read it? Certainly, because nobody cares anymore about what he's saying. After all the scandals, he is unable to get media attention....but he's living (actually in Marina's Moscow flat) only from his media appearances.

I don't know if he's blackmailing her somehow (more private videos to share? heritage ? Olympic secrets?....) and although this sounds really scary and horrible, I somehow hope this is the case and she doesn't really believe him. In mid-May, there was an interview with her regarding ***** https://www.kp.ru/daily/27131.5/4217913/ It souds completely rational, she mentions she was offered by media to pretend she (or children) are infected. She refused and would never do it. She describes the situation in France, admits she went shopping with mask and gloves and wishes everybody good health...3 weeks later...
All this situation is really sad.

 

[hanca]

Russian federation still didn’t publish the composition of their whole national team. We know the seniors and senior reserve, but we don’t know the juniors, junior reserve and novice. I am so curious about who got in. Can’t they share the info? It has been agreed during some meeting in May and we are nearly in the middle of June!

 

[Sylvia]

Russian junior pair skater [Nadya, age 15] Labazina with T.J. Nyman [age 20]. I wonder for which country they will compete.

I heard USA if/when she gets her official release (has there been any news in Russian about this?). Here's a clip of their triple twist in practice that he shared on IG late last month: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAyuRgrgclS/

ETA (from earlier in this thread):

Also, new policy on switching countries was adopted:
skaters who represented Russian on international circuit will have to wait for two years to get a release, those who participated at Nationals - for a year.

Since Labazina did not compete at Nationals this past season, this sounds like she can be released for the 2020-21 season?

 

[hanca]

Since Labazina did not compete at Nationals this past season, this sounds like she can be released for the 2020-21 season?

It is not very specific. Do they mean if skater hasn’t competed at the nationals the past season, or do they mean if the skater has never competed at the nationals? What time period do they count? Would for example novice nationals five years ago count?

 

[Sylvia]

Labazina/Rakhmanin placed 11th in Senior at 2018-19 RUS Nationals; they never competed internationally together according to their ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00105626.htm

Did Labazina compete in any Russian domestic comps with Maxim Miroshkin last year? Misha Ge choreographed a free skate program for them in July 2019: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz0BsEhJjAs/

 

[Tinami Amori]

Aliev recently bragged about doing a Quad on his first day back. He did it (video few pages back). Now he posts a comment that doing this Quad after 3 months of hiatus was a huge mistake - all his muscles are in pain.

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Danielian - after few days of practice - fairly decent 3A and 4S. (in stories on IG)

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Trusova - after training...

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Lana Trusova - gets her own IG page

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Trankov family - said that to any question "who you want to be when you grow up" their little daughter replies "A figure skater".. Transkov's question to viewers "what do you think, shall that pass?"

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[hanca]

Labazina/Rakhmanin placed 11th in Senior at 2018-19 RUS Nationals; they never competed internationally together according to their ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00105626.htm

Did Labazina compete in any Russian domestic comps with Maxim Miroshkin last year? Misha Ge choreographed a free skate program for them in July 2019: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz0BsEhJjAs/

She never competed with Miroshkin. It was partnership just on a paper I think, because no one ever saw the actual programs that they apparently had. There was no link anywhere for even a part of the program, which is quite unusual. Skating world is quite open, anyone can access the rink, and therefore nothing stays hidden. All secrets leak eventually. It doesn’t take that much effort to pull out the mobile and record something, so the fact that no one has ever seen even a part of the programs with Miroshkin, I think it was just Moser’s strategy to get them funding. They managed to get on the national reserve team last year.

 

[Bellanca]

Honestly, I'm really very worried about her. I loved her and Gwendal since 1997 and followed them closely. I feel like Marina was the perfect example of an athlete, who lives only for the sport and has no idea what to do with her life after retirement. She has fallen in love with a person, who was be actually very charming. I met him personally 2 times shortly after their marriage, talked with him and my thought was....ok, he's a really good actor, because, in a real-life, he's so cool, funny, talkative, incredible father (based on how he was taking care of their children,...), very charismatic, creating a lyrical album of songs, dedicated to Marina.... At the beginning, it all seemed innocent...yes, scandals here and there, but everybody looked happy. Then, something happened. As if he was aiming to bring attention to him by the scandals to promote his real work....and it somehow didn't work. He wants to be famous, he wants recognition.

Some 5 years ago, she's suddenly taken their 2 small children and escaped to France. She tried to divorce for the first time but finally "gave him one more chance". Then, their close friend died and she supposedly left a testament. The heritage goes into millions. Up to this day, they're still fighting for this heritage with the sister of the dead friend. At the same time came a second divorce attempt, which was honestly all kinds of disgusting, with the publishing of private unflattering videos, accusations of Marina paying for her OGM,... In the meantime, Marina kept it very classy. I had huge respect for her for dealing with that situation the way she did, taking in the consideration their young children,... There are some talk shows with her from that period, where she's completely rational.
Then, something happened. Although they're divorced officially, she suddenly completely changed her behaviour. Started to support every stupid idea he has, half of her feed is him or his thoughts. It goes as far as him writing instead of her, under her name. It is actually very clear when it is him publishing on her insta. He has a very specific way of talking and writing. As Tinami pointed correctly, the statement she was reading was written by him. Why did he make her read it? Certainly, because nobody cares anymore about what he's saying. After all the scandals, he is unable to get media attention....but he's living (actually in Marina's Moscow flat) only from his media appearances.

I don't know if he's blackmailing her somehow (more private videos to share? heritage ? Olympic secrets?....) and although this sounds really scary and horrible, I somehow hope this is the case and she doesn't really believe him. In mid-May, there was an interview with her regarding ***** https://www.kp.ru/daily/27131.5/4217913/ It souds completely rational, she mentions she was offered by media to pretend she (or children) are infected. She refused and would never do it. She describes the situation in France, admits she went shopping with mask and gloves and wishes everybody good health...3 weeks later...
All this situation is really sad.

Good grief! That is quite a story. Very unfortunate to see someone's life spin so tragically out of control. I can only hope that better days are ahead for her, as it sounds like she could use a few.

 

[Ka3sha]

Interview with Tiffani Zahorski for RT (in Eng)

'Russian skating coaches are strict, but that’s how you create champs': British-born Tiffani Zagorski on competing for Russia

UK-born figure skater Tiffani Zagorski, who now competes for Russia, has spoken exclusively to RT Sport about representing the country, describing coaches as demanding, shrewd specialists who know what it takes to raise champions.

www.rt.com

And new interview with Yuko Kavaguti

«Если Загитова вернется, непонятно, с какой целью. Все достигнуто». Мнение Кавагути

Японка Юко Кавагути, выигравшая для России два чемпионата Европы и две медали чемпионата мира, — о нынешних звездах фигурного катания.

www.sport-express.ru

She is now working as a technical specialist at some small St Petersburg event, not as a main job or for money, but because she truly enjoys it.

Also, nice interview with Anastasia Gulyakova.

Анастасия Гулякова – о несостоявшихся сборах в Кисловодске, Трусовой и Туктамышевой, трикселе и квадах, путешествиях и ЕГЭ

Большое интервью ученицы Алексея Мишина.

www.sportsdaily.ru

She graduated from school with honors and is now waiting for the state exams in July. Wants to start coaching after retirement, so will go to Sports university. She already has a pretty consistent triple axel and they will work on quads with Mishin - says that she is ready for it, has tried salchow and toe loop in the past, but think toe loop is a more possible.

 

[Ka3sha]

Russian federation still didn’t publish the composition of their whole national team. We know the seniors and senior reserve, but we don’t know the juniors, junior reserve and novice. I am so curious about who got in. Can’t they share the info? It has been agreed during some meeting in May and we are nearly in the middle of June!

And here it is

https://www.minsport.gov.ru/2020/docs/ССК%20Фигурное%20катание%20на%20коньках%2020-21.pdf

Looks like Victoria Vasileva (was at JGPF this year) switched to pairs and teamed up Nikita Volodin

 

[Jeschke]

And here it is

https://www.minsport.gov.ru/2020/docs/ССК%20Фигурное%20катание%20на%20коньках%2020-21.pdf

This file looks like some secret spy document outta old times
Love it.

Is there an english version?

Looks like Victoria Vasileva (was at JGPF this year) switched to pairs and teamed up Nikita Volodin

Are they still able to go junior? On paper this looks like a possible powerhorse making, but I wasn't too impressed with Vasilieva and Volodin (in most recent partnership).

 

[Ka3sha]

Is there an english version?


Are they still able to go junior? On paper this looks like a possible powerhorse making, but I wasn't too impressed with Vasilieva and Volodin (in most recent partnership).

No, but I can translate some names/categories if needed.
Main team lists start at page 15, reserve at page 25

Volodin turns 21 this month, but I believe they still have a year in juniors considering new ISU rules?
I liked Vasilieva as a single skater, she was pretty energetic, fast and had high powerful jumps. She is also rather small, 151 cm

 

[Jeschke]

No, but I can translate some names/categories if needed.
Main team lists start at page 15, reserve at page 25

Well, my focus is on pairs
Kostiukovich, Ialin, Vislobokova, Briukhanov,....
Any word about new pairings here?
Thanks.

 

[Ka3sha]

Well, my focus is on pairs
Kostiukovich, Ialin, Vislobokova, Briukhanov,....
Any word about new pairings here?
Thanks.

Pairs, Main team (alphabetical order)
Seniors: Boikova/Kozlovski, Mishina/Gallyamov, Pavluchenko/Khodykin, Panfilova/Rylov, Pepeleva/Pleshkov, Tarasova/Morozov
Juniors (girls 13-19, boys 13-21): Akhantieva/Kolesov, Artemieva/Nazarychev, Mukhametzianova/Mironov, Mukhortova/Evgeniev
Juniors (girls 13-17, boys 13-19): Raskovalova/Butayev

Reserve team
Seniors: Dmitrii Yalin, Kadyrova/Balchenko
Juniors (girls 13-19, boys 13-21): Vasilieva/Volodin, Kuzmin/Khvalko, Petushkova/Malikov

 

[Jeschke]

I get 1 outta 4, ouch

 

[hanca]

Volodin turns 21 this month, but I believe they still have a year in juniors considering new ISU rules?
I liked Vasilieva as a single skater, she was pretty energetic, fast and had high powerful jumps. She is also rather small, 151 cm

No, Volodin is aging out. So is Ialin and Sviatchenko and Rakhmanin and Balchenko.

 

[rfisher]

Trankov family - said that to any question "who you want to be when you grow up" their little daughter replies "A figure skater".. Transkov's question to viewers "what do you think, shall that pass?"

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

That child looks so much like her Daddy.

 

[rfisher]

I get 1 outta 4, ouch

My Little Polina isn't there. Parents for all the God's sakes do not name your daughter Polina and let them put on skates.

 

[Ka3sha]

No, Volodin is aging out. So is Ialin and Sviatchenko and Rakhmanin and Balchenko.

Yes, you are right.
I remembered that ISU extended upper age limits for juniors this year, but checked it and apparently it is related only to ice dancers.

 

[Jeschke]

Looks like Victoria Vasileva (was at JGPF this year) switched to pairs

2S >>> 3Lz3T

 

[hanca]

Well, my focus is on pairs
Kostiukovich, Ialin, Vislobokova, Briukhanov,....
Any word about new pairings here?
Thanks.

Russian forum said that Vislobokova will be skating with Ivanov (he is junior ineligible, so it will be seniors), Kostiukovich -some gossip said she had try out with Bushlanov (and had tooth broken) and someone else at different thread said she will be skating with Briukhanov, so we will see. Ialin is supposed to be skating with an unknown girl who has been doing pairs but were not good enough to do the more important competitions - Valeria Ponosova.

 

[hanca]

Yes, you are right.
I remembered that ISU extended upper age limits for juniors this year, but checked it and apparently it is related only to ice dancers.

Of course I am right. I am watching the junior pairs very carefully, wondering which ones we could steal!
Anyone want to skate for the UK? I am guessing that at some stage Zoe will need to be replaced... We are very modest, we will happily take Russian juniors who didn’t even qualify for the nationals or placed towards the bottom. (It still will be better than having nothing...) The only condition is that they need to remain in Russia to train, because otherwise they may forget how to skate.

 

[hanca]

Pairs, Main team (alphabetical order)
Seniors: Boikova/Kozlovski, Mishina/Gallyamov, Pavluchenko/Khodykin, Panfilova/Rylov, Pepeleva/Pleshkov, Tarasova/Morozov
Juniors (girls 13-19, boys 13-21): Akhantieva/Kolesov, Artemieva/Nazarychev, Mukhametzianova/Mironov, Mukhortova/Evgeniev
Juniors (girls 13-17, boys 13-19): Raskovalova/Butayev

Reserve team
Seniors: Dmitrii Yalin, Kadyrova/Balchenko
Juniors (girls 13-19, boys 13-21): Vasilieva/Volodin, Kuzmin/Khvalko, Petushkova/Malikov

Interesting that Yalin got to senior reserve, but Kostiukovich did not get into senior or junior reserve. I dislike how differently male skaters are treated in comparison with their female partners/ex-partners. I understand that it is hard to find a decent male partner, but it is so unfair.

 

[Tinami Amori]

My Little Polina isn't there. Parents for all the God's sakes do not name your daughter Polina and let them put on skates.

I am pretty sure she has not teamed up with a partner, nor was seeking one too seriously after the split. The sequence of events is this. During their last season she was posting about "puberty issues" on her own accord (not by others). Then the announcement of the split. Then he was trying out with partners, and she was posting photo of a broken tooth (and the speculations if it is from try outs). Then she was posting some happy pictures (on IG) outside of the rink.
Then she posted about "new life, new beginning, new hopes, new directions, new feelings, new things to love".

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

And then photos of horse-riding she is trying..

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

She has all the photos of her and Ialin from the skating days, so it is not a bad split up. It looks like she is not planning to skate at least for now.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Oh yeah? i remember the times in early 2000's when "the West" preferred him the "westernized" (Yagudin) to "gloomy Russian" (Plushenko)... And how North American skating fans loved Yags for wearing a Canadian Team jacket during 2002 and stating that Sale/Peltrier should have won.... Many people also did not believe that he abused (verbally and physically) young Plushenko when they were both with Mishing in St. Pete.

I thought Yags was frequently a big jerk... if you can turn on your coach, skating mate, your country..... you can turn on a friend, or anybody.... including people "in the wonderful friendly West". Behavioral pattern recognition is your friend.

I feel like we've had this conversation a dozen times before, but it's 2020, Tinami. There's no "East" or "West" anymore. I assure you, most Americans just cheer for whoever they prefer as a skater. We don't all dig through every article and rumor about athletes like you do.
I used to like both Yagudin and Plushenko because they were great skaters, but when I found out about some of their awful off-ice behavior, I lost respect for both of them. That's all. There's no "Western conspiracy" or anything. I don't see one as more "Russian" than the other.
This is probably irrelevant, but I am American and I personally preferred Berezhnaya/Sikhraulidze to Sale/Pelletier. I suppose you can call me a traitor to the West now

 

[zebraswan]

I have always disliked Yagudin...I feel vindicated now!

How can someone who has lived in "the West" for so long not understand that we do not share a hivemind and that different opinions are a thing? I know, I know...look who we are talking about.

 

[taz'smum]

There's no "East" or "West" anymore. I assure you, most Americans just cheer for whoever they prefer as a skater.

I agree, fans don't care where the skater is from, they just care how good the skater is!