Interview with Irina Slutskaya [post-Beijing]

[Aussie Willy]

5. A real chaotic look at her experiences in SLC 2002; sounds like she feels she wuz robbed there - 'brazenly removed' with the 2nd mark in the LP (I hope someone told her that her choreo was crap and she was skating slower than normal).

She definitely thought she was robbed - the video of backstage

The Victor and the Vanquished

The reactions of Sarah Hughes and Irina Slutskaya after the 2002 Olympics.

www.youtube.com

 

[MacMadame]

She definitely thought she was robbed - the video of backstage

The Victor and the Vanquished

The reactions of Sarah Hughes and Irina Slutskaya after the 2002 Olympics.

www.youtube.com

I don't know what we are supposed to be seeing. She's barely in this clip and in one shot we only see her back. I didn't see any crying, any pouting, any throwing away of the medal.

ETA and no backstage footage really.

 

[tony]

I don't know what we are supposed to be seeing. She's barely in this clip and in one shot we only see her back. I didn't see any crying, any pouting, any throwing away of the medal.

ETA and no backstage footage really.

What? Watch the end. It was shown on US TV as well. But she skated last and had nowhere to go hide.

 

[canbelto]

The time the waiting chairs got sort of awkward was in 2018 with Savchenko/Massot and Sui/Han. You could just tell there wasn't much love lost between the couples.

Other people like Papadakis/Cizeron or Evgenia Medvedeva looked crushed but there wasn't that bad vibe feeling.

 

[tony]

The time the waiting chairs got sort of awkward was in 2018 with Savchenko/Massot and Sui/Han. You could just tell there wasn't much love lost between the couples.

Again, no. Massot and Morozov famously lifted Han up to be visible on the podium at the previous Worlds. I'm 100% sure they all got along just fine, but the difference is one team just had an insane, unimaginable comeback and another team lost by the narrowest of margins (and because of a pairs spin level, really). Complete opposite emotions, nothing to do with love loss.

 

[canbelto]

Again, no. Massot and Morozov famously lifted Han up to be visible on the podium at the previous Worlds. I'm 100% sure they all got along just fine, but the difference is one team just had an insane, unimaginable comeback and another team lost by the narrowest of margins (and because of a pairs spin level, really). Complete opposite emotions, nothing to do with love loss.

Except Savchenko has given interviews trashing Sui/Han?

 

[tony]

Except Savchenko has given interviews trashing Sui/Han?

Except you mean you're pulling one comment from 2019 (after the 2018 Olympics) where she said S/H had copied their style for Rain?

Still, no.

 

[MacMadame]

What? Watch the end. It was shown on US TV as well. But she skated last and had nowhere to go hide.

I did.

 

[tony]

I did.

Then what exactly do you see at 2:49? Here it is in higher def.

She's barely in this clip and in one shot we only see her back. I didn't see any crying, any pouting, any throwing away of the medal.

She also was crying following her scores at 2000 Worlds.

 

[olympic]

In context of Irina’s comments on SLC that the RUS fed got what it wanted, and she wasn’t necessarily being politicked to win by them, I do wonder what was going thru her head when she was taking center ice. I think she must have been somewhat aware that MK hadn’t performed to par, which IMO would have changed her calculus on what to do. Actual shot to win despite it all. So her performance looked like someone overthinking it: Hot and cold and lacking cohesiveness. It was neither a solid conservative performance nor a balls out barnburner, like she could not make up her mind and satisfying nothing

 

[Vagabond]

I wish that every skater would handle defeat the way Slutskaya did here.

 

[tony]

I wish that every skater would handle defeat the way Slutskaya did here.

To be fair, she again was the last skater and she knew the best she could do was 2nd

 

[VGThuy]

In context of Irina’s comments on SLC that the RUS fed got what it wanted, and she wasn’t necessarily being politicked to win by them, I do wonder what was going thru her head when she was taking center ice. I think she must have been somewhat aware that MK hadn’t performed to par, which IMO would have changed her calculus on what to do. Actual shot to win despite it all. So her performance looked like someone overthinking it: Hot and cold and lacking cohesiveness. It was neither a solid conservative performance nor a balls out barnburner, like she could not make up her mind and satisfying nothing

About her comments that the fed got what they wanted by the time the ladies event started, I wonder if she also felt somewhat abandoned in Torino as well. All Russian gold medalists and all three of them led the first round (two rounds for ice dance…and not that big of a margin as Navka/Kostomorov only led by Belbin/Agosto by 1.38 but a lead is a lead and I don’t think anyone thought N/K were going to lose after the OD), and here Irina gave a clean SP and not only placed second behind Cohen but was put in a virtual three-way tie going into the LP.

 

[Vash01]

Interesting interview. I read it on FS gossip.

I agree with some things she says, and not with some others. She speaks her thoughts honestly. I always appreciate honesty. She is honest in saying that she doesn't understand ice dance but she says what she enjoyed watching more. I think that's fair. I don't agree that she could have won gold in Turin, not after the way she skated there. However, there is some truth in what happened in SLC 2002 in the ladies competition. She really deserved 1st in the SP, which would have given her the gold overall.

I like it that she recommends giving more Olympic medals - for short, long, overall. And of course now there is the team medal. She is unsure about how to answer some questions.

 

[olympic]

In real time after Kwan’s subpar performance, I was hoping that Slute would’ve skated a barnburner to win and then MK would’ve gotten silver (I was a Kwaniac at the time). I was actually less thrilled with a Hughes win

 

[MacMadame]

Then what exactly do you see at 2:49? Here it is in higher def.

I see someone talking to their coach in a language I don't understand. I don't see any tears on her face and the clip is incredibly short, nothing like the Trusova shots we saw or Valieva crying in her coach's lap as the scores were announced.

The higher def version does show a gulp before she started talking that wasn't clear on the first clip but that, to me, is the sound of someone trying not to cry.

Maybe it was more obvious on tv at the time. ?‍

 

[AxelAnnie]

Totally loved hearing from Irina.

 

[jamesy]

I also think for the most part she had some of the most intelligently put together programs for an athletic skater. Her "Lady and Hooligan" and Culture short programs were very good.

I'm not even a fan of Irina but that Bolt program was everything, especially by the time Euros rolled around and she had switched her dress costume to the pants. If that was the program she had saved for Torino she probably would have had that lead she thinks she is due.

 

[bardtoob]

4. No one should have been taping behind the scenes at the womens' event

hope someone told her that her choreo was crap and she was skating slower than normal

I'm a bit confused ? Is she talking about herself or Trusova? ?

 

[bardtoob]

How can we forget Nancy Kerrigan's bitchfest about Oksana Baiul's crying.

Nancy was more a snide person than a fest(ive) person ...

Kwan lost the Canadian Open one year to Chouinard (who fell) on ridiculous judging because 'Canada' and she was very visibly pissed in the kiss and cry.. she may have even swore, I can't remember..

That would've been funny to see.

 

[Coco]

Slutskaya should have kept her 2005 programs for 2006. The best thing about her 2006 programs was her SP pantsuit.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Re: Kwan in Nagano, the only backstage shot I remember being shown on the CBS broadcast was her leaving the dressing room / locker room and wiping her eyes. The only shot I remember of her crying next to Frank was after her skate in the K&C. I don't recall the networks having much access into or past the corridors.

It has also been a pretty established ISU (doping?) protocol for several seasons now, that a skater can not go to the dressing room so long as they are in medal position. Trusova looked at the camera and then tried to duck away from it.

As far as Nancy, well she should have known better, but TBH ,it was probably the funniest thing she ever said.

But what if a skater has to use the restroom? A female skater in particular may have her period.

 

[MacMadame]

But what if a skater has to use the restroom? A female skater in particular may have her period.

I think they are screwed.

They are supposed to conduct their lives so they are available for doping tests. So they need to go to the bathroom before they skate. Normal functions are to pee every 3-4 hours. If they go before they take the ice for their warm-up, they should be fine.

Not to mention, if they pee after their skate, how are they going to supply a sample to doping control when the event is over?

 

[soogar]

I think they are screwed.

They are supposed to conduct their lives so they are available for doping tests. So they need to go to the bathroom before they skate. Normal functions are to pee every 3-4 hours. If they go before they take the ice for their warm-up, they should be fine.

Not to mention, if they pee after their skate, how are they going to supply a sample to doping control when the event is over?

Hopefully they can control their bodily functions that may be caused by nerves.

 

[Skibean]

I think most Kwan fans would’ve been fine with Irina winning in SLC. I know Cohen was a little overly confident at that time and some her her statements were cringe worthy, so not a whole lot of Kwan fans wanted her to “pull a Tara” as Cohen put it.

Irina was an obvious poor sport after SLC. She did some interviews bashing Americans and even alluded to Kwan wearing gold for her Fields of Gold exhibition. She and Michelle seem to respect one another and maybe they’re friendly, but Irina definitely made some comments that didn’t always appear complimentary.

Someone also said Irina laughed after Karen Chen fell at the Olympics. I didn’t see it, so not sure if it’s fact. But clearly is a commentator is laughing when the athletes fall then they’re probably not the
right person to be commentator

 

[overedge]

IIRC skaters who can't "produce" a sample after a competition can drink fluids (including ) until they are ready.

Denying skaters access to a washroom, regardless of why they might need to go in there, is wrong.

 

[Fadeevfanboy]

I think most Kwan fans would’ve been fine with Irina winning in SLC. I know Cohen was a little overly confident at that time and some her her statements were cringe worthy, so not a whole lot of Kwan fans wanted her to “pull a Tara” as Cohen put it.

Plus Cohen taking the gold and running (she admits this is what she would have done) would have beenn horrible. Tara atleast had 2 good juniors, and 2 great senior years. Baiul atleast had 2 great senior seasons, and got to enjoy her for many years as a pro where despite losing her jumps, she had some really interesting programs, and her journey was fascinating to follow. Sasha would have been something beneath a blip if she came and left, and skating would have missed out on many years of great skating by her. The 2003-2006 quad was pretty shallow and inconsistent as it was as well. It definitely needed Cohen as part of the mix regularly.

As for Irina's attitude towards SLC, I think the whole so called pairs scandal, also affected the mindset of many of the Russian bloc skaters and athletes in other sports for ther rest of the Games, and it made it seem like it was an event pandering to North America on the whole.

 

[MacMadame]

IIRC skaters who can't "produce" a sample after a competition can drink fluids (including ) until they are ready.

But this can take hours if you've just peed. The athletes know the rules when they sign up. So they manage their bathroom breaks accordingly.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I think most Kwan fans would’ve been fine with Irina winning in SLC. I know Cohen was a little overly confident at that time and some her her statements were cringe worthy, so not a whole lot of Kwan fans wanted her to “pull a Tara” as Cohen put it.

Irina was an obvious poor sport after SLC. She did some interviews bashing Americans and even alluded to Kwan wearing gold for her Fields of Gold exhibition. She and Michelle seem to respect one another and maybe they’re friendly, but Irina definitely made some comments that didn’t always appear complimentary.

Someone also said Irina laughed after Karen Chen fell at the Olympics. I didn’t see it, so not sure if it’s fact. But clearly is a commentator is laughing when the athletes fall then they’re probably not the
right person to be a commentator

Sasha was fighting through an injury. Gosh I miss her. Favorite skater ever. Would much rather watch her skate, even with a fall - than most skaters with a clean program.
My son and daughter-in-law were supposed to be traveling back from South America as 9-11 hit. Anna (granddaughter) was a mess after the first week with the other grandparents. When I awoke that fateful day in September I thought oh gosh........this is going to be a nightmare. What was I going to say to a 7-year-old? Funnily, I sat Anna down and told her their parent's plane would be delayed. Kids are so funny....She said, ok can we go to the car wash today?
I called the rink where Sasha trained, and off we when. Anna was just mesmerized. Sasha had just returned from somewhere (south America? and brought little trinkets for the kids at the rink. She walked out the door, and then returned and gave Anna a trinket. Now,, that was sweet.

Later that year, we went to Stars on Ice. Anna was absolutely certain that Sasha was looking for her in the audience.

Lovely that I have those memories. Oh, BTW, we got to see her do an almost clean quad. She was so excited.

 

[olympic]

“For someone known for her speed, she’s not skating very fast, Scott.”

“Not the difficulty of a Sarah Hughes or the artistry of a Michelle Kwan …”

“What will the judges do???”

NBC commentary that I memorized