Mark Kondratiuk, Superstar!!!

I love this kid. From "Unknown Kid" to Russian and European Champion in one year!
Also love the fact that he basically appeared out of nowhere. He's never even been close to a JGP, let alone Jr. Worlds, and now is showing the big boys how it's done.
He is a very interesting young man, very well-educated, interested in all sorts of things, an artist etc. What a talent!
Looking forward to him bringing the house down in Beijing with his JCS.
 
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OMG, I love everything about his skating! The passion, the intensity, the quality positions, the costuming, the choreography, the musical interpretation, the complete package of technique and artistry! I want him on the Olympic podium!!! <3
 
Sokolovskaya has come a long way as an obscure coach from taking in Polina Shelepen, then worked with Samarin then finally a skater going to the Olympics !

Is JESUS A SUPERSTAR always a lucky program for skaters ?
 
I love Kondratiuk! He stands out as his own person so distinctly. I thought he was fantastic last year at the Russian Nationals, and I am so happy he is finding consistency. His footwork sequences in JCS are one of the gutsiest things I've seen interpretatively in suuuuch a long time in competitive singles skating. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Glad he is going to Beijing and I get to root for him!

Thank you Cher for making this well deserved thread!
 
Should Mark skate both programs in the team event? Will it be too much pressure on this young skater?
 
Vash01 said:
Should Mark skate both programs in the team event? Will it be too much pressure on this young skater?
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I would probably split him and Kolyada, but after what happened last time I think they might have Mark do both. There isn't a lot of faith in Kolyada, which I understand, but I think it is better to not shoulder all that pressure on such a young and new skater and have them split.
 
Vash01 said:
Should Mark skate both programs in the team event? Will it be too much pressure on this young skater?
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I'd go with Mark for both. Kolyada is an outside medal contender so if he were to do the TE it would probably be only the SP, and he's weak there. His SB score is lower than Georgia, China, Italy, etc. Mark, Andrei, and Evgeny all got 99 in the SP which is third behind the top Americans and Japanese. At least they have shown the ability to land both the quad toe and sal in the same program. For the LP probably any Russian guy would get third so it doesn't really matter.
 
I just want Mark to get an Olympik medal, so him skating both SP / LP or either is fine lol

Sighhhh it’s indeed the case that v often you only ever get one shot at the Olympics. Look at Aliev - so talented, and yet I wonder if he will ever come back (I hope he will).

All the stars are aligned for Superstar this season (no pun intended) ... and there’s really no need to put too much pressure on himself!!! Despite being euro champ, he’s not really a medal threat for the men’s competition I don’t think, so I hope He can just relax and have the time of his life in Beijing!

Otoh I hope that Mozalev can go also, but I guess all this is being discussed in another thread. Mozalev’s beautiful glide and technique make him more of a skater’s skater :-)
 
Dumb question, but why is his first name Mark? Isn't that not a Russian name? I wondered if he had an American parent but his wiki didn't say anything about that. (BTW my son is named Viktor even though he's Asian; my husband thought it sounded cool.)
 
livetoskate said:
Dumb question, but why is his first name Mark? Isn't that not a Russian name? I wondered if he had an American parent but his wiki didn't say anything about that. (BTW my son is named Viktor even though he's Asian; my husband thought it sounded cool.)
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I was wondering too, but it looks like it is a Russian name, but rare. There's a few famous Marks on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_(given_name)

Found a post on the internet that said the Russian name is associated with Jews, Poles, and Yugoslavs in Russia. I've seen some of the comments in Russian calling him "Markusha."
 
Cherub721 said:
I was wondering too, but it looks like it is a Russian name, but rare. There's a few famous Marks on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_(given_name)

Found a post on the internet that said the Russian name is associated with Jews, Poles, and Yugoslavs in Russia. I've seen some of the comments in Russian calling him "Markusha."
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My parents have had several Russian-Jewish friends named Mark. Maybe Kondratiuk is Jewish as well? He sure does sound like a typical Russian-Jewish dude and his first name may be another hint. His last name "Kondratiuk" sounds Ukrainian.
 
Mark has been used in Russia for centuries, not common but its not new
Mark orginates from Latin (Mark the Apostole)

Kondratyuk is a Ukrainian surname, (ending in yuk, ko) many russians with UKrianian surname but are assimilated.
Plushenko, Kovtun, Navka, Volosozhar, Semenenko, Kulik, Pavlyuchenko, Grishuk
 
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livetoskate said:
Dumb question, but why is his first name Mark? Isn't that not a Russian name? I wondered if he had an American parent but his wiki didn't say anything about that. (BTW my son is named Viktor even though he's Asian; my husband thought it sounded cool.)
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There is a Russian singer named Mark Bernes, who I like. I loved his song Zhuravli (second best version of that song, - the best by Dmitri horostovsky- JMO) so I looked for his CD a few years ago. I almost bought one.

So I assume Mark is a Russian name. It may not be a popular name like some other Russian names, but I don't believe either 'Mark' has an American father. :)

BTW it is not a dumb question.
 
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livetoskate said:
Thanks for the info. Reading more about Mark, what a great season it's been for him after years of toiling in obscurity. While I'm not a fan of those magenta pants, he skates with a lot of excitement and joy.
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The phrase years of toiling in obscurity makes me giggle for some reason because he's only 18! I think of that more for someone who is achieving success at the last minute at a much older age. At the same time it's true that he wasn't well-known as a junior skater or anything, most of us just heard of him for the first time last year unlike some of the Russian ladies who seem to start being talked about at a super young age.
 
Vash01 said:
So did Volosozhar Trankov (yellow pants). :)
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Of course I remember that :) but I was talking about Jewish skaters using it, which I don't believe those two are.
michalle said:
The phrase years of toiling in obscurity makes me giggle for some reason because he's only 18! I think of that more for someone who is achieving success at the last minute at a much older age. At the same time it's true that he wasn't well-known as a junior skater or anything, most of us just heard of him for the first time last year unlike some of the Russian ladies who seem to start being talked about at a super young age.
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It's really cool though how he was only an alternate to Nationals last year and then won bronze!
 
Cherub721 said:
Of course I remember that :) but I was talking about Jewish skaters using it, which I don't believe those two are.

It's really cool though how he was only an alternate to Nationals last year and then won bronze!
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Sorry I didn't realize the conversation was about Jewish skaters.
 
Not perfect but immensely enjoyable to watch. Here's hoping his new found position in Russian men's skating does not give him too much pressure. Love the commitment and the fearlessness.

Subject to whether Russia's overall strategy would prefer a split in the men's, I think Mark doing the short and Mikhail doing the free is probably best. Obviously if Russia would rather split in other disciplines or Mikhail is still not fully recovered, then by all means let him do both. I doubt having him skate both segments or having Mikhail skate one segment makes a big difference. I expect big Euro Champ inflation for his PCS at the Olympics.
 
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