Russia’s 3rd lady for worlds

[Vagabond]

If you look at the last skater to achieve what Med achieved 2016-18 (2 World titles and Oly Silver), for USA and JPN respectively, it would be Michelle Kwan (5 World titles and Oly Silver) and Mao Asada (3 World titles and Oly Silver).

"What have you done for me lately?" is always a legitimate question. Neither Kwan nor Asada got sent to Worlds for finishing as low as seventh at Nationals.



Viewing it that way, I would say Medvedeva has just entered Kimmie Meissner territory. :shrug:

 

[tylersf]

Wasn't that in 2008 US Nationals when Nagasu, Flatt and Zhang finished 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively but were not age-eligible for Worlds or 4 CC? But because we had 3 spots, they sent Wagner (3rd), Liang (5th) and Meissner (7th). I guess they were banking on Meissner to place well because she was 2006 World Champion?
Meissner finished 7th at Worlds as well, but she was the top US singles female finish at Worlds that year.

"What have you done for me lately?" is always a legitimate question. Neither Kwan nor Asada got sent to Worlds for finishing as low as seventh at Nationals.

Viewing it that way, I would say Medvedeva has just entered Kimmie Meissner territory. :shrug:

 

[Vash01]

Sofia is a late bloomer winning Euros at 16? This is her first season as a Senior wth.

Just a slight correction. Sofia is 17. At least that’s what I heard at GPF.

 

[feraina]

Eteri teaches technique that only works on children, so good luck to Zagitova ever regaining her 2018 jumping level which she would need to even realistically be in the fight for future teams vs a slew of girls who can outjump even her former top level. If she has the balls to try a major coaching change, she might just maybe have a shot, but then again Evgenia tried that and it hasnt exactly worked out either. Still even Evgeni had the good sense and saw she would never keep her jumps, which were already declining in 2018 hence her losses to Zagitova, into adulthood with Eteri's technique.

Tuktamysheva turned back the clock and had her best year of skating hands down after only 2015. I was super happy for her to witness it. It still was not enough to make it to Worlds in a year Zagitova and Medvedeva had awful years, Medvedeva especialy, and Kostornaia, Shcherbakova, and Trusova were all ineligible. Yeah she was probably unlucky to fall ill before Nationals, but if she manages a future big Russian team at this point I will be slightly amazed. That is why I feel gutted for her, especialy if she had not been ill before Nationals and skated at Europeans she atleast might have made it. As you said she falls short of the others in everything but having a triple axel, and that isnt even that big a deal anymore when there are many Russian and Japanese girls with either a quad or triple axel, some better than hers.

I think Medvedeva and Samodurnova have some chance moving forward, Samodurnova moreso of the two at this point IMO. Sofia seems like the kind of person to take the Elena Sokolova or Anna Pogorilaya or Leonova former spot as the reliable (well not always reliable in Anna's case, LOL) perennial #3 girl on teams, she fits the role perfectly. Zagitova could be in the fight too but probably only with a coaching change and completely revamping her technique like Medvedeva is trying to do now. If she stays with Eteri she will have a very hard time making any future teams after this year, in fact I see her retiring well before the 2022 Games if she stays with Eteri.

Sofia doesn’t have the skating skills to compete. She’s only going to slow down more as she gets a more grown up body. And her coaching team is not known for fixing it. While Medvedeva is with the right team to improve her SS and have a long career.

I think maybe the RusFed is also thinking that of all their young phenoms, Medvedeva has the best chance of being a long term star, and they want to try to groom at least one such star.

 

[Jarrett]

For current Russian standards she is. Nobody heard of her as a 14 year old which is rare for a young Russian phenom today.

Nobody? Blanket statements like that are ridiculous.

 

[Jarrett]

Just a slight correction. Sofia is 17. At least that’s what I heard at GPF.

She is 16 unless they are playing with her age like in gymnastics. http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00101139.htm She won both of JGP events last year. She is not coming out of no where. Her birthday falls after the senior cut off for the 17/18 season.

 

[Marco]

I wanna bet the 2022 Olympic Champion or at least the top Russian finisher at that Olympcis won't even debut as a senior until that very season.

 

[tripleflutz]

I wanna bet the 2022 Olympic Champion or at least the top Russian finisher at that Olympcis won't even debut as a senior until that very season.

I agree unfortunately. And will either retire right after, or try in vain to compete effectively again ala Zagitova.

Hopefully Rika Kihira is the 2022 Olympic Champion though. I have fallen head over heels for her and will be heartbroken more than I have been for any Olympic loser since Ito in 1992 if she doesnt win in 2022. The only one I could sort of accept winning instead is Medvedeva since I still feel awful for her for 2018, but we all know even if Rika doesnt win it will not be Medvedeva winning there, LOL!

 

[feraina]

I agree unfortunately. And will either retire right after, or try in vain to compete effectively again ala Zagitova.

Hopefully Rika Kihira is the 2022 Olympic Champion though. I have fallen head over heels for her and will be heartbroken more than I have been for any Olympic loser since Ito in 1992 if she doesnt win in 2022. The only one I could sort of accept winning instead is Medvedeva since I still feel awful for her for 2018, but we all know even if Rika doesnt win it will not be Medvedeva winning there, LOL!

Yeah that’s unfortunately not very likely though I would love for her to. I actually can’t think of any top female singles skater who failed to win OGM on first try but succeeded later - in recent years when triple jumps have become commonplace. So many amazing skaters have tried and failed. But hey, many of them have stuck around and had amazing careers and turned into amazing artists. Kwan, Asada, Kostner, even Cohen. I will be thrilled if anyone like that came out of the current talents in Russia.

 

[Vagabond]

Yeah that’s unfortunately not very likely though I would love for her to. I actually can’t think of any top female singles skater who failed to win OGM on first try but succeeded later - in recent years when triple jumps have become commonplace.

Shizuka Arakawa did it in 2006, after having finished thirteenth in 1998.

This bodes well for Kaetlyn Osmond in 2022.

 

[PRlady]

Sofia doesn’t have the skating skills to compete. She’s only going to slow down more as she gets a more grown up body. And her coaching team is not known for fixing it. While Medvedeva is with the right team to improve her SS and have a long career.

I think maybe the RusFed is also thinking that of all their young phenoms, Medvedeva has the best chance of being a long term star, and they want to try to groom at least one such star.

If that’s what RusFed is thinking, they might be right. So far only Med has really grown in presentation ability since her junior days, although Kostornaia could be another longterm PCS queen. If Med gets her SS skills up and fixes some of the Eteri jumping technique, she could give us years of interesting programs.

Yeah that’s unfortunately not very likely though I would love for her to. I actually can’t think of any top female singles skater who failed to win OGM on first try but succeeded later - in recent years when triple jumps have become commonplace. So many amazing skaters have tried and failed. But hey, many of them have stuck around and had amazing careers and turned into amazing artists. Kwan, Asada, Kostner, even Cohen. I will be thrilled if anyone like that came out of the current talents in Russia.

I don’t expect an OGM for Med but I’d like her to become a skater like the ones you list. I think she’s smart and brave enough to do it, too.

 

[Bonjour Sherry]

Sofia doesn’t have the skating skills to compete. She’s only going to slow down more as she gets a more grown up body. And her coaching team is not known for fixing it. While Medvedeva is with the right team to improve her SS and have a long career.

I agree, Samodurova is most likely just a placeholder. Just like Sotskova, as noted in another thread. I do applaud Sofia for her consistency though. She was more consistent than even Medvedeva in her first season.

 

[Wyliefan]

Not with a triple axel in the works, she isn't. Obviously she has fierce competition coming up, but she's clearly planning to fight. She's a determined girl. And she may very well follow in Liza's steps and keep sticking around as various competitors rise and fall.

 

[her grace]

I agree, Samodurova is most likely just a placeholder. Just like Sotskova, as noted in another thread.

Is "placeholder" being used to indicate a short duration of success or not enough big titles? It seems strange to say that a skater who won a GP Final medal, went to two worlds and made the Russian Olympic team is just a placeholder (Sotskova). Same for Samodurova, who is the European champion and has a good chance to medal at worlds. Was Radionova only a placeholder? She also went to only two worlds, though she did medal at one of them. She never won Euros. She didn't earn herself an Olympic spot. Is Higuchi a placeholder? The term diminishes these skaters' impressive accomplishments.

I know that people are excited about the trio waiting in the wings, and I too, look forward to their senior debuts. But I wouldn't predict more than 2 of them for next year's world team. A lot of things can change in a year and the old guard are fighters.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Is "placeholder" being used to indicate a short duration of success or not enough big titles?

It means just what is says... here hold our (Rusian National team spot) place just for now until one of our quadsters takes your place next year

Some fans have said that Meno & Sand may just be placeholder for The Knierims... tho I doubt it.

 

[tripleflutz]

I think Sofia is better than Sotskova so I see her having many years she slips in as the Russian #3 and keeps making major teams that way. I think Russia likes having 2 stars and a reliable 3rd wheel type. That is how it was for years with their 2 stars Slutskaya/Butyrskaya and their perennial #3 Voltchkova, even though once Butyrskaya retired Sokolova was again regularly and easily beating VV. Then Medvedeva and either Radionova or Zagitova with their perennial #3 Pogorilaya, replaced by Sotskova for the Olympic season due to injury and early retirement. She is atleast a much stronger and more consistent skater than Maria S. ever was.

 

[tripleflutz]

Some fans have said that Meno & Sand may just be placeholder for The Knierims... tho I doubt it.

I think Meno & Sand are their placeholders until retirement which I suspect is coming soon.

 

[Vagabond]

Some fans have said that Meno & Sand may just be placeholder for The Knierims... tho I doubt it.

I think Meno & Sand are their placeholders until retirement which I suspect is coming soon.

I could have sworn that Meno & Sand retired after winning a World Silver Medal in 1998, but if they haven't actually retired, I am looking forward to seeing them compete well into their fifties.

 

[Bonjour Sherry]

Is "placeholder" being used to indicate a short duration of success or not enough big titles? It seems strange to say that a skater who won a GP Final medal, went to two worlds and made the Russian Olympic team is just a placeholder (Sotskova). Same for Samodurova, who is the European champion and has a good chance to medal at worlds. Was Radionova only a placeholder? She also went to only two worlds, though she did medal at one of them. She never won Euros. She didn't earn herself an Olympic spot. Is Higuchi a placeholder? The term diminishes these skaters' impressive accomplishments.

I don't think Radionova is a placeholder. She took herself out of contention from 2016-18 with inconsistency and jump technique issues catching up. If she remained consistent, she would have gone to the Olympics in place of Sotskova. Higuchi also is not a placeholder IMO, she's been struggling this year with injury. But I do think Hongo and Mihara are placeholders.

I think Sofia is better than Sotskova so I see her having many years she slips in as the Russian #3 and keeps making major teams that way.

Actually, I think Maria is a better skater than Sofia -- bigger jumps and better skating skills. I watch Maria and actually see many strengths in her skating, but after the program finishes, I'm somehow not left with any impression. I don't know why - the whole is less than the sum of the parts.

Sofia is a middling skater who has been banking on consistency -- hence the middling scores early in the season. Keep in mind that before the GP Final, she actually had a slightly lower seasons PB than Tarusina. In fact, if Tarusina could get two senior GPs this season, she'd probably end up in a similar position as Samodurova right now. With that said, Sofia is a great performer. Her long program is one of my favorite Russian senior LPs this season, and it was so good at SkAm!

 

[tripleflutz]

Radiniova in hindsight was pretty much a placeholder. Yeah if she had peaked in 2018 rather than 2015-2016 she might make the Russian Olympic team as the 3rd lady over Maria, and even that isnt certain, and possibly only since Anna wasnt there even then. Either way she never panned out to be the star as predicted, she would fit well into that label IMO. Most of Elena's issues by 2018 were there even at her peak- low quality jumps with bad landings, frantic movements, they just were never fixed, and for awhile she was being overscored inspite of her issues due to her potential and hype, but when she didnt improve she started getting proper scores.

Maria vs Sofia? Personal opinion I guess, Maria was never a real top skater, and bombed in the big events she was in. She also was pretty boring to me even on her good days. I definitely feel Sofia is stronger, and Sofia's results including the European title seem to support that. I agree Maria might have a bit better skating skills and a bit more spring in her jumps, but it ultimately doesnt add up to much, and she is pretty boring in addition to inconsistent, especialy in big competitions.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Too bad Russia doesn't have access to the same North Korean government officials, who rounded up passport ages for their female Olympic Games gymnasts in Barcelona. Twelve really was the new sixteen back then!