Russian figure skating news in 2024

[TAHbKA]

The Russian GP brought some things. First, people think that women's category is deteriorating. I would not say it way but it is true that in seniors much less difficult elements are performed than before. Though I don't think it is as harsh as some say.

I think it's exactly as harsh. If Russia was magically back to the international competition they would have to fetch Tuktamysheva back to send her together with Petrosian. There is no one else of the right age. The 13-14y.o who could land a quad are not news for Russia. I think if Russia competed in the GP we would have Petrosian in the GPF, but the rest of the field would be the same.

Men are on the rise and I wonder what caused it. Multiple of them cen deliver program with multiple quads mostly clean so the fight foe medals is very interesting and so can be the nationals. There can be like 8-10 real contenders for a podium.

Most of them had been to the international competition and didn't deliver much. Even the 2022 Europeans - Semenenko and Mozalev managed to let Grassl and Vasiljevs take the medals not handling the pressure of the LP after a successfull SP. I doubt it had changed - the mentality (too much pressure, I assume, too many expectations they can't live up to and, the reality when facing with the skaters say, from Japan whose skating skills, gliding and programmes are just on a different level) is still the same. They would turn into the melting snowflakes when competing not with each other.

Also ice dance seems to be reborn, after dramas last season when there were plenty of splits and newly formed teams.

Am sure more splits to come at the end of this season. Frankly, except for Stepanova/Bukin and Hudaberdieva/Bazin am not even bothering who is skating with whom now.

 

[Flanker]

I think it's exactly as harsh. If Russia was magically back to the international competition they would have to fetch Tuktamysheva back to send her together with Petrosian. There is no one else of the right age. The 13-14y.o who could land a quad are not news for Russia. I think if Russia competed in the GP we would have Petrosian in the GPF, but the rest of the field would be the same.


Most of them had been to the international competition and didn't deliver much. Even the 2022 Europeans - Semenenko and Mozalev managed to let Grassl and Vasiljevs take the medals not handling the pressure of the LP after a successfull SP. I doubt it had changed - the mentality (too much pressure, I assume, too many expectations they can't live up to and, the reality when facing with the skaters say, from Japan whose skating skills, gliding and programmes are just on a different level) is still the same. They would turn into the melting snowflakes when competing not with each other.

Am sure more splits to come at the end of this season. Frankly, except for Stepanova/Bukin and Hudaberdieva/Bazin am not even bothering who is skating with whom now.

Frolova can match possibly anyone I saw at GP, probably apart from Kaori (and Kaori had only one really good competition). Yametova also shows best chances, Gushchina and of course Gorbacheva can't be omitted. At least these of those who are senior eligible could win most of GP stages or medal there. It reminds me 2018-19 season when many people claimed "only Alina remained and she is inconsistent." At the end she won worlds.

 

[rfisher]

Dikidzhe is skating very well for the men and is easily a top 10 international skater. If Russia could only send one skater to big internatonal events, he'd be the one. Kondrutyuk is skating well as long as he's healthy. Both are doing 5 quad FS programs and 2 in the SP same as the top men elsewhere. Well, all the top Russian men are doing 5 quad programs--some with more consistent success than others. Nobody is coming close to Malinin, but then neither are the others unless he makes a serious mistake, so they'd be competitive for top 10 for certain.

ITA that Frolova would be absolutly competitive with the current women and Petrosin would win at GPF or Worlds as long as she didn't let her nerves get the best of her, but her base value is way higher than any other women skater and she can afford a mistake. One mistake. Add that she has two stellar programs this season (which IMHO she should keep for 2025-2026).

 

[Flanker]

Dikidzhe is skating very well for the men and is easily a top 10 international skater. If Russia could only send one skater to big internatonal events, he'd be the one. Kondrutyuk is skating well as long as he's healthy. Both are doing 5 quad FS programs and 2 in the SP same as the top men elsewhere. Well, all the top Russian men are doing 5 quad programs--some with more consistent success than others. Nobody is coming close to Malinin, but then neither are the others unless he makes a serious mistake, so they'd be competitive for top 10 for certain.

ITA that Frolova would be absolutly competitive with the current women and Petrosin would win at GPF or Worlds as long as she didn't let her nerves get the best of her, but her base value is way higher than any other women skater and she can afford a mistake. One mistake. Add that she has two stellar programs this season (which IMHO she should keep for 2025-2026).

I agree. Even with one skater/pair per category it would be worthy. Of course in such hypothetical case the one would be under quite big pressure but from the point of abilities there is no doubt.

 

[rfisher]

I agree. Even with one skater/pair per category it would be worthy. Of course in such hypothetical case the one would be under quite big pressure but from the point of abilities there is no doubt.

It's like the days when Sotnikova and Tuktamysheva had to earn spots to worlds and the Olympics and Kovtun for Sochi. So far Vlad Dikidzhe seems to not let pressure get to him which is why I think he'd get the slot and Petrosin is the absolute favorite for the women (she does have a pressure issue but no more so than any of the other Russian women and certainly less than some). Pairs? It depends on the day if I'd send B/K or M/G but either would end on the podium. If I had to make a choice, it would probably be M/G as they handle pressure better.

A couple of people have asked how to watch the Russian events: they are archived at https://rutube.ru/metainfo/tv/562165/

I have not needed a VPN (I'm in the US) but you would just have to see if you did. All the Russian Grand Prix events are available at the moment.

 

[Flanker]

It's like the days when Sotnikova and Tuktamysheva had to earn spots to worlds and the Olympics and Kovtun for Sochi. So far Vlad Dikidzhe seems to not let pressure get to him which is why I think he'd get the slot and Petrosin is the absolute favorite for the women (she does have a pressure issue but no more so than any of the other Russian women and certainly less than some). Pairs? It depends on the day if I'd send B/K or M/G but either would end on the podium. If I had to make a choice, it would probably be M/G as they handle pressure better.

Dikidzhi improved a lot, and there are Semenenko, Kondratyuk, Lutfullin, even Samsonov is now very interesting after years in Limbo (now unfortunately he injured his ankle, I hope he will be fine before Nationals), Aliev is good when as his day. Of course they make mistakes, but IMO much less than before. And let's not pretend men abroad are flawless, e.g. Adam, both his entries were quite disappointing, though he won one because others messed even more than him

I'm not saying Russian men would necessarily defeat Malinin or Kagiyama but would be worthy adversaries.

Adelka, she is the case of duckling (not ugly ) that grew into a swan. I think she was in the position of always No. 2 or 3 in the team but was able to overcome this. At the start of the last season (2023/24) I was wondering how she would deal with the position of team No. 1 when Sonik was forced to skip the season, when all the attention is not on her, but she did not hesitate. I only hope she will be able to keep up for a couple more seasons. This season she does well so far, better than the last one, so head up Adelka

 

[rfisher]

Samsonov has had quite a season thus far (finally living up to his potential as a junior and overcoming injury) and Lutfullin is a personal favorite. I could watch Aliev skate all day. He's had a far better season than anticipated because of his knee injury, but when he's on, he's such a joy to watch. My biggest dissapointment has been with Gumennik. He's really struggled this season and nobody has offered an explanation as to why, but his Dune SP is my favorite Dune program of the season. He even pounds the ice to call the worm. Unfortunately, the worm has won too many times. Over all the men have been more exciting than the women which is a first for me. And, exciting enough that the men's FS will end Russian nationals rather than the women. Dikidzhi is working on a 4A in the harness but I haven't read anything about when/if he plans to try it in competition.

 

[Flanker]

Samsonov has had quite a season thus far (finally living up to his potential as a junior and overcoming injury) and Lutfullin is a personal favorite. I could watch Aliev skate all day. He's had a far better season than anticipated because of his knee injury, but when he's on, he's such a joy to watch. My biggest dissapointment has been with Gumennik. He's really struggled this season and nobody has offered an explanation as to why, but his Dune SP is my favorite Dune program of the season. He even pounds the ice to call the worm. Unfortunately, the worm has won too many times. Over all the men have been more exciting than the women which is a first for me. And, exciting enough that the men's FS will end Russian nationals rather than the women. Dikidzhi is working on a 4A in the harness but I haven't read anything about when/if he plans to try it in competition.

Gumennik found out he skated on a broken blade after this weekend's competition. Let's see if he is able to improve at nationals. I think both of his programs are good this season.

I think Dikidzhi even landed 4A during summer without harness already, but did not put it in the program yet. Maybe he will try at nationals.

 

[TAHbKA]

Frolova can match possibly anyone I saw at GP, probably apart from Kaori (and Kaori had only one really good competition). Yametova also shows best chances, Gushchina and of course Gorbacheva can't be omitted. At least these of those who are senior eligible could win most of GP stages or medal there. It reminds me 2018-19 season when many people claimed "only Alina remained and she is inconsistent." At the end she won worlds.

If we assume one needs a quad/3A to win, Frolova would be left behind Glenn, Sakamoto and perhaps Simiyoshi (had she landed her 4T? or is it a 4S that she is attempts and sometimes lands? clean). All the ladies you mention had never competed in the international level, so who knows how would they handle the pressure. I do agree Petrosyan would had won the whole thing, but doubt any other lady would have any impact on the GPF roster.

 

[Sylvia]

According to SkatingScores.com, Rion Sumiyoshi has landed a clean 4T once - in her FS at GP France last season (+GOE = 11.26 points) - scroll down to her Top Elements: https://skatingscores.com/jpn/women/rion_sumiyoshi/

 

[Flanker]

If we assume one needs a quad/3A to win, Frolova would be left behind Glenn, Sakamoto and perhaps Simiyoshi (had she landed her 4T? or is it a 4S that she is attempts and sometimes lands? clean). All the ladies you mention had never competed in the international level, so who knows how would they handle the pressure. I do agree Petrosyan would had won the whole thing, but doubt any other lady would have any impact on the GPF roster.

I can't agree, if I compare the average performances at the GP, not considering mistakes all those mentioned would be among top participants. Just look at the results of GP:
SkAm: three best scores 196.93, 195.22, 194.83
Canada: 201.21, 192.16, 191.37
France: 210.44, 206.08, 201.35
NHK: 231.88, 212.54, 195.07
Finland: 199.46, 199.20, 198.49
China: 215.54, 211.91, 208.47

Apart from Kaori at NHK possibly just Glenn at the Cup of China could be considered hard to overcome for others apart Adeliia.

And I truly do not think that scoring at those events would be somehow harsher than in Russia, sometimes IMO the opposite. I'm surely not saying Frolova, Gorbacheva or Yametova would have won everything but saying they "would not have any impact on the GPF roster" is not objective at all. Judging this objectively requires to leave eventual subjective attitude aside.

 

[rfisher]

For those who haven't watched any of the Russian events and want to judge for themselves, they are archived at https://rutube.ru/metainfo/tv/562165/

You don't have to register in order to watch the events. The FS are listed first, but just scroll through the lists and you'll find the SP.

 

[Flanker]

Speaking of pairs, this season was little depopulated in this discipline at Russian GP, only seven pairs competed in total. I tried to make comparison with the last year where 15 pairs took part. So of those 15 pairs:

1 Anastasia Mishina / Alexander Gallyamov -still with us
2 Alexandra Boikova / Dmitry Kozlovskii - still with us
3 Natalya Khabibullina / Ilya Knyazhuk - injured
4 Elizaveta Osokina / Artem Gritsaenko - still with us
5 Ekaterina Chikmareva / Matvey Ianchenkov - injured
6 Yulia Artemeva / Alexey Briukhanov - missing for medical reasons, last news Nov 1: “There will be a decision on Yulia in the near future.”
7 Yasmina Kadyrova / Valery Kolesov - split, Kadyrova skates with Mironov this season, Kolesov retired
8 Alyona Kostornaya / Georgy Kunitsa - "skipping two seasons"
9 Taisia Sobinina / Denis Khodykin - Khodykin retired, Sobinina probably plans to continue according to her latest statements, I presume is in process of looking for a new partner
10 Anastasia Mukhortova / Dmitry Yevgenyev - still with us
11 Darya Boyarintseva / Roman Pleshkov - Pleshkov retired, Boyarintseva wants to try coaching accordoing to Mozer (statement from April)
12 Victoria Vasileva / Roman Zaporozhets - withdrew from second stage due to illness, attended third stage of GP, withdrew after SP, I suppose still illness.
13 Maya Shegai / Igor Shamshurov - split, Shegai skates with Shaderkov in juniors
14 Karina Akopova / Nikita Rakhmanin - injuries, plans to move to Armenia
15 Elizaveta Kuleshova / Vladimir Sled - terra incognita, last info is they competed at Rusakov's memorial (local competition) in February 2024

It was mainly affected by the reality that precisely the two "second best" pairs (Chikmareva/Iancenkov and Khabibullina/Knyazhuk) are injured, among others.

Just to precise my post, Khabibullina / Knyazhuk planned to skate at GP Idel, but suffered from injury just before the competition. With Vasilieva/Zaporozhets (who withdrew from the third stage, not second, my mistake) there should have appeared 9 pairs originally.

 

[Flanker]

For those who haven't watched any of the Russian events and want to judge for themselves, they are archived at https://rutube.ru/metainfo/tv/562165/

You don't have to register in order to watch the events. The FS are listed first, but just scroll through the lists and you'll find the SP.

Bad thing is that only seniors are there. I fortunately can watch 1TV without VPN, so juniors are at my disposal too, but of course rutube helps at least partially with that.

 

[Flanker]

Speaking of links to competitions, streams and scores, this helps me most (not just for Russian competitions):
https://figure-skaters.ru/
https://t.me/s/fsevents

 

[PRlady]

Speaking of links to competitions, streams and scores, this helps me most (not just for Russian competitions):
https://figure-skaters.ru/
https://t.me/s/fsevents

Do you mind if I ask if you’re in Russia? Can you go to live competitions?

 

[Flanker]

Do you mind if I ask if you’re in Russia? Can you go to live competitions?

No, I'm from Czech Republic. Honestly I have never been to a skating competition yet (though in my younger times I regularly visited ice hockey).
I know skating only from TV/streams. Thankfully I mostly have no problems (with very little exceptions) with accessing Russian skating streams, whether they are on 1TV, youtube, rutube, vk and so (though I don't have telegram profile so I hope they won't move it all there ).

 

[rfisher]

I (USA) was surprised that I haven't needed a VPN for 1Tv or the ru.tube link. I think you do need one for vk which allows recording, but, unlike the old Match 1 days, I haven't need either a subscription or VPN to watch live events.

And @Flanker I'm still a die hard Brezina fan. Nobody moved across the ice better.

 

[TAHbKA]

And @Flanker I'm still a die hard Brezina fan. Nobody moved across the ice better.

Brezina???? surely you meant Verner?

 

[rfisher]

Brezina???? surely you meant Verner?

You just think Verner is

 

[ajingmarg]

Do you mind if I ask if you’re in Russia? Can you go to live competitions?

Why not? I have been to a few GP events in Russia

 

[Flanker]

I (USA) was surprised that I haven't needed a VPN for 1Tv or the ru.tube link. I think you do need one for vk which allows recording, but, unlike the old Match 1 days, I haven't need either a subscription or VPN to watch live events.

And @Flanker I'm still a die hard Brezina fan. Nobody moved across the ice better.

Březina was good, though just like Verner never fulfilled his full potential. Now both are coaching. Březina in Arutyunyan's team, Verner founded skating academy in Prague. But they are starting from scratch so mostly young kids till the age of early juniors are there so far.

Březina's sister is still skating actively though, but honestly her results since the Olympics (when she had surprisingly good season apart from the worlds) she has problems to even qualify to free skates at any higher level competition. This year she already attended like 8 or 9 competitions, now she is listed at Bosphorus Cup.

 

[TAHbKA]

You just think Verner is

What????? Where on earth did you get that from????? Or, for that matter, quote me once insinuating a skater was hot or sexy or `smokin'.

Verner had the best gliding among the European skaters of his time. Not something that was visible on the screen. I was shocked the first time I saw him in a competition only then realizing his high marks. The same applied to Chan and Kozuka - their gliding did not transfer on the screen.

 

[TAHbKA]

I can't agree, if I compare the average performances at the GP, not considering mistakes all those mentioned would be among top participants. Just look at the results of GP:
SkAm: three best scores 196.93, 195.22, 194.83
Canada: 201.21, 192.16, 191.37
France: 210.44, 206.08, 201.35
NHK: 231.88, 212.54, 195.07
Finland: 199.46, 199.20, 198.49
China: 215.54, 211.91, 208.47

Apart from Kaori at NHK possibly just Glenn at the Cup of China could be considered hard to overcome for others apart Adeliia.

And I truly do not think that scoring at those events would be somehow harsher than in Russia, sometimes IMO the opposite. I'm surely not saying Frolova, Gorbacheva or Yametova would have won everything but saying they "would not have any impact on the GPF roster" is not objective at all. Judging this objectively requires to leave eventual subjective attitude aside.

Am not sure what makes Frolova/Gorbacheva/Yametova so special in your books. Given it's their first season in the seniors (even if they were competing in the international circuit that would still be their first season) and their 2nd mark would not be particularly high (especially comapred to the Japanese skaters). Trusova/Scherbakova/Kostornaya needed a 3A/quad to make it to the top. Sinitsina/Khromykh/Usacheva did not have a quad and never made it to the top. I don't see why would it be different for Gorbacheva/Yametova/Frolova. Unless they all are a second coming of Valieva (which I doubt).

ETA: first senior season for Gorbacheva/Yametova, not Frolova, of course

 

[Flanker]

Am not sure what makes Frolova/Gorbacheva/Yametova so special in your books. Given it's their first season in the seniors (even if they were competing in the international circuit that would still be their first season) and their 2nd mark would not be particularly high (especially comapred to the Japanese skaters). Trusova/Scherbakova/Kostornaya needed a 3A/quad to make it to the top. Sinitsina/Khromykh/Usacheva did not have a quad and never made it to the top. I don't see why would it be different for Gorbacheva/Yametova/Frolova. Unless they all are a second coming of Valieva (which I doubt).

ETA: first senior season for Gorbacheva/Yametova, not Frolova, of course

I see plenty of incorrect statements here.First I don't think that beating scores achieved in America, Canada, Finland and even most in France require being "special", just goo would be enough, there are many skaters beating those scores without quad.

Khormykh had a quad and internationally was not beaten by any non-Russian skater as senior. Usacheva skated only once as senior yet she beat Sakamoto at that competition - not best sakamoto, but sakamoto was not best apart from one competition so far this season. Trusova/Shcherbakova/Kostornaia were great skaters even without ultra-c and were victorious or at least medaled basically all the time even when they did not land clean ultra-c. No, clean Yametova certainly is a competitor who does not have to be afraid of beating the score below 200.

There is really little reason for your claims. Though, of course, at the end the only way how we would find out for sure is when the ban is over.

 

[rfisher]

What????? Where on earth did you get that from????? Or, for that matter, quote me once insinuating a skater was hot or sexy or `smokin'.

Mea culpa. I thought I remembered you saying that once, but clearly I was mistaken.

 

[TAHbKA]

I see plenty of incorrect statements here.First I don't think that beating scores achieved in America, Canada, Finland and even most in France require being "special", just goo would be enough, there are many skaters beating those scores without quad.

Thing is that we have no idea how the Russian ladies (sans Tukramysheva) skate above the age of 17 internationally.

Khormykh had a quad and internationally was not beaten by any non-Russian skater as senior.

My point exactly. Khormykh at the age of 15-16 with a quad beat everyone internationally with the quad. Khromykh without a quad at the age of erm.. 16?17? was 17th in Russian nationals. I don't know whether she would be good enough to beat the decent Japanese skaters at the age of 17 without a quad, but doubt it.

Usacheva skated onlz once as senior

Yep, that SA. Think that competition exactly proves my point - Usacheva overall beaten by Trusova with a quad. Usacheva beaten in the SP in the 2nd mark by the Japanese/Koraeans who did not have a clean or even a decent skate; Usacheva's clean skate in the LP beaten by all the ladies who attempted an ultraC in the 1st mark and by well, every decent skater in the 2nd. I think it would be more or less true for any decent skater in their first year in seniors.

Trusovaúshcherbakovaúkostornaia were great skaters even without ultra-c and were victorious or at least medaled basically all the time even when they did not land clean ultra-c.

They always attempted an ultra-c and most of the time landed at least some. Probably their worst competition was the GP in France where Scherbakova attempted 2 quads and landed one clean, Kostornaya attempted a 3A and the 3rd place was Higuchi who also attempted a 3A. I can't recall a single competition with Trusova where she did not land at least one quad. We didn't get to see whether they would be `great skaters' without the ultraC (just as well, while I believe Kostornaya would still be amazing, I could never see anything special in either Scherbakova or Trusova without the insane quads).

No, clean Yametova certainly is a competitor who does not have to be afraid of beating the score below 200.

Perhaps, but it's all a `what if'. We have never seen any of these skaters in the senior international, we have no idea how would they perform there, so it is all academic.
Another thing is that all the ladies above (Scherbakova/Trusova/Kostornaya/Usacheva/Khromykh/Valieva) are from Khrustalny team, who bothered with the spins and steps levels, made sure to read the rules and maximize the scores. Yametova/Frolova/Gorbacheva are not. Which brings us back to `we have no idea how they would perform internationally, how they would be marked internationally'

 

[Evgeniafan]

Thing is that we have no idea how the Russian ladies (sans Tukramysheva) skate above the age of 17 internationally.

My point exactly. Khormykh at the age of 15-16 with a quad beat everyone internationally with the quad. Khromykh without a quad at the age of erm.. 16?17? was 17th in Russian nationals. I don't know whether she would be good enough to beat the decent Japanese skaters at the age of 17 without a quad, but doubt it.

Yep, that SA. Think that competition exactly proves my point - Usacheva overall beaten by Trusova with a quad. Usacheva beaten in the SP in the 2nd mark by the Japanese/Koraeans who did not have a clean or even a decent skate; Usacheva's clean skate in the LP beaten by all the ladies who attempted an ultraC in the 1st mark and by well, every decent skater in the 2nd. I think it would be more or less true for any decent skater in their first year in seniors.

They always attempted an ultra-c and most of the time landed at least some. Probably their worst competition was the GP in France where Scherbakova attempted 2 quads and landed one clean, Kostornaya attempted a 3A and the 3rd place was Higuchi who also attempted a 3A. I can't recall a single competition with Trusova where she did not land at least one quad. We didn't get to see whether they would be `great skaters' without the ultraC (just as well, while I believe Kostornaya would still be amazing, I could never see anything special in either Scherbakova or Trusova without the insane quads).

Perhaps, but it's all a `what if'. We have never seen any of these skaters in the senior international, we have no idea how would they perform there, so it is all academic.
Another thing is that all the ladies above (Scherbakova/Trusova/Kostornaya/Usacheva/Khromykh/Valieva) are from Khrustalny team, who bothered with the spins and steps levels, made sure to read the rules and maximize the scores. Yametova/Frolova/Gorbacheva are not. Which brings us back to `we have no idea how they would perform internationally, how they would be marked internationally'

Evgenia's last International was a couple days before her 20th birthday. And World Bronze at 19 years 4 mos. old.

 

[Flanker]

Thing is that we have no idea how the Russian ladies (sans Tukramysheva) skate above the age of 17 internationally.

I think ice is the same, I don't think the skaters we talk about should not deliver on basically the same level.

My point exactly. Khormykh at the age of 15-16 with a quad beat everyone internationally with the quad. Khromykh without a quad at the age of erm.. 16?17? was 17th in Russian nationals. I don't know whether she would be good enough to beat the decent Japanese skaters at the age of 17 without a quad, but doubt it.

Khromykh suffered an injury with blade cutting her hand seriously, that naturally affected her. That's not example representing others.

Yep, that SA. Think that competition exactly proves my point - Usacheva overall beaten by Trusova with a quad. Usacheva beaten in the SP in the 2nd mark by the Japanese/Koraeans who did not have a clean or even a decent skate; Usacheva's clean skate in the LP beaten by all the ladies who attempted an ultraC in the 1st mark and by well, every decent skater in the 2nd. I think it would be more or less true for any decent skater in their first year in seniors.

Usacheva was beaten by Trusova with quad but won over all non-russians without having quad. Proving my point IMO. If she had low components - well, that's not a matter of how bad/good she was but how the judges reward ed newbies.

They always attempted an ultra-c and most of the time landed at least some. Probably their worst competition was the GP in France where Scherbakova attempted 2 quads and landed one clean, Kostornaya attempted a 3A and the 3rd place was Higuchi who also attempted a 3A. I can't recall a single competition with Trusova where she did not land at least one quad. We didn't get to see whether they would be `great skaters' without the ultraC (just as well, while I believe Kostornaya would still be amazing, I could never see anything special in either Scherbakova or Trusova without the insane quads).

Shcherbakova won worlds with no clean quad landed. She would have won it with no quad program. At GPF she slipped and missed the whole element then landed second planned quad (which BTW is a proof of her qualities not just as skater but as competitor), from score perspective it the second one just barely covered the loss from the invalid first element, again, she would have won without any quad.

Perhaps, but it's all a `what if'. We have never seen any of these skaters in the senior international, we have no idea how would they perform there, so it is all academic.
Another thing is that all the ladies above (Scherbakova/Trusova/Kostornaya/Usacheva/Khromykh/Valieva) are from Khrustalny team, who bothered with the spins and steps levels, made sure to read the rules and maximize the scores. Yametova/Frolova/Gorbacheva are not. Which brings us back to `we have no idea how they would perform internationally, how they would be marked internationally'

I can agree on this, but it's not like non-Khrustalny girls never got decent rewards for this. Sinitsyna received relatively decent scores as junior and at senior GP at SkAm she was 5th (don't remember her second entry now) when first two were Sasha and and Dasha. she was 17 already at that time, so it to some level is the closest model to eventual situation Yametova/Frolova/(Gorbacheva is still several days short of int. eligibility this season, so I would rather involve ->) Gushchina at int. event, by that we could say at least 3rd place is doable and that would surely affect the final standings rather than not. Again, supposed that they would skate on the similar level they did at Russian competitions, I am pretty sure they would have chances for bronzes, silvers and eventually golds. Frolova BTW has int. experience, it would not be new for her and she improved a lot, actually I think she could be respected internationally for her style. yametova is very stable and her programs also raised attention even abroad.

Again I repeat I'm not giving gold medals around their neck at all competitions but they certainly would be contenders for GPF. Random aspects excluded.

Again, as I said, we will know for sure only when the ban is lifted.

 

[TAHbKA]

Evgenia's last International was a couple days before her 20th birthday. And World Bronze at 19 years 4 mos. old.

Evgenia being Medvedeva? First of all her senior career began when she was 15, so by the time she was 17 she was a 2 times world champion, not a girl having her first international senior season. Second - she was beaten by Tursynbaeva with a 4S, so we are back to the skaters who have an ultraC being able to beat the skaters without no matter the 2nd mark.
I think Zagitova is a better example actually: at the age of 17 she was the Olympic and the World champion beating Tursynbaeva with a 4S, yet the very first season the ex-juniors with the quads entered the competitions Zagitova had no chance and she lost all the GP and the GPF to Trusova/Scherbakova/Kostornaya and their ultraCs
And still both Medvedeva and Zagitova are Khrustalny girls with the programmes choreographed by a person who read the rules book.