Russian figure skating news & updates in 2022

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Am afraid it's a wishful thinking. I don't see the RusFed releasing a European medalist after they funded his health issues for 2 seasons at least. The only thing for that theory imho is that Rukavitsin indeed has the only Russian representing not Russia (Gubanova the GEO), perhaps if Kvitelashvili retired Danielian would be given a spot for GEO?

From Galustyan's interviews it seems ARM federation gave her 0 support and while Galustyan had her parents to coach her / give her free ice AFAIK Danielian doesn't have such resources. So unless he is filthy reach I don't believe he can represent ARM, but there is a glimpse of hope he'll represent GEO.

And the fed is still funding him for this season. They just added him to the team again.

Rukavitsyn said they are preparing new programs for Artur. They are preparing for test skates and they will participate in the Russian Grand Prix but will ask for later stages. Also, he has all his triples, no quad and they will decide which quads to add (he really only has 1 the salchow but attempted the toe last season).
 
Zabijakos' interview (well, her girlfriend's interview really) for an interviewer I absolutely hate

Zabijako on coming out: you are stuck in your head in a room with no doors and windows and you are hitting these walls and can't get out and think something is wrong with you.
Her parents didn't take it well, they are more conservative
She understood her sexuality about 10-11 years ago but it was hard to share, because of the social pressure. She was afraid to talk to the closest people fearing they would not approve.
On her engagement to Grinkin: they were engaged and were supposed to get married in Bora Bora but after the corona things went south
`Even if I were a gethero we would divorce eventually - there were a lot of reasons but the patriarchat is not for me. I had to support him, send all the energy into the family future. In 2020 I retired and I wanted to do shows and do what I did my whole life. It was forbidden and every show I participated was a fight. My main role was sitting home and be supportive even though the money came from me. My time to shine had passed, now it was his time and I had to admire him, even though he brought no money home. We lived off my savings. We fought a lot because of it'.
`They forbid all the wrong things. Make the war illegal, make killing the kids illegal. Why make love illegal?'
Her advice to the LGBTQ community in Russia `telling people who love you and support you, your life will be easier, people who love you will accept you eventually. If they really love you they will accept. Our world is so full of hate and pain that it would be so much easier to forbid the wars than love and expressing your emotions'

They both speak very strongly against the war in Ukraine.
 
Zhilina swapped Jotem to the Swan lake.
Waiting for Carmen....
Ok then. What other swaps are they waiting for? She has not handled the materials handed to her for years.

When will they simply figure out what works for her?
 
An interview with Arthur Dmitriev jr - he is coaching in Chelyabinsk and keeping himself in a good enough shape to compete. He has no plans to do shows.

Machine translated excerpts:
I can say one thing about my sports career: I took a break for an indefinite period. I keep myself in shape, both technical and physical, I support it. As far as sports are concerned, that's all I can say.
- And if it's not a secret, what is the reason for such a decision - to take a break? Are there any health problems or purely organizational issues?
Health is good. There was one moment that I twisted my leg, but it's not so serious. The reason is more because… I just decided to take a year off. Take a break from everything. Especially now the situation in the world is unstable. I just took a break to understand what will happen next.
- Are you in touch with the American Federation, do they know about your decision?
No, we don't interact much at the moment. Everything is very simple: I am now, by and large, not tied to the American Federation. I am now in the air, in limbo.
 
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long programs. This may be the best program Tuk has had in years. :(
 
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Skoptsova made a movie about the eating disorders

Konstantinova talks about not having a period for more than a year when she was around 18 and that was the final kick - she decided she wanted to have a normal life rather than being a skater. Her coaches (assume the ones in Moscow) were telling her to lose weight, she was getting to a point of not eating at all and her family helped her a lot. Konstantinova saw her photos on the podium right next to the girl she was competing with and it was painful for her to see. She was told by the coaches/judges/specialists she is too big whether too tall or `overweight'. She was scorned for gaining 300grm and was told she would not be able to jump if she gained 300grm. Which tricked her mentally - she would indeed fail her jumps while thinking she is too heavy to land them.
Skoptsova went to the Junior competition and the food there was great and some of the girls had laxative pills. Once she came home she started using these pills as well, at some point she became addicted. She told her mom and her mom pulled her out. There was also a shrink who started working with their group and while Skoptsova did all she could to avoid working with her the shrink still got to her by having tea together or just chatting about stuff and helped her a lot as well. Skoptsova got to a point where her organs were failing. Her partner was always very supportive and not even once commented on her weight, however, the internet commentary that she could not avoid reading were brutal.
Skoptsova: I knew I would gain some weight when I retired but am ok with that. I am now trying to lose some weight but it is not like it was in the past - I knew I had a weighting on Saturday so for 3 days I would not eat and hardly drink, then after the weighting I would go and overeat and then hold it back for another 3 days and starve for 3 more days.
 
Skoptsova made a movie about the eating disorders

Konstantinova talks about not having a period for more than a year when she was around 18 and that was the final kick - she decided she wanted to have a normal life rather than being a skater. Her coaches (assume the ones in Moscow) were telling her to lose weight, she was getting to a point of not eating at all and her family helped her a lot. Konstantinova saw her photos on the podium right next to the girl she was competing with and it was painful for her to see. She was told by the coaches/judges/specialists she is too big whether too tall or `overweight'. She was scorned for gaining 300grm and was told she would not be able to jump if she gained 300grm. Which tricked her mentally - she would indeed fail her jumps while thinking she is too heavy to land them.
Skoptsova went to the Junior competition and the food there was great and some of the girls had laxative pills. Once she came home she started using these pills as well, at some point she became addicted. She told her mom and her mom pulled her out. There was also a shrink who started working with their group and while Skoptsova did all she could to avoid working with her the shrink still got to her by having tea together or just chatting about stuff and helped her a lot as well. Skoptsova got to a point where her organs were failing. Her partner was always very supportive and not even once commented on her weight, however, the internet commentary that she could not avoid reading were brutal.
Skoptsova: I knew I would gain some weight when I retired but am ok with that. I am now trying to lose some weight but it is not like it was in the past - I knew I had a weighting on Saturday so for 3 days I would not eat and hardly drink, then after the weighting I would go and overeat and then hold it back for another 3 days and starve for 3 more days.
I think more parents and students just have to get savvy. Figure skating, especially in a competitive space like Russia will only tolerate a certain figure. The child and parents must always realistically have a plan B. Each year they need to evaluate the effort needed to remain. They need to make a choice; my mental and physical health my future or this current path. I think several others do this though and they silently leave the sport. I think we only hear about the extreme measures taken by those who've been blessed in part with the genes and strength to endure and those who struggle. I think or I hope many more are smart and realize that life is more than competitive figure skating.
 
No. The whole culture of skating needs to change. Maybe if all the parents of the young kids would put their foot down and say they're not putting up with this anymore, then we would get somewhere.
I understand where this comes from. But they will never change. We collectively just have to be smarter. I remember Tarasova saying to Morozov, EI needs a physical trainer as she needs additional help with her weight management. It was never done despite her talent. His energy and funds went towards Nikita and trying to stabilize his twizzles. Look around , who are the coaches? Men! Men support men, women support men and women are left to survive. This is patriarchy. So persons who engage in the sport just have to be wiser.
 
No. The whole culture of skating needs to change. Maybe if all the parents of the young kids would put their foot down and say they're not putting up with this anymore, then we would get somewhere.
Not only parents, but fans too. I'm not interested in progress if it comes at the cost of health. I don't care about quads and 3A, I'm ok with triples. But many fans are crazy about all these progress in jumps.
 
No. The whole culture of skating needs to change. Maybe if all the parents of the young kids would put their foot down and say they're not putting up with this anymore, then we would get somewhere.
Unfortunately, for decades, Russian parents prescribe to the ultra-thin all-bones aesthetic for daughters who go into ballet academies. So it’s the same for figure skating, gymnastics, etc.

This Instagram star, for ex, has the look that is praised:
 
Remember that the Russian ballet world singles out American ballerinas as too wide/big…such as this fabulous star of the NYCB, Sara Mearns (“fat face” “no neck” “wide torso” etc).


It’s sad but we cannot impose Western tastes overnight. Look at how Sara feels the music. Maybe Russian skating system should pay attention to more than the “ideal” female physique and landing ultra-Cs?
 
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