Russian Ladies news & discussion

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What I meant was that two years ago there was the 3A, the next year was VUK, but this year like you said are those 4 skaters. The only one I consider champion-capable is Samodelkina. I was discussing this somewhere, maybe another board, that if the Olympics were to be delayed to 2023, are there any in this new crop who would challenge for the Olympics. I don't really consider Petrosyan, Muravieva or Osokina ever a legitimate threat to make the team. When I say there is a lack of depth, I know that I AM talking about Russian ladies, so the depth there is amazing, but I don't see any shining stars from that year except for Samodelkina.
The only one you consider champion capable is Samodelkina, and yet Petrosian and Muravieva have beaten her at the nationals and Samodelkina did not even medal? I think Petrosian and Muravieva have as much chance as Samodelkina be a champion. With Osokina I am not sure yet - she was very impressive at the test skates, but she needs to be consistently around the top in most of her competitions to be counted. But still has a chance to prove herself.

Who of those four girls have a chance to make the team for the season 2022-23... that’s a different matter. The problem is that that to make the team one needs to be at top six at the senior nationals. Seeing the current situation at this moment, Trusova, Scherbakova, Valieva are very, very likely to make the team. Kostornaya will make the team if she finally gets over her covid complications. So suddenly that’s four spots taken. Usacheva has been marked very generously by Russian judges so at Russian nationals she is also likely to place well, as long as she doesn’t mess up. And that leaves only one spot to be fought among the current seniors (e.g. Medvedeva if she ever comes back strong, Tuktamysheva, Khromykh who has Tutberidze’s power behind her) plus the four freshly senior eligible girls (Samodelkina, Petrosian, Muravieva, Osokina). As far as I see it, the senior ladies will be so crowded that none of the newly junior eligible girls will make the team. And if someone, Petrosian has the best chances (if she stays with Tutberidze).
 
The only one you consider champion capable is Samodelkina, and yet Petrosian and Muravieva have beaten her at the nationals and Samodelkina did not even medal? I think Petrosian and Muravieva have as much chance as Samodelkina be a champion. With Osokina I am not sure yet - she was very impressive at the test skates, but she needs to be consistently around the top in most of her competitions to be counted. But still has a chance to prove herself.

Who of those four girls have a chance to make the team for the season 2022-23... that’s a different matter. The problem is that that to make the team one needs to be at top six at the senior nationals. Seeing the current situation at this moment, Trusova, Scherbakova, Valieva are very, very likely to make the team. Kostornaya will make the team if she finally gets over her ********* complications. So suddenly that’s four spots taken. Usacheva has been marked very generously by Russian judges so at Russian nationals she is also likely to place well, as long as she doesn’t mess up. And that leaves only one spot to be fought among the current seniors (e.g. Medvedeva if she ever comes back strong, Tuktamysheva, Khromykh who has Tutberidze’s power behind her) plus the four freshly senior eligible girls (Samodelkina, Petrosian, Muravieva, Osokina). As far as I see it, the senior ladies will be so crowded that none of the newly junior eligible girls will make the team. And if someone, Petrosian has the best chances (if she stays with Tutberidze).
This assumes that Trusova, Scherbakova and other current Sr-eligibles (or the soon-to-be-eligibles) will still be podium material in the 2022-2023 season. By then, the system may have moved on to the next 15/16-yr-old trio of wonders.
 
This assumes that Trusova, Scherbakova and other current Sr-eligibles (or the soon-to-be-eligibles) will still be podium material in the 2022-2023 season. By then, the system may have moved on to the next 15/16-yr-old trio of wonders.
True, but we are basing it on how they skate now. We have nothing else to base it on. A lot of things can change, injury, illness, either of them may get covid and have such long term health problems that she might be forced to retire like Spilevaya had to... Guessing how skaters will perform in a year or 18 months is always quite problematic. Last season Kostornaya was the strongest, Trusova had ‘the name’ for all the hard jumps (even though in competitions she came at the bottom from those three A) and Scherbakova was considered as ‘afterthought’. This season Scherbakova is the strongest and Kostornaya is the weakest from those three because of her late start of the season and health problems. Another example is Tuktamysheva’s career - her results at the Russian nationals have jumped all over the place, getting frequently on the main team and off the team - one year being sixth, the following year winning the nationals, then year after 10th, the following year 2nd, then again 8th... Guessing whether Tuktamysheva will be in or out is impossible, and I am sure she is not the only one whose results jump like this.
 
Kostornaia has said she will retire after the Olympics so unless she changes her mind, she won't be competing in'23. Medvedeva will not be competing, and I doubt Tuktamysheva will be either, but who knows with that girl. I hope she starts coaching. Scherbakova is an uncertainty too. I'm not counting her out at all, but she will be 18...Though even if she's past her peak, she'd still probably make top 6 if not top 3.
 
...unless (heaven forbid!) the 2022 Olympics are postponed and the age-specific plan is unraveled...then the ladies born in “wrong years” are suddenly lucky.

Oooo...I just realized that, if the 2022 Winter Olympics are delayed to 2023, one great beneficiary would be the USA...Isabeau Levito (now “late 13” - March 7 birthday) would be age-eligible for a 2023 Winter Olys at the perfect point-garnering age for a female, if the puberty monster doesn’t strike early.

Not that anybody wants a delay to any Olympics, dear Lordie.

Sorry to digress; back to Russia...this got me to thinking.
 
My concern is I don't think they are going to want to give another Olympic gold medal to a 15 year old. If Kamila can make her Bolero program even better and have a great short program to go along with it she could still pull it off. But the powers-that-be obviously wanted to get away from 15 year old girls winning the Olympics. Which is why they're going to raise the age after the Olympics.

Alina won Olympic gold at 15. I wish you was still competing because you would have a real shot at the third world spot this season.
I highly doubt that is even in the thought process of the judges. At this stage I don't think anyone is in the same league as Kamila, but early days.
 
Interview with Elizaveta Tuktamysheva. In russian, google-translates ok. In brief, she is working on her form after C19; still working on the quad, its coming along but not enough to include in the programme; she changed her mind about raising the age limit, now she realized the sport is getting younger and to increase the age would mean stopping the progress; and more, about Mishin, plans for the Olympics, new SP, etc.
 
Have you ever tried that ice cream, Tinami? Nothing comes close to Texas's own Blue Bell Creamery!
No i have not, this is a fairly new brand. When in Russia, i eat the ice-cream which i had since childhood, back in Soviet Days. Actually it is also available in Russian delicatessens/food stores in USA and Europe. It is called "Plombir". I never ate ANY other ice cream when in Russia, Plombir only.
 
Another "funny": TiffZy is decorating Camila's face... :)
 
This assumes that Trusova, Scherbakova and other current Sr-eligibles (or the soon-to-be-eligibles) will still be podium material in the 2022-2023 season. By then, the system may have moved on to the next 15/16-yr-old trio of wonders.
Valieva, Shcherbakova, Trusova will still be podium material after 2022-2023, they are quad/3A ladies, learned them early and most likely will keep the jumps (if! they keep on training in a proper regime, and do not pull "Aleona" in the middle of a practice season).

I think quads and 3A's are here to stay, the young ladies will learn them early, while novice/juniors, and when they transfer to seniors, these jumps will come with them, and stay.... So the next segments of young ladies will be able to last longer than 15/16 years of age.

For example: Alysa Dvoeglazova, born Nov, 2008. 4T (at Khrystalniy/Tutberidze Team). She is 12 now, by the time she is 15 she'll have several quads and 3A..... it will be a norm for her when she turns Senior, and not just her but many other young ladies.

And Alysa is a good skater as well, not just a jumper.
 
Anna really would need a triple axel to be competitive. I have my doubts she is going to get one, but fingers crossed
 
The only one you consider champion capable is Samodelkina, and yet Petrosian and Muravieva have beaten her at the nationals and Samodelkina did not even medal? I think Petrosian and Muravieva have as much chance as Samodelkina be a champion. With Osokina I am not sure yet - she was very impressive at the test skates, but she needs to be consistently around the top in most of her competitions to be counted. But still has a chance to prove herself.

Who of those four girls have a chance to make the team for the season 2022-23... that’s a different matter. The problem is that that to make the team one needs to be at top six at the senior nationals. Seeing the current situation at this moment, Trusova, Scherbakova, Valieva are very, very likely to make the team. Kostornaya will make the team if she finally gets over her ********* complications. So suddenly that’s four spots taken. Usacheva has been marked very generously by Russian judges so at Russian nationals she is also likely to place well, as long as she doesn’t mess up. And that leaves only one spot to be fought among the current seniors (e.g. Medvedeva if she ever comes back strong, Tuktamysheva, Khromykh who has Tutberidze’s power behind her) plus the four freshly senior eligible girls (Samodelkina, Petrosian, Muravieva, Osokina). As far as I see it, the senior ladies will be so crowded that none of the newly junior eligible girls will make the team. And if someone, Petrosian has the best chances (if she stays with Tutberidze).
Russia should be allowed more spots. It would make it a way better competition.
 
Valieva, Shcherbakova, Trusova will still be podium material after 2022-2023, they are quad/3A ladies, learned them early and most likely will keep the jumps (if! they keep on training in a proper regime, and do not pull "Aleona" in the middle of a practice season).

I think quads and 3A's are here to stay, the young ladies will learn them early, while novice/juniors, and when they transfer to seniors, these jumps will come with them, and stay.... So the next segments of young ladies will be able to last longer than 15/16 years of age.

For example: Alysa Dvoeglazova, born Nov, 2008. 4T (at Khrystalniy/Tutberidze Team). She is 12 now, by the time she is 15 she'll have several quads and 3A..... it will be a norm for her when she turns Senior, and not just her but many other young ladies.

And Alysa is a good skater as well, not just a jumper.
That’s the $64,000 question: Will young women still be competitive past the 15.5-16.5 sweet spot? Depends on training methods.
 
Interview with Elizaveta Tuktamysheva after Channel 1 Cup:

Apparently, it was Mishin who suggested a new SP to Billie Eilish's song.
Says that Russian Nationals were probably the most difficult competition in her career since she hasn't completely recovered from c19 by then. She has been back to full time training & energy only recently, she is working on the quads, but it's too early to try it in programs.

Evgenia Medvedeva for Vogue Russia
 
Kamila was en fuego again today. I thought the idea of Bolero for a 14 year old was awful, but she has really made this program her own. It is a very strong program, and I sense a Medvedeva/Zagitova showdown of styles determining Olympic gold between Valieva and Shcherbakova, who is more lyrical and soft. May they all remain in good health until then!
She really is impressive. However, she's putting a lot of energy into it right from the start, whereas I would have expected the programme to start smooth and build up (and explode in the end) because that's what Bolero is all about. Not guns blazing from the very beginning. But hey, that's how all of Tutberidze's programmes are like and judges don't share my opinion so what do I know. It just really, really bugs the hell out of me.
 
Kamila was en fuego again today. I thought the idea of Bolero for a 14 year old was awful, but she has really made this program her own. It is a very strong program, and I sense a Medvedeva/Zagitova showdown of styles determining Olympic gold between Valieva and Shcherbakova, who is more lyrical and soft. May they all remain in good health until then!
Holy cow...I've not seen a ton of skating this year, but that was unfreakinbelievable. Seriously, holy heck.....really truly amazing....
 
Bits of news about Kostornaya. Per Angels of Plushenko IG - she is working hard, and till late night, on her new FS with Rozanov and SLB.
 
There's a video of Kamila landing a quad salchow on Instagram this morning
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLMkpZZHduI/
That's spectacular and looks so easy for her! It seems to me that the Rippon position has actually really helped her jumps stay on axis, and she has gained tremendous confidence as a result. She previously seemed to be a very nervy skater, but she has really impressed me this season with her technical advances and consistency.
 
So her Olympic layout will be?:

3A-2/3T
4S
4T-2/3T
3A

4T
3F-eu-3S
3Z

One can dream, right? She's seen landing 3Z-3L, so if she can get a -3L combo in the second half she'd be indestructible, and wouldn't have to risk injury learning a 4Z or 4F. lol
 
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One can dream, right? She's seen landing 3Z-3L, so if she can get a -3L combo in the second half she'd be indestructible, and wouldn't have to risk injury learning a 4Z or 4F. lol
;) i got an impression that she is also learning 4Z and 4F, but her team will post it only if/when it is solid, or more than just a one time luck landing.
 
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All of this is still so hard to imagine. As good as the 2018 ladies medalists were, and I think all 3 were really good, we are very likely heading for the next Olympics in China where all 3 medalists skate programs with quads and likely triple axels. Vancouver seems like not that long ago and the male gold medalist did not even attempt a quad. Has the sport ever seen this kind of revolutionary progress in such a short period of time? Those of us who follow the sport have seen it coming but the "every 4 year viewer" is going to be astounded.
 
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