Russian women news & updates, 2021-22 season

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You are off on your numbers of where she finished at Nationals.
I am not. See for yourself.

And it is not only seniors nationals where she usually underperformed.
She attended five times junior nationals and ended up 7th, 6th, 12th, 7th and 4th.
Four times senior nationals and ended up 7th, 6th, 9th and 10th.
How can you seriously expect that the federation could justify sending her to world championships? Junior or senior ones… As I said, she is a lovely skater, as a novice she was far, far ahead of her peers, unfortunately by the time she got junior eligible, they somehow caught up and from a prodigy at the age of 10-12 she grew up into an average skater (relatively speaking, comparing her to other Russian ladies). There is no conspiracy and the federation have not been hiding her anywhere. It is not their fault that she underperformed.
 
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I am not. See for yourself.
I will have to take time to look over all those #s. She did finish 6th first senior nats. Aliona was third. But thats nitpicking. Thanks I will check that info out. If I was wrong I will say so.

Fortunately Gubanova does not have to deal with the rusfed anymore. maybe she can still become good like top 5 at europeans.
 
I will have to take time to look over all those #s. She did finish 6th first senior nats. Aliona was third. But thats nitpicking. Thanks I will check that info out. If I was wrong I will say so.

Fortunately Gubanova does not have to deal with the rusfed anymore. maybe she can still become good like top 5 at europeans.
You are wrong. That were her second nationals when she finished 6th and Aliona was third. She also competed at the senior nationals the year before, she finished 7th, and Aliona wasn’t third; Maria Sotskova was third. But don’t let the facts spoil your own reality, that you constructed in your head.
 
I am not. See for yourself.

And it is not only seniors nationals where she usually underperformed.
She attended five times junior nationals and ended up 7th, 6th, 12th, 7th and 4th.
Four times senior nationals and ended up 7th, 6th, 9th and 10th.
How can you seriously expect that the federation could justify sending her to world championships? Junior or senior ones… As I said, she is a lovely skater, as a novice she was far, far ahead of her peers, unfortunately by the time she got junior eligible, they somehow caught up and from a prodigy at the age of 10-12 she grew up into an average skater (relatively speaking, comparing her to other Russian ladies). There is no conspiracy and the federation have not been hiding her anywhere. It is not their fault that she underperformed.
She was too young for senior worlds. I never said that. her perfomances in 2016 2017 season were better than Stasyas. but its a moot point now and I wont bring it up again.

Its does say 7th. I was wrong. Unless I got the years mixed up. Maybe I am thinking of january 2018 junior Rusnats? I think it was the one without Alina. It would be hard to finish 7th skating her R & J program that well. It doesnt matter now. Nastya has moved on and the fed moved on from her. I hope transferring works out for her and Maria. We shall see. We will also find out if more transfer are coming or if rusfed will block future transfers.
 
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Because I like a good konspirisi, how about this? We start with Sasha is now hurt. Too much overtraining has caught up with her. She is really going to be okay, but she has to decrease her training and build up to the Olympics with her 5 quads like TestSkates at the beginning of the season. She cannot keep up the pace the entire next three months, but Eteri agrees to RusFed that she will be ready for the Olympics. So, Sasha can skip Nationals and just slowly do the repetitions. By withdrawing from Nationals, the top 2 skaters not KV or AS will duke it out for the Olympic spot at Europeans with a refreshed Sasha. So Sasha will be hot and healthy and raring to go just in time for Euros and then Olys!!!

And the Olympic Team is Kamila, Anna, Sasha! Sounds good to me!

ETA: To add to the konspirisi, RusFed all along wanted these three. To honor Eteri for lifetime achievement. After AS showed her quad, the hype for her and KV will skyrocket and no one will touch them at Nationals, and there will be two OGMs ready to compete. And then Sasha comes slowly back and blows everyone away at Euros and then has the exact momentum as KV and AS! All Eteri students are happy, Eteri is happy, and RusFed wipes it's sweat from it's brow.
 
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Unless you believe another konspiracy, which speculates that Tutberidze has agreed to sacrifice one of her girls to have Liza on the team, in exchange for Davis and Smolkin making the team. :sekret: :skandal
Maybe people should wait until Nationals before promoting that conspiracy theory. :lol: I suspect Zagorski/Guirereo, Steponova/Bukin and about three other teams ahead of Davis/Smolkin have something to say.

Trusova has a stress fracture of her foot. NHK and the GPF are not the prize. The Olympics are. This was planned at SKAM which assured her of a bye to Nationals. Which is what is important.

And, if a sacrifice were called for, it wouldn't be the 5 quad potential of Trusova.
 
Or the rumors that the RusFed has quietly put out word that it wants Liza on the Olympic team.

And, really, a lifetime achievement award for a coach who has been on the senior international scene with her skaters for about a decade? Uhm, no. Eteri is not yet at Moskvina or Mishin levels of achievement. And, also, I think the RusFed is smart enough to recognize that, in the long run, having one school so dominant is not healthy for the growth of the sport. They need skaters to be successful at more than one skating school.
 
I want to go on record now by saying that if by some hook or crook there is a legit way to sub in a 4th Russian woman to replace one of the Russian women who skate in the team event, I'm 100% ok with it. Can't bear the thought that only 3 become Olympians.
 
I want to go on record now by saying that if by some hook or crook there is a legit way to sub in a 4th Russian woman to replace one of the Russian women who skate in the team event, I'm 100% ok with it. Can't bear the thought that only 3 become Olympians.
There isn't. Once a skater/couple competes in the Team Event he/she/they cannot be replaced in the individual event.
 
I want to go on record now by saying that if by some hook or crook there is a legit way to sub in a 4th Russian woman to replace one of the Russian women who skate in the team event, I'm 100% ok with it. Can't bear the thought that only 3 become Olympians.
I know how you feel. I am sure more of us would love to see more than just three Russian women in the Olympics. Unfortunately we cannot change the rules.
 
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Or the rumors that the RusFed has quietly put out word that it wants Liza on the Olympic team.

And, really, a lifetime achievement award for a coach who has been on the senior international scene with her skaters for about a decade? Uhm, no. Eteri is not yet at Moskvina or Mishin levels of achievement. And, also, I think the RusFed is smart enough to recognize that, in the long run, having one school so dominant is not healthy for the growth of the sport. They need skaters to be successful at more than one skating school.
If Liza makes the Olympic team it should be on merit and that's it. Of course it would be a feel-good story if she finally make the Olympic team against mind-boggling competition in her own country. It's all there for her to make it. She is like Anna in that she never messes up.
I think she's in the lead right now for the third spot we know who the first two spots are. We will see where Sasha is in a month or so and if she can recover and keep your fingers crossed for her. Right now Maya and Aliona are behind Liza.

As for EG they should not do anything to anger her. Where would Russian figure skating be without her? I am sure this great coach would have no problem if Liza makes the Olympic team if she beats out one of the TT girls. Let's see what happens. Russian Nationals is going to be a good or better than the Olympics.
 
I know how you feel. I am sure more of us would love to see more than just three Russian women in the Olympics. Unfortunately we cannot change the rules.
Neither can the ISU evidently. ;)

I would like a more merit-based system to make the Olympic team or a World's team and use the Grand Prix season to do that and if one country has great dominance in the Grand Prix events in a discipline or two like Russia does then they should get an extra spot in the Olympics. The television people won't exactly be upset with that because figure skating in the Winter Games is Big Time ratings.
 
Now that the GP season is 1/3 over...

Kamila impresses with record breaking scores - the key is whether she can carry on the consistency (or even 85%) into her 2nd event, GPF, Nationals and Euros or will she stumble across like how she was at the Test Skates.

Sasha comfortably wins SA despite scaling back and slight injury - if she recovers and gets those quads back, I don't think she can be stopped. I actually think she should stop attempting 3axels. Just accept that she can't be at the top after the short but has all the firepower in the world to jump back in the free. I worry the 3axel will become a distraction (and she isn't consistent with it at all anyways).

Liza - very consistent 3axels and the judges give her sky high PCS. If Kamila has both 3axels and quads; and Sasha has big quads; then Liza is the good supplement to the team who has consistent 3axels.

Aliona - getting the 3axel back but not yet consistent. Programs not universally well received and her skating magic isn't as apparent anymore. For me she probably still ranks above those without 3axels and quads.

Daria - silver at SA but with no 3axels or above, and triples not 100% consistent. Unlikely to make the national team.

Maiia and Anna are yet to debut on the GPs - Maiia has been landing quads but not Anna yet. If Maiia lands quads at her event I am inclined to slide her between Liza and Aliona; and if Anna does not land her quads at her events I am incline to only put her above Daria.
Now that the GP season is 1/2 over...

My pecking order for them becomes:

1. Kamila
2. Liza
3. Anna - uneven GP debut for her despite a strong finish, needs to see whether she lands the quad at her 2nd GP before putting her above Liza
4. Sasha - injury and out of GPF - uncertain whether she can compete at Nationals, or whether she can advance to Euros despite missing Nationals - she deserves that IMO for being the woman who attempts the most number and types of quads - for me if she can demonstrate that she has recovered I will absolutely put her on the team despite Nationals / Euros
5. Maiia - decent GP debut and has a bigger shot plus weapons to GPF than those below her, but for me quite a bit of gap agaisnt the 4 above her when they skate decent
6. Aliona - not unless she regains all 3 3axels by her next event I doubt she can make GPF or medal there
7. Daria - no 3axel or above, not much hope IMO
 
6. Aliona - not unless she regains all 3 3axels by her next event I doubt she can make GPF or medal there
Aliona is in good position to make the GPF. All she needs is a 2nd at IdF behind Shcherbakova and that's more than doable in a very weak field - Lee and Higuchi do not have reliable 3As, and the rest of the field consists of Ryabova, Mazzara, Serna, Sinitsyna, Andrews, Bell & Chen. Just whom do you expect will beat Aliona?

Medaling at the GPF, I would agree, is probably not likely with Kamila, Liza, and Anna all there but it's not entirely impossible.
 
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Unless you believe another konspiracy, which speculates that Tutberidze has agreed to sacrifice one of her girls to have Liza on the team, in exchange for Davis and Smolkin making the team. :sekret: :skandal
Davis/Smolkin making the team - a year ago I would say it is ridiculous, but with Sinitsina/Katsalapov out because of injury and Zagorski/Gureiro also having health problems, there may be suddenly two spots open. Even though I would hope there are dance couple ranked above Davis/Smolkin, it suddenly doesn’t seem so out of question. (Though I don’t know what would the federation do with Scoptcova/Alioshin, Khubardieva/Bazin and Morozov/Bagin to skip them with the spots available.)
 
It will be interesting to see how Scoptcova/Alioshin, Khubardieva/Bazin, and Sevchenko/Eremenko score on the Grand Prix over the next few weeks, and how those scores compare. Davis/Smolkin's score at Skate Canada was five points above Morozov/Bagin's score at Skate America. Yes it's dangerous to read too much into score comparisons between different competitions, but at the same time you can't completely ignore how an international panel judges particularly in ice dance.
 
Aliona is in good position to make the GPF. All she needs is a 2nd at IdF behind Shcherbakova and that's more than doable in a very weak field - Lee and Higuchi do not have reliable 3As, and the rest of the field consists of Ryabova, Mazzara, Serna, Sinitsyna, Andrews, Bell & Chen. Just whom do you expect will beat Aliona?
I am horrible at making these projections. There are a million possibilities with 3 events left to happen. From experience earning a silver and a bronze don't automatically guarantee GPF with 24 points and things usually get decided by tiebreakers (total points etc). And then there's the complication of Sasha withdrawing from NHK vacating a spot which means someone else can grab 15 points there... etc...

Conclusion is I will take your word for it :P

If she makes GPF I think she retains her chance to fight for a spot on the team but if she doesn't, chances will be slimmer (or even slimmer than what they already are).
 
Unless you believe another konspiracy, which speculates that Tutberidze has agreed to sacrifice one of her girls to have Liza on the team, in exchange for Davis and Smolkin making the team. :sekret: :skandal
Oh my, I love it! Yes, that is what is happening! Which girl will Eteri sacrifice to get Diana to the Games? Obviously Alyona was first off the chopping block for being disloyal to the family. Maiia is trying sooooo hard. Then between Anna and Sasha, what's a MamaBear to do? She loves all of her "children", although not entirely equally.... lol
 
Oh my, I love it! Yes, that is what is happening! Which girl will Eteri sacrifice to get Diana to the Games? Obviously Alyona was first off the chopping block for being disloyal to the family. Maiia is trying sooooo hard. Then between Anna and Sasha, what's a MamaBear to do? She loves all of her "children", although not entirely equally.... lol
Eteri will not need to sacrifice any girl. With the illnesses and injuries among top Russian ice dancers, I wouldn’t be surprised if the federation will end up being grateful for Tutberidze having the foresight to switch Diana to ice dance, otherwise there may be no ice dancers healthy enough to be sent to the Olympics!
 
With Frolova not showing up on the roster for Cup 4, does that mean she is out for the season? And yes, I know there's a 5th cup, but its kind of impossible to make Nationals with only 1 event, yes?

People have been speculating about her for a while. I think she should change countries for sport at her age and not wait until she's 19 like Maria or 18 like Nastya did. Anna is a lovely skater but she's buried beneath so many and it's the same story for Liza B. We just don't know if the Russian Federation will fight these girls on this because I don't think they want to open the floodgates even if they consider many of these girls not their elite.

But if the transfer rule is no International competitions for 2 years then some of these girls will qualify to leave. And it doesn't mean you don't love your motherland but you need to love yourself too and your career and try to keep it going. That's my take on it. And from the comments I've read from the Russian sites I don't think any of the figure skating fans hold it against any Russian skater that transfers countries to continue their careers.

I only wish nastya t was able to transfer before she retired. I also remember her writing somewhere about how much money her parents spent on her career and it was astounding. These skaters give their lives to these Sports and so do their parents so good luck to them all with keeping their careers going for as long as possible.
 
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On September 20, 2021, Lilbet posted this: "
Dear fans,

I decided to end my career as a professional athlete. It is not easy for me to share this news with you ...
Many of you know that my back has been bothering me for a long time. Unfortunately, I did not manage to overcome this injury to the end, and therefore full-fledged training became impossible.

For me, the completion of this chapter in my life means the beginning of a new one.
At the moment I am in Kazakhstan, and until the end of the year I will work here, helping children, inspiring them and sharing my experience with them. I have always wanted to develop figure skating in my country, and I finally got this opportunity.

I am infinitely grateful to my parents for everything they have done for me and continue to do.
Thanks to everyone who helped me become stronger and always supported me: the leadership of the Kyzylorda region, the National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Sports and Culture.

I would also like to thank the entire coaching staff of Tutberidze: Eteri Georgievna, Sergey Viktorovich and Daniil Markovich for the work done with me, for the historical moments in my career, for faith in me, for the best programs.
I want to thank every coach I have ever worked with.
Now I have invaluable experience that I can share with the future generation.

My first start in the international arena was in 2011, exactly ten years have passed since this tournament, more than 50 international starts (Asian Games, Youth Olympic Games, World Winter Universiade, Championships of four continents, World Championships, Olympics and other international starts) and 39 medals of various denominations.

Sixteen years in big sports ... there was everything: the joys of the first victories, and despair, and injuries. But all these years you have always been there, my dear fans. Your wishes and sincere support inspired and inspired me, I felt that you, my people, needed me, and this gave me tremendous energy. Your faith in me and in the future will help me to reach new heights in various fields."
 
Also no Konstantinova in Russian Cup 4. I thought her target this year was Nationals. I wonder is she planning country switch or maybe she is injured. At least Shulkskaya is there.
 
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