Slutskaya complains about 2002 and 2006 Olympic Placements

[Bulletsdad]

Irina Slutskaya: “At the Turin Olympics, the placement was pure politics. Or Salt Lake City – there, an American had to win, so they could build a whole business around her, organize half-year tours.”

Russian figure skater Irina Slutskaya reflects on the political challenges and biases she faced in figure skating during her career.

fs-gossips.com

I just rewatched Slutskaya and Arakawa's 2006 Oly free skates. Slutskaya landed 4 triples, three with wide free leg landings, fell on triple loop and doubled flip combo.

Arakawa landed five clean triples and doubled her loop. She also had superior extension in spiral sequence and much better step sequence.

These were the days of no triple/triples, with the new IJS system.

In 2002, Slutskaya attempted 6 triples. The flip had a bad forward landing, her three jump combo was messy, and another triple was two footed. Also, no triple/triples. Hughes completed seven triples, four of which were triple/triple combos.

Slutskaya's biggest strength was her high, powerful jumps. However, at the 2002 and 2006 Ollympics, she simply didn't bring her best, and her artistic impression marks were not going to save her.

 

[Winnipeg]

Why in the world would she raise this now? SMells like sour grapes?

 

[caseyedwards]

2002 yes of course her not winning was absurd and ridiculous

2006 not Being on podium at all would have been fine!

 

[her grace]

She’s no Michelle Kwan.

 

[Coco]

Is the RSF preparing their arguments in case AP doesn't win?

 

[Bulletsdad]

Delete

 

[VGThuy]

It’s nice to see some people never change.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

It’s nice to see some people never change.

Part of her Festivus celebration?

 

[Skaterbob]

She is entitled to an opinion. I was surprised how hard she was dropped at the 2006 Olympics when she was receiving such high marks on the Grand Prix. I do agree some sort of fix was in. I think Shizuka is the worst winner in modern history I don't think that even remotely debatable with the actual performances.

 

[my little pony]

I guess you could say it was politics that ensured her a medal regardless

 

[VGThuy]

She is entitled to an opinion. I was surprised how hard she was dropped at the 2006 Olympics when she was receiving such high marks on the Grand Prix. I do agree some sort of fix was in. I think Shizuka is the worst winner in modern history I don't think that even remotely debatable with the actual performances.

Irina winning for that performance would have been even worse.

 

[Skaterbob]

Irina winning for that performance would have been even worse.

Oh I agree not saying she should have won at all. But her score was so distant it wasn't even close to Sasha who made plenty of mistakes. Whoever won that year was going to be worst gold medalist.

 

[my little pony]

regretfully I was there, and after Sasha's mistakes she got up and won the silver. it was all very good after that and she definitely deserved her placement imo.

 

[Skaterbob]

regretfully I was there, and after Sasha's mistakes she got up and won the silver. it was all very good after that and she definitely deserved her placement imo.

Thankfully I was not there because I would have had a full blown meltdown after Michelle's withdrawal after paying for that type of trip. I would have had Fumie as silver with Irina or Sasha not getting a medal.

 

[Bulletsdad]

She is entitled to an opinion. I was surprised how hard she was dropped at the 2006 Olympics when she was receiving such high marks on the Grand Prix. I do agree some sort of fix was in. I think Shizuka is the worst winner in modern history I don't think that even remotely debatable with the actual performances.

2002 was a decent performance. However, 2006 was really not good. Slow, awkward spiral sequence, utilitarian stroking, and messy landings on 3 of the four jumps she did land.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Coco]

https://www.isuresults.com/results/owg2006/OWG06_Ladies_FS_Scores.pdf

Sasha attempted 7 triples, received credit for rotating them, fell on one and stepped out with weight on both hands on the 2nd one (-2.86 out of a max -3).

Irina attempted 5 triples and fell on 1.

Spins and steps, Sasha had 17.4 BV + 4.15 GOE. Irina had 16.8 BV + 2.51 GOE. Sasha's margin there was due to the spiral sequence.

Both had - GOE on a jumping pass that was landed, Sasha's deduction was close to a point more than Irina's.

All in all, Sasha only edged Irina by 1.89 points. It was the one extra triple she landed that kept her ahead.

ETA: Fumie had 5 triples, with slight negative GOE on 3 jumping passes. Only one L4 spin (steps & spins = 16.5 BV, 1.28 for GOE), so that's why she couldn't pull ahead.

 

[PRlady]

Boy that was worse than I remembered, description above is accurate. Every jump was off and that spiral was really awkward. She was lucky to medal.

 

[Vagabond]

Get over it, girl! Even Linda Fratianne managed to move on.

 

[Andora]

I'm not sure what has transpired in Irina's life to leave her so disconnected from reality... but she does herself no favours reminding us of these skates, and programs, if I'm honest. I was a fan back in the day, but watching these back, I'm not sure why that was.

Inspiring fans to re-watch her programs is a surefire way to ensure we all understand why she doesn't have an Olympic gold medal.

 

[Bulletsdad]

Delete

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

It’s funny when I think of both of those years…. those Olympics I think of Sarah Hughes, and Shizuka, the correct winners of both events.

When I think of Irina, what comes to mind are wooden performances and stiff landings. I did enjoy her skating, but those two events she was not the winner.