What if Ilinykh/Katsalapov Stayed Together?

[VGThuy]

I was just thinking about how their break up after 2014 Worlds lead to a series of events that really benefited so many teams as the judges really seemed to be setting them up as THE 2018 gold medal contenders. I'm not saying those other teams that ended up being successful and making a name for themselves from 2014-2018 cycle would not have still be as successful, but I do think it would have been much more challenging.

I'm wondering, if I/K stayed together and could have gotten along well enough and been motivated to train so that they could hit during the important events later on in the season, would P/C still have been as dominant as they were or would they have to fight up the rankings a bit so as to not challenge I/K right away? Would V/M come back and if so, would they (with P/C) have to fight off I/K for gold as well, and would any of the bronze medal contender teams been able to still get the types of scores, build up the same narratives, that they were able to build to be serious medal contenders with P/C, V/M, and I/K in the mix. Of course, with I/K we all know disaster was always a possibility and we know their training would have been contentious, so maybe they would have started out with being the judges' pets and then they would have lost confidence in them and been dropped and it wouldn't have made as much of a difference in the end. But it seems I/K were the type of team that could have thrown away a million of chances and just so long as they hit at the Olympics the judges would have been right there waiting for them to shower them with huge scores.

 

[Cherub721]

I think they would have continued to be a mess and not even on the podium at every GP. Probably would have won a world bronze or two. Maybe with two clean skates they could've won 2017 World's as the top two teams had mistakes but what are the chances they'd be the only team with two clean programs? They might have won Euros 2018 in Moscow, maybe with PC skipping it. Probably they'd get themselves sorted for the Olympics and grab a second bronze.

 

[Vagabond]

I'm wondering, if I/K stayed together and could have gotten along well enough and been motivated to train so that....

As if!

 

[VGThuy]

As if!

Hey man, it worked for a few Euros and in Sochi.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

I/K are a good example of fans' short-sightedness and just how meteoric P/C's rise was. When the breakup happened everyone lamented how I/K were locks for future gold medals over the next quadrennial.

Assuming I/K were in tip top shape, I think I/K vs. P/C would have ignited an intense fan war and politiking. Probably would have felt like early 2000s ice dance.

I agree with @Cherub721. Even if they got along, I think both Elena and Nikita have a ceiling to their aptitude and penchant for training.

 

[Bigbird]

I think they would have risen to the occasion quite nicely. The competition would have spurred them to be their best selves, but they would have had some mishaps along the way.

Lena would have needed a personal fitness trainer and Katsalapov a personal therapist.

 

[caseyedwards]

If I/k stayed together lots of failures lots of disasters. Maybe a world title one year and 10th the next! Maybe no medals in the gp maybe they win the gpf! Because in 2013 they didn’t even medal in NHK trophy. Remember their hatred for each other was so overwhelming they only practiced together one hour a day.

 

[Bigbird]

TBH, I'm still hopeful that Drozd will pair up with Lena. He seems to be just as big a headcase as Katsalapov. So given her years of experience, she might cope well with him. They are both talented, have rich personal lives and really don't need to practice 12 - 14 hrs a day and still not master their technique. Don't judge me for speaking my mind .

 

[caseyedwards]

TBH, I'm still hopeful that Drozd will pair up with Lena. He seems to be just as big a headcase as Katsalapov. So given her years of experience, she might cope well with him. They are both talented, have rich personal lives and really don't need to practice 12 - 14 hrs a day and still not master their technique. Don't judge me for speaking my mind .

Remember she says if there is a bad practice she screams and cries and runs off the ice.

 

[escaflowne9282]

I'm wondering, if I/K stayed together and could have gotten along well enough and been motivated to train so that they could hit during the important events later on in the season

Not meaning to offend, but this crosses into the realm of fantasy/science fiction for me

I&K were the most frustrating team when they were competing. In their final season together, they had no Grand Prix titles, no trip to GPF, no European title, no National title, and no World title or medal even though they were in line to win all of the aforementioned. They also could be counted on to fall at least twice per season .


Choreographically speaking, they could present a very nice image on the ice; however, they didn’t have the most intricate programs. Their Black Swan FD , for example, was very cleverly packaged, but it had no content whatsoever and they still constantly messed up on it. They skated with so much distance between them at times too.


It always came across to me as though they had a very poor interpersonal relationship when it came to their training and focus and having each other’s backs. I also think they had a very bad coaching environment. When you look at V&M ,for example, you can see how focused they were when making their comeback, how they worked with Gadbois team and B2ten, how they considered their goals as a team, how they picked a programs they believed in, how they made necessary changes to their FD after GPF etc. Looking at P&C, this quad, you see skaters that really supported each other and were surrounded by a supportive coaching environment ( Gabi’s concussion, Oly wardrobe incident). I&K just didn’t strike me as being that supportive or goal oriented, and I am not convinced it ever would have happened with Morozov

IMHO , unless the Russian Fed would have stepped in in a positive way,they would have continued to be a mess.

 

[Cherub721]

Not meaning to offend, but this crosses into the realm of fantasy/science fiction for me

 

[Emerald66]

They would've had an epic rivalry with Papadakis and Cizeron.

 

[suki]

They would've had an epic rivalry with Papadakis and Cizeron.

With the epic politicking between the two federations as a sideshow.

 

[caseyedwards]

They would've had an epic rivalry with Papadakis and Cizeron.

No way. I know for a fact p/c can train together for more than one hour at a time. It was that strict time allotment that made Elena not run off the ice screaming and crying if she or Nikita made a mistake. With multi hour practices she could spend most of the time crying or screaming at Nikita or anyone really.

 

[Wyliefan]

I couldn't spend five minutes with Nikita, so I give Elena (and Victoria) a lot of credit.

 

[savchenkoboss]

It is hard to say but they for sure would have had a great shot of winning the 2015 worlds. Papadakis & Cizeron with a stunning FD that year but still newcomers and only 4th in the short dance. The pre worlds favorites Weaver & Poje winning only bronze. It probably would have been theirs to lose, just like the 2014 worlds, but knowing them there is every shot they lose it.

Beyond that it is hard to say. The potential to reach the top is there, but the unexpected emergence of Padadakis & Cizeron would be a problem, and it is hard to see them beating their own penchant for erraticness, mistakes, and their turbulent personal relationship. They could win a world title or two at some point, and be contenders for a medal in 2018, but I dont see total dominance. They could also do worse than this. I also see Virtue & Moir still returning as I definitely dont see I&K being consistent or dominant enough to potentially scare away a return, and along with the Shibutanis improvement, and a large collection of strong teams, they would have a lot of competition towards the end of the quad, and not have lots of room for the silly mistakes which were their norm if they wanted to secure medals and contend for gold.

 

[Bigbird]

No way. I know for a fact p/c can train together for more than one hour at a time. It was that strict time allotment that made Elena not run off the ice screaming and crying if she or Nikita made a mistake. With multi hour practices she could spend most of the time crying or screaming at Nikita or anyone really.

Trust me seeing how Nikita screams and shouts at everyone in practice including his girlfriend, coach etc she might have thought this was the only way to get through to him.

Ruslan, by all indications, was just a miniature, passive-aggressive version of Kats. As TAT has said a number of times finding a partner in Russian ice dance is harder than finding a husband. As for Anton, word has it he was a lazy, prima-donna and SHE gave him the pink slip.

All things considered, she might just be better off with her academy and other projects.

But hey what could either of them lose by giving each other a chance this quad? They are both young enough. In eight years they'll be 32 and 31. I say strike while the iron's hot. I am talking about Drozd and Ilinykh. Katsalapov is not leaving his girl.

 

[manhn]

If they stayed together, I wonder who poor Weaver/Poje would have turned to. Babs?

Probably the biggest impact is that Bobs/Sol may not be Olympic silver medalists in the Team event. I&K would have done both segments.