I want to start civilized discussion about who's going to make the team for Euros. Or who should be in the team. Are they same skaters or maybe different?
I'll remind you how the DRAMA around 3rd spot on Russian Ladies Team for EC 2014 started:
1. There is clear rule of RusFed that only those skaters who wins 1st and 2nd place at Nationals have guaranteed spots in the National team for International ISU competitions. The Federation decides who's gonna be 3rd member of the National team, they can and often choose skaters who placed lower than 3rd place at Nationals OR isn't even participated.
2. Adelina Sotnikova (Olympic Champion of Ladies Solo Figure Skating event) said in one of her last interview that she wants to recover 'till Euros, and wants to skate at Euros. But in fact she's skipping Nationals. Source: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20141220/795870750.html
3. Then vice-president of Russia's FS Federation Alexandr Lakernik says that he thinks it's very possible for Sotnikova to go to Euros without participation at Nationals instead of Bronze medalist of Nationals. He gives an example that if Lipnitskaia will be 3rd than it will mean that she is 'not so well prepared'. And Sotnikova has an advantage of beign Olympic Champion in this case, so it's very possible that she will skate at Euros. He also said it's too soon to say anything concrete, and decision will be made on 12th of January. Source: http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/767406
4. Then Eteri Tutberidze (Yulia Liplitskaia's coach) gives furious interview where she makes some controversial statements.
- Eteri said that these kind of statements (Lakernik's) are 'unacceptable' before Nationals.
- She doesn't understand why any of our four girls who competed at GPF 2014, do not deserve her place at Euros, if they will medal at Nationals. Liza? Elena? Yulia?
- She said Yulia has more titles and medals out of all currently skating russian girls (Silver GPF medalist, acting Euros champion, silver Worlds medalist, Olympic champion), and if someone should be competing at Euros without participation at National, it's her.
- And she thinks it would be okay to send Sotnikova to Euros this year if she would have injured her leg during the season after a couple of starts, but she is angry that they're considering sending Adelina to the Euros without her taking part in a single competition.
Source: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20141221/796196465.html
5. Then the President of Russia's FS Federation Alexandr Gorshkov says that there's no such decision haven't been made, but Sotnikova may be included in the National team for Euros. Source: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20141222/796258211.html
6. Tatiana Tarasova (Consultant of Russian Figure Skating team) thinks that Sotnikova 100% deserve the right to skate at Euros. And she demands to stop the hounding of Sotnikova. Source: http://itar-tass.com/sport/1664239 and http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/767688
7. And finally Anna Tsareva (Anna Pogorilaya's coach) said that she thinks Olympic Champions deserve respect, and in this case the right to go to Euros without participating at Nationals. And she's not angry about the talk. She now sees that her and Anna Pogorilaya's goal at Nationals is not to be 3rd, but make everything to be a National Champion. Source: http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-skating/1025897676.html
ADDED 22.12.2014
8. Honorable President of the Federation Valentin Piseev said in his latest interview that RusFed didn't give any guarantees to Sotnikova. If she wants to go to Euros she should take part in at least one competition before Euros. The only competition before Euros is in Poland. The decision will be made only if she will skate good.
Source: http://www.gazeta.ru/sport/news/2014/12/22/n_6769477.shtml
9. Yulia Lipnitskaia said that it's not an easy season for her, but she'll do her best at Nationals to take a spot in National team. She basically said, her goal is to skate, and specialists will decide who should be in the team. And even if she will not be there, it's not the end of the world, she still will have a chance to go to Worlds. She's just sixteen, it's to soon for her to retire
She also said that the competition will not be easy, many Russian girls in an amazing shape this season. So only the best will go to Euros.
Source: http://itar-tass.com/sport/1665625
ADDED 23.12.2014
10. Ilya Averbukh gave his opinion. Highlights:
- journalist said in one of the question that there will be 'special skate' for Sotnikova, Averbukh hasn't corrected her (maybe he doesn't know for sure and it's fake).
- he thinks we should wish luck to Sotnikova, she needs our maximal support now. He also thinks that last season was very difficult to her, and maybe she should not push herself too hard now. Maybe she just needs to calmly prepare for the Worlds.
- he stated that if she will be ready for the Worlds, she should be in the Nationals team, since she's Russia's first Olympic Champion in Ladies FS event.
- he also replied to question about Sotnikova's possible successful skate in front of the Federation that just one skate is not the same as official competition...
- Averbukh thinks that Radionova and Tukhtamysheva are favourites, but he also believes in Lipnitskaia. He thinks she will overcome this hard period for her.
Source: http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/767927
ADDED 24.12.2014
11. Nina Moser (Volosozhar/Trankov's coach) gave her opinion about the whole drama: (LATER REFUTED BY MOSER AND VOLOSOZHAR)
"I do not want to comment the case when the coach is trying to create a conflict showing her weakness and the lack of professionalism. I feel negative towards stuff like that. One has to go and prove at the rink. No one prevented Lipnitskaia from winning the Olympics if she is so great. This whole conflict began then."
Source: http://izvestia.ru/news/581222
ADDED 25.12.2014
12. Nina Moser (Volosozhar/Trankov's coach) said that her words in press are fake. She said she's furious, and she never said anything about selection process to the Ladies National Team, and about Yulia herself.
Source: http://itar-tass.com/sport/1670671
Tatiana Volosozhar (Russian Pair skater) confirmed Moser's words through her Instagram account. She said that it was 'slander and provocation' by Russian newspaper 'Izvestia', or one of its employees. Her post in Instagram was written in rather aggressive manner.
Source: http://instagram.com/p/xABCp8D_iY/
13. Aleksandr Gorshkov (President of the Federation) said that the final list of Russian participants of the European Championship will be announced in mid-January, around 16th of Junuary.
Source: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20141224/796531711.html
--------------------------------------------------------
So what do you guys think? I personally think that in this strong pool of skaters that Russia have, there is no sense to replace bronze medalist with someone other. Because it's pretty clear that even 3rd Russian lady still can EASILY win Euros and even Worlds. I'm deeply respect Adelina and I have nothing againts that qualification rule to National team, but I don't think it's rational to use it in THIS discipline. The competition is too strong.
P.S. Please, have respect for coaches, skaters and each other, and keep it cute
Sorry if I made any mistakes, my English pretty much suck
I'll remind you how the DRAMA around 3rd spot on Russian Ladies Team for EC 2014 started:
1. There is clear rule of RusFed that only those skaters who wins 1st and 2nd place at Nationals have guaranteed spots in the National team for International ISU competitions. The Federation decides who's gonna be 3rd member of the National team, they can and often choose skaters who placed lower than 3rd place at Nationals OR isn't even participated.
2. Adelina Sotnikova (Olympic Champion of Ladies Solo Figure Skating event) said in one of her last interview that she wants to recover 'till Euros, and wants to skate at Euros. But in fact she's skipping Nationals. Source: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20141220/795870750.html
3. Then vice-president of Russia's FS Federation Alexandr Lakernik says that he thinks it's very possible for Sotnikova to go to Euros without participation at Nationals instead of Bronze medalist of Nationals. He gives an example that if Lipnitskaia will be 3rd than it will mean that she is 'not so well prepared'. And Sotnikova has an advantage of beign Olympic Champion in this case, so it's very possible that she will skate at Euros. He also said it's too soon to say anything concrete, and decision will be made on 12th of January. Source: http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/767406
4. Then Eteri Tutberidze (Yulia Liplitskaia's coach) gives furious interview where she makes some controversial statements.
- Eteri said that these kind of statements (Lakernik's) are 'unacceptable' before Nationals.
- She doesn't understand why any of our four girls who competed at GPF 2014, do not deserve her place at Euros, if they will medal at Nationals. Liza? Elena? Yulia?
- She said Yulia has more titles and medals out of all currently skating russian girls (Silver GPF medalist, acting Euros champion, silver Worlds medalist, Olympic champion), and if someone should be competing at Euros without participation at National, it's her.
- And she thinks it would be okay to send Sotnikova to Euros this year if she would have injured her leg during the season after a couple of starts, but she is angry that they're considering sending Adelina to the Euros without her taking part in a single competition.
Source: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20141221/796196465.html
5. Then the President of Russia's FS Federation Alexandr Gorshkov says that there's no such decision haven't been made, but Sotnikova may be included in the National team for Euros. Source: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20141222/796258211.html
6. Tatiana Tarasova (Consultant of Russian Figure Skating team) thinks that Sotnikova 100% deserve the right to skate at Euros. And she demands to stop the hounding of Sotnikova. Source: http://itar-tass.com/sport/1664239 and http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/767688
7. And finally Anna Tsareva (Anna Pogorilaya's coach) said that she thinks Olympic Champions deserve respect, and in this case the right to go to Euros without participating at Nationals. And she's not angry about the talk. She now sees that her and Anna Pogorilaya's goal at Nationals is not to be 3rd, but make everything to be a National Champion. Source: http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-skating/1025897676.html
ADDED 22.12.2014
8. Honorable President of the Federation Valentin Piseev said in his latest interview that RusFed didn't give any guarantees to Sotnikova. If she wants to go to Euros she should take part in at least one competition before Euros. The only competition before Euros is in Poland. The decision will be made only if she will skate good.
Source: http://www.gazeta.ru/sport/news/2014/12/22/n_6769477.shtml
9. Yulia Lipnitskaia said that it's not an easy season for her, but she'll do her best at Nationals to take a spot in National team. She basically said, her goal is to skate, and specialists will decide who should be in the team. And even if she will not be there, it's not the end of the world, she still will have a chance to go to Worlds. She's just sixteen, it's to soon for her to retire
She also said that the competition will not be easy, many Russian girls in an amazing shape this season. So only the best will go to Euros.
Source: http://itar-tass.com/sport/1665625
ADDED 23.12.2014
10. Ilya Averbukh gave his opinion. Highlights:
- journalist said in one of the question that there will be 'special skate' for Sotnikova, Averbukh hasn't corrected her (maybe he doesn't know for sure and it's fake).
- he thinks we should wish luck to Sotnikova, she needs our maximal support now. He also thinks that last season was very difficult to her, and maybe she should not push herself too hard now. Maybe she just needs to calmly prepare for the Worlds.
- he stated that if she will be ready for the Worlds, she should be in the Nationals team, since she's Russia's first Olympic Champion in Ladies FS event.
- he also replied to question about Sotnikova's possible successful skate in front of the Federation that just one skate is not the same as official competition...
- Averbukh thinks that Radionova and Tukhtamysheva are favourites, but he also believes in Lipnitskaia. He thinks she will overcome this hard period for her.
Source: http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/767927
ADDED 24.12.2014
11. Nina Moser (Volosozhar/Trankov's coach) gave her opinion about the whole drama: (LATER REFUTED BY MOSER AND VOLOSOZHAR)
"I do not want to comment the case when the coach is trying to create a conflict showing her weakness and the lack of professionalism. I feel negative towards stuff like that. One has to go and prove at the rink. No one prevented Lipnitskaia from winning the Olympics if she is so great. This whole conflict began then."
Source: http://izvestia.ru/news/581222
ADDED 25.12.2014
12. Nina Moser (Volosozhar/Trankov's coach) said that her words in press are fake. She said she's furious, and she never said anything about selection process to the Ladies National Team, and about Yulia herself.
Source: http://itar-tass.com/sport/1670671
Tatiana Volosozhar (Russian Pair skater) confirmed Moser's words through her Instagram account. She said that it was 'slander and provocation' by Russian newspaper 'Izvestia', or one of its employees. Her post in Instagram was written in rather aggressive manner.
Source: http://instagram.com/p/xABCp8D_iY/
13. Aleksandr Gorshkov (President of the Federation) said that the final list of Russian participants of the European Championship will be announced in mid-January, around 16th of Junuary.
Source: http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20141224/796531711.html
--------------------------------------------------------
So what do you guys think? I personally think that in this strong pool of skaters that Russia have, there is no sense to replace bronze medalist with someone other. Because it's pretty clear that even 3rd Russian lady still can EASILY win Euros and even Worlds. I'm deeply respect Adelina and I have nothing againts that qualification rule to National team, but I don't think it's rational to use it in THIS discipline. The competition is too strong.
P.S. Please, have respect for coaches, skaters and each other, and keep it cute
Sorry if I made any mistakes, my English pretty much suck
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