Maria Sotskova: 'I can't give up. This is what I love'

Fluture · Jun 5, 2019

Well, to be quite honest Masha‘s skating (mostly that tano lol) was never my favourite even though she‘s quite elegant. But I really admire how mature she seemed in this interview. What a strong and intelligent young woman. I wish her all the best. Skating because she loves it doesn‘t mean being on the Worlds team necessarily. It just means performing and as long as she enjoys that, she should not retire. The young guns will earn their spots by their own merits, they‘re good enough for that. They don‘t need anyone to retire. If skaters want to compete they should.

And what if Masha gets submitted to GP? So what? Yes, she had a pretty rough season last year but she earned those WS points fair and square. I‘m not her fan but credit where credit is due. She was a top competitor. If she doesn‘t improve, then surely give the spot to someone else. I don‘t know what Rusfed will do but even if they give her one spot.... Come on. That girl was top ten at Olympics, silver at GPF and Nats. She at least deserves a second chance. It wouldn‘t be that unfair. Personally, I just hope we will see her happy this year. The way she looked at Russian Nationals in the K&C is hard to forget. Let‘s hope for a better season.

Fluture · Jun 5, 2019

starla16 said:
strategically it makes sense, if you have a competitive field like the russian ladies. To max the out those who are competitive then the skaters can be asked who are no longer competitive choose either to retire or their names should be crossed out of any gp list. Tuktamysheva, Zagitova, Medvedeva, Samodurova, Trusova, Kostornaia, Shcherbakova these are competitive skaters that can give results. It would be wise for the Fed to make sure these names get 2 gp spots.

Zagitova, Medvedeva and Samodurova are guaranteed two spots anyway. And there‘s no way Shcherbakova, the National champion, won‘t get two assignments. Trusova is JWC Champ. Twice. No doubts there either. Kostornaya is JGPF champ. Not as crystal clear as the other two but unless she bombs hard at test skates or something like that, I can‘t imagine a scenario where she will end up without two spots. Tuktamysheva medaled at last GPF. She‘s safe as well. It‘s not those girls we‘re talking about who‘re in danger of losing their spots. They will all safely get two. If they submit Masha‘s name, she‘ll be competing with Konstantinova, Tarusina and Gubanova. Those are in danger of not getting a spot, not 3A, Worlds team or Liza.

TallyT · Jun 5, 2019

starla16 said:
she passed her peak before 2018 Olympics, she should have step aside like Radionova, Pogorilaya so all the 3A get to secure two spots
hope the rus fed dont submit her name.

If the 3A want the spotlight, let them earn it themselves, like everyone else has had to.

nussnacker said:
little pre-puberty girls making big jumps setting the scene for future ladies
I think we all know who this is about , let's not play the "confused" card =)

Well, if the shoe fits... but be fair. Fans are allowed to find pre-pubescents simply less interesting per se, goodness knows I did when I was one let alone now. So why shouldn't they be happy that some of the older, more mature performances will also be on show?

LiamForeman · Jun 5, 2019

LenaRadiFan said:
I would feel so offended as a skater that people would think that certain skaters need to "step aside" so I can get a secure spot. Like if I was a skater I would want that spot because I earned it, not because others are not competing to give me space....just a thought

I sort of understand your point of view. But, what if it was the 16th place finisher at US Nationals, someone on their way down, and they get a spot that Ting Cui or Hanna Harrell could have benefited from? I wish Maria well, but I think she should start from scratch this season. Senior B's for instance.

Fluture · Jun 5, 2019

TallyT said:
If the 3A want the spotlight, let them earn it themselves, like everyone else has had to.

Those kids are certainly good enough to earn their spots by themselves. They don‘t need anyone to retire and I think if you told someone like Trusova that, she‘d be pretty disgruntled about it. Like, what, who said I couldn‘t earn a spot on my own? Here, hold my healthy sports drink and watch those quads. :laugh:

TallyT · Jun 5, 2019

Fluture said:
Those kids are certainly good enough to earn their spots by themselves. They don‘t need anyone to retire and I think if you told someone like Trusova that, she‘d be pretty disgruntled about it. Like, what, who said I couldn‘t earn a spot on my own? Here, hold my healthy sports drink and watch those quads.

Exactly. I mean, a lot of people obviously do like the little girls doing amazing jumps, and that's perfectly fair. But if Maria wants to keep going, and she's not breaking any rules when given the spots she gets... she's nineteen, folks. How would you like to be told by armchair specialists even at your current age that you're over the hill and should get out of the way of go-getters because said armchair specialists don't want them to have to deal with the possible competition?

LiamForeman · Jun 5, 2019

VenusHalley said:
I never cared for her skating, she just does not do it for me with her music choice and style of skating and has ugliest tano ever.... but she had some succcess in the past, she has her fans... and she seems like a lovely girl.

I forgot about her awful "Tano"!! I've been so distracted by Samodurova's awful one. Do they seriously get bonus credit for such ugly positions? It really is distracting and lowers the enjoyment factor for me.

labgoat · Jun 5, 2019

LRK said:
Maria doesn't owe it to anyone to "step aside". She has the right to continue as long as she has the ability & the desire. And the same for everyone else.

Exactly! Work hard, love what you do, compete as best as you can and whoever skates the best will win the coveted spots. If you do the first three, you achieve a personal victory and are a winner in my book. Put your best out there and dare others to top that.

nussnacker · Jun 5, 2019

Fluture said:
Zagitova, Medvedeva and Samodurova are guaranteed two spots anyway. And there‘s no way Shcherbakova, the National champion, won‘t get two assignments. Trusova is JWC Champ. Twice. No doubts there either. Kostornaya is JGPF champ. Not as crystal clear as the other two but unless she bombs hard at test skates or something like that, I can‘t imagine a scenario where she will end up without two spots. Tuktamysheva medaled at last GPF. She‘s safe as well. It‘s not those girls we‘re talking about who‘re in danger of losing their spots. They will all safely get two. If they submit Masha‘s name, she‘ll be competing with Konstantinova, Tarusina and Gubanova. Those are in danger of not getting a spot, not 3A, Worlds team or Liza.

+ Sakhanovich

In her interview she (Serafima) was so excited she scored over 200 internationally and that she might get her GP assignment next season, and I really hope she will get that 1 spot, although, she might get brushed over, since Turenko has literally zero political power.

But I'm glad Maria is not giving up and wants to keep fighting.
Throughout the season it honestly looked like she's more invested in her studies, rather than her skating, but it looks like she reassessed hew priorities after the season was over.
Good for her, I think she can be very competitive, she has very nice big jumps, superior SS, probably not too artistic, but a very talented skater nevertheless, who can confidently aim for podium finishes.

This season though... I can imagine it leaving a certain impression on Rusfed. I don't know if they are willing to give her another chance, or will they send her to senior Bs only in order for her to 'prove herself', either way, if she's given a chance at GPs and senior Bs, Maria really needs to revamp her image/reputation in Rusfed's eyes and really deliver on all her competitions.

Scout · Jun 5, 2019

When I read something like "I can't give it up. This is what I love", my respect for her grows. I love to see that people skate and compete because they enjoy it and are passionate about it, even if they're not at the top of their game.

Amei · Jun 5, 2019

TallyT said:
Exactly. I mean, a lot of people obviously do like the little girls doing amazing jumps, and that's perfectly fair. But if Maria wants to keep going, and she's not breaking any rules when given the spots she gets... she's nineteen, folks. How would you like to be told by armchair specialists even at your current age that you're over the hill and should get out of the way of go-getters because said armchair specialists don't want them to have to deal with the possible competition?

While I don't agree with the 'armchair specialists' I think some of the reasoning is not that she will give competition to the 3A but that the Russian ladies only have so many GP spots, there's a chance that someone that could place at 2 GPs well enough to get to the GPF could miss out because they only got 1 spot.

el henry · Jun 5, 2019

Scout said:
When I read something like "I can't give it up. This is what I love", my respect for her grows. I love to see that people skate and compete because they enjoy it and are passionate about it, even if they're not at the top of their game.

:2thumbs:

I do not really have an opinion about Maria's skating compared to anyone else's skating, but I loved this interview. She sounds mature, thoughtful, and she's staying in the sport for, IMHO, good reasons.

And like many others said, the only skaters guaranteed GP slots are those who earned them by ISU rules; let everyone else compete for the remainder. And yes, the Russian ladies have an embarrassment of riches, but that is certainly no reason for Maria to step aside when she feels that she has more to give.

That is not saying that Maria *will* win; it's saying that there is no reason for her to give up on the assumption that she won't. Best of luck to her

Skuratov · Jun 5, 2019

It does not matter if Maria retires or continues, Anna and Alyona are placed very low in the ISU standings.

19 Sotskova
.
.
.
29 Kostornaia
45 Shcherbakova.

I found this explanation about how the ISU assigns spots for the GP.

Skaters who placed first to sixth in the previous season’s World Championships will be considered Seeded Skaters and will be assigned to 2 GP events
1 Zagitova
3 Medvedeva

Skaters who placed from 7 to 12 in the previous season’s WC will be guaranteed 2 GP events.

9 Konstantinova
10 Samodurova

Any skater who holds a World Standing of up to 24 after the previous season ended will be guaranteed at least 1 GP event.

13 Tuktamysheva
18 Trusova
19 Sotskova

Junior skaters who have announced their intention of moving to senior and have met the minimum score will also be entered into the selection pool.
All medalists from the Junior WC and the Junior Grand Prix Final champions, if they decide to move to senior next season, will be included in the selection process for the senior GPS, though their assignments are not explicitly guaranteed.

29 Kostornaia
45 Shcherbakova

Even though the ISU does not explicitly promise 2 spots for the Junior World medalists, they usually get their 2 assignments.

SnowWhite · Jun 6, 2019

Skuratov said:
It does not matter if Maria retires or continues, Anna and Alyona are placed very low in the ISU standings.

19 Sotskova
.
.
.
29 Kostornaia
45 Shcherbakova.

I found this explanation about how the ISU assigns spots for the GP.

Skaters who placed first to sixth in the previous season’s World Championships will be considered Seeded Skaters and will be assigned to 2 GP events
1 Zagitova
3 Medvedeva

Skaters who placed from 7 to 12 in the previous season’s WC will be guaranteed 2 GP events.

9 Konstantinova
10 Samodurova

Any skater who holds a World Standing of up to 24 after the previous season ended will be guaranteed at least 1 GP event.

13 Tuktamysheva
18 Trusova
19 Sotskova

Junior skaters who have announced their intention of moving to senior and have met the minimum score will also be entered into the selection pool.
All medalists from the Junior WC and the Junior Grand Prix Final champions, if they decide to move to senior next season, will be included in the selection process for the senior GPS, though their assignments are not explicitly guaranteed.

29 Kostornaia
45 Shcherbakova

Even though the ISU does not explicitly promise 2 spots for the Junior World medalists, they usually get their 2 assignments.

Actually, Konstantinova did not compete at the World Championships, so she is not guaranteed 2 spots. Europeans does not count for that.

And you left out that a top 24 Season's Best score also guarantees a skater 1 spot.
- Sherbakova (SB 9)
- Kostornaya (SB 11)
(Maria Sotskova SB 43)

SB scores are more important for non-guaranteed spots than WS, from what I've seen. Anyways, it is totally irrelevant that Alena and Anna have low WS scores. It doesn't hurt them for GP selection.

Scott512 · Jun 6, 2019

TallyT said:
If the 3A want the spotlight, let them earn it themselves, like everyone else has had to.

Well, if the shoe fits... but be fair. Fans are allowed to find pre-pubescents simply less interesting per se, goodness knows I did when I was one let alone now. So why shouldn't they be happy that some of the older, more mature performances will also be on show?

3A will earn their way just as they did in juniors. They have been given nothing and earned everything.

Agree about liking mature skaters. There is room for them too..

andromache · Jun 6, 2019

I felt proud of (if also disappointed by) Polina Tsurskaya's decision to retire and pursue her studies and higher education. It seems like she was following her heart and doing what she felt passionately about.

I am also equally proud of Maria for deciding to stay in the sport and continue to compete because she loves it. Do I think she is likely to make another World team? No. But loving competition and skating doesn't always mean standing on the podium. It also seems like she is very realistic about her future in the sport. I'm glad she is doing what she loves instead of feeling like she has to be pushed out by the younger girls coming up.

I have always been a fan of her skating. Looking forward to seeing her compete this season.

gsk8 · Jun 6, 2019

Skuratov said:
I found this explanation about how the ISU assigns spots for the GP.

SnowWhite said:
SB scores are more important for non-guaranteed spots than WS, from what I've seen. Anyways, it is totally irrelevant that Alena and Anna have low WS scores. It doesn't hurt them for GP selection.

Just for everyone's benefit, here is the official announcement for last season's GP on how skaters/teams were selected.

LiamForeman · Jun 7, 2019

SnowWhite said:
And you left out that a top 24 Season's Best score also guarantees a skater 1 spot.
- Sherbakova (SB 9)
- Kostornaya (SB 11)
(Maria Sotskova SB 43)
.

Where can I find a SB list and WS list? Thanks.

ETA: Found it! SB: http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/sb2018-19/sbtslto.htm
WS: http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wsladies.htm

Maria Sotskova: 'I can't give up. This is what I love'

Fluture

Fluture

TallyT

LiamForeman

William/Uilyam

Fluture

TallyT

LiamForeman

William/Uilyam

labgoat

Female thinker deep in various thoughts

nussnacker

one and only

Scout

Amei

el henry

Go have some cake. And come back with jollity.

Skuratov

SnowWhite

Scott512

andromache

gsk8

LiamForeman

William/Uilyam

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