- Joined
- Nov 25, 2014
Russia could have made i/k Russian champions going into Sochi but they didn’t! And then I/k didn’t even win euros that year either because b/s was number one! Euros 2014 very interesting because no hint at all I/k would win Olympic bronze at all! That didn’t develop until team trophy in Sochi. At the Olympics!
I&K didn't win Euros in 2014 because Elena fell on the twizzles, not because B&S were propped up by the Federation (which they were, but they were also the most consistent competitors). Besides, B&S didn't even compete in Budapest!
Elena&Nikita would've easily won gold at Euros and Worlds that year had they stayed on their feet (strangely enough, C&L benefitted on both occasions!). In fact, the three times they didn't mess up that season, they beat V&M's TES at the Trophée Eric Bombard, won bronze in Sochi and the FD in Saitama.
I don't know about the 2014 Nationals because although they fell on the straight-line lift and took -3 in deductions, their score might not have been high enough for gold even if they had skated clean.
One of the biggest problems with Russian ID during this quad was keeping their teams together. On one hand, you can't force people to skate together if they hate each other, but losing 3 teams with potential in 2 years is too much. (I know Monko&Khalyavin split because of injury, but still).