Despite landing three quads and 3A, Veronika Zhilina got only silver, while Sofia Titova with two quads and two 3As took only fourth place at 2023 Russian Junior Championships in Perm today.
Their coach, Evgeni Plushenko expressed his utter disappointment and skaters' plans to change sporting citizenship in seek for fair treatment.
He's been noticing unfairness of domestic judging against his school for at least 2-3 years, had taken steps against it (talking with judges, federation officials), but nothing has changed since then. Reportedly, after being warned about the matter and skaters' growing willingness to switch the flag, one of the officials replied: "go ahead". Plushenko also brought up Alexandra Trusova's 2021 Nats performance and score as another example of bias.
He said skaters had been offered citizenship by multiple countries and while he had been trying to deter them so far, in present circumstances he's going to support them by beginning talks with federation upon his return to Moscow.
Translation from fs-gossips.com:
Their coach, Evgeni Plushenko expressed his utter disappointment and skaters' plans to change sporting citizenship in seek for fair treatment.
He's been noticing unfairness of domestic judging against his school for at least 2-3 years, had taken steps against it (talking with judges, federation officials), but nothing has changed since then. Reportedly, after being warned about the matter and skaters' growing willingness to switch the flag, one of the officials replied: "go ahead". Plushenko also brought up Alexandra Trusova's 2021 Nats performance and score as another example of bias.
He said skaters had been offered citizenship by multiple countries and while he had been trying to deter them so far, in present circumstances he's going to support them by beginning talks with federation upon his return to Moscow.
Translation from fs-gossips.com:
Evgeni Plushenko: I have the following situation, a statement: for some reason, my athletes who do ultra-c are given much lower points. That is, the judges give lower GOE, but the jumps are excellent. Super. If someone else did them, for example, they would give completely different points. I looked at printouts, points were much higher. For example, if my athletes have any endges, the judges immediately see that. Other athletes – they do not see. This has been going on for several seasons. What’s this? I spoke with the judges, with the federation, I said, “Look. Why are you judging me harshly? Judge everyone equally.” We are for justice. If a girl pops a jump, she gets +2, and when mine does the same, she gets -4. Why? Why is such prejudice? Where’s the justice? For the second year, I have been telling athletes about this, warning, reminding them. Everyone in the federation says that everything is fine, everything is great. Again no. I endured, endured, but today we talked with the athletes, with the parents. Most likely, there will be transfers of many skaters to other countries. Those who are judged unfairly. Because why should the guys also fight for justice? And should I fight? I’m tired. If the federation does not need us, my athletes, then we will go where we are needed.
This is not for the first season. This has been building up for a long time. If you look now, people win with one quadruple. I don’t want to offend anyone. But one quad versus four ultra-c. Well, what are we doing? Same that happened to me and Lysacek? Where is he now? Where? What? Trusova skated, moved figure skating forward and lost the Olympics. She trained with me, jumped four ultra-c. But we don’t need it, we need ballet. I understand that you need to skate beautifully, spin, I understand everything perfectly. But you also need to move forward.
If you take Nika (Zhilina), she skates consistently, doing several quads this year. Same for Titova – three ultra-c. Yes, there is a gap after a short program. But judge each athlete fairly. If you see my skater has a wrong edge, call it, no problem. You see the other has it too, but do not call. Today the girl with two under-rotated quads is on the podium. One got one carrot, and the other didn’t. That’s the difference between third and fourth place. And I’m also offended, the athlete, parents. When they close their eyes on others, but open them on me. I do not want to cooperate, move forward. How can I stop them when such a solution boiled up? It means that someone has set a task. The Federation says, “Go away, it’s okay.” Great, very cool. Upon arrival, I will communicate with the Ministry of Sports, with the Russian Olympic Committee, with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Difficult times, we must unite, raise each other. But we have conflict after conflict. I am a non-confrontational person. But when they tick me off… Yana and I are building a school, but here it’s knowingly: “Ah, Plushenko’s Angels” … I got tired.
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