Russian figure skating news in 2024

[TAHbKA]

Usacheva was beaten by Trusova with quad but won over all non-russians without having quad. Proving my point IMO. If she had low components - well, that's not a matter of how bad/good she was but how the judges reward ed newbies.

This is EXACTLY the point am making. All these ladies (Yametova/Gorbacheva) would be on their first senior international season and without the ultraC. The judges would not reward them high enough marks, thus I do not believe any of the Russian ladies except for Petrosian would had made it to the GPF. Am glad we agree.

I absolutely agree Scherbakova was a great competitor, that second quad in France was fierce. She always fought for every jump and every element, she delivered when it was important (the Olympics, when no one believed she would win). She is also very nice, very smart, very well spoken. Which does not make her a skater I enjoyed to watch

 

[Flanker]

This is EXACTLY the point am making. All these ladies (Yametova/Gorbacheva) would be on their first senior international season and without the ultraC. The judges would not reward them high enough marks, thus I do not believe any of the Russian ladies except for Petrosian would had made it to the GPF. Am glad we agree.

I absolutely agree Scherbakova was a great competitor, that second quad in France was fierce. She always fought for every jump and every element, she delivered when it was important (the Olympics, when no one believed she would win). She is also very nice, very smart, very well spoken. Which does not make her a skater I enjoyed to watch

It's not about who do you enjoy to watch

I can only repeat: Dasha Sadkova did not have a quad and defeated everyone internationally at her senior GP stage beside Sasha. If Sasha was not there she would have won. Yametova, Frolova (who would be no newbie internationally) could do the same at at least three if not four of the GP stages we have seen. Gushina would be the least known and possibly the most punished on PCS but even her could medal at at least three stages with how the others skated. with what they all have shown I don't think they would be scored below 195. Dasha Sadkova without quad received 214, with even one bigger mistake, Sinitsyna 205. They were known as juniors so even if we would take 5 points for fame, we would still have 209 and 200, that would be still medal score everywhere except 200 in China. in the current women's GP standings two skaters received two golds, one received one gold one silver, one receivesd one gold one bronze, two received two silvers. So my clear conclusion is most of the three would have a chance for at least two silvers, some gold/silver, some maybe one bronze but that would still affect those who were there.

At the end there will be a moment where Russian skaters appear again, sooner or later, whatever the result will be and such start is simply one stage on the way to normal. IMO their chances for medals would be high and apart Adelka I presume Frolova and Yametova would have big chance for the finals, Gushina for at least one medal. That's good enough for me.

 

[Karen-W]

Uniformly, Russian domestic scores probably need to be reduced by 10% for anyone not named BoiKoz or MishGal. Maybe just 5% for Aliev, Kondratiuk and StepBuk, who all had solid senior international resumes before Russia was banned.

Anyone else, especially the women, are going to be judged by the new international standard and women's skating is changing. I'm sure some of the top women, like Frolova, would be competitive internationally nowadays - she was a lovely skater without any of the vaunted quads or a 3A to propel her over her own countrywomen with those elements. Sinitsyna is another one who was interesting enough beyond the quads & 3As. Anyone else - hasn't competed enough on the senior level internationally to make any kind of assumptions about how they would score and fare against the field in a discipline that is, slowly, moving past the Russian jumping style as the standard by which jump rotations are measured (See Levito & Thorngren for proof, if you're wondering).

 

[caseyedwards]

It's not about who do you enjoy to watch

I can only repeat: Dasha Sadkova did not have a quad and defeated everyone internationally at her senior GP stage beside Sasha. If Sasha was not there she would have won. Yametova, Frolova (who would be no newbie internationally) could do the same at at least three if not four of the GP stages we have seen. Gushina would be the least known and possibly the most punished on PCS but even her could medal at at least three stages with how the others skated. with what they all have shown I don't think they would be scored below 195. Dasha Sadkova without quad received 214, with even one bigger mistake, Sinitsyna 205. They were known as juniors so even if we would take 5 points for fame, we would still have 209 and 200, that would be still medal score everywhere except 200 in China. in the current women's GP standings two skaters received two golds, one received one gold one silver, one receivesd one gold one bronze, two received two silvers. So my clear conclusion is most of the three would have a chance for at least two silvers, some gold/silver, some maybe one bronze but that would still affect those who were there.

At the end there will be a moment where Russian skaters appear again, sooner or later, whatever the result will be and such start is simply one stage on the way to normal. IMO their chances for medals would be high and apart Adelka I presume Frolova and Yametova would have big chance for the finals, Gushina for at least one medal. That's good enough for me.

I wouldn’t ever expect to see Russians again considering it depends on the approval of Ukraine. Isu pressure just banned the word Russian from a program.

 

[Jammers]

Men are on the rise and I wonder what caused it. Multiple of them cen deliver program with multiple quads mostly clean so the fight foe medals is very interesting and so can be the nationals. There can be like 8-10 real contenders for a podium.

Also ice dance seems to be reborn, after dramas last season when there were plenty of splits and newly formed teams.

Put those men against the Japanese or Ilia and they will revert to what Russian men have become since Plushenko retired. As for Ice Dance it's been North America that's been dominate in Ice Dance since 2010 and with the the exception of a few World and Olympic medals they have not been nearly as big a factor in ice dance compared to the US for instance. In fact the dominance in Men's and Ice Dance the Russians had ended in the 2000's and they never regained it. Imagine the shock in Moscow at Worlds in 2011 when North America sweep the podium in ice dance. The new order in ice dance was here.

 

[Flanker]

Put those men against the Japanese or Ilia and they will revert to what Russian men have become since Plushenko retired. As for Ice Dance it's been North America that's been dominate in Ice Dance since 2010 and with the the exception of a few World and Olympic medals they have not been nearly as big a factor in ice dance compared to the US for instance. In fact the dominance in Men's and Ice Dance the Russians had ended in the 2000's and they never regained it. Imagine the shock in Moscow at Worlds in 2011 when North America sweep the podium in ice dance. The new order in ice dance was here.

This I consider more subjective than anything else, not considered relevant for discussion.

 

[TAHbKA]

@Flanker , we'll agree to disagree. I believe Petrosian would have won everything and no other Russian would have made it to the GPF. But you do you, dear

 

[caseyedwards]

Put those men against the Japanese or Ilia and they will revert to what Russian men have become since Plushenko retired. As for Ice Dance it's been North America that's been dominate in Ice Dance since 2010 and with the the exception of a few World and Olympic medals they have not been nearly as big a factor in ice dance compared to the US for instance. In fact the dominance in Men's and Ice Dance the Russians had ended in the 2000's and they never regained it. Imagine the shock in Moscow at Worlds in 2011 when North America sweep the podium in ice dance. The new order in ice dance was here.

This is absurd. Put ilia with the most expensive and connected choreographer in figure skating all of a sudden he’s artistic with good pcs! It’s a joke how transparent it is.

The ridiculous worship of many mediocre Japanese skaters is another matter. Bland interchangeabe with never an iota of an original Japanese skating school to be found.

 

[On My Own]

"Flanker". What a throwback to the three-way Russian Ladies fanwars on GoldenSkate. (derogatory)

Is Eteri still coaching or has she been jailed?

 

[On My Own]

The same applied to Chan and Kozuka - their gliding did not transfer on the screen.

I think it did. (happy to see you mention Kozuka, though, who was grossly underrated)

 

[Flanker]

Speaking of "Russian men", well:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

No reason to think that top Russian men like Dikidzhi, Semenenko or Lutfullin would have done worse than Shaidorov or Nika Egadze, the probability of at least one of them in the finals is high.

 

[Flanker]

@Flanker , we'll agree to disagree. I believe Petrosian would have won everything and no other Russian would have made it to the GPF. But you do you, dear

And even one Petrosian would be more than worth of it

 

[On My Own]

Speaking of "Russian men", well:

Really? You couldn't even wait a week before you started this again?

 

[Flanker]

Really? You couldn't even wait a week before you started this again?

I'm not starting anything, I'm doing what's supposed to be done on forum about Russian skating 2024

 

[On My Own]

I'm not starting anything, I'm doing what's supposed to be done on forum about Russian skating 2024

Yes, I'm sure "Russian men" just somehow happened to be in quotation marks there

Anyway, try not to bring the popcorn too often here.

 

[Flanker]

Update on Russian pairs (links to articles):

Artemeva/Briukhanov - still have not received medical clearance to compete.

Chikmareva/Ianchenkov - will miss Russian nationals with 95 % probability according to Sliusarenko. “Katya and Matvey took to the ice, are training, are slowly getting in shape, and have started doing double throws. Katya has recovered her triple jumps, but we are not forcing it because the injury was serious. We will miss the Russian Championship (with a 95% probability), I don’t know what needs to happen for us to make it in time, but we are not giving a final answer yet,” Slousarenko said.

 

[cris]

I've just watched Alina Gorbacheva's FS at the last Russian GP. Nothing short of sensational, in my opinion. She has everything: very good jumps, skating skills, spins, presentation. Even a 4S. Skating like this, she would definitely have qualified for GPF (and won it, too), even as a first year senior.

If you want to see it, it's here, at 01:13:17

Гран-при России. Санкт-Петербург. Произвольные программы

13:00 - Женщины. Произвольная программа 15:00 - Мужчины. Произвольная программа 17:00 - Пары. Произвольная программа 18:00 - Танцы на льду. Произвольный танец Серия Гран-при России — турнир кубкового формата, который проходит с сентября по декабрь в несколько этапов, с финалом после Нового...

rutube.ru

 

[Karen-W]

Speaking of "Russian men", well:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

No reason to think that top Russian men like Dikidzhi, Semenenko or Lutfullin would have done worse than Shaidorov or Nika Egadze, the probability of at least one of them in the finals is high.

You do realize that Shaidorov was born in Kazakhstan and has never represented any other country but Kazakhstan, right?

Simply training in Moscow does not make him any more Russian than Tomoki Hiwatashi is Japanese simply because, born & raised in the USA & only ever having represented the USA, he is now training in Japan.

 

[Ka3sha]

Just to add a few cents. I haven't watched much of Russian skating this year, but still follow the results and main skaters. I would actually say that Russian Men and Pairs would be the most competetive on the international circuit.

Pairs is a given, of course, even if I am not the biggest fan of both B/K and M/G and their matireal this year. It feels like they are stagnating and not working on their speed, lines and overall flow (whoch is understandable given the whole situation and their technical content). Mukhortova/Evgeniev are pretty good though, they may be lacking consistency and some tech, but I do appreacite their style and basic skills.

Men are quite fascinating to watch, even if they also lack skating skills and interesting choreo - but come on, we have Malinin and Grassl at the top, so who cares about PCS. Still, they are all different and have finally outgrown that "second coming of Pluschenko" phase. Technical content of top guys like Dikidzhi, Ugozhaev, Gumennik, Semenenko, etc is hard to argue with. Even Aliev is trying to add the difficulty, Savosin is going through a renessainse, Mozalev is gaining consistency (although too early to tell). Then there is Vetlugin with great basics and skating skills who also does quad lutz with season. So, there is both quantity and quality in there. If there is obe discipline I would reccomend to watch at Russian Nats, it would be Men's event.

Even Ice Dance have more variety than ladies this year. Also, I have no idea what exactly changed but the judging is getting more fair. Like now it's not enough to be Zhulin's student to medal. After Stepanova/Bukin and Khudaberdieva/Bazin retire, there will three or four pretty even and decent younger teams who maybe won't win everything on the international scene but still may add something interesting to the table.

 

[On My Own]

I know Malinin isn't the best skater, but putting him in the same bracket as Grassl is insulting to him.

 

[Frau Muller]

ILIA MALININ winning next rem. A 1 all the bay. I got about of the rest. Hoo hoo hoo!

 

[ajingmarg]

Just to add a few cents. I haven't watched much of Russian skating this year, but still follow the results and main skaters. I would actually say that Russian Men and Pairs would be the most competetive on the international circuit.

Pairs is a given, of course, even if I am not the biggest fan of both B/K and M/G and their matireal this year. It feels like they are stagnating and not working on their speed, lines and overall flow (whoch is understandable given the whole situation and their technical content). Mukhortova/Evgeniev are pretty good though, they may be lacking consistency and some tech, but I do appreacite their style and basic skills.

Men are quite fascinating to watch, even if they also lack skating skills and interesting choreo - but come on, we have Malinin and Grassl at the top, so who cares about PCS. Still, they are all different and have finally outgrown that "second coming of Pluschenko" phase. Technical content of top guys like Dikidzhi, Ugozhaev, Gumennik, Semenenko, etc is hard to argue with. Even Aliev is trying to add the difficulty, Savosin is going through a renessainse, Mozalev is gaining consistency (although too early to tell). Then there is Vetlugin with great basics and skating skills who also does quad lutz with season. So, there is both quantity and quality in there. If there is obe discipline I would reccomend to watch at Russian Nats, it would be Men's event.

Even Ice Dance have more variety than ladies this year. Also, I have no idea what exactly changed but the judging is getting more fair. Like now it's not enough to be Zhulin's student to medal. After Stepanova/Bukin and Khudaberdieva/Bazin retire, there will three or four pretty even and decent younger teams who maybe won't win everything on the international scene but still may add something interesting to the table.

What tells you K/B will retire soon?
She is only 22

 

[Ka3sha]

What tells you K/B will retire soon?
She is only 22

She is 22, and he is 29. They have already won Russian Nats title, and techically can do shows and earn money in Russia. Also, given the competition these days I doubt they will be able to win it again (barring some big mistakes from others).
Plus, she is tentatively trying the ground in media, journalism, etc. So I kinda doubt their motivation to put all these opportunities behind (shows, media opportunities) to compete for top-10 at Worlds at best.
Also, if Russian teams are allowed back, probably it would make more sense for Russian Fed to push for younger teams in a longer perspective.

 

[Stephanie]

I've just watched Alina Gorbacheva's FS at the last Russian GP. Nothing short of sensational, in my opinion. She has everything: very good jumps, skating skills, spins, presentation. Even a 4S. Skating like this, she would definitely have qualified for GPF (and won it, too), even as a first year senior.

If you want to see it, it's here, at 01:13:17

Гран-при России. Санкт-Петербург. Произвольные программы

13:00 - Женщины. Произвольная программа 15:00 - Мужчины. Произвольная программа 17:00 - Пары. Произвольная программа 18:00 - Танцы на льду. Произвольный танец Серия Гран-при России — турнир кубкового формата, который проходит с сентября по декабрь в несколько этапов, с финалом после Нового...

rutube.ru

Gorbacheva isn’t senior eligible until next season.

 

[Flanker]

I've just watched Alina Gorbacheva's FS at the last Russian GP. Nothing short of sensational, in my opinion. She has everything: very good jumps, skating skills, spins, presentation. Even a 4S. Skating like this, she would definitely have qualified for GPF (and won it, too), even as a first year senior.

If you want to see it, it's here, at 01:13:17

Гран-при России. Санкт-Петербург. Произвольные программы

13:00 - Женщины. Произвольная программа 15:00 - Мужчины. Произвольная программа 17:00 - Пары. Произвольная программа 18:00 - Танцы на льду. Произвольный танец Серия Гран-при России — турнир кубкового формата, который проходит с сентября по декабрь в несколько этапов, с финалом после Нового...

rutube.ru

Yes, she has improved a lot this season, but that's what I said, she is born on 23rd July 2007, 23 days short of (international) senior eligibility this season.

 

[rfisher]

Gorbacheva isn’t senior eligible until next season.

Which is good for her actually. If we assume the Russian ban is lifted for the Olympics, Petrosin will be the designated skater. It will be up to her to regain additional slots for the women. She certainly has the talent and skills to do so as long as that huge pressure didn't get to her. Then skaters like Gorbacheva would have a chance over the next quad. Her 4S in her last comp was excellent. There are some really good juniors who would also move up over that 4 year period. This is going to be the same for all 4 disciplines. One skater/team is going to have to finish top 10 to earn additional slots. I think that is doable for all and Petrosin would likely win given her base value. Which skater/team would be sent??? Apart from Petrosin, that's really open to some extent.

But, ITA the men's event at Russian nationals is the event to watch this time. Samsonov is another who has had a good season. Pairs, it's down to 2 it's just a matter of the night which one will have gold and which silver. Women, it's Petrosin's to lose. Dance, haven't a clue as the results have been surprising in some of the events.

 

[cris]

Yes, she has improved a lot this season, but that's what I said, she is born on 23rd July 2007, 23 days short of (international) senior eligibility this season.

Sorry, I missed your post.

 

[Flanker]

Sorry, I missed your post.

Nothing happened. we surely can say she is potentially very capable senior, let's hope she would fulfill her potential in this season and those that are coming after.

 

[Flanker]

BTW one news, Russians will compete at world swimming championships in December as neutrals. Not saying ISU will now change the attitude definitely, but the more sport organizations will make this step, the harder it will be to advocate for the ban. I remind that ISU reasoned it only with "security risk", nothing more. If it's not security risk to allow swimmers, it is hard to justify it as security risk with skaters.

 

[Karen-W]

BTW one news, Russians will compete at world swimming championships in December as neutrals. Not saying ISU will now change the attitude definitely, but the more sport organizations will make this step, the harder it will be to advocate for the ban. I remind that ISU reasoned it only with "security risk", nothing more. If it's not security risk to allow swimmers, it is hard to justify it as security risk with skaters.

Again, competing as neutrals means the skaters are going to have to prove they have not supported the war or anything like that. Trust that skating fans will go apesh*t on the ISU if ANY Russian skaters are allowed back in who have EVER voiced even the tiniest bit of support for the war. I don't know how hardcore swimming fans are, but there are plenty of skating fans who will mine through every single Russian skater's social media accounts (Telegram, IG, etc) from Feb 2022 forward and find anything to force the ISU into rejecting anyone who is not truly neutral. Guaranteed that Mishina/Galliamov and Stepanova/Bukin aren't going to be competing anywhere outside Russia until after the war is definitively concluded and the IOC lifts the ban entirely.

Here's the other thing... The Winter sports feds have been a LOT less open to the return of Russian athletes than the Summer sports feds. It went HARD with the winter sports feds what happened in Beijing - and they've also not forgotten Sochi, nor have they forgotten, really, that Russia's invaded Ukraine twice now within a month of the conclusion of the Winter Olympics in the last 3 Olympic cycles. We'll have to see what happens in the coming months, especially with the incoming US administration hoping to see some sort of peace agreement brokered between Ukraine & Russia, but I honestly won't be surprised if the 2026 Winter Olympics are competed under the same sort of situation as the 2024 Summer Olympics, with only a handful of neutral athletes allowed from Russia and Belarus. The IOC couldn't impose a full ban on Russia after Sochi, thanks to CAS, but CAS hasn't stopped them from the current ban due to the Olympic Truce violation, so it will remain in place as long as the war continues - or at least until after the 2026 Olympics & Paralympics are completed.