The state of Russian skating
Dec. 28th, 2019 04:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missizzyI can't help but think that part of the reason Russia's government-owned TV put out an internationally available stream on their figure skating championships with relentless positivist Ted Barton commenting was for propaganda purposes. When such a country is the strongest in the world at a sport, they'll want the world to know it. Though maybe they should've remembered how many men's competitions are disasters these days; that one did not show them in their best light. The rest were better, though the ladies result remains a very sad thing. Especially since I'm starting to wonder if Alexandra Trusova is seriously cracking. We've seen it happen to Tutberidze's students plenty, after all.
(Although even with Medvedeva's withdrawal, I am happy at the prospect of her skating to "Allegria" next year. Even if we only get to see it in the fall.)
I am also happy to see Dmitri Aliev get himself a National title, even if he didn't do it with his best skating. That may have been the result I was happiest about. Less so with the dance result. Though of course, you have to wonder: how much will they ban Ivan Bukin from, how much will that hurt him politickally, and if this WADA ban goes on for years and years, will he be provided with any recourse to prove himself clean? We shouldn't go losing Stepanova & Bukin entirely when noone even has a suggestion of what he might have done wrong. (And will Ksenia Stolbova just quietly retreat? That withdrawal makes you wonder...)
(Although even with Medvedeva's withdrawal, I am happy at the prospect of her skating to "Allegria" next year. Even if we only get to see it in the fall.)
I am also happy to see Dmitri Aliev get himself a National title, even if he didn't do it with his best skating. That may have been the result I was happiest about. Less so with the dance result. Though of course, you have to wonder: how much will they ban Ivan Bukin from, how much will that hurt him politickally, and if this WADA ban goes on for years and years, will he be provided with any recourse to prove himself clean? We shouldn't go losing Stepanova & Bukin entirely when noone even has a suggestion of what he might have done wrong. (And will Ksenia Stolbova just quietly retreat? That withdrawal makes you wonder...)
