Figure Skating Thread (Olympic Spoilers/Discussion starting at post #16)

[MaryClare]

Veronika Zhillina has switched to Azerbaijan

 

[MaryClare]

Veronika Zhillina has switched to Azerbaijan

Alexander Plushenko, Evgeny’s son has also switched to Azerbaijan.

 

[Matilda23]

Why is this, because of the sporting participation bans on Russia, or is it very competitive to make the Russian national FS team, or do the Plushenko’s have family ties to Azerbaijan?

 

[MaryClare]

Why is this, because of the sporting participation bans on Russia, or is it very competitive to make the Russian national FS team, or do the Plushenko’s have family ties to Azerbaijan?

It is not difficult to make the national team as a male single skater. As far as I know, they have no connection to Azerbaijan much like the Russian gymnasts who represented Azerbaijan did not either.

It is definitely down to sanctions. The FSU has much stricter sanctions on Russian athletes than WG. They also require the athletes named coaches to qualify for neutral status which Evgeny Plushenko absolutely would not.

 

[Denn]

It is not difficult to make the national team as a male single skater. As far as I know, they have no connection to Azerbaijan much like the Russian gymnasts who represented Azerbaijan did not either.

It is definitely down to sanctions. The FSU has much stricter sanctions on Russian athletes than WG. They also require the athletes named coaches to qualify for neutral status which Evgeny Plushenko absolutely would not.

Can you explain that last sentence? I'm not processing the verbs as you intended.

BTW, I sometimes think that you are doing the wrong job. You are way too on top of who's doing what and why -type information to be using that for coaching.

 

[makam]

Can you explain that last sentence? I'm not processing the verbs as you intended.

BTW, I sometimes think that you are doing the wrong job. You are way too on top of who's doing what and why -type information to be using that for coaching.

I think she meant Pluschenko senior couldn't get neutral status as a Russian coach because of past activities. So Alexander would have to take a different coach to comps. Evidently, there are not similar requirements when you hop countries. All is washed clean with the new paperwork, I guess. (Not meaning too much shade here because I am thinking certain other countries should start seeing some sanctions due to military actions...)

 

[MaryClare]

Can you explain that last sentence? I'm not processing the verbs as you intended.

BTW, I sometimes think that you are doing the wrong job. You are way too on top of who's doing what and why -type information to be using that for coaching.

Haha very kind Denn. But being on top of information it’s not a valued skill for an easy life here! And besides, you’ve never seen how good I am at teaching leaps.

What I meant was Evgeny Plushenko would not pass the FSU’s neutrality test. Which is actually stricter for coaches than for athletes. So he wouldn’t be able to attend competitions as his son’s coach. Also I wouldn’t be certain that Alexander would qualify as a neutral either, depending on how strict they are with junior athletes.

 

[MaryClare]

I think she meant Pluschenko senior couldn't get neutral status as a Russian coach because of past activities. So Alexander would have to take a different coach to comps. Evidently, there are not similar requirements when you hop countries. All is washed clean with the new paperwork, I guess. (Not meaning too much shade here because I am thinking certain other countries should start seeing some sanctions due to military actions...)

Yes that’s what I meant. There is of course the Eteri loophole, she was denied neutral status as Petrosian’s coach but was accredited as a coach for Georgia, whom her daughter and son in law compete for. But it did mean she wasn’t allowed to actually coach Petrosian

 

[MaryClare]

Sofia Muravieva and Kira Trofimova have for want of a better phrase, “entered the portal”. Muravieva’s request to be removed from the Russian national has been granted and she is reportedly being courted by several countries, with France believed to be her number one choice. Trofimova is not currently on the national team and rumours strongly suggest she’ll go to Belarus.