We've had lots of questions over the last few weeks...
No, we aren't returning to podcasting any time soon. It's time for a long overdue break to focus on everything else.
The last 5 years have been fun but also exhausting, and we need a real break
As more and more skaters come forward with their experiences with COVID and the resulting *serious* complications should be a reminder that even if you survive there's no guarantee that it won't be horrible, traumatic and potentially leave you with serious complications FOR LIFE
The ISU and various federations are unwittingly killing the sport of figure skating.
The 2020/21 COVID debacle has been just an escalation of the existing issues in the sport.
Read part 1, all about the disastrous COVID measures now
It has been exactly one year since 2020 worlds in Montreal were cancelled.
We as a global population are in an even worse position than we were a year ago, and
@ISU_figure
hasn't taken anywhere near enough precautions, and yet 2021 worlds are going ahead
I cannot believe this needs to be said but you should not be entering or leaving your seats during a program
Incredibly disrespectful to both the skaters and the other fans around you
Rumours about this partnership are confirmed.
Speaks volumes that the press release mentions that James retired from skating w/ Cipres but conveniently neglects to mention why
Vanessa James and Eric Radford to compete in pairs together
Vanessa James et Eric Radford concourront ensemble en patinage en couple
@VanessaJamessk8
@Rad85E
Per Shcherbakova had 100F/38C fever before SP; coaches offered WD but she refused. Next day, she refused to have temp taken
Some will say it’s brave she skated. But it’s irresponsible of adults, for her & everyone else’s health
A scary collision in practice between Della Monica and Guarise and James and Radford
DM/G absolutely had right of way during their runthrough, it was up to J/R to try to avoid a collision
This is just devastating. Winning is obviously the goal for all athletes but the idea that it's okay to be made miserable every day to win is so harmful
Since athletes have no choice but to attend worlds, please please please go above and beyond what the ISU is mandating. Wear n95s, double mask, keep your mask on at every possible moment
Don't let their "bubble" narrative lull you into a false sense of security PLEASE
(also if weight gain is impacting their ability to skate, trust me, they know. But these athletes are often going through puberty and there's nothing they can do to stop or reverse it, and eating disorders are already rampant in our sport, so keep your dumb opinions to yourself)
This whole story is absolutely devastating.
I am so glad someone has been digging deeper than the initial reports, there are so many factors in this tragedy that the skating world too often accepts as normal.
At 15, Katia Alexandrovskaya was recruited to help Australia win Olympic gold. Last month she was found dead. This is the confronting story of the system that treats athletes as "disposable", via
@julianlinden
and
@JessiHalloran
This is how one brave athlete speaking out can start to change a culture of abuse. The voices of others makes victims feel safer in adding their voice.
Now we just need the powerful to REALLY listen.
I am genuinely in shock that Shulepov's freeskate costume has been nominated for best costume on the ISU voting site
I can understand some division between skating to or not skating to Schindler's list and some of the more tame costumes, but this is CLEARLY a poor choice
To all who has said that Wakaba Higuchi or Alina Zagitova or Gracie Gold or Julia Lipnitskaya or Ashley Wagner or Kaori Sakamoto or Mirai Nagasu or Hanul Kim or Alysa Liu or any other athletes should lose weight and chided them for body changes, unfollow me and
The one positive out of this CAS ruling might just be that the ISU actually passes the proposal for this year's congress to increase the senior age minimum
It already seemed likely, but given this decision and how much easier it would be to change age mins than WADA rules...
I'm sorry, others WD because they had been in contact with someone with COVID but in spite of the fact that Zakrajsek AND one of his skaters BOTH are positive, the rest of his skaters were still allowed to compete?
We're only halfway through, but Marjo and Zach have absolutely just won the gala.
Last year's RD, complete with full out Midnight Blues pattern? We cheered it and gave them a standing ovation while everyone around us looked totally confused. 🤣🤣🤣
The fact that her former coaches have been sanctioned by safesport and her former partner has been CHARGED and still nothing from her about the fact that it was covered up to help her achieve her Olympic dream...
Sinitsina and Katsalapov with a major issue from him on the midline, a near fall, plus a struggle on the second twizzle...
That really shouldn't be enough for the win imo
Papadakis and Cizeron with far and away the best skate so far
The first team to basically skate up to their potential, just a shame their world standing has them out of the final flight
I just want to clarify that per ISU requirements, close contacts of the positive case will not have to withdraw unless they test positive or show signs and symptoms, even though the incubation period for COVID is 2 weeks...
Shcherbakova is a phenomenal technician, but when compared so directly to a program like Satoko's it doesn't do nearly as much for me as a whole program
Catching back up with the CAS decision re Valieva, unfortunately this isn't surprising based on how the rules are written (which needs a serious re-do), but the ISU and IOC have made very clear this isn't over yet. Reminder that this is only the preliminary suspension not upheld
So here's my question...
@CBCOlympics
@olympicchannel
@SkateTSN
when are you going to start asking the ISU about athlete safety and the lack of safety precautions required this season and it's impact on athletes, coaches and the general population's health and safety?
Also I would like to know where the journalists are in this?
I have seen SO LITTLE from legitimate news outlets (ie not fan run blogs podcasts etc) and no one really asking the tough questions to the people who have power
A really rough day for piper and Paul
Small mistakes throughout and then a DISASTER on the combo lift, with piper failing to hit that spiral position
It's such a shame the thing we've worried about all season happened here instead of somewhere else
And this is PRECISELY why this should have never been the Olympic qualifier. The ISU twisted every single athlete and federation's wrist and MADE THEM COME and then didn't even manage to enforce there ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM procedures
"I am actually quite satisfied with my triple axel - in general I am still quite happy with this performance, but the score was actually lower than the team events. So that is what I'm feeling not happy about.”
Wakaba Higuchi (JPN)
#FigureSkating
#Beijing2022
Since this is a thing we now have to have lots of conversations about...
Deciding to no longer support someone who implicitly supports people accused of abuse is not making them responsible for the sins of their partner.
It's holding them accountable for their own (in)eaction
ISU confirms a THIRD confirmed positive COVID test, no confirmation who as of yet, but again, some logical leaps can be made here
ISU says close contacts tested negative, but AGAIN this is an all but useless contact tracing technique bc of incubation
How long has it been since Shoma got 3 combinations in in a FS? It's been a minute
Very glad to see them back. He's still not landing his jumps with the quality he has in the past, but the FIGHT is back
I know I'll never get a response or even a look but
@ISU_Figure
you're doing your athletes, coaches, officials, and THE SPORT ITSELF a disservice.
DO. BETTER.
As more and more skaters come forward with their experiences with COVID and the resulting *serious* complications should be a reminder that even if you survive there's no guarantee that it won't be horrible, traumatic and potentially leave you with serious complications FOR LIFE
Yuma: "I managed to put in about 80% today and got a good feel for my new program layout, so I'm going to do my best in the SP and FS, while remembering to have fun."
Opening ceremony for worlds is supposed to be opened by Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria, however she has just tested positive for COVID
This is just the latest in a long line of signs worlds should be cancelled.
What an incredible skate from Miura and Kihara
They couldn't have asked for anything more, left everything they had out there, down to the happy tears at centre ice
You can really see the work Alyssa has put in to the basic skating on the last year. I really admire her attitude and approach of learning from the people whose skating she admires like Carolina Kostner, Jeremy Abbott and Charlie White to help with her growth and development
The state of pairs plus the changes to ice dance feels like a personal attack
Why are we breaking what works instead of figuring out how to keep pairs alive?
(That's not the job of the dance tech committee but like why)
After a little break post-Olympics, we are back with our 2022 worlds recaps!
This was a strange one for a whole variety of reasons, but for the most part was a good time
Vincent Zhou has announced via Instagram that he is officially out of the men's individual event due to COVID
This video is an absolute heartbreaker, really feel for every athlete who has to mis out on some or all of the Olympics due to COVID this year
The question is if those worked why didn't they use the same model for figure skating?
The worlds "bubble" isn't even the same as the speed skating one
The ISU conducted Speed Skating European and World Championships plus World Cups in a hub over five weeks and there was not a single positive test. Their concept worked.
#WorldFigure
Would love if someone with access to the IOC reps could ask in today's press briefing if a medal ceremony has ever been preemptively cancelled in Olympic history?
Before the event actually starts no less?
Breathing a sigh of relief for Tarasova and Morozov that they actually did it 4 years after the devastating drop in Peyongchang
Glad to see some more happy crying
I can't believe the narrative we're already being fed is that this is "controversial" because they want to swoop in and take an Olympic spot from w/m. That's not nice, but that's not the ISSUE HERE
Just watched a clip of
@VanessaJamessk8
and
@Rad85E
on Instagram. If the judging is fair, they will win the Olympics, barring a major mistake. You heard it here first.
Accidents happen but this wasn't the time to play chicken, it's one thing in a warmup, but in a practice when someone's music is on there is a clear and decisive right of way
A solid skate for Papadakis and Cizeron, a fantastic performance, some technical errors, but less than the others, also the best demonstration of skating skills by a wide margin for me