"Old problems made themselves felt": what is known about Medvedeva's back injury

"I hoped the injections would help dull the pain."

The Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) reported that the Russian woman Evgenia Medvedeva will undergo an examination, which should establish the severity of her back injury.

To do this, she turned to one of the capital's clinics.

“I don’t know if it’s good or not, but the morning is for sure,” signed the video from the doctor's office Medvedev.

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Posted by 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐯𝐚 (𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞) (@teammedvegitova) Oct 8, 2020 11:24 am PDT

A few days before the start of the Moscow stage of the Russian Cup, there were rumors that the two-time world champion was still worried about her back.

The day before, the worst suspicions were confirmed, and the athlete herself announced her decision to withdraw from the tournament.

At the same time, she urged fans not to worry about her health and thanked for her support.

"Everything is fine with me.

Old back problems made themselves felt at the most inopportune moment.

I hoped that the injections would help dull the pain, but all in vain.

We need to fight the cause, not the effect, ”she wrote on Instagram.

According to TASS, citing a source, Medvedev will undergo treatment at a clinic specializing in spinal neurosurgery.

They noted that this is "not the first attack" for Medvedeva, so she needs to undergo a full examination.

After that, the doctors will select the methods of treatment.

And the timing of the recovery will be announced next week.

The student Eteri Tutberidze was supposed to take part in the first stage of the Russian Cup in Syzran, but the injury did not allow her to perform there either.

At the same time, the fact that the two-time world champion is not in the best shape was already noticeable in the September test skates of the national team.

Both the short program and the free program were not without many errors.

Then the skater's mentor Brian Orser said that Medvedeva's full performance was hindered by a chronic back injury received even before the Olympics in Pyeongchang.

He assumed that she might become a big problem for her. 

Thus, the return of the skater to the ice in official competitions is again postponed.

The last official tournament for Evgenia was the Russian championship of the 2019/20 season, in which she performed only in the short program, after which, due to the breakage of skates, she decided to withdraw.

This did not allow her to compete for a place in the national team and go to the European Championship, after which the international season was ended in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Russian Cup is a selection for the December national championship, and so far nothing is known about Medvedeva's application for the remaining stages.

At the same time, she planned to perform at the Russian stage of the Grand Prix, which is to be held in Moscow from November 20 to 22.

The skater herself is optimistic about her return.

She assured that she did not intend to end the season ahead of schedule.

"Miracles do not happen"

According to Russian experts, it is too early to say that last year's scenario will repeat itself.

At the same time, some predicted Medvedeva's early retirement, while others suggested that she could still return to her previous level.

The famous choreographer Ilya Averbukh urged to be patient and give the skater time, since a back injury requires a long recovery.

He stressed that Medvedev should not be written off.

“Of course, Zhenya, in tandem with Eteri Georgievna, will set themselves very high tasks.

We are all waiting for her to return to the ice.

It is clear that after the test runs, she did not gain the optimal shape for herself, very little time has passed since then ... Miracles do not happen, you need to do a gigantic work to restore the form in which we are used to seeing her, "RIA Novosti quotes Averbukh ...

A similar opinion is shared by the two-time Olympic champion Maxim Trankov.

According to him, it is necessary to take into account not only the fact that Medvedeva changed her mentor just before the start of the season, but also the current conditions under which many skaters have lost their shape due to a long pause.

“Now injuries and diseases are a given.

And Zhenya, having started training from scratch, may have overworked her back somewhere.

It takes time to get ready, and in no case should you rush.

She needs to calmly return, remember the work in her former camp, "Trankov advised.

Two-time world champion Irina Slutskaya noted the character of Medvedeva, who had previously repeatedly performed with injuries and achieved high results.

According to her, the athlete will still have the opportunity to achieve success in competitions.

“As an athlete, Zhenya is very impressed with the fact that she doesn't give up.

Even if something doesn't work out, she still continues to work and prove to everyone that she is a great professional.

Medvedeva is in demand, smart, so I think it won't be a problem for her to go to an ice show.

But sport, excitement, victories, proof to herself that she can fight on equal terms with young people, it seems to me, is more important for her now, ”Slutskaya told Sport Express.

Three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina is also sure that it is too early to draw any conclusions.

“Apparently, the break, the workloads affected ... Maybe this is some kind of tactical move.

We don't know what specific injury she has.

Why panic something?

If muscle stretching is one thing, if these are intervertebral discs, then this is another matter, ”Sport24 quotes Rodnina.

In turn, the 1993 world champion Alexander Zhulin suggested that Medvedeva would focus on preparing for the next competition, after which he could retire from the sport.

“I think she will prepare for the Russian championship, where everything will become clear. If it takes a worthy place for itself, it will continue. If not, then maybe we will see the end of our career, "- quotes the words of Zhulin TASS.