"Everyone was on an equal footing": FFKKR approved the composition of the Russian national team at the World Figure Skating Championships

"Tuktamysheva can impose competition"

The Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) announced the composition of the national team for the World Championship, which will be held in Stockholm from March 22 to March 28.

The organization's coaching council approved the candidates by unanimous decision.

The women's team included the winner of the national championship-2021 Anna Shcherbakova, bronze medalist of the tournament Alexandra Trusova, and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who was selected following the results of the Russian Cup final.

For the first two athletes, the upcoming world championship will be their debut, the ward of Alexei Mishin last performed at a similar level in 2015.

Then she won the highest dignity award.

According to the 1994 Olympic champion Alexei Urmanov, Tuktamysheva deserved to be in the team thanks not only to the latest results, but also to competitive skating against the background of younger rivals.

“She deserves a lot of respect from all of us, both professionals and amateurs.

Despite the difficulties, he always moves forward, does not stop there.

Liza is a great clever girl, happy for her, happy for the professor (Alexei Mishin. -

RT

) - he has as many as three students get to the world championship, "TASS quotes Urmanov.

At the same time, Honored Coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova emphasized that one should not think that Tuktamysheva got into the team solely due to the length of service.

According to her, a skater who has an ultra-si element in her arsenal can claim the highest places, which she proved in the Russian Cup.

“She is a girl who has a triple axel in the short program, which should not be forgotten.

If someone doubts Liza's abilities, then I hope that no one has doubted the abilities of Alexei Nikolaevich Mishin for a long time.

They have been working together for many years.

And it is not worth guessing the results, you have to act in your own strength, ”RIA Novosti quotes Tarasova as saying.

Ice dancing specialist Alexander Zhulin expressed hope that Tuktamysheva will take a place in the top five.

“Every athlete has his own mood.

If she, having fun, also performs the triple axel, then it will be great, ”Zhulin noted.

At the same time, two-time Olympic champion Irina Slutskaya suggested that Mishina's ward would be able to impose a fight on her colleagues in the national team.

In her opinion, it is the Russians who will compete for the medals of the tournament.

“Tuktamysheva can impose competition, otherwise she would not have performed.

Especially with triple axels and possession of a quadruple jump.

The main thing is to show your maximum on ice.

Maybe a Japanese woman will intervene in the fight, but today there are few skaters from other countries who have come to their senses after the pandemic and can compete with our girls, ”Slutskaya told Sport-Express.

Before the final of the Russian Cup, Alena Kostornaya was another contender for a place in the national team.

However, the skater made many mistakes and took only sixth place.

According to Alena Leonova, in the current state, Evgeni Plushenko's ward could not claim more.

She needs to return to its previous form, as well as "find her own trump card."

“Everything was decided according to the sporting principle.

Alena skated worse, therefore, did not go to the tournament.

Lisa performed much better during the season, she is better prepared.

Until Kostornaya regains her condition, which was in Tutberidze's group, it will be difficult for her to fight for a ticket to the World Championship, ”Leonova added.

"Everything must be according to the letter of the law"

Due to the quota in the men's part of the tournament, only two will represent Russia: experienced Mikhail Kolyada and 17-year-old Evgeny Semenenko, who has become one of the main sensations of the Russian Cup.

Due to the lack of experience in performing at tournaments of this level, many were surprised by his appearance in the squad, however, it was this athlete who turned out to be stronger than his rivals, ahead of Dmitry Aliev, Peter Gumennik and others.

At the same time, Tarasova stressed that the choice was obvious for the coaching council, so there is no need to doubt the objectivity of his entry into the national team.

“Zhenya Semenenko begins his path, and we wish on this path to become bold, strong and strong-willed, as we have seen him now.

Then we must not forget who his coaches are, and how many these coaches will prepare world-class athletes, which they are going to do in the future, ”Tarasova emphasized.

Choreographer Ilya Averbukh also stressed that Semenenko's choice should not surprise anyone, since it was he who looked better against the background of rivals who were not in the best shape at the last competitions.

“Moreover, we are not talking about the first issue.

The first issue is Kolyada, there can be no questions here.

As for the second number, this ticket had to be won at the Russian Cup.

Everyone was on an equal footing.

Semenenko proved to be the best against the background of poor skaters, especially in the free program.

He won, which means he must go to the World Championship, ”Averbukh is sure.

Zhulin praised the FFKKR for following the sporting principle and choosing Semenenko instead of Aliyev.

At the same time, in his opinion, the organization took a risk, for which it will have to answer in case of an unsuccessful result.

“Well done for sending Semenenko.

It is necessary that everything be in accordance with the letter of the law: whoever rides how, he goes.

If Aliyev hadn’t ripped off the triple axel in the short program in the Russian Cup final, maybe he would have gone.

And so the decision is for the federation.

She will clean up if something happens.

If Semenenko skates well, then he is on a horse, ”Zhulin noted.

For Urmanov, Semenenko's challenge along with Kolyada did not come as a surprise.

According to him, Mishin's wards are capable of winning the maximum quota for the Russian team for the Beijing Olympics.

To do this, they need to take places, which in total will not exceed 13.

“They have a chance to get the quota, they have to skate well.

Plus, it is not entirely clear what condition other athletes will be in this world championship - in the conditions of this season it will be interesting.

Therefore, everything is possible, but first of all, you need to work out your programs very well, and then there will be a result, ”Urmanov advised the athletes.

At the same time, Salt Lake City 2002 champion Alexei Yagudin urged to wait for the competition itself.

In his opinion, with a clean box office, Aliyev could claim higher positions than Semenenko.

“The Federation has made a decision, so we will look and wish Zhenya with an absolutely cool head not to think about anything, just go and do her job.

As we saw in the finale, he can do it at the right time.

Will he cope with the nerves at the World Cup?

This is a sport.

A person who is predicted to win in something can misfire, disrupt this or that element, ”added Yagudin.

As for pair skating, there were no surprises here.

In sports duet competitions Russia will be represented by Evgenia Tarasova - Vladimir Morozov, Alexandra Boykova - Dmitry Kozlovsky and Anastasia Mishina - Alexander Gallyamov, and in ice dancing - Alexandra Stepanova - Ivan Bukin, Victoria Sinitsina - Nikita Katsalapov, as well as Tiffany Zagorski - Jonathan Gureiro.

The mentor of sports couples Tamara Moskvina suggested that skaters with the strongest nervous system would achieve success in the tournament.

The fact is that due to the pandemic, the world championship will be held in new conditions: the participants will live and compete in a closed zone - a “bubble”, their movements, as well as communication with the outside world will be limited.

“It seems to me that this environment will help to identify athletes who will be able to abstract themselves from the atmosphere of isolation, from the lack of opportunity to escape from thoughts, from competition.

It will be important for coaches and athletes to find techniques so that this forced overcrowding does not affect the performances, the psychological state of the skaters, ”explained Moskvina.