The second stage of the Figure Skating Grand Prix, which took place in Vancouver, Canada, was no less interesting for Russian fans than Skate America.

On the ice this weekend, three skaters came out at once, applying for a trip to Beijing.

Kamila Valieva, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Alena Kostornaya did not disappoint: the girls took the entire podium.

Valieva has something to improve

The 15-year-old student Eteri Tutberidze won with two world records - for an arbitrary and for the sum of two programs.

After the performance, Valieva admitted that she had completed almost all the tasks at the tournament, but she had something to work on. 

“Of course, I am very happy with my grades.

I will try to skate a little better.

There is always room to grow.

For example, do not step out on the axel.

I will not complicate the program for now.

I want to roll this content well ”, - quotes the words of the figure skater Sport24.

After the rental of Kamila, almost all Russian specialists began to consider the athlete the main contender not only for a trip to Beijing, but also for winning the Games.

Olympic champion in ice dancing Natalya Bestemyanova called Valieva's performance a miracle.

“If she skates like this, she will win the competition in Beijing.

Camila has a lot to improve, there was a mistake in dressage in a triple axel.

But in fact, she's just some kind of miracle.

It's ugly to discuss her improvements, "Bestemyanova admired the figure skater's performance in an interview with TASS.

In turn, two-time Olympic medalist in ice dancing, Alexander Zhulin, noted that it would be extremely difficult for rivals to fight Valieva in a clean run.

“Camila is a unique figure skating phenomenon.

It is now almost impossible to surpass it.

Of course, Valieva is one of the main contenders for the Olympics.

But you shouldn't discount Trusov, Khromykh, Shcherbakov, ”added the specialist.

According to the bronze medalist of the World Championship Elena Radionova, Valiev is currently the strongest on the planet in terms of technical components.

However, Alexandra Trusova and Anna Shcherbakova can compete with her.

“When a person sets a world record and demonstrates a colossal difference in points, everything falls into place.

But if we assume that Sasha does five quads, she will receive a higher grade for her technique.

With a clean implementation, the result will be a record at all.

But Camila has a second rating.

This is her strong point, in which she will definitely not yield to Trusova, ”says Radionova in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Olympic champion in pair skating Maxim Trankov also called the skating of the Russian woman a good application for victory in Beijing.

At the same time, the specialist noted that it will be much more difficult to compete on the same ice with the main competitors.

“This is probably the most solid rental of those that have been in all competitions this season.

Of course, now we can talk about some claims at the Olympics.

But there are rivals who also own quads and will not give up their place just like that, ”Trankov said.

Three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina spoke quite restrainedly about Valieva.

In her opinion, the skater is in a hurry to show such high results.

“I am very happy for her.

But I'm afraid it's too early.

I think that it is necessary to pay close attention to those competitions in which the composition of the national team is determined.

If Valieva is such a master, she will show her class more than once.

I hope she will show her best skating at the European Championships and the Olympic Games, ”Rodnina said.

Tuktamysheva energizes

The second place in Canada was taken by the experienced Elizaveta Tuktamysheva.

The student of Alexei Mishin, not having quadruple jumps in her arsenal, continues to conquer the audience with incredible programs and claim to participate in the Olympic Games.

This season, the athlete is closer to her goal than ever.

At the same time, according to Lisa, it was not easy for her to skate in Canada due to her not very good functional state.

“I am incredibly glad that we managed to perform the program in good quality.

It was not quite one hundred percent condition before leaving.

I had to overdo myself, ”she admitted after the performance.

However, the 24-year-old figure skater has to fight in every box office.

According to Zhulin, the older the girls become, the more difficult it is for them to make jumps.

“I want to see Tuktamysheva at the Olympics.

At her age, it is already difficult for other athletes to cope with triple and quadruple axels, and she does it with brilliance.

Therefore, I wish Lisa to go to the Games and show herself at the highest level, ”said the coach.

Figure skater Stanislava Konstantinova noted the transformation of Tuktamysheva's free program and the progress of the athlete over the past four years.

“When I saw her free skate, I had mixed feelings.

I am not a fan of the East, for me there is only classics.

But already in Finland I looked at the program with different eyes.

At Skate Canada, Lisa just flew like an arrow and stamped the elements.

I believe that she will go to the Olympics .. If you recall the last cycle, this is heaven and earth.

Liza has grown very morally, although four years ago she was already an adult and an accomplished athlete.

Tuktamysheva is improving and does not stop, I admire her, ”Konstantinova admitted.

As the athlete herself notes, she really likes the free program.

The figure skater performs under Arabia performed by Hanine El Alam and music by Artem Uzunov "My Love".

“I got to the point, I think.

It is always a joy to find that very composition in the Olympic season.

I enjoy life and enjoy the program.

I hope the audience is charged with this mood from me, ”said Tuktamysheva.

The silver medalist of the Olympic Games in pair skating Sergey Shakhrai noted the high-quality and stable skating of the student Mishin.

The Russian woman for the second time in a row this season receives a solid result - 151.64 points for an arbitrary, 232.88 points in total for two programs. 

“Liza delighted and surprised with dazzling skating.

She flawlessly performed a free program with two triple axels - one of them in a cascade.

At the same time, the skating was extremely beautiful and very emotional.

She gave out everything that she can that evening, ”the skater thinks.

Honored coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova was also asked about Tuktamysheva's chances to get to the Olympics.

The specialist evaded the answer, redirecting the journalists to fortune-tellers, but she didn’t skimp on compliments for Lisa.

“Real grace.

She skates her program in one breath, very sensual.

The girls gave us their soul, thanks to them!

Just smart.

A very strong start to the season from our skaters, ”Tarasova said.

Kostornaya fell out of love with the judges

Much less positive for the specialists from the speech of Alena Kostornaya.

The athlete, after returning from Evgeni Plushenko to Eteri Tutberidze, continues to search for herself.

According to Zhulin, the skater deservedly lost to other Russian women.

“Recently, Alena is constantly missing something.

Her performances are not impressive, ”added the coach.

However, one must also take into account the fact that in Canada the skater changed both programs.

How it all happened, she openly told reporters.

“After the tournament in Finland, I went on the ice for the second time.

The coaches said: we are changing the free program.

She did not argue.

Why not?

If I feel good about new music.

And the change of the short program happened unexpectedly.

There was a question about a show room.

In Canada I decided to skate the program in English, in France - in French.

I started preparing the New York issue.

And when we started training, everyone realized that it turns out much better than my current short one, ”explained Kostornaya.

According to Konstantinova, the decision of the coaching staff was justified.

Although Alena still looks very constrained on the ice.

“I noted for myself that I again see the atmosphere when Kostornaya skates and you freeze.

The program is cool, I like it.

I'm not a fan of Billie Eilish songs on competitive ice, but this production is just a bomb.

I was surprised how the calm line went.

But Alena was very tight and controlled every movement.

She needs time to open up.

Until she regained her confidence, ”Stanislava said. 

In turn, the silver medalist of the World Figure Skating Championship, Alena Leonova, believes that Kostornaya has begun to improve, but this process needs to be accelerated.

“I think it was not worth doing these runs from one coach to another, but preparing calmly.

She is now starting to make up for lost time, but this is happening very slowly.

Given the competition in the women's team, this is not an option for selection for the Olympics, ”Leonova said.

Kostornaya has one more problem.

The well-known trainer Inna Goncharenko believes that the judges assessed the athlete more strictly than her rivals.

“Indeed, we see how the judges fell out of love with Kostornaya.

But is Alena herself not involved in this?

In my opinion, she did a lot to lose this love.

Now she needs to understand what she is fighting for and how she is going to achieve her goals, ”Izvestia quotes Goncharenko. 

Alena also understands the complexity of the situation.

However, together with the coaching staff, she continues to fight.

And, judging by the figure skater's Instagram, Kostornaya feels support within the team.

Following the results of Skate Canada, she wrote the following message on social networks: "I want to say a huge thank you to my coaches Eteri Tutberidze and Daniil Gleikhengauz for not turning away from me after everything that I sometimes allow myself."