LucyH

I listened to it this morning while getting ready, really great job gals! I especially loved the discussion on the accessibility of online content. If only the ISU would just open their eyes.... <sigh> topic for another day!

Yeah absolutely agree, it's not a guarantee that this will work out for her but that's exactly the reason why I commend her decision to do it. It's a calculated risk on her part and if it works then it's a win-win for her and the TCC team. If it doesn't play out that she wants then she gets the satisfaction that she did everything she could with no regrets. I think the chances of success are greater than failure if she stays healthy. Although TCC treats each skater as an individual with their own tailored training plan, they do have a bit of blue print of how to mesh the NA style creative freedom with the more regimented discipline of the Russian and to an extent the Asian FS schools - see Yuna and Yuzu. If they succeed with Evgenia, it will cement TCC and Brian into the history books for sure. I remember reading somewhere that Brian is a very ambitious coach as well so I definitely see "what's in it for him". All in all - I am looking forward to seeing how this new partnership works. I hope Rus Fed will give them the necessary time to see this through... that's the bigger question...

I think part of it is that unlike the students that left her previously, Evgenia is leaving on her own terms and it is seen as Evgenia making the choice to leave her for Brian vs. what happened with Yulia where it kind of seemed like Yulia was being discarded even though she left. Evgenia is going away to a lesser club/coach, she's leaving to go train at one of the most prestigious training facilities in the world that produced the likes of Yuna, Yuzuru, and Javier headed up by former Olympic medalists Brian and Tracy. I think that's the part that eats at her... Evgenia had the foresight to know what would eventually happen if she stayed with Eteri - the fact that none of the her former female students made it out past 18 is pretty telling! Evgenia loves skating and loves to compete and she wants to stick around so she took the initiative to do something about it. In a way, Eteri should be proud that she "raised" such a fierce and independent champion! Also, Evgenia's mom is also not someone to be trifled with either. She was a former figure skater that had to stop when she got injured at 14 or 15 so she knows what's what... and I thought I read somewhere that her mom works in PR so this is a team that Eteri can't bully

Yup you definitely don't get rich on FS prize money. Good thing she has some fairly large sponsors in Nike and Pantene. Hope she picks up a few more once she is in Canada. She's got global appeal and speaking English helps too!

Good article - did it sound like theRus Fed was going to pay for her training expenses? Or at least part of it - that’s what it read to me. Wow all those wins and just 300K in prize money!

Haters are the worst - seriously people need to get a life. If they applied as much time and effort to their own lives maybe they won’t have so much time and energy to hate others. Ok now I understand why they are for Eteri now. Med will be fine - she has a great support system. TAT and other importany Rus Fed respected “elders” lover her. Now that she will be in Canada - I think the international contingent will love her as well. She and her team handled this really well considering the circumstances. She just needs to keep her head up and continue to prepare for her move. She’s got shows in Japan where she will see lots of her good friends and supportive fans and then it’s off to TCC. I do wonder about whether she is living by herself or if her mom is moving too. I think her mom has a pretty important job in Moscow?

Very complimentary by Trankov. Thanks for the translation

So proud of her!!!

It is now 7am Monday in Moscow!!!

Exactly - remember Miki also had a quad as a junior and I don't think she was ever able to replicate it as a senior so as history has proven, having quads at 13/14 is not a guarantee for having them later once puberty hits. How is this hypocritical of Brian to mention?

Monday can't come soon enough! I need this saga to end so I can go back to not checking for updates every 30 minutes. LOL And it was getting heated at GS that the mods closed down the thread that was started for Evgenia leaving Eteri

Well the official announcement will be made Monday in Russia (at least that's what I've read). Likely a joint statement from Rus Fed and Evgenia. What did you expect to say in March if things weren't finalized? Announce to the Fed and Eteri that her intention was to leave or she was thinking of leaving? How do you think that would've played out if she had played her cards without things being finalized / i.e. deals in place? Rus Fed isn't Skate Canada

Girl is mentally TOUGH as nails though

She's not - There's not WAY in hell that Eteri did not know that Evgenia was leaving and found out "in the news". C'mon we weren't born yesterday! She's just butt hurt about it and can't seemingly act like an adult and divulged private conversations probably had in the heat of the moment of an 18-yr old girl (someone that she supposedly loved like a daughter) to try to shame her on National TV. Eteri is cancelled in my book! I hope there's an exodus!

OMG the utter chill... This girl has STONES!

But we shouldn’t be surprised by the Eteri’s mudslinging ways. The exact same thing happened with Yulia. Evgenia - get the hell out of there!

Normally I would say that I would not care and would just wait for the official announcement but I am impressed with her management team's ability to get ahead of the situation and play this out on their own terms. It makes me want to yell out "Go Girl!"

Hmm... so Moscow time is 9 hours ahead of my time zone so hopefully there will be news by my morning and I don't have to keep checking at work.. ha ha

I think they have always been friendly. I remember seeing pics or videos of them from the 2017 WC in Helsinki being quite friendly with one another. I think Evgenia is actually better friends with some of the International skaters than the other Russian girls (it's just so competitive and cut throat there although I think she gets along with everyone - she has one of those extrovert, sunny and friendly personalities). I actually adore her friendship with Wakaba.

Exactly - she's her own person. People need to stop reading so much into an 18 year old girl's social media posts. She is her own person and isn't defined by who is interacting with. Sorry if I sound preachy but this sort of stuff annoys the heck out of me. OK off my soap box now

Yeah I don't think Alina's family is very well off... I don't think Zhenya's family is rich either but they appear to be upper middle class? Plus she's had more years competing and winning internationally and doing shows. Get that endorsement money Zhenya! I think it helps that she is naturally more exuberant and speaks English and has developed lots of international friendships

Yes get that money! Financial independence is key...

Yeah get far away from the crazies Evgenia! Far away...

Yes me too! I for one, can't wait to see what they could do with her...

The Rus Fed is aware of its International Reputation of essentially producing one season wonders and most Russian ladies' careers ending at 17 or 18 - which is insane to me! Plus with all this talk about eating disorders and all those teeny tiny pubescent girls' seemingly unhealthy relationship with food (Yulia anyone?!), I think they could use Med as a trial for their more mature skaters and then they're covered. They've got the young jumping machines back home and more mature seasoned, well choreographed skaters training abroad. All bases covered (TES + PCS + GOE)...