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Disclaimer: This is a rant and I’m aware I’m kind of beating a dead horse, but, I’m sorry, I need to get this off my chest!Guys, I’m so tired of the non-stop accelerating cycle of Russian top ladies, it’s not even funny. I’m getting seriously burned out on fresh up-and-coming OGM hopes barely getting a season to shine in seniors at this point. I remember people were already talking about this during the last Olympic cycle, with the way Yulia’s career went or Liza’s and Elena Radionova’s fast rise and fall from junior wunderkinds to old news.Then there was Zhenya, the next junior star beloved by many (including myself), but hey, she managed to get TWO seasons of total domination in seniors - completely unimaginable now - and another that didn’t go as well but still netted her Olympic silver before the real struggle started (and yes, even then she has a World Bronze from her first tumultuous season after the Eteri-split).Then Alina. One season of total domination. Absolute jumping power house and such an incredibly memorable FP. Downright iconic in her red tutu. And the best timing there could be, paving her way to the OGM title. Then a season of relative struggle, but it still culminated in a triumph at World’s before the much talked about 3As stormed the senior ranks.And then the 3As, yes. Anticipated, hyped up and already overshadowing the senior top Ladies while they were still in juniors. Sweeping the Rusnats podium their last junior year. Bringing on the quad revolution. One of them WAS going to be the next OGM, people were certain. Then their spectacular first senior season gets cut short by Corona, leaving them without Worlds. And on top of that, they always come as a trio in public’s eye, never really getting the chance to shine separately.So here we are now. This non-season of a season. Despite the numerous competitions in Russia, the next trio of up-and-coming Olympic-hopeful juniors get to compete with seniors at every competition, Kamila all the talk of the season and the new future OGM by popular opinion. Sasha, Aliona and Anna, meanwhile, lose their chance to shine for a second season. The former two already officially struggling, coaching changes, fallbacks and scandals included. Aliona left without Worlds completely, but even Sasha and Anna who got that, at least, are being treated as yesterday’s news. All eyes for the Olympics are on Kamila and with Dasha and, less so, Maya it’s even questionable if 2/3 of former 3As can get a spot on the Oly team. The question if Alina or Zhenya or even Liza can make this Olympics almost laughable now.And I’m so tired, you guys. Burned out on the hype for the next shiny thing. On the talks about this and that amazing junior and the wait for her senior debut. On the drama and scandals or straight up disinterest in former “amazing juniors” because they’re starting to struggle at the ripe age of 16 or 17. Seeing these incredible girls get discarded and replaced like that (and no, not just by Eteri or the Rusfed, but by the entire skating fanbase). The problem has already been there before, talked about and visible, but holy shit has the Corona season made it worse and all the more prominent.In all of this, Liza has been the only saving grace for me tbh. With Alina basically retiring, Zhenya’s crash and burn amid the stack of injuries, Corona, and shitty coaching logistics, with all the talk about Sasha’s and Aliona’s stumbles, Anna getting overshadowed both by the drama around her former rink-mates and Kamila’s rise, Liza is basically the only Russian Lady I can truly get excited for this season. Which is kind of amazing, because she’s never been my favourite skater, but god do I respect her perseverance! Thank you for making me live, Empress. Go shine at Worlds!/rant over
2Do you guys think she’ll be able to compete at the Olympics? I’m a bit concerned about her future because she is out of shape and clearly behind her younger teammates. I’m even wondering if she should’ve stayed with Eteri instead.
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