“There’s no other way to contend for a spot on the Olympic podium.” Alexei Yagudin on Petr Gumennik going for five quads in his free skate

Alexei Yagudin: “Only Five Quadruple Jumps Can Put Gumennik in Olympic Contention”

original source: Sport24

Alexei Yagudin shared his thoughts on Petr Gumennik’s ambitious decision to include five quadruple jumps in his free skate for the upcoming Olympics. Here’s a translation of his comments.

“Petr Gumennik seems to have decided to go to the Olympics with five quads in his free skate. There’s no other way to contend for a spot on the Olympic podium. But I want to point out that Petr has truly shocked me this year – in a good way. I don’t want to jinx it, and I’m not superstitious, so I can say this easily: I really can’t believe how he looks right now. He’s so lean, light, and in such incredible form!”

Yagudin continued to emphasize the necessity of Gumennik’s approach, saying, “There’s no alternative but to go for five quads. He’s capable of landing them, and his programs are solid. I won’t comment on whether it was the right decision to keep his old program – it’s an older program, but it hasn’t been seen much on the international stage. So in that sense, it’s new!”

Yagudin also acknowledged shifts in competitive prospects compared to last year. “Adeliia Petrosian’s situation has become more complicated in terms of chances for a medal compared to last season, but for Petr, it’s the opposite. Last year, I thought even finishing in the top six was unlikely for him, but now I genuinely believe he has the potential to make the top three,” Yagudin said.

Related topics: Adeliia Petrosian, Alexei Yagudin, Petr Gumennik