Evgeni Plushenko: “Alysa Liu delivered a championship-worthy performance – flawless in every sense of the word. Watching her, it felt like she could skate five free programs in a row without getting tired!”
Plushenko Reflects on the Women’s Singles Event at the 2026 Olympics
original source: Sport-Express
Two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko reflected on the women’s individual competition at the 2026 Olympic Games, offering a detailed analysis of skaters’ performances, praising Alysa Liu’s championship-level program, while critiquing some elements of performances by Adeliia Petrosian, Ami Nakai, and Kaori Sakamoto. Here’s a translation.
“Of course, we all love Adeliia (Petrosian) and genuinely wished her the best of luck. But as a professional, I primarily evaluate skating skills. Nowadays, judges at international competitions pay extra attention to skating fluidity.
For the judges, it’s important that the entire program has uninterrupted flow, from start to finish. Naturally, athletes get tired, but maintaining consistent speed throughout the program is crucial. The same principle applies to step sequences.
When you watch foreign skaters and compare them with ours, these nuances become immediately noticeable. It’s interesting – even though many of these international skaters don’t attempt quads, and few of them even perform the triple axel, their skating is just breathtaking! They glide seamlessly, as if on one breath. I’m talking about the Japanese skaters and the American, Alysa Liu. This is why I made the predictions I did.
On Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto
“I thought the responsibility should not burden the 17-year-old Japanese skater (Nakai), and she started quite strong – with a stunning triple axel too!
However, I found her other jumps lacking. I’m talking about her triples. The loop was short and small. The flip and lutz were weak as well. She appeared tense, and the lightness, freedom, and dynamism she showed in her short program were missing in the free skate.
Kaori Sakamoto also underwhelmed in the free skate. She stumbled on her very first double axel, and after that, her confidence seemed to waver. She became nervous, and her combination jumps suffered as a result. Her technique in jumps, to put it mildly, was unimpressive. The soaring quality of her jumps, which she usually delivers, simply wasn’t there. Her typical smooth, fast, and luxurious skating was also absent.”
Praise for Alysa Liu’s Championship Performance
“On the other hand, Alysa delivered a championship-worthy performance – flawless in every sense of the word. Watching her, it felt like she could skate five free programs in a row without getting tired! She performed so easily, so effortlessly, she didn’t even seem out of breath at the end. This kind of stamina is an essential quality that judges always notice.
And Tatiana Anatolievna Tarasova made an astute observation during the broadcast: ‘Liu skates as if her program isn’t choreographed but improvised.’ That speaks volumes about the incredible level of her artistry and mastery.
It’s impossible not to be happy for Alysa. At one point, she announced her retirement. But after a two-year break, she came back to the ice and won everything. In March of 2025, she became the World Champion, and now she’s an Olympic Champion. You can’t help but be impressed! Respect!”
Related topics: Alysa Liu, Evgeni Plushenko, Olympic Games
Great commentary. I didn’t expect such objective reactions from a Russian. I wonder if Tutberidze is
wondering if she should have drilled skating skills more and Ultra-Cs less.