Oleg Vasiliev: in the Grand-Prix Final our girls are the best
Oleg Vasiliev about Russian ladies who will compete at Grand-Prix Final:
Our girls are not only the most beautiful but also the best in the Grand Prix Final. Anna Pogorilaya‘s skating now is so feminine and mature artistically, that in this aspect only Ashley Wagner can compare with her.
Evgenia Medvedeva has very good programs, Ilia Averbukh did them very competently. But while Evgenia skates the program very similar to last years in terms of emotions. Technically she skates programs better than anyone else, but artistically – as she can. But I think by Olympics Evgenia will skate as feminine as Pogorilaya skates today.
And while Medvedeva can’t win by artistry, she wins with her technique, which is unattainable to her competitors, so no one thinks of critisizing her for lack of emotions. After all, any artistry can’t beat her almost perfect jumps. Her programs are very well, but she should skated them more from the soul and heart. It comes with age and skills.
Elena Radionova had a difficult start of the season, at the test skates in Sochi she couldn’t jump, she had a weight problem. Awkward age affected. Now she began to come back to normal. She’s not in absolute physical and technical shape, but she has concrete character. She’s able to get herself together and do what she’s capable of.
Two Grand-Prixs proved that Lena can compete with her big-name rivals even when she is not in the best condition. Pogorilaya has already passed this period, Medvedeva hasn’t reached yet, but Lena is in the middle of it, so she’s in the more difficult situation.
For Maria Sotskova Grand-Prix Final is a bonus and a lesson for the future. She can skate well because she has a character, and she showed it. In difficult conditions to show the maximum of what you’ve learned is a serious advantage. I think Masha is our future, the next generation of skaters. Today, our top is Medvedeva, Pogorilaya, Radionova. But Sotskova is close behind them.
Related topics: Anna Pogorilaya, Elena Radionova, Evgenia Medvedeva, grand prix final, ladies, Maria Sotskova, Oleg Vasiliev, Team Russia
There are so many Russian skaters these days that I can’t keep them all straight!