Tuktamysheva: “What I like about Alysa Liu is her inner strength, the way she feels on the ice. She performs all the elements so easily, as if it costs her nothing and to go out and skate like that is a huge achievement.”
2015 world champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva shared what she admires about American figure skater Alysa Liu’s performances.
original source: Sports
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva praised Alysa Liu’s presence and ease on the ice, discussed the current competitive landscape in women’s skating, and shared her hopes for the upcoming Olympics. Here’s a translation.
“Q: Let’s talk about women’s skating. People have criticized Alysa Liu, saying she’s not showing anything new, her program is from last year, and her content is easier than what you performed yourself… Do you agree?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: What I like about Alysa is her inner strength, the way she feels on the ice. Because of that, I can’t think badly of her or call her skating insufficiently difficult.
Why does she win even without ultra-c elements? Because she performs all the elements so easily, as if it costs her nothing. I don’t think her skill should be devalued. Yes, I partly agree that her program isn’t the most difficult. But to go out and skate like that is already a huge achievement, and that should be remembered.
Q: So we shouldn’t think that Adeliia Petrosyan will just come out and win easily?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Of course not. Now, under-rotations are scrutinized much more, and “q” calls are given even where a jump would have been considered clean before. Clean skating with correct edges is valued.
Personally, I like that there’s no clear leader among the women in the world right now, but there’s very interesting competition. That’s probably what makes sport, sport.
Q: Will you go to the Olympics in Milan?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I don’t know yet in what capacity, but I really want to. I have a visa.
Q: Who will you be cheering for?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I want Kaori Sakamoto to do well. It doesn’t even matter which medal, but I hope she skates both programs cleanly. We know each other best, and we used to compete together.
But overall, I think there are at least four athletes who deserve first place at the Olympics. And our Adeliia, of course, is among them.”
Leave a Reply