When I started this project last summer, I never dreamed it would take me to 22 episodes and learning from all these incredible people. So grateful and also excited for what is next!
Our “Little Girls in Pretty Boxes” conversation with
@joanryan
@kaitlynonice
and
@AnythingGOE
is now out as a podcast episode.
This marks 1 year of the podcast 🤯Thanks for coming along on this journey with me!
Alexander Zhulin: “When they reported about a positive doping test in the Russian team and didn’t give a name, every coach was worried what if it’s his athlete.”
Click the link below to read full comment ⛸
#figureskating
#iceskating
#Beijing2022
I’m a non-binary skater in a pair with a woman. In Canada we could theoretically win senior nationals (if we were good enough skaters obviously). In the US we aren’t allowed to even TEST for adult bronze (the lowest competitive level).
Reading Gracie’s book really brought home to me the rage that athletes like her are entitled to feel over medals that were lost because of Russian doping. The horrible feeling of finally understanding why your best (and your starvation) wasn’t enough…
Gracie on homophobia in FS and the offensive and dated opinions within USFS and IMG. Doesn’t surprise me but makes my blood boil.
So glad we can now know to celebrate Gracie as another bi icon in women’s skating! 🏳️🌈
Another thing Skate Canada got right is simply eliminating the rule requiring teams to be 1 man and 1 woman, rather than creating a rule to allow “same sex” teams.
It means all teams compete on an equal basis regardless of gender AND it allows for non-binary skaters!
I’m seeing a lot of “throw away the whole sport” comments today and honestly, I get the feeling. But I refuse to believe that abuse is intrinsic to skating. Deeply embedded in the systems and culture, yes. But we have to keep fighting for another way.
Get ready for your philosophy lesson!
Thanks to
@DenissVasiljevs
for a deep conversation - I think you all will enjoy 😊
Coming soon (ish)
@absoluteskating
Quick note on language as we get excited for the f/f novice teams:
Remember, we are advocating for “teams of any gender” not just same-sex teams! 🇨🇦 is actually great on this (and trans inclusion overall) and that should be the norm!
Signed, an enby pair skater 💁🏻
The bigger problem is that access for Golden Skate and other skating-specific media depends on skaters and federations liking you. They can and do refuse to answer questions, grant interviews, or even give accreditation if you are seen as a trouble-maker.
The fact that this coach is still working with students is scary - especially given that, if it is who I think it is, there were concerns reported from as early as 2002
tw: graphic descriptions of sexual abuse, and eating disorders
A former Olympic figure skater is accused by two skaters of sexual abuse while coaching at a rink in Irmo, South Carolina
The article was on the ISU site, and included Sorensen acknowledging that men in dance are judged more leniently than women to keep them in the sport. Just absolutely chilling in context. It is the same power imbalance that keeps survivors from speaking out.
Watching Kana and Dai skate, and getting to talk to them in the mixed zone - their combined charisma is just 🫠. Love both programs. Absolutely obsessed.
Tw: sexual abuse
Now that the name is out, I have to share this article from 2002(!!!!) with parents raising questions about Cockerell’s inappropriate behavior with students.
Friends, the Euler isn’t going away, this just allows a three jump combo with a Euler. For example, a 3Lz-Eu-3S-2T is a three-jump, not four-jump combo according to these rules.
A Euler will be considered a non-listed jump and have no value
A choreographic spin in singles must have minimum 3 revolutions with any basic or non-basic positions allowed. Change of foot is optional and can be done several times.
Another thing they need to think about with the future of the SOI US tour is going beyond skaters that have won major titles, but that can bring in a more diverse audience. Starr Andrews has been on national talkshows/news and had a Terry Crews commercial…
I think Wakaba’s low score is rooted in sexism in how PCS is judged. In the men’s comp her power and speed would give her high SS marks like Kao, but instead she is penalized for not being balletic.
The way that skater just sits there like, oh god, I really did that, I really forgot to take off my guards and fell in front of Shoma and Stéphane, can the ice swallow me...I felt that
Given some of what I heard, I’m glad this information is public. There’s lots of stuff about the Kaunas success that should be replicated, but let’s hold off on celebrating the OC
The European Figure Skating Championships in Lithuania, which concluded on Sunday, did not go without scandals. A woman working at the event claims that she was harassed by a drunk man from the organising team
The only way the Olympic RD theme won’t be boring is if everyone chooses niche dance music from their country and/or makes it super gay. If we’re going for campy Eurovision vibes I want to see teams going all in.
I love seeing how hard she works. One 3t was < and she went over to Brian, and then did two really clean 3t combos. Her determination to improve herself is so apparent
We so desperately need an alternative tour…Stars (especially the US version) is a tired formula. I refuse to believe that a great group of skaters couldn’t be assembled and marketed if the approach was different
I’ll be covering Europeans for
@AnythingGOE
next week (arriving for Tue practices).
As always, let me know if there are skaters you’d particularly like to hear from
I especially love having a reason to share about skaters that are outside of the top groups.
It’s stuff like this that makes me appreciate Stéphane’s skating even more...it’s such basic steps (everything he’s doing I can do) but the quality is +5 million GOE
@rockerskating
It’s WILD I keep looking up and being shocked all over again that there are full rows of people up to the rafters. I’ll even put up with the annoying hype man during ice breaks if that’s what it takes to get crowds like this
Whatever, people can have different tastes and Deniss for sure has areas of PCS that he can still improve. But the idea that his skating lacks EMOTION is the most ridiculous thing
Italian teams, coaches, officials, media were all hugging by and crying backstage - this is a huge night for Italian skating, and especially for
@IceLabBergamo
that trains all three medalists!
This opening ceremony is wonderful ! All credit to Finnish Skating Federation for celebrating the beauty of so many forms of skating. Men’s adult synchro!!!!!!! “The ice has space for everyone” 😭👏👏
Highlight of gala practice was watching team Italy teach each other pair and dance elements - Sara/Matteo R death spiral, Sara/Niccolo doing G/F’s backflip, and Marco F/Charlene trying a throw jump
We all have role to play in asking uncomfortable questions when needed but this is why people like Christine Brennan are so important - we need more professional journalists covering skating because they have the clout to push back.
Today I asked a question in a press conference where the reporters before and after me were from NPR and WSJ, and then I was interviewed by the CBC. I think I might have become a real journalist at some point 🥸
Allison and Saulius were so good tonight - the crowd support is obviously part of that, but I genuinely believe they would have got on the podium even in a different location
Shoma’s perspective this year is so refreshing. This is why we need a system change that helps more skaters have long careers and develop this maturity.
"But the reason why I wrote self-satisfaction for this year is because I want to do what I want to do. Because I want to do things that will make me think skating is fun. That's why I'll do my best in artistry. "
🇮🇹 Rebecca Ghilardi / Filippo Ambrosini
The SBS jumps gave them confidence for the rest of the program.
They are thankful for audience's support, "It is beautiful to know that people are pushing you, and supporting you even in the bad moments.”
#EuroFigure
I’m tentatively excited about the rule changes - 1 fewer jump in FS for singles, 1 fewer element for pairs, adding the choreographic lift and spin…it’s all trying to encourage creative and original skating.
Will judges actually reward innovation, tho? That’s the question…
I asked Stéphane about the scarf covering his face at the end of Lost, and yes, it is a shroud. As best I can remember, he said it marks the end of one experience, one moment, and the beginning of the next
@iliamalinin_
Thank you for apologizing. There is a long history and continuing reality of homophobia in this sport so jokes like this are very hurtful. Being queer in skating is not an advantage - if it was, skaters wouldn’t stay in the closet for fear of the judges’ response.
I got to watch the Ice Dance International rehearsal/community show today and it was all great, but you NEED to watch Alissa Czisny skate to Chasing Cars. Simply gorgeous.
For anyone thinking about going to Champéry in August, let me just say you will NOT regret it. Truly the most beautiful place on Earth and that’s not even including the skating!
Haven’t seen this shared much on Twitter:
@AshWagner2010
had many nuanced, important things to say about USFS failing survivors by hiring an abuse apologist for a high performance position