Victoria Morozova intervened in the dispute between the promoted schools. A new star in Russian figure skating!
Victoria Morozova / Photo: © Dmitry Chelyapin / Match TV
The rivalry between Khrustalny and Plushenko’s Angels has already become the hallmark of Russian competitions in women’s single figure skating.
Sometimes representatives of CSKA and some provincial schools intervene in this dispute, but still, much more often, victories go to the students of Eteri Tutberidze or Evgeni Plushenko. At the stage of the Russian Grand Prix among juniors in Omsk, a sensation occurred – a little-known figure skater managed to push aside the favorites.
It seems that another star is appearing in Russian figure skating.
New power
The second stage of the Russian Junior Figure Skating Grand Prix “Heart of Siberia” is taking place in Omsk from October 18 to 20. As always, the wrestling in women’s single skating is of particular interest. Which of the country’s leading schools will be stronger this time and will be able to claim the unofficial status of heir to Alina Zagitova, Kamila Valieva and Anna Shcherbakova?
Khrustalny fans in Omsk bet on Alisa Dvoeglazova, who is perceived by many experts as the strongest figure skater of Eteri Tutberidze at this age. Due to injury, she missed a significant part of the previous season, including the national championship, but is now ready to return to the fight. Her teammate Polina Tikhonova, the daughter of world champions Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov, also had to compete for high places.
From Plushenko’s Angels, perhaps the main star of the generation, Sofia Titova, and another promising singles skater, Maria Mazur, went to Siberia.
Victoria Morozova / Photo: © Dmitry Chelyapin / Match TV
Experts were inclined to believe that the main rivalry would unfold between Alice and Sophia. And indeed, after the short program, both girls continue to claim victory. At the end of the first day, third place went to Titova (66.45 points). Tutberidze’s pupil Dvoeglazova was in second position (69.88). But if both favorites did not climb to first place, then who was ahead of them? Victoria Morozova (70.73), who has nothing to do with the opposing academies, but trains at the less-promoted “Our Hopes” school, created by Olympic champion Tatyana Navka. It seems that a new force has intervened in the dispute between the leading schools.
“We must take care of her”
Alisa Dvoeglazova performed a double axel at the level and successfully coped with a triple lutz. The cascade of triple flips and sheepskin coats also worked, although the exit was blurry. Student Tutberidze also had shortcomings in her rotation and step sequence, which made it difficult to qualify for the maximum levels.
Sofia Titova jumped cleanly on her double axel, but under-rotated her triple lutz and touched the ice with her hand on the way out. Overall, she skated well, but again received a portion of criticism from figure skating fans for her difficult relationship with music.
Morozova delicately performed the same set of jumps as Sophia and Alisa, and in addition avoided blots on the rotations and track. Perhaps, if Alisa or Sophia had risked putting the triple axel available to them into the short program, then we might not have seen Victoria in first position. But the favorites were unable to cope with their opponent from “Our Hopes” without risk. However, there will still be a free program ahead, the results of which may change everything.
Dvoeglazova is capable of quadruple lutz, toe loop, and flip jumps. Titova also masters elements of ultra-si, in particular the quadruple Salchow, and according to the coach, at the end of last year she had a sheepskin coat and a four-turn flip on the way. Most likely, in the free program we will see a battle of quadruple jumps. Will Morozova be able to wedge herself into it? During Victoria’s training, she was given a unique cascade of a quadruple loop with a triple sheepskin coat, but the girl has not yet practiced anything like that at competitions.
Victoria Morozova / Photo: © Dmitry Chelyapin / Match TV
– The same quadruple of Vika Morozova – I want her to show it at competitions next season. But it was not easy, because she is in puberty, she is growing, you can’t give her too much stress, we need to take care of her, but at the same time keep her in shape, show good programs and teach quadruples,” Irina Smirnova, Victoria’s coach, told the “Championship”.
Perhaps right now you can take a chance with a quadruple in competitions, so as not to miss out on victory at the Grand Prix stage. However, if the coach believes that the skater is not ready yet, then there is no point in forcing events. Morozova has already demonstrated her ability to intervene in the fight for the highest awards and has moved from a little-known athlete to the category of promising ones. And, one has to believe, with proper work, Vika will still have big victories in any case.
2023-10-19 17:25:43
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