This and That: 2023 Grand Prix Final Preview & Russian Figure Skating (Ilia Malinin, Kamila Valieva) - Video

So much has changed in the world of figure skating, yet the Kamila Valieva situation remains unresolved. Journalist Maya Bagriantseva joins us to break down the latest news in Russian figure skating and preview this week's 2023 ISU Grand Prix Final of Figure Skating. There is much to discuss - is it Ilia Malinin's time to shine? Should the quad axel be worth more? Is anyone challenging Kaori Sakamoto? Will the Kamila Valieva situation ever be resolved? Where is Daniel Grassl and why isn't anyone talking about it? Why must every skater touch the boards? Will Chock and Bates or Gilles and Poirier be victorious? Is there any Russian figure skating drama anymore? We debate it all on the latest edition of 'This and That'.

Links:

2024 4CC
https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/2024%20Four%20Continents%20Selection%20Procedures.pdf

Roca and Sur vs. Punsalan and Swallow:
https://youtu.be/mpbHvDfhTc8?si=VVb23Y6gIHpxlet0

"In January 1990, Sur was taking part in a month-long Russian All-Stars skating tour in the U.S., headlined by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, when he defected to the U.S., on January 24, 1990. He was joined by Elena Krikanova, Igor Shpilband, Veronica Pershina and a tour official. The group moved in with Russian immigrants in Brooklyn and eventually pooled their money to rent a one-bedroom apartment.

Roca/Sur worked together in Detroit and were soon invited to audition for tour organizers and to compete at professional competitions. A year later, the ISU changed its eligibility rules, allowing professional skaters to reinstate as amateurs to compete at the World Championships and Olympics; Sur convinced Roca to return to eligible competition.

The duo choreographed the free dance that Punsalan and Swallow used to win the 1991 U.S. Nationals.

Roca/Sur began competing in the 1992–93 season. They were coached by Sandy Hess in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Roca and Sur won the 1993 U.S. national title. Roca and Sur hoped to win the United States' single berth to the ice dancing event at the 1994 Winter Olympics. To do so, the couple had to not only win the 1994 U.S. national title but also receive accelerated citizenship for Sur due to the Olympics' citizenship requirements.

A Republican Representative and Democratic Senator, both from Colorado, lent their support to speed up Sur's naturalization in Congress. It was argued that his case differed from other athletes because not speeding up the process would hurt an American citizen, Renee Roca. However, their efforts were stymied in late Dec. 1993 when the USOC denied a request for a waiver to the requirement that athletes be citizens by the national championships. Their main rivals for the Olympic spot, Punsalan and Swallow, were involved in a letter-writing campaign to Congress to attempt to prevent Sur from receiving expedited citizenship.

Artem Fedotov:
https://youtu.be/2HopxhzMvlE?si=8xqPomu_h9yF-Kkw



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