figure skating

[Mishenko]

Oops, I didn't think that my post went through. My apologies.
Yes, I could argue until I was blue, that Irina should have won the World's with or without the 'trip' *LOL* In my opinion of course. She had guts and had she wanted to , she could have gone out and 'played it safe' as someone else did, but she took a risk , although it may not have paid off with the judges decision, I admire her even more for that skate

[wvgal57]

Irina Slutskaya is my favorite lady skater. I hope she wil win Olympics. I think she could have won Worlds without the 2nd 3/3 the miss sort of took away from her program and made her look desperate. Irina has the goods, she just needs to gather confidence. I think Irina will have some wonderful Olympic programs which will showcase her great athletiscism and show a new found presentation that the judges want her to improve on.

Irina is definitely not afraid to make changes.

[Mozartist]

I am also hoping that 2002 will be Irina Slutskaya's year to become the Olympic Champion. She has earned the honor, and I hope that Irina's dreams come true. I'm a Russian-American, born in the US. Russia and the former Soviet Union have such an outstanding tradition in training elite figure skaters. Their approach to training does not ignore the artistic element of skating, incorporating ballet, and other off-ice training, and nurturing a strong appreciation for the arts.
So many top Russian skaters and coaches now live and train in the US. That is our gain but, I fear, their loss.
Luckily, there are also top Russian skaters and coaches who have chosen to remain at home in Russsia. My all-time favorite figure skater, 1994 Olympic Champion Alexei Urmanov, still lives in his hometown of St. Petersburg, Russia. His famed coach and his former training partner, Alexei Nikolaievitch Mishin and Yevgeny Plushenko, still make St. Petersburg their home. Alexei Urmanov, now a professional skater, has recently begun to coach at his rink, Yuibileini Palace of Sport, and thus is passing on the art of Russian figure skating down to the next generation of skaters.
Irina Slutskaya, Maria Butyrskaya, Yelena Sokolova, Viktoria Volchkova and Alexander Abt are other top skaters who still live and train in their homeland.
Cheers and Poka,
Marti :-)

[Mishenko]

I've not seen the posts recently...but wvgal57, I visit the Irina site often and read your postings on various message boards
Marti, I believe we used to correspond slightly in e-mails, some years ago now. Certainly you don't recall, but I hope you're doing well!
Such a pity that Sasha Abt now trains in the U.S. though
But great news about Urmanov, as I know the both of you know already, the births of his twin boys
ÕÄÁÞÉ!

[Ragnvald]

Guys

Last Olympics at Nagano I liked Russian figure skater Ilia Kulik. I haven't heard of him after that.
It's hard if you live in Australia....
Does anyone know anything about Ilia?
Thanks.