http://www.championat.ru/other/article-45133.html12.12.2009., Olga BurbencovaRussian anthem in VancouverUntil recently, men's singles skating caused only to a nostalgia for the past, and timid hope that someday everything will come into place, and we will again to be proud because of someone. While ...
Figure skating for our country - this is not a sport. It is exclusively a Russian's mixture of national pride, sports priority, art, multiplied by the national love, and not having age limits.
As and in many other sports, in figure skating we can not boast with the role of pioneers. This is, generally, a very international sport. It is believed, that figure skating appeared in the Netherlands, somewhere in the XIII-XIV centuries, where is born first iron skates. All compulsory figures were created in Britain in the XVII century, there also appeared and the first edition of the figure skating rules. In Austria, in Vienna 1882, held its first international competition in Europe.
Ancestor of figure skating in Russia, without any exaggeration, considered is Peter I. He had brought from Europe the first samples of skates, and invented a new way of attaching them - straight to the boots. As separate kind of sports, our skating was born in 1865. Then is opened a public skating rink in the "Yusupov garden's", and it 5 March 1878 held its first competition of Russian figure skaters. At the beginning of XX century, Salchow, Lutz, Rittberger (Loop), Axel Paulsen invented his jumps, which now have their names. Since 1930, the World Championships for men and women have been held together in the same period. The fourth kind of figure skating - Ice dancing - came much later, again in the UK. Olympic championship played out in a single (male and female) and pairs, only 1976 in the Olympic program were included ice dancing.
Love towards figure skating in our country, recognized almost all. Who does not recognize - surely disingenuous. We all went through childhood, filled with an evening of music and flickering television screens - first black/white, then and color. And there was not for our generation, nothing more fascinating, than, getting into grandfather's chair, or sitting down with its family on the couch, with excitement and delight to observe the magic on the ice. And who much is worth stories commentators about the skaters' costumes: details about the pearl-pink or sky-blue with silver (remember, TVs were black and white)! Oh, how I envied them: they really see something all in color and shine! And the names - what a sounding names: Belousova and Protopopov, Rodnina and Zaitsev, Moses and Minenkov, Bestemianova and Bukin, Vodorezova, Tarasova, Mishin, Moskvina, Zhuk - that neither the name, a legend! And what are the words: axel, toe loop, lutz, and, of course, flip - nothing not clear, but so beautiful and mysterious!
But that was then. And now, with people's love and the growing popularity of figure skating in our country, all turned into a show. Last tears of joy were spilled on the Olympics in Turin, really became a triumphal for the Soviet figure skating. And I do not slip - not Russian, than Soviet. After all, our champions is the pupils of the Soviet sports school, with all its flaws, but and grandiose advantages. And if our dance couples still offer hope for Olympic awards, the men's single skating caused only to a nostalgia for the past, and timid hope that someday everything will come into place, and we will again to be proud because of someone.
But, it was else quite recently. And suddenly - everything changed. And changed not only for us, scored pre-Olympic anxiety in those countries, which are constantly involved in the division of medals on World and European championships. In those, which do not, without reason, to expect the Olympic awards in Vancouver.
The name of their worries -
Evgeni Plushenko. He is returned. Talking about him can only in superlatives, because it is not only a champion of Torino 2006, a multiple champion of Europe and world, than and, certainly, separate bright and unique page of national and world figure skating, with his inimitable style and a peculiar grace.
To the world, him discovered Alexei Mishin, which is in his time, also discovered and Alexei Urmanov's, and long-term rival of Plushenko - the champion of Salt Lake City 2002 Alexei Yagudin's, subsequently passed to not less outstanding coach. Tatiana Tarasova. Sports competition of Yagudin and Plushenko - it is not just a separate story. This is a multi-volume novel, saga, epic. But, what we certainly know now: from this competition, benefited not only the skaters, but and we - the spectators, and permanent fans of this "Tales on Ice".
It always happens in sport: go first, and second-third, relief translate of spirit. Especially, when between the first and the rest - the abyss. Sometimes, the first is return, but very rarely happens that to them again managed climb to the very top.
There is no doubt, that the Frenchman Brian Joubert, the world champion-2007, three-time European champion and six-time champion of France, now sleeps badly. And as the closer to Vancouver, so worse. Else worse sleep Evan Lysacek, Johnny Weir and Patrick Chan. To them appeared not only rival, according to many, Plushenko is back, not because that, to begin again, than because that, turn up to all, new perspectives in the men's figure skating.
We stopped in its development. According to another opinion, in exhausted economic and political adversity of the country, better was not possible. Sport in such cases, the collapses first, and restored last. But, lost and neglected, can not be returned either in a single day, not even for one year. Between Plushenko and his Russians successors remained abyss. That's why is he returned.
All specialists, unanimously already long time said about that it is time to take out of tournaments at all levels young, because on them is the future. Evgeni Plushenko in our Olympic team, and even in the former form, - a gift for experts and lovers of figure skating. Equal to Plushenko, which won the Olympics in Turin, in the world has still not appeared. Evgeni Plushenko's belief in his abilities - this is best foundation and for our optimism....
... In the men's figure skating, we look at him all our hopes. We believe him, and believe in him.
We see our Olympic team - the one, for which we cheering, tremble and experience in Vancouver. Now, when its structure is again Plushenko - is a completely different team. With a completely different spirit, mentality and look at the rivals.
The team, which should make resound over the Canadian ice, Russian national anthem.
P.S... Therefore it is important to make one addition. Plushenko, with a cascade of 4+3 in the short program received on "Rostelecom Cup"- not on the domestic competitions, than on the international stage - 82.25 points. Brian Joubert in Japan - also with a cascade 4+3 - 85.35. Evan Lysacek and Daisuke Takahashi - at the final Grand Prix - without quadruples jumps earned ratings of almost 90 points! Scores for the technique: Plushenko - 43.80, Joubert - 46.80, Lysacek - 48.20, Takahashi - 48.30. It's only numbers. Then you think, dear reader! We, of course, cheer, and we cheering for our own, believe that they will thank us with medals, well, or with just good performances.
The issue is not the figure skater but the IOC which seems to have a very loose grip on its control of the games....
