Pre-rotation - is it bad?
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85137)
Shingle Springs, California
March 26, 2022 9:26pm CST
OK, this is a very eclectic discussion related to figure skating.
If you remember the Olympics last month, there was a doping scandal involving the Women's favorite, Kamila Valieva. She was allowed to skate anyway, but fell apart and didn't get a medal.
Well, before I knew anything about the doping allegation, I was wondering about her coach and her training program and why her skaters burn out so quickly. So many of them have 1 -2 year careers skating seniors, and then they're gone, sometimes with injuries.
One of her skaters who lasted longer, Evgenia Medvedeva has a back injury that is so severe that she can't skate at all any more. You might remember her as the girl in the 2018 Olympics who would have been the favorite the year before, but while she was nursing an injury, Alina Zagitova came along with more difficulty in her program and took the gold. Neither girls are skating any more.
So I did a little reading about her coach's training program. The coach, Eteri Tutberidze, wasn't a particularly famous skater herself, skated exhibitions here in the US for some years, married an American, had a daughter (who competed in the last Olympics) and went back to Russia when this coaching opportunity came up.
Anyway, I was reading about her training technique and why she has so many girl skaters who can do quadruple jumps. It has something to do with pre-rotation, that is, the skater starts rotating the jump before she leaves the ice. Apparently this technique isn't unique to Eteri's school, as Shoma Uno of Japan and other skaters has been observed doing it. But something about the way Eteri teaches is along with some strict diet restrictions so that the skater stays very thin, allows them to do these really hard jumps.
The problem is, it has been said that this jumping technique causes injuries, and I was wondering if this is at least part of the reason why Eteri's skaters have such short careers. I feel particularly awful for Medvedeva, who was a wonderfully beautiful skater, who is apparently never going to skate again.
So what I am wondering is this. What can be done about it? Can it be banned to teach this technique? Or can it be judged in some way as to discourage skaters from doing it? Or does nobody care as long as we get a good show out of it?
6 people like this
4 responses
@Vikingswest1 (7443)
• United States
27 Mar 22
In little leagues, as early as 1970, the curve ball was banned because of the damage done to young arms but is allowed in higher levels of youth baseball.
I'm pretty sure that pre-rotation is a part of every single, double, triple and quadruple jump. So it isn't just that. It's the techniques used to create disposable champions.
Unfortunately, many young skaters are willing to win at all costs and will do whatever their trainer asks.
Quads are crowd and judge pleasers. Until it's obvious that the dangers pose a serious health risk, they are likely to become more widespread.
But most people don't consider a shortened career a real health risk.
The medhods used by this trainer creates champion caliber athletes capable of incredible feats.
People care more about the show than the long term safety of the skaters.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Mar 22
You'd have to wonder about techniques used in other sports too. There is a lot of consternation at the moment about young girl gymnasts and swimmers being badgered held to account as regards their eating habits. It just about amounts to abuse.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Apr 22
@Chellezhere You would get the other side of the story from her.
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (6421)
• United States
27 Apr 22
@JudyEv My "aunt" (mother's best friend) has been a gymnasts coach for about fifty years. I was thinking about sharing this discussion with her.
2 people like this
@Mysticpizza (201)
• United States
16 Aug 22
Such a fine line, isn't it?
I would say if it involves underage youth then someone should be looking out for them.
1 person likes this
