Correspondence sports: the main intrigues of the Grand Prix stage in Magnitogorsk

The Russian Grand Prix series of five stages and the final starts in the Urals next weekend. Despite the Olympic season, Russian figure skaters remain in international isolation, with the exception of Olympic participants Adelia Petrosyan and Peter Gumennik. The first one will arrive in Magnitogorsk, and this is a real test of whether something has changed in the month since Beijing. They are still waiting for the quadruple or triple axel from Adelia, without them it will be impossible to claim an Olympic medal. However, the current Grand Prix series is important for everyone who is going to the international race. The trend towards the return of our athletes is gaining momentum, and after the Olympics, further warming of relations with the ISU is possible. And even participation in the international launches of the 2026/27 season.

Who to follow

In addition to the obvious women's favorite, other sports in Magnitogorsk are expected to be closely contested. For men, there are at least 3-4 contenders for medals and 280+ points, although according to indirect signs, scores at domestic competitions will begin to fall from this season — the federation has a request for more picky refereeing, and this is also an element of preparation for international starts.

Kondratyuk, Ugozhaev, Fedorov and Savosin will fight for the prize money. Moreover, Fedorov recently beat his teammate Kondratyuk at the Moscow Championship. But even more interesting seems to be the participation of Igor Yefimchuk — a man who skated in the era of Zagitova and Medvedeva, returned seven years later and made his way to a major competition. A comeback of Evgeny Plushenko's level.

Couples won't have a fight./Kozlovsky and Mishina/This means that there is a real chance for gold and 500 thousand rubles in prize money (no changes in amounts since last season were reported) for the second-tier couples. These are Osokina/Gritsaenko, Artemyeva/Bryukhanov, and Mukhortov, who started hard after leaving Eteri Tutberidze./Evgeniev. The couples have long been waiting for the arrival of a third force to replace the two mentioned veteran duos. So far, she sees Khabibullina and Knyazhuk, but Nina Moser's wards did not come to the control rentals of the national team, and the holy place is never empty.

Dancing is also cramped. If Russia returns to the international arena, it is unlikely that Russia will have more than one quota at major competitions, and in the conditions of Stepanova's tacit absence./Bukin may be "appointed" Kaganovskaya as the leaders of the national team./Nekrasova Street. But it's unlikely that the Pasechnik/Cirisano and Leontieva couples will like it./Gorelkin, who come out against them on Magnitogorsk ice.

Olympic training

Nevertheless, the main character of this launch is Adelia Petrosyan. She got strong rivals, but without ultra-si (however, with ultra-si now, the only leaders are her bandmates Sadkova and Dvoeglazova). The path to Magnitogorsk gold is clear. But Petrosyan's main rivals are not Frolova, Guschina or Sinitsyna, who will be pleased to beat the Olympic hope. And the Japanese Nakai and Sakamoto, the Americans Glenn and Lew. They are heading towards the Olympics on a different course, as Amundsen and Scott once did, competing for the South Pole. The main thing in this situation is not to be Scott.

At the last French Grand Prix, 17-year-old Ami Nakai jumped two triple axels, showed very solid programs, and scored 227 points. The experienced Sakamoto is 224. Lew has a disastrous start to the season, and Glenn is gaining around 215. All this is more than Adelia did at the Olympic selection in Beijing (209.63).

Therefore, the start in Magnitogorsk is the first after the selection and rolling of the national team, where you can check the readiness of the Russian champion for the Olympics. Have the jumps become easier and higher? Or maybe the figure skater of the Tutberidze group approached the fours? I would really like to see positive signals at the upcoming Grand Prix stage.