I tweeted that I could write an essay on how the ISU and the overscoring of Russian female skaters lead to Rika Kihira’s career trajectory. Well, I shouldn’t make promises I can’t keep, so here is my “essay”. No hate is intended to any of the skaters in this. None of this is the skaters’ faults. All blame is placed on the ISU, Mie Hamada, and Eteri Tutberidze.
Rika’s 2017 Nationals Short Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDEesMQIJvA
Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/26/the-russian-dolls-have-transformed-figure-skating-but-at-what-cost
Rika’s 4S Plan: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/rika-kihira-s-future-plans-i-want-to-be-able-to-nail-a-quad
Rika lands a 4S: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/japanese-womens-figure-skating-kihira-sakamoto-nationals-dec-2020
Beijing implications article: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/figure-skating-hanyu-kihira-reign-six-takeaways-from-2020-japanese-nationals
World number 3 withdraws: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14507222
Medvedeva injury: https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2017/12/01/Skaters-Medvedeva-Jin-drop-out-of-Grand-Prix-Finals-due-to-injury/8671512162117/
2024 GP withdrawal: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/sep/18/japanese-figure-skating-star-rika-kihira-to-miss-g/
Milan withdrawal: https://fs-gossips.com/14300/
Kostornaia withdrawal: https://fs-gossips.com/7559/
My carrd: https://blueflamesao3.carrd.co/
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