This is where we discuss figure skating and skating related items. How did you favourite skaters perform, and so on? However we never speculate on the private lives of skaters, like who might be going out with whom, because that is poison and is not tolerated here. A good guideline is that if it's not publicly announced, in the papers etc. then it's probably best to leave it alone. Is it a gray area? Then write to me and ask.
...although it has not yet been announced by Skate Canada, there appears to be a new pairs team formed/forming.
Reports are that Zach Daleman has teamed up with Natalia Zabiiako, a former medal winner for Russia with previous partner Alexander Enbert. This has been publicized in the Russian press where it is indicated that they will be training with Bruno Marcotte. I suspect that the formal release by the Russian Federation has yet to be finalized and that is the reason for the lack of an official Skate Canada press release.
Zach's mother has been retweeting the reports from the Russian press and his sister, Gabby Daleman, has commented on this tweet from IFS Magazine:
Unconfirmed reports are that Natalia Zabiiako is planning to return to competition and will now represent Canada with Zachary Daleman. The duo will be coached by Bruno Marcotte.
Gabby's reply tweet:
THATS MY BROTHER!!!!!
Couldn’t be a prouder sister welcome to the family @NataliaZabiiako #DalemanDuo
As they say "watch this space"...
Last edited by Elizabeth on Tue Jul 19, 2022 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Elizabeth wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 9:26 am
The new team had been entered in one of the Skate Ontario summer competitions but then their names were removed.
According to a report in Russian media today, the Canadian federation has withdrawn a request for Natalia to represent Canada.
MOSCOW, July 19 - RIA Novosti, Oleg Bogatov. The Canadian Figure Skating Federation has withdrawn a previously sent request for the performance of the silver medalist of the 2018 Olympic Games in the team competition of the Russian woman Natalia Zabiyako for the country, Alexander Kogan, general director of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR), told RIA Novosti.
Earlier, a source told RIA Novosti that Zabiyako intends to play for Canada under the guidance of coach Bruno Marcotte, paired with Zachary Daleman. The figure skater represented Russia in competitions paired with Alexander Enbert. The duet, in addition to the silver of the 2018 Olympics, won the bronze of the 2019 World Championship. Zabiyako and Enbert retired in 2020.
"Canadian Figure Skating Federation previously contacted us about Natalia Zabiyako and has already sent a refusal of her request. At the moment, Zabiyako is a Russian figure skater," Kogan said.
"At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis)
welcome to the family @NataliaZabiiako #DalemanDuo
welcome to the family @NataliaZabiiako #DalemanDuo