Aljona Savchenko: Finding A New Path Five Years After Olympic Glory - AN UPDATE ADDED

[Elizabeth]

An article from Hiro Yoshida for Europe on Ice: https://europeonice.com/2023/02/14/aljo ... pic-glory/

[kittykins]

Thanks for sharing! Wow, her comments about the war in Ukraine and the impact it has had on her family were very moving. I'm glad her parents are okay and her as well. I hadn't realized she had a daughter and I'm so glad for her. Perhaps she will be a skater too!

[Elizabeth]

Another change for Aljona - she had been hired in 2022 by the Dutch Federation to lead their brand new National Training Centre. We saw her at various events this season at the boards and in the Kiss 'n Cry.

It has now been announced that her contract has been terminated early (based on translated articles):

"She had a 2-year contract with the Dutch Fed (until mid-2024) with an evaluation to take place half-way through, which has now occurred."

"'Last year we were proud that Aljona had chosen to join us, but alas she turned out not to be the right person for this job. After careful consideration we have decided to end the collaboration after this season.' said Remy de Wit, Technical Director of the KNSB."

"One does not want to give a statement over the details of the early separation until next week after the end of the World Championships which begin Wednesday in Saitama."

"Aljona Savchenko: 'It was short but sweet, my time in the Netherlands. I began this adventure last year with a lot of energy. But in practice it actually suited me less well than I had expected. Everything comes to an end [as in Nothing lasts forever]. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next challenge, as I know that I'm starting anew in my second home, Chemnitz'" [Germany, where she long trained with Szolkowy & Steuer]

The move to Chemnitz, to begin in April, to work with Robin Szolkowy had been announced earlier this week:

Szolkowy confirmed this surprising step in an interview with the "Freie Presse": "We want to help bring Chemnitz back onto the international map of figure skating."

More on this from SkatingScores on Twitter:

There's a major problem however that sounds like it's partially triggered by rising energy costs: the Chemnitz Ice Hall has recently lost its important status as a "federal training center" & therefore also lost significant funding. (That had been previously reported IIRC.)

Chemnitz Ice Club manager: "As it stands, the hall will be dry from April until mid-August because no funds are allocated in the City Budget. That's a catastrophe for us, as that's when new programs are developed."

It sounds to me like they are trying to use the combined star power of Savchenko/Szolkowy to prompt an unscheduled change in status/funding for the Chemnitz training center before the ice is thawed next month.

Co-trainers Aleksandra Nazarova & Nicola Todeschini are coming along with Aljona to Germany.

Szolkowy: "In the last few years, we've occasionally spoken to each other. The past is now behind us -- there are no more corpses to drag out of the cellar."

RS: "We want to help put Chemnitz back on the map of Int'l Figure Skating."

RS: "With my experience as a Pairs skater, I'm far from having all the knowledge that – for example a former Ice Dancer – has with regards to [ID] step sequences. Therefore I see Aljona & the duo she's bringing along as the ideal complement for us."

[happyheini]

Hmmmm, very interesting.