Kamila Valieva DOPING Scandal - Russian vs American Perspective | Beijing Olympics 2022

A different view on Kamila Valieva doping scandal. As a Russian born American and a child athlete I attempt to provide Russian and American perspective on what went down at Beijing Olympics 2022 and explain why Russian athletes, officials and fans act the way they do.

Sub count: 1384
If you enjoyed this video, please make sure to put a like or leave a comment, so YouTube shows it to more people. And don't forget to subscribe - we are on a quest to reach 10,000 subscribers - help us get there!

WHAT HELPS US SKATE:

// CHECK OUR AMAZON RECOMMENDATIONS:

// OUR AFFORDABLE FIGURE SKATING GEAR:

// FILMING GEAR:

// OUR STORY
We're professional dancers who decided to try something new. Figure skating is usually perceived as a kid's activity and often adults feel like it's too late for them to start.
We decided to ditch this notion and prove with our example that it's never too late to try something new.
We hope our experience of learning ice skating as beginner adults (which is also a great workout) will inspire you to get active and get in shape and go after those points on your bucket list, too!
Follow our ice skating journey and be a part of our ice skating progression with our ice skating vlog every Thursday. Hope you enjoy our ice skating channel.

// SOCIAL MEDIA

//BUSINESS CONTACT

Business inquiries only, please.

Make sure you subscribe to our channel!

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that we provide we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting our channel so we can continue to provide you with free content each week!

#beijing2022 #kamilavalieva#figureskatingolympics

[catscrossing]

Just a side note:
this is part of a broader issue - it's not just about some sort of patriotic fever, it's just the general notion that extreme achievements (I mean involving really the very few best of the best in their 'discipline') in competition (sports, math, science, music) are (a) super important as a 'success metric', (b) can be only achieved through extreme efforts. This is why Russia is a top contender in so many sports and yet there's not much in terms of college sports, this is why Russians find the results of tests like PISA irrelevant - "how can Finland's education system be great - I don't see Finnish kids winning any math/physic/programming olympics?" And this view is shared by a vast majority of parents including those who don't give a fuck about Russia's glory, international prestige etc., but only want their kids to 'succeed' on very common KPIs like income, professional recognition etc.
But it does stem from the Cold War system of priorities - I'll use math/science as an example - it translates into other spheres I mentioned as well: it's not about nurturing kids' curiosity, problem-solving skills and science-based way of seeing the world, it's about sifting all the kids through hard, abstract, (seemingly) irrelevant tasks in order to identify, say, a 100 who have some kind of natural extraordinary predisposition to this and making them into great scientists (who can make the next Bomb) and a 1000 who can be educated to become great engineers to build that Bomb). The rest - are basically different tiers of rejection. If they cope with math, they can go into civil engineering jobs, if they don't - they're deemed 'fit for humanities [only]' and basically no one tries to make them interested in math again.
Likewise - it's not about involving kids in sports, it's about forming the olympic squad, it's about letting kids enjoy performing music/dance - it's about finding the next virtuoso pianist/ballerina/etc.
So even after the realilty of the job market changed, because there's a huge inertia in the way people think about education and because the graduates of this elite tier of soviet education were so successful in the new reality as well, everyone just went on with the idea that kids should be put on the right track as early as possible and that then any sacrifice is worth it.

And spot on re: mental health - it took me a while in fact (luckily early enough in my life, but when I was already an young adult, not a teenager) to realise that there's a whole range of issues worth attention and care between 'perfectly sane' and 'needs institutionalising'

[KamilaValieva-fan]

I am not a Russian. USA would get group gold medal after setting up Kamila successfully.
Fair sports? How about 🇺🇸 Jessica Kalalang, whom get no ban at all after positive doping test?

[itmomma]

Thank you for explaining this from the point of view we did not have. Kamila is an amazing skater, hope to see her again.

[ekh]

As Russian, I would agree with a lot said. My daughter attended rhythmic gymnastics here in the US in the Russian school of gymnastics as an elementary school student. As a parent, I witnessed what you would call mean treatment of girls by coaches and the choreographer. But we, parents actually didn’t mind tough approach, we didn’t appreciate softness and « trophy for participation ». The school was packed. My daughter turned out fine )), in college now, received scholarship, promotes healthy lifestyle, earns her relative financial independence, and already sets and works towards her goals for future at 18.

However, I wouldn’t go into the doping scandal as of yet. As IOC rep mark adams says, discussing this matter right now is a speculation.

Also I find it ugly and disturbing how « western » commentators, including former olympians condemned poor girl at first, and after witnessing her lose and ultimately collapsing at the end of the long program - the heartbreaking moment of these Olympics, they rapidly change their lines into child abuse, cruel coach treatment, feeling sorry for that child. I’m sorry, that was disturbing for me to watch, knowing that these same people were constantly attacking Kamila till she broke down. Again, the case is still under investigation and there are no conclusions. Let’s do ask whys, let’s refrain from commenting on subjects we don’t know details of, let the common sense and critical thinking prevail. Media nowadays are extremely subjective.

[myvictory]

The main problem in this situation isn't exactly the difference of mentality and culture, it's ignorance. The ignorance of western media and people of what's going on in Russia and how things work there. Americans often think there's still communism in Russia and that athletes are abused, forced to train and compete against their will, etc. This misconception creates a certain pattern of opinions that are totally ridiculous for Russians. Just the same way some Russians who have never been to the US think that all Americans are fat and dumb.

[karmablue]

Glad you found Averbukh’s comments on Tutberidze. Excellent explanation! Thanks for shedding light on the Russian mindset in regards to sports. As a psych major, isn’t there some movement in Russia towards better mental health / trauma awareness? Is there support for athletes who have a career-ending injury? And why does Eteri comment that their male figure skaters are weak (besides the fact her training methods are not effective with boys?). What would it take for Russians to view Eteri in a negative light?

[Calidastas]

Even though I’m an American and so should be totally outraged about the whole thing, Kamila is so extraordinary I found myself not caring about the doping. I don’t even like figure skating but I went back and watched nearly all her performances. Even at 13, as a junior, she was unreal. And it isn’t about the quads and triples etc. She is an absolute genius of expressive movement and no drug is helping that (and I’m sure if one Russian skater is doping they all are). It’s too bad Russia feels the need to over-egg the punch, because I don’t think they needed to in this case…

[jennifermorris]

I will never forget Miss Valieva. Any one can see she is the best ever.

[KellyeR]

None of this is surprising to me I was a gymnast as kid and always heard about how Russia and even Romania and China treated and thought of their athletes as product of the country no so much an individual. I started skating after gymnastics and took up it again as adult I've skated with Russian coaches and learned the difference between the way athletes are treated so as much as I don't agree with it I understand it. My major issue is the scoring and how the Russian girls get over scored for jumps with sometimes 3/4 of prerotation and just bad form among many other things but that's a whole different discussion.

[Oztralian]

It is such a pity at Olympics 2022. My heart goes out for Kamila Valieva who "danced" like a faerie on ice. She was flying like Tinkerbell!!! Don't let them bully you Kamila! Even the US Presidential election can claim that it has been HACKed. So why can't a hostile country hack a lowly IOC computer? My tears!

[kseno]

The best way I can describe it is that we’re brought up with the idea that if you’re not the best, you’re the worst. It took me YEARS to break my mom and extended family out of that mind set. Years.

[glaznflip]

I think there’s some parallels here… Many Americans have the exact same mentality of putting results over the person, and it happens in many sectors and industries… sports, business, education and politics… the main difference is that Americans will do it for their own individual success and not the success of the country, institution or the whole.

[sary]

What do you think of the argument that Kamila threw her skate, made mistakes on purpose (was told to save face and give Russia the medal moment) vs she just crumbled under all of this?

[kidmac]

Your explanation really helps me understand the situation. I am not Russian but i am Kamila's supporter. After watching this video, i know Kamila will be well treated when she goes back to Russia. There is no subtitle in Russian video/news, I hope you can share more news to us. Thank you for your video.

[chapinachick]

This makes so much sense. When I used to work for MAC Cosmetics, we had this manager that was very well liked within the company because she got results. one day she transferred to our location as our new manager. she was so mean. She was very blunt and made a lot of people cry. A lot of people quit and she fired a ton of people that weren’t up to par. As I got to know her I realized that she was very intense and very direct because she cared and she wanted you to succeed. She literally told me one day, she’s like “ the day you need to worry is, the day I stop correcting, and having talks with you in the office. Because that means I stopped caring “. That made total sense to me. I because everyone who can handle her toughness ended up becoming very successful in the company. when I say people hated her, people HATED her. But the company loved her!

This is very similar to the way Etiri is loved by Russia

[kristyking]

Thank you- as disappointing as this Olympic situation was, your explanation really helps me understand what the culture is like in Russia. I’ve had several students in my classroom from Russia and now I can comprehend their mentality. This type of dialogue is what we need in our world in order to try to see a different perspective. We may not agree with it but at least we can see each other as humans just trying to survive in the environment around them.

[CHRISCONTEPSS]

omg. . just looked at your whole channel. . . .I LOVE THIS! You guys are great. Happy skating!!!!

[anayarey]

Some people suggested that Kamila deliberately messed up her performance so that the other two girls can bring home medals. Do you think it's possible that a Russian girl would be asked to lose on purpose? Or that she decided that without her coaches involved?

[Creativefrogspawn]

I was reading an article on a Russian news site the other day about the Olympics and it mentioned about how when they do their medal count for the Olympics they only count gold medals, not the other ones. When you realise that, Sasha's outburst makes more sense.

[deesterdee]

Thanks for sharing; very insightful :) I always enjoy your videos, thanks for putting out nice content