“An artificial, slightly strange story” – Averbukh on raising the maximum age for young couples and ice dancers

Choreographer Ilya Averbukh told that the increase in the age limit among juniors in sporting pairs is a contrived story.

Previously, the ISU Congress approved an increase in the maximum age for junior couples and ice dancers. The maximum age for female figure skaters in junior pair skating is now 21 and for female figure skaters 23. In ice dancing, athletes will be able to participate in junior competitions up to the age of 21. Additionally, the age difference between the partners should not exceed seven years.

— As for the dance, it’s a completely logical story; as a general rule, in 90% of duos, the partner is always a little older than the partner. They will be measured by the elders, and it was so.

23 years for a partner in sporting couples? Pair skating has always been considered the most physically challenging form for partners. Maybe because of that. However, it seems to me that there were normal age limits. Remembering my time, becoming a double world champion among juniors, I was forced to move up to the adult level at the age of 19, the juniors skated for boys until the age of 18; Until 21 it makes more sense, now how many world titles could I accumulate, if even before 18 I could win twice.

The main idea of ​​innovations in pairs skating is to ensure that juniors who leave early are not crushed at a new level by adult couples and seek their own path. In contrast, couples who move to the adult level at age 21 have spent several seasons gaining adult skating experience. Around the age of 24 or 25, they begin to make themselves known. The age limit of up to 23 is such an artificial story, a bit strange. Adaptation in adult sports still takes several years, I don’t know how logical it is, ”Averbukh told .

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