I am not a huge fan of professional ice skating but I am a huge fan of excellence. I just watched a 10–minute clip of Ilia Malinin’s World Championship performance yesterday in Montreal. It was mesmerizing!
Ilia was born in Virginia. His parents were professional skaters in Uzbekistan, as was his grandfather. His parents are his coaches.
Watching this brilliantly accomplished young man reminded me of the book written by Senator John F. Kennedy in 1958 titled A Nation of Immigrants.
The subject was on my mind because yesterday I saw a moving and beautiful film called Cabrini. That too made me reflect on today’s hateful rhetoric about immigrants.
Ilia’s magnificent performance in Montreal was hailed by the sportscasters as one of the most remarkable events in the history of ice skating. Watch it!
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Just WOW !
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Please stop saying “gifted” when describing athletes. It demeans the immense amount of work and coaching it took to get them where they are. As if their “ability” weren’t developed since childhood, that it was a gift from some supernatural entity. Ugh!
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This is especially true of skating. It’s a highly technique-heavy activity, and requires exactly what you said—a huge amount of work and coaching. My son is a fairly high-level hockey player and he’s an outstanding skater, especially for a big guy. He wasn’t born that way, in fact he was far behind other kids growing up. What changed was his hard work and the brutal hours starting at 6 am he put in learning from a tough-as-nails figure skater. Figure skating coaches are mean!
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WOW!
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Steve, I changed the word “gifted” to “accomplished.”
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You are not only brilliant, but sweet, too! As previously mentioned, I am a big fan!
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I’m glad you approve!
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Both aptitude and effort are important.
I have absolutely no vocal musical talent. If I were to break out into song in a crowded room, there would be a rush to the exits. No amount of effort would enable me to sing well.
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Frances, I’m like you. There are certain things I would never be able to do no matter how much I practiced.
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I suspect that my ballet days are over. LOL.
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I sincerely doubt that this is true. Vocal coaches can work wonders.
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An amazing amount of skill and determination in this young American man! I am so glad Ilya’s family got to the US. Russia’s loss is our gain. In a dictatorship often the best and brightest opt to leave in search of greater opportunity and freedom.
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Thank you for this link – Ilia’s performance was incredible to witness.
What made me tear up, however, was the end. Nothing else could make the point of what it takes for an athlete to perform at that level. Ilia’s emotion wasn’t just pure joy. It was a combination of total exhaustion, enormous relief, complete awe at himself, jubilation, and a dozen other feelings at the same time. The mental fortitude it takes for a figure skater to perform under that pressure is beyond my imagination, although his reaction made me see a bit of it. Is there another sport, even gymnastics, where for 4 straight minutes everything comes down to a skinny blade on ice? Unbelievable. Also, I totally get why his mother doesn’t travel with him! If I were his parent, I don’t think I could watch either!
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Well said!
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I had the pleasure of watching him skate/perform as a younger boy and even then, he was exciting to watch. He was destined to go far in the world of figure skating.
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LisaM, lucky you! Ilia moves with grace and power.
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Astonishing. That was truly beautiful. Thanks for sharing this, Diane!
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Thank you for sharing I missed this performance It was majestic
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The United States is a country that was built by immigrants of all races from all over the world.
Imagine how great the United States could become if we could send all the MAGA racists supporting the Traitor back to their remote, off the grid, pure white survivalist underground bunkers.
Ending the Traitor’s attempt to take the United States backward to a time when it wasn’t great [instead it was a nightmare] for most of the working class and the poverty rate was more than 40%.
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Thank you for sharing! Astonishing, majestic, amazing! Perfection on ice!
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I love magnificent athletic performances in any sport. As I watch in admiration, I can’t help wondering “what were their test scores?” And wonder who cares.
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Haaaaa!!!!
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Malinin is absolutely amazing!
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