Original: https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...oe-intervyu-evgenii-medvedevoy-1526418/?ua=dt
Translated by me
- Is there a release, an ease after it is all over?
- Not exactly a release. There is certainty that I can, that nothing is lost, that I am still the same Evgenia Medvedeva, who is able to fight. For me, this competition was important to show a good result under pressure. It was huge - controversy, everything that happened around. I kept away from this, but thoughts still interfered. I felt that people view me under a magnifying glass, try to find something its not there, and even find it. For me, this competition was important, to have the strength to go further. I have it.
I said no to social networks. It helps. I recommend, I don’t watch TV out of principle, it’s such a zombie box [russian negative name for TV]. On the Internet, you can find something interesting - you go to Google, ask a question, get an answer, learn something new, become smarter. And on TV you see some kind of reptilian invasion and believe in it. People believe in everything that announcers on television say. Therefore, I have no TV in the room for the last five years.
- And the invitation to the TV?
- It is interesting to look at people who work in another field. I really love working with professionals. As it is known, speed, attention, and organization are important in TV industry. Shooting, time is limited - I like the way people work, the kind of shots they get. I love the camera, I love to act in commercials. It is true that the camera does not always love me.
- Did you manage to figure out what happened to you over the last year?
- Yesterday I was able to understand what it was. During the season there was a strange feeling - you enter the ice, turn around. And there are different people standing. Not that you're upset, it's just different. And this was seen by both Tracy Wilson and Brian Orser. It was just that both me and them needed time to get used to it. At the first competitions, they took me out differently than they do now. We found a common language. During the season there was a feeling that I was like an adopted child - they love me, take care of me, but something is not right. "Mom, dad, am I adopted?"
But now this feeling is gone, we have a strong figureskating family called "Cricket Club". Of course, for me this competition was simply amazing - I turned around and saw near the border the people whom I had long wanted to see next to me. At this moment those are the best coaches for me, best friend and choreographer. This something unimaginable, this feeling of real human support. I am grateful to Misha Ge - he was next to me during all the competitions. Everyone knows that we have been friends for a long time. For me it was priceless that he was near.
All the guys from our team have very different characters. Jason Brown is cheerful, always happy, positive - I have never met such people. Loud Debbie Galiman [spellt like this in the interview, not sure if she said it like this or it is a type] who attracts attention, Katyusha Kurakova - absolutely tiky, but already an adult girl. How it fits together in one person is completely incomprehensible. Lilian from Moldova - I can not explain how amazing he is. There are many such people, we are like relatives to each other, we often go out together.
- You got a North American intonation.
- I hope this is a compliment.
- Not in the language, in the way you present yourself. Has life in Canada contributed?
- I think this is more my personal story. My mentality will not change, my character will not change - nothing can be done about it, and I do not want to do anything with it. I am Russian, and I am proud of it. Yes, there are positive people, it affects the quality of life, the level of endorphins in the blood. But now I feel much more confident as a person. I know that I am going in the right direction.
- You said after the skate that you changed your diet among other things.
- Now I made a choice in favor of vegetables - for about two months I have not eaten meat. These are the changes that I wanted, but could not yet speak in Veliky Novgorod at the Russian Cup final. It’s just that a little more time passed since that moment when I made this decision. I do not eat meat, do not eat milk protein, but this does not mean that I limit myself very strictly - my diet is very rich, there are a lot of cereals, nuts and butter. If something is missing, there are vitamins. For me, this is important, I feel more happy. I understand that at the same time I care about myself, about my mind, about my body, about my career and the environment. And this is awesome.
- So you are now a vegetarian?
- Basically - yes. But I still interact with dairy products, I bake cookies for myself. In Canada, it is much easier to avoid animal protein — there is a substitute for almost everything. You can even buy vegan mayonnaise, but this is absolute nonsense, it is unhealthy. Perhaps I will return to the meat. But I have now changed this in my life and I feel comfortable, I feel good. If something goes wrong, I will not force myself, I will return to the diet I have been used to during my whole life.
And let's be honest - it’s so much easier to maintain weight. The ratio of body weight and fat - this is what I rely on now. Weight, of course, is also important - plus or minus three kilograms is harmful. But I now pay less attention to the scales.
- What will you do after the World Cup?
- I will stay here in Japan, but nothing concrete.
- There are places where you would like to go?
- To Nagano. I was there once and just fell in love. I was not at Mount Fuji. Would you get up? Yes, but not on my own.
- What makes Japan interesting?
- Its calm, composure and balance in solving complex issues and affairs. For the people who live here, there are no small things. Everything is clear, neat, beautiful - this is a feature of this nation. But sometimes it seems that the rules are too strict. There was a case when I was walking with a suitcase to get a bus - I showed my accreditation, I put my foot up and suddenly the door closes in my face. The controller shows 12:30 - time to leave. But I was almost in? Sorry, we have rules. Okay. People do their jobs.
- Do you like the changes that are happening to you? Including in terms of appearance.
- Now I like myself much more without makeup. Perhaps I am surrounded by people who believe that I am beautiful. I hear - you're rested, you look great. I am a girl, it is important for me to hear this. I feel confident like a woman, and it also makes me happier. I used to wake up, look in the mirror and think - oh god, where is my concealer? Today I can wake up, go wash my face, comb my hair, look at myself in the mirror and say to myself - I am rested. And I started to think that my fingers are long, and I stopped having complexes about my hands. Complexes go away. We all need good and a couple of compliments, then people flourish.
Translated by me
- Is there a release, an ease after it is all over?
- Not exactly a release. There is certainty that I can, that nothing is lost, that I am still the same Evgenia Medvedeva, who is able to fight. For me, this competition was important to show a good result under pressure. It was huge - controversy, everything that happened around. I kept away from this, but thoughts still interfered. I felt that people view me under a magnifying glass, try to find something its not there, and even find it. For me, this competition was important, to have the strength to go further. I have it.
I said no to social networks. It helps. I recommend, I don’t watch TV out of principle, it’s such a zombie box [russian negative name for TV]. On the Internet, you can find something interesting - you go to Google, ask a question, get an answer, learn something new, become smarter. And on TV you see some kind of reptilian invasion and believe in it. People believe in everything that announcers on television say. Therefore, I have no TV in the room for the last five years.
- And the invitation to the TV?
- It is interesting to look at people who work in another field. I really love working with professionals. As it is known, speed, attention, and organization are important in TV industry. Shooting, time is limited - I like the way people work, the kind of shots they get. I love the camera, I love to act in commercials. It is true that the camera does not always love me.
- Did you manage to figure out what happened to you over the last year?
- Yesterday I was able to understand what it was. During the season there was a strange feeling - you enter the ice, turn around. And there are different people standing. Not that you're upset, it's just different. And this was seen by both Tracy Wilson and Brian Orser. It was just that both me and them needed time to get used to it. At the first competitions, they took me out differently than they do now. We found a common language. During the season there was a feeling that I was like an adopted child - they love me, take care of me, but something is not right. "Mom, dad, am I adopted?"
But now this feeling is gone, we have a strong figureskating family called "Cricket Club". Of course, for me this competition was simply amazing - I turned around and saw near the border the people whom I had long wanted to see next to me. At this moment those are the best coaches for me, best friend and choreographer. This something unimaginable, this feeling of real human support. I am grateful to Misha Ge - he was next to me during all the competitions. Everyone knows that we have been friends for a long time. For me it was priceless that he was near.
All the guys from our team have very different characters. Jason Brown is cheerful, always happy, positive - I have never met such people. Loud Debbie Galiman [spellt like this in the interview, not sure if she said it like this or it is a type] who attracts attention, Katyusha Kurakova - absolutely tiky, but already an adult girl. How it fits together in one person is completely incomprehensible. Lilian from Moldova - I can not explain how amazing he is. There are many such people, we are like relatives to each other, we often go out together.
- You got a North American intonation.
- I hope this is a compliment.
- Not in the language, in the way you present yourself. Has life in Canada contributed?
- I think this is more my personal story. My mentality will not change, my character will not change - nothing can be done about it, and I do not want to do anything with it. I am Russian, and I am proud of it. Yes, there are positive people, it affects the quality of life, the level of endorphins in the blood. But now I feel much more confident as a person. I know that I am going in the right direction.
- You said after the skate that you changed your diet among other things.
- Now I made a choice in favor of vegetables - for about two months I have not eaten meat. These are the changes that I wanted, but could not yet speak in Veliky Novgorod at the Russian Cup final. It’s just that a little more time passed since that moment when I made this decision. I do not eat meat, do not eat milk protein, but this does not mean that I limit myself very strictly - my diet is very rich, there are a lot of cereals, nuts and butter. If something is missing, there are vitamins. For me, this is important, I feel more happy. I understand that at the same time I care about myself, about my mind, about my body, about my career and the environment. And this is awesome.
- So you are now a vegetarian?
- Basically - yes. But I still interact with dairy products, I bake cookies for myself. In Canada, it is much easier to avoid animal protein — there is a substitute for almost everything. You can even buy vegan mayonnaise, but this is absolute nonsense, it is unhealthy. Perhaps I will return to the meat. But I have now changed this in my life and I feel comfortable, I feel good. If something goes wrong, I will not force myself, I will return to the diet I have been used to during my whole life.
And let's be honest - it’s so much easier to maintain weight. The ratio of body weight and fat - this is what I rely on now. Weight, of course, is also important - plus or minus three kilograms is harmful. But I now pay less attention to the scales.
- What will you do after the World Cup?
- I will stay here in Japan, but nothing concrete.
- There are places where you would like to go?
- To Nagano. I was there once and just fell in love. I was not at Mount Fuji. Would you get up? Yes, but not on my own.
- What makes Japan interesting?
- Its calm, composure and balance in solving complex issues and affairs. For the people who live here, there are no small things. Everything is clear, neat, beautiful - this is a feature of this nation. But sometimes it seems that the rules are too strict. There was a case when I was walking with a suitcase to get a bus - I showed my accreditation, I put my foot up and suddenly the door closes in my face. The controller shows 12:30 - time to leave. But I was almost in? Sorry, we have rules. Okay. People do their jobs.
- Do you like the changes that are happening to you? Including in terms of appearance.
- Now I like myself much more without makeup. Perhaps I am surrounded by people who believe that I am beautiful. I hear - you're rested, you look great. I am a girl, it is important for me to hear this. I feel confident like a woman, and it also makes me happier. I used to wake up, look in the mirror and think - oh god, where is my concealer? Today I can wake up, go wash my face, comb my hair, look at myself in the mirror and say to myself - I am rested. And I started to think that my fingers are long, and I stopped having complexes about my hands. Complexes go away. We all need good and a couple of compliments, then people flourish.