Hello, everyone
I tried to translate the documentary, but as it is quite long, I’ll make it in two parts. I imagine that there are plenty of English mistakes and for that, I am apologizing in advance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJV_CXqMYdQ
The documentary itself is in Latvian, but Deniss is speaking in Russian.
PART I
Narrator: Today, three talented skaters represent Latvia on the world arena: a 16-year-old Deniss Vasiljevs, a 17-year-old Angelina Kuchvalska, and a 15-year-old Diana Nikitina.
The first time when Deniss put on skating boots he was three. His dad liked playing hockey and he took his son along.
(2:50) Deniss: It took me some time before I started liking skating. It is a very interesting sport indeed, sometimes I even liked going to the practices. However, it was never as it is now. It is like a drug for me and I am addicted to it. Figure skating is my life purpose now. I love it so much. It is a tremendous pleasure to skate, to get the adrenalin while competing or training. It also makes my mom very happy. When I was a kid, I was kind of forced to go to trainings because I would rather watch cartoons. Only later, I started realizing that I really liked figure skating and it was not just a hobby anymore, but also my work. Before, the most difficult task for my parents was to make me leave our apartment to go to the training.
(4:30) Deniss: This is my first victory. I was seven. I got the first place in Austria. (4:47) This one I got in Warsaw in 2011, five years ago. (4:56) Also, five years ago, I got first place in Nationals, even though my skating was very bad back then. (5:13) That is my last achievement. This January, I got silver at YOG. (5:33) My first Grand Prix, I was thirteen. (5:42) The very first big award that I got. I was the first non-Russian who got on the podium in “Rostelekom Crystal Skate” (3rd place, Novice).
(Are you watching your own performances?)
Only starting this season. Before, I really hated watching myself skating and hated the critics, especially my mom’s critics. Now, I am watching and rewatching my programs and everything I am doing. I am analyzing everything that is happening around me and how I influence my surroundings. I am searching my weaknesses and trying to improve.
(Do you watch your competitors?)
Yes. Until this season, I was mostly interested in junior level skaters. I knew all of them. I wasn’t that interested in seniors. Now, I also started watching seniors. I am searching for some interesting details, tricks.
Narrator: When he is not at school studying, he is training in Sochi. Deniss says that he has two different lives: one is in his hometown Daugavpils, another one is in Sochi, Russia.
(8:24) Deniss: In Sochi I have a very busy schedule. Even though I am not spending that much time for school, I have trainings all day long. When I come back home, the only thing I can think about is that I want to sleep. I get very tired physically and emotionally. When I am at home, it is also very tiring because I always want my mom to be proud of me and her presence here is very motivating.
The whole Latvian part is basically about how hard it is to train in Latvia, that there is not enough facilities, no high level coaches and no money.
I remember reading someone's post here who met him at Euros, & she said he was the nicest skater she had met there. Deniss is not just an incredible talent, but a charming & intelligent boy with great character.
eace:
I am so happy for Stèphane's keen eagle eyes to spot his brilliant talent and decision to invite him, and the boy surely did the great master proud. And I was so proud of him too, instead of being intimidated by the presence of so many superstars he shared the ice with, he really rose to the occasion!! :agree: He also charged up his programme by throwing in an extra combination, not to mention attempting the 3A, downgrading the elements for a show performance doesn't exist for Deniss. I hope this performance will boost his crowd funding campaign, and of course all my best wishes for the future success in general, which is already more than promising :luv17:!
