Well done to all three skaters! Gutted for Daniel for not making the podium, but he is so
young, he will have many more opportunities if he continues skating. Him and Artur are strong contenders for years to come, excited to see them more in Senior competitions
Artur and Daniel were my highlights of yesterday's competition. Daniel's artistry and expression is beyond reproach, and both age- and timeless. Artur at this age is just cut out for this fun Verdi program, love him in it.
We'll see if any 'politicking' affects World Championships selection, or what will be added to the programs in the two months remaining. Seems to me, Samarin, despite his boots problems, needs to prove himself ready some more.
Always interesting to hear Inna Goncharenko's opinions ...
Inna Goncharenko: Aliyev gave an amazing skating run at the European Championship, in one go
Inna Goncharenko, Russia's Merited Figure Skating Trainer, in an interview with RIA Novosti correspondent Yelena Dyachkova shared her opinion about men's competitions at the European Championships in Graz, Austria, in which Russians Dmitriy Aliyev and Artur Danielyan won Gold and Silver medals.
-- For the first time in many years, Russia has the European champion in men's singles - Dmitriy Aliyev.
- You know, when Dima cried at the end, I myself had tears in my eyes. Such emotions! For these kind of skating runs, the coach really should work - this is what the student gave out! We are all present at such a joyful event. I am very happy for Dima and his coach Yevgeniy Rukavitsyn, all who work in their friendly team. Awesome skating run - inspired, from begin to end.
-- Dmitriy in the past had difficult seasons and breakdowns ...
- He is a very emotional person, this is evident from his performances. Apparently, a lot depends on his internal state. Today he went out, and it was clear that he would skate: he was in the image, in the program, from beginning to end - as an artist who performs his concert number. Dima lived his program, this rarely happens. You can just perform the elements, or you can just skate them out like he did, just a piece of real life on ice, a whole story. It’s hard to keep your nerve. There was no race for the elements, it was a whole piece. We are witnesses of such a cool event!
-- Do you think that Michal Brzezina, who was the leader after the SP, flinched psychologically, yet he was the last to perform?
- Michal is quite an experienced athlete. He always had such proglems: “butterflies”, breakdowns. This, apparently, is a property of the human psyche. But I want to note that a lot of work was done by Rafael Harutyunyan. I can say that the Brezina that I saw at these competitions added a lot for himself. The technique was finalized. At the beginning of the free program, Michal had in some way to race after his Salchow; this, apparently, put some kind of problem in his head. Then, when this race ended, his program began. The end of his free program showed that, firstly, it was perfectly set, and secondly, a chic skating run, beautifully done jumping elements - high, with spans, for a plus. But, unfortunately, this is not enough for victory and a good place.
-- Artur Danielyan?
- I want to congratulate him and the coaches. Artur - a debutant, but did not flinch at all, performed calmly, confidently. The fact that in the free program he flew from the exit from his triple Lutz is some kind of misunderstanding, I think. He was slightly inclined, slightly twisted and flew off. He himself, probably, did not understand why it happened. A little disappointing, because at the beginning he showed complex quadruples and a triple Axel in a cascade. He danced his program, in principle, did everything he could. When an athlete develops everything that is invested in him, it is always good. And it’s especially pleasant that we have the hope that Artur’s things will be even better and he will fight.
-- Can he turn his triples into quadruples?
- Of course. Moreover, he is very young, and he certainly has everything ahead.
-- Why do you think Aleksander Samarin performed unsuccessfully?
- It seems to me that at this competition he performed without any mood, went to his short and arbitrary program, like drooping. He, of course, turned on his character. Today he performed three difficult jumps qualitatively, but then made mistakes, a fall from the Axel knocked him out. And in the end, this Rittberger ... He just let go of himself, as if the program had ended. You never should, if you are a professional athlete, you need to keep the program to the end. Sorry. But he performed without courage, was very withdrawn in himself. I would like to wish him mood, the ability to pull himself together, skate his own programs, regardless of whether the elements are obtained. But Brzezina was able to switch, and we saw an artist, a high-level athlete, and that's great.
I heard that he changed skates before the European Championships, but I didn’t talk with Sasha or the coach on this topic. This is just an assumption. But if this is true, then this, of course, is a very difficult moment. For an athlete of such a high level, skates, boots are like a second skin, which is very difficult to change. Moreover, there was little time. Perhaps this may be an excuse. Although I do not want to justify anything by professional athletes, especially men. If you jumped on these boots quadruple Lutz's, then why didn't you jump a triple Rittberger in them? This does not justify in any way.
-- Now we will live in anticipation of the World Championships. Do you think our guys are competitive? After all, rivalry in the World Championship will be even higher.
- You see, skaters are always emotional people, they are always artists. Nervous by nature, everything is in the image. Everyone saw what happened at this European Championship with Frenchman Kevin Amyoz. Everyone thought that this was one of the main contenders for the victory, and he did not even get into the free program. it's all so unpredictable! Yes, there are recognised leaders, but believe me, it’s good that they are. For the rest reach for them, reaching for someone is always easier. It is more difficult to be this leader, to go further forward, to pull along and to defend. But I hope that all the main contenders for the World Championships will be in perfect health, everyone will be present there. They are superprofessionals and will not give an inch, they will lay down their bones. Therefore, there is no reason to hope for an easy victory. But if there is again such a skating run as Dima Aliyev had today: integral, with completed elements, with a program that holds the nerve, captures, it always gives a good result.
-- And how can a trainer say: is there any algorithm to repeat all this at the World's stage?
- I do not think that we need to focus on this. Do not chase for anything, you just need to go out and perform. There is such a thing - to do your work and perform, then everything develops. When you start to think of some goals, everything in your head only gets worse. They have already done this work, they know what needs to be done. Let's not shoot them down! Let them work further, that’s all.
-- Then it turns out that you need exactly what all the skaters like to say when they are asked about expectations - is it clean skating?
- Of course! And you always need luck. Fortune is necessary. You always need to be lucky and fortiduous at some points. We just wish our guys good luck!
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From:
https://rsport.ria.ru/20200124/1563811116.html?in=t
