From Alyona Vysotskaya's (junior coach in Khrustal'nyi) interview:
Alena Vysotskaya spoke about the love of her wards for Olympic champion Alina Zagitova.
“...This is a very cool moment when they communicate with senior athletes, champions, somewhere, somehow, even if it's in bits and for a brief moment. For example, when groups are changing on the ice during training. And it’s very cool, I can see it myself: the children are very enthusiastic about this, they constantly talk about Alina.
We have a cool motivation now: the ones born in 2015 are learning double jumps now, and for the one who is the first to learn, I will try to talk with Eteri Georgievna or Alina herself, so that the child has an opportunity to get a couple of photos together. Although photographs, in principle, are not so problematic - I know that Alina never refuses at all. But in order to communicate, to talk, the kids will prepare a couple of questions that are significant to them.
It is clear that learning double jumps is a long-term project, as long as they jump them, children can change their interests a hundred times. But all the same, it 'ignites' them for a period of time, there are children who care about it and are always asking for a meeting with Alina Zagitova - not just a brief one, when they're going from one training hall to another, but to sit on the sofa and chat for a while.
...You can see that the girls are not planning to stop skating any time soon. And you can see that Alina Zagitova really loves skating. This is her life. She loves ice, loves being on ice. This is also very important.” said Vysotskaya.
Full interview available here (English GT version, sorry, but it's readable); some interesting stuff about Eteri, Mishin, coaching process in Khrustal'nyi, etc.
- photo from the article on udn.com
- photo from the article on udn.com
