Here are some translated extracts from an interview. I corrected in the automatic translation only the mistakes preventing comprehension.
Известный в прошлом фигурист, а ныне тренер Андрей Депутат специально для портала Team Russia подвел итоги прошедшего в Челябинске чемпионата России.
teamrussia.pro
Andrei Deputat' s opinions are interesting, and as it seems to me reflect not just one viewpoint. Which doesn't mean I agree with all he says. The whole interview is longer and not only about ladies.
— What are your main impressions of the Russian Nationals?
- First, Katya and I spent the whole evening discussing how strong the gap between Shcherbakova and Trusova turned out to be, almost 20 points. We talked about it at dinner, after it, and so on. This is a solid gap, almost two quadruple jumps performed with 0 GOE. Are you sure the difference was that serious? For me, this is actually a question.
Secondly, a record number of athletes who withdrew before Chelyabinsk. And how actively fans discussed the possibility of postponing the competition. At any other time, perhaps, this would not have been so acutely perceived. Although until this year, it was difficult to imagine that the Russian championship could be postponed, because all athletes are always very much waiting for it. For many, it is almost an official symbol of the end of the year and the beginning of the holiday season.
— Even among the champions of this year, many had been ill with COVID-19, and for a large number of skaters, this tournament was in the full sense of the word getting over yourself. Who is the main character of the competition for you?
- All of them are. It's not even about the virus. Everyone who went to Chelyabinsk is admirable, because the situation is really difficult, and not so much physically as psychologically. All these restrictions put moral pressure on everyone, plus the incomprehensible situation with the World Cup — whether it will happen or not. And it is very difficult for athletes to skate without motivation. When you know where you're going, that's one thing. And here you do all the same things as usual, and for what? Just to get another medal? And get on the national team, which, perhaps, will not go anywhere. In addition, the federation has already announced that there will be more competitions where you can qualify for the national team. Therefore, all those who came to the Russian Championship and showed their maximum are heroes.
- Russian champion Anna Shcherbakova could also withdraw from the competition and skated a short program with a temperature of 38. Has there been anything like this in your career?
- Yes, I performed both unhealthy and after illnesses. This is, of course, an emergency situation, and in such situations as Anya's, it is better to lie at home. For an already weakened body, such an additional load in terms of both emotions and physique is not a benefit. But I understand that the decision in this case was a collegial one, made not only by the coaching staff of Eteri Tutberidze, but together with the athlete, her mother, since Anya is still a minor, as well as with the participation of doctors, the federation and so on. Because a start while being ill, whether it is even just a runny nose, leaves an imprint on the body in the future. And if the doctors allowed it, then it was really possible to perform.
— What do you think about her performance?
- Of course, Anya is good. What she did is really cool, and no one has really done better yet. This deserves double applause and admiration.
— What is your overall impression of the women's tournament?
- That these girls should be in the place of the boys, because they skate better than them (laughs). But seriously, it's something else. It is even difficult to describe it in a less emotional and more business-like way. After all, what the girls are showing now is something unimaginable. A couple of years ago it seemed fantastic, and now they are doing even cooler. So I really like it. Although on the other hand, as I have already said, I really admire how older athletes perform. Because now there is an emphasis on the complexity of the jump — it's cool, cool, worthy of respect. But I would like us not to forget that the tournament is still a ladies' tournament. And we are eager to see ladies' adult skating. Jumps, you are welcome, even to perform five rotations. But we also need a result in terms of image rendering, interpretation of music by the movements on the ice in the program. It's not doing mechanically what you were told to do. But when it comes from inside the athlete, they consciously "paint" the program with their emotions.
— Which of the current winners, in your opinion, is closer to this?
- I liked Kamila Valieva in the free program. But I would not include Shcherbakova in this list yet. And the model is, of course, Liza (Tuktamysheva). When she started competing at the Russian Championships, the girls who are now winning were just taking their first steps on the ice in the truest sense of the word. She clearly understands what she is doing, what she wants to show with her skating. Unfortunately, she had serious mistakes — Liza was ill, she did not approach the competition in the best shape.
- Alexandra Trusova's coach Yevgeny Plushenko spoke harshly about the judging after the short program, which he was extremely dissatisfied with. Among the main claims - for the same thing, different judges can give absolutely opposite marks. Is he right, or is it more of an emotion?
- Of course, it was said in emotions. But there is some truth in Zhenya's words, and I partially share his opinion. Of course, the girls from the school "Sambo-70" show something fantastic, but so does Sasha. And there is room for argument. I understand why Plushenko is unhappy. At the same time, in the free program, I emphasize that the scores were fair. In the short program, yes, perhaps, Trusova was "robbed", her skating was underestimated. But you need to remember this: the judges are very fond of clean and stable skating. And Sasha before this championship of Russia performed inconsistently, made a lot of mistakes, fell. But here she did well. And, of course, you need to evaluate what was done. Although here it should be noted that the judges have a very large "fork" in the assessment, and they have the legal right to give such scores. And judging in figure skating will always be subjective.
It seems like most of the posts that dominate this thread are about
this may work...
