Tuktamysheva & Samodurova Interview
link:
http://sport.business-gazeta.ru/art...ddmEh-_K9Gz5b5YiJwHBgNlIz92L0l_Dj9U3RnnrI2DBU
translation: me
T - Tuktamysheva
S - Samodurova
The interview is written as article with quotes, I'm translating what skaters say only and giving some context.
On competition and friendship:
T: There are many examples where friendship ended because of competition, not only in sports. But actually the healthy rivalry is what motivates us to achieve results. In our sport, one does it alone, but we are still one team. We represent one school of figure skating and skate with one coach.
S: We have a very friendly group. We all support each other, and feel this support. It helps a lot.
On times when Samodurova joined the team:
S: In the beginning, I was even afraid to get close to her. [about Tuktamyseva]
T: We get new athletes in the group periodically. It is, we can say, the usual way. You not always pay attention to the new guys on the ice. Also we travel a lot: work on programs, camps, competitions. Maybe Sonya joined in a moment I was away.
S: We have two categories of athletes - juniors and elite athletes. Before, I skated with the little ones. Now me and Liza are in the elite group, so there is no separation of ice between us.
On music:
S: Liza infected me with rap. When I started to hang out with her, I also started listening to it.
On answering questions in english:
S: I´ve read on the internet, there was a gossip that some athletes cannot communicate in english, that there is a language barrier for russians. So i decided to show thats not my case. Why not?"
on hanging out:
S: We also love shopping together
(she says they sometimes compete: who picks the best costume in a given time)
S: Me and Liza, we laugh a lot, we got our own jokes. We support each other and don't go training without some good mood.
T: We also like to just chat. Sometimes those are typical girl talks: about cosmetics, fashion, some interesting events.
on Mishin:
S: In training, he tells little girls: "put your chest forward! even if you don't have it".
on relationship between them:
S: Liza is almost an elder sister to me.
T: I try to give her professional advice. Obviously, we talk the most about what we both do, figure skating. For now, this takes the biggest part of our lives, so we always have something to discuss. Its a pleasure when you reach such a level that your advice may be useful to other people.
liza also helps sonya with off-ice real life stuff
T: If Sonya has some difficulties or problems, and she asks me, I always try to help.
on how to remain friends:
T: The secret is simple, there is no secret! Everything depends of the people and their qualities. I think that its all about that. You must be able to be happy for other people.
S: We simply don't think about it. Both me and her, we don't keep stuck on trying to keep our friendship at any cost. You simply got to interact normally, and everything will work out. So we interact normally.
