“ In some ways, Lukashenko is right about viruses at the rink. ” The tallest skater talks about her parents prohibiting her to train in Belarus
Interview with Viktoriya Safonova - an ex-Russian who is happy with the change of her sports citizenship
Among the talented skaters who the Russian team lost, several female single skaters were supposed to go to the World Championships in Montreal. Yevgeniy Plyushchenko's pupil Yekaterina Ryabova from Azerbaijan, Brian Orser's pupil Yekaterina Kurakova from Poland, Anastasyia Galustyan from Armenia and Viktoriya Safonova from Belarus.
The 16-year-old newly-made Belarusian stands out at least for her height — 176 centimeters are indicated in some sources, Viktoriya herself “counted” 173 - anyway, there is no one taller among participants in the World Championships.
Back in 2019, Viktoriya took 8th place in the junior Championship of Russia, and in the summer she moved to the national team of Belarus and won their National Championship. The best result in the season of 192,49 allowed counting on a high place in Europe, but the tournament in Graz did not work out - Safonova became only 14th. Nevertheless, she had to go to her first World Championship - but it probably will not take place.
About her thoughts to move to Belarus for training and changing sports citizenship, as well as the problem of age qualification and the return of Alina Zagitova, the Russian figure skater told “SE”.
I learn a triple Axel in the countryside.
- Victoria, first of all - where do you isolate yourself?
" I am in Istra, I train every day two times for an hour and a half, run, jump, stretch, strength exercises. In principle, under the conditions of our summer cottage, I can train. I even learn a triple Axel. "
- You represent Belarus, which is the only European country where skating rinks and the entire infrastructure still work. Have you thought about moving there and practicing while the rest are idle?
" There was such an idea, of course, I considered this option. And I wouldn't even mind, but I live in Moscow with my grandmother, and my parents did not want to endanger her health. I could become a carrier of the disease. So me and my parents decided not to risk it. I can’t say that I’m directly offended. In this case, it was decided more by my trainers and parents. "
- Have you seen this interview with Aleksandr Lukashenko at some ice rink, where he says “it's a refrigerator, viruses don't fly here”?
" Yes, I saw that passage. Smiled. On the one hand, he is right that we need to be more comfortable with the situation, on the other hand, a lot of people are already sick, and it’s not just because everyone closes everything. Personally, I have not so many fear, but worries - that’s why I try to wash my hands, wear masks, and observe all the rules. "
- The head coach of the Belarus national team is Oleg Vasil'yev, who is now forced to stay home after five negative tests for coronavirus. They didn't “lock” him out?
" First of all, thank God that they are all negative. Maybe he’s allright at home, actually. Just in case. "
- What do you say - Belarus or Belorussia?
" No matter how much I read on the Internet, I couldn't understand which one is right.
(Laughs.) It seems it has always been Belorussia before. Now it's Belarus. It seems that Belarusians want the second option to be used. "
- How are you progressing on your triple Axel?
" So far, I haven't been able to land it, but there are very good attempts, fully rotated. But I’m still not having clean exits. But given the competition that exists now, and the fact that the girls do quads, all this forces us to learn more complex elements. "
- Who are you targeting from the current skaters?
" Choosing between Sasha, Anyai and Alyona, I still like Alyona's skating the most. "
When I moved to Belarus, it seemed that they were eyeing different people
- What is your height now? They write 'about 176 centimeters'.
" It seems to be 173, it has not been measured for a long time. But it seems to me that I’m no longer growing, I haven’t grown at all over this year. "
- Have you ever seen taller people at the rink?
" Not among the girls. "
- You weren't rejected at first, they didn’t say, like, 'what to do with you being so tall'?
" No, the contrary! They said that I have beautiful lines, I need to use this. At first, it caused difficulties, of course, it was unusual. It was especially difficult to handle jumping, but then when you get used to it, everything is fine. "
- When you commented on the transition to the national team of Belarus, you said: “I'm glad you chose me.” So there was a choice?
" I think they chose between several, but honestly, I don’t know who they were. There was a feeling that they ... looked closely at different people. But I’m sure that everything turned out well after the transition, all the conditions. "
- You spent part of your career in Sambo-70, but in the department of Tchaikovsky’s Rink. How did you get there?
" I can only tell about our department, in our group the children just come, skate for assessment, and Oksana, if she appreciates - "stay". Sometimes for a week. About Khrustalniy I don’t know, we operate independently of them. "
- There was no desire to go try yourself for the group of Eteri Tutberidze?
" No, there wasn't. Everything suits me at our rink, we have many halls, ice. Why change? "
- Training loads and strictness, which are much talked about, were a factor?
" Going by the words of the girls that I've read, she jokes a lot, but can also be strict. She praises and scolds. She uses the carrot and stick method. To say that I heard some story about her and because of this I didn't go? No, I can't. "
I want Zagitova to return
- World Championship are worth holding, in your opinion?
" In some ways, I am in favour of holding them, because everyone was preparing for them, training, but at the same time, health is more important, and they will be held in the new season, when new competitions start. Of course, it will be a shame not to go. But if I suddenly ended up in ISU, I don’t know how I would vote. You need to think carefully. "
- Of the other events transferred - ISU Congress, where they could raise the minimum age. Should they raise it?
" Here I have also a double opinion. Yes, it is necessary in the sense that skating at 17 is much more difficult than at 14 or 15, it’s true. But on the other hand, why should they raise it? ISU will decide, let's see what they say. "
- Many skaters have already left figure skating at 17. Would you like, for example, Alina Zagitova to return?
" Yes, I would like her to, that'd be cool. She is a special athlete, Olympic Champion. It would be interesting how she rides on. "
- Her confrontation with Medvyedeva rather played in favour of figure skating? At least in the sense of popularisation?
" Sure. Zhenya and Alina are of great interest to the audience, this is obvious. "
- Was there a skater in your life that pulled you into sports? I read, perhaps, about Carolina Costner?
" So I immediately skated for myself. Yes, I like Carolina, but ... you have to try to be an idol for yourself in order to improve. "
(c) Дмитрий Кузнецов
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From:
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...na-pereehala-iz-rossii-v-belorussiyu-1662589/
Viktoriya avoided Kuznetsov's bait
