part 3:
-I remind you that Alena Kostornaya, the European champion in figure skating, the winner of the Grand Prix final in the 2019/20 season, is in our studio. Write your questions - I already see how many of these questions have already accumulated. There is a video broadcast on the VKontakte network ...
(I'm skipping a bit here because these are listener announcements)
-Do you consider yourself a titled athlete? What do you think your current status is? Who do you feel like?
- I consider myself... well, an athlete. I have already stepped off the pedestal, which means that everything needs to be worked out again.
- These are sound thoughts! I would like to move on to the second important step [of the conversation], that is, to the Evgeni Plushenko Academy. Why did you transferred exactly there [from Tutberidze]? After all, initially, when you were still little, you tried to get into CSKA, to Elena Vodorezova, if I'm not mistaken.
- No, I tried to get to Inna Germanovna [Goncharenko] ...
- Oh, excuse me, to Inna Germanovna ...
- But they told me that I was too young, they didn’t take me there. And I went to Evgeni Plushenko, because Sergei Rozanov also moved there, and at the moment when ...
- And how does this relate [to your decision]?
- I just started talking about it... That is, at a time when all the coaches were at the Olympics, he was preparing us for the World Championships. In addition, it was with him that I learned the triple axel. He constantly kept me on the lounge during training. And initially I wanted to learn the quadruple salchow, but he told me: “No, now we will work with the axel.” And in response I began to shout: “I will not do this! What for? I'd rather study salchow, I need it!”. But he insisted, and I said: “Well, okay ...”.
He convinced me very quickly, and on the very same day I already jumped. In the morning he kept me on the lounge, and in the evening I already landed a triple Axel on the ice myself. After that, I began to more or less trust this person. Well, I went after him [to Plushenko], because he worked with me a lot.
- Is it possible to say that only Rozanov worked with you in recent years?
- No, all the coaches worked with me, but if I stayed for extra time to remember some old elements, then he was with me.
-We'll continue talking about this and more in a few minutes.
(long break)
- Alena, before the break, we talked about the fact that you had such a period when you worked directly with Sergei Rozanov ...
- Well, yes, he was one of the coaches at the headquarters of Eteri Tutberidze and we had connect ... (meaning mutual understanding)
- Well, tell us in more detail about your collaboration with Rozanov.
- Well, he just helped me - that's, in fact, that's all ... His main work was with the younger group, but if I needed it, I could absolutely calmly approach him, ask - and he went out to us on the ice. Of course, he did not really want to spend his break time on this, but if I asked him, he could help.
- You said that together with him you learned some important element for you.
- Yes, I studied the triple axel with him, and he also constantly corrected my edge when performing the lutz.
-Did you fix the edge?
-In the end, yes, we did. But, of course, this was not without the help of Eteri Georgievna, who at some point in Novogorsk made me perform lutz from a classic approach, from one leg. Well, for about an hour and a half I fell, but then everything worked out
-By the way, since the conversation has already turned about this, it is expected that the ISU Congress, which will be held in Phuket, will tighten the rules on edges when performing jumps starting next season. What do you think, which of the skaters of our national team (that is, the women's team) will suffer from this in the first place?
- Well, to be honest, I can’t say for sure about this ... It depends on what technique will be chosen when performing jumps, it depends on the shape of the athletes ...
-But it’s not the shape that matters here, but how the skater studied jumping.
- It is possible to retrain in principle. It's difficult, but possible. So if the ISU says, “Yes, we have tightened the rules”, then those who did these elements incorrectly will quickly become relearned. Whether they succeed or not is another question.
-Good. For now, we will put aside my questions for the time being and turn to the questions of the radio listeners. I don't even know which one to pick up on, because there are just an infinite number of questions... Well, let's go in order from top to bottom. I apologize to all those who asked the question before the rest of the listeners.
So, the question is:“Hello, Alena! Have you finished creating your programs for the next season? Should we expect something new and unusual?”
- I can not say that it will be something completely new. Rather, it will be a long forgotten old in a very new processing.
-Which program do you like better - short or free?
-This is one of two cases where I can't decide which program is better - I like both one and the other program so much, and they are completely different programs, that while riding I just have a brain explosion - I don't know which one programs are better for me.
- Well, let's make at least a small hint for your fans - what images will be in these programs? Tell me at least in a veiled way, without revealing all the cards.
-It will be something sharp, bright and something, shall we say, a little snotty.
- Apparently, this was the description of the short and free programs ...
-Yes!
-Good. By the way, here they ask you - do you plan to arrange something like a meeting for fans? People are looking forward to it.
- I can think about it. I will remember it.
-Here you are, listeners - your words have been heard.A question about Eteri Tutberidze: do you continue to communicate with the athletes from this team after you left, and ... no, we will leave the second question for now. Have you kept in touch with someone?
-Of course! Just yesterday we celebrated the birthday of Dasha Usacheva. Her sixteenth birthday.
-And how did you celebrate?
-Excellent!
-Where did they celebrate, if it's not a secret?
- We rented... (laughs) Dasha rented a loft. Given that she was a little late for her own birthday... But it doesn't matter (laughs)
- It's not important... So, more questions. I don't quite understand... Did you have a conflict with Sasha during your training at the Plushenko Academy?
-No, we communicated quite normally, but we trained on different ice, because we were in different groups.
- Here's the next question - have you ever read fanfiction about yourself?
- Oh, yes - ficbook - it's generally something very special!
-What is it, I've never even heard of it?
-Ficbook is a page on the Internet with fanfiction, where a huge number of fanfictions on various topics are posted. That is, there you can read, for example, fan fiction about Hermione (from the books about Harry Potter), as well as about figure skating. People write about absolutely everything. Sometimes I read this and think: “My God, how do people have enough imagination to think of this? So what is this nightmare?
-And what was so bright from this that you remember the most?
- Your radio will be banned if I tell about it. (laughs)
-Are you serious? (laughs) Well, okay, let's do something quieter then, so we don't get banned...
- Well, it's mostly some kind of fanfiction about relationships within the team. It may be a real team, but the authors can bring together athletes from all over the world into a common team - as if they were all together.
-My God!
-Mostly, athletes are credited with love affairs with each other.
-Who were you in love with?
-There are so many different options...
- Was there any negative attitude towards these fictitious love or friendship ties within Khrustalny or within some other groups? How were they treated like that?
-In what sense?
- Well, it seems to me that here we are talking, maybe not about love affairs, but about relationships within the Trusova-Shcherbakova-Kostornaya trio, maybe the question is about that. Here is the abbreviation...
-I didn't like the abbreviation. And the other girls didn't like it. People say, "But we just wanted to cut back." Nevertheless, when discussing coaches, their names are always pronounced in full, and our names are shortened. To me, for example, it was not clear. And all three of us did not like it very much, because completely different personalities were glued together, dumped into one heap, as if we were one whole. And we are completely different.
-Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert? What do you like to do when you have no plans for the day and you just sit at home?
-That doesn't happen to me.
-Let's go back to the first question - introvert or extrovert?
- Well, probably, if I always have some plans, I constantly ...
-Well, you can plan alone...
- No, I'm an extrovert.
-Wonderful! So, let's put aside about Harry Potter ... “When I'm sad, I review Alena's performances. Tell me, is there any chance to see last year's free program My Way, which was made by Plushenko, at any competitions?
-This is a free program, so it will be difficult to fulfill this desire, we will have to edit the music. But if people really want to see this program... And I know a lot of people have that desire, because the program is really amazing. Unfortunately, I did not fully master this program, did not reveal its full potential, but I think that if I try hard, I will be able to show it.
-Tell us about the most valuable medal for you, about the medal you had to work especially hard to get. Well, you can call it that - the most hard-won medal.
- The most hard-won... Probably the most hard-won is in Vancouver, my first Grand Prix in the last season. It really was the most hard-won medal when I took third place. Despite the fact that in the short program I seemed to complete the Axel, it took me incredibly hard work to get this medal. It was very difficult for me both in training and during performances. I don’t even know what it was connected with, but it was very hard for me. Skating didn't work...
- Skating did not work out during the preparation for the competition, or already at the tournament?
- Yes, in general, it did not work. It was just... It was physiologically difficult for me. That is, I tried to make the performance good, but as a result, it really became very difficult for me. I mean, I got tired faster than usual and all that... It wasn't just a lack of stamina. In training, I had enough endurance reserve, but two days before the competition, this reserve suddenly disappeared.
- And the last question for this minute... By the way, many people wrote about it, and I myself wanted to ask this question - did you get information that you are releasing a music track?
- Yes, I'm working on it.
-Can you tell me more about this? It is very interesting.
- Well, firstly, I'm into vocals, and it became interesting for me to try something like that. The track is already ready, it only needs to be recorded. But you can tell by my voice that it's too early to do it yet.
-Maybe we are just now announcing the release of this track?
-I can’t say anything, because while my voice is in such a state as it is now ...
-And what does “track ready” mean, this can be understood as if a recording has already been made ...
- No, I'm talking about what's ready...
- Ah, the text!
-Yes, the text is ready, the track is being processed, but I haven't done a studio recording yet, because I want to do it well. And now I'm wheezing and sniffling, so... Well, I won't do it just yet.
-What is this track about?
- Well, as always - about what is now popular.
-What do you think is popular right now? Everyone has their own taste in music...
-This is something between the songs of Anya Pokrov and Klava Koka.
-For those who don't know: Anya Pokrov is a blogger, and Klava Koka is already quite a well-known singer in our country. For some reason, when I found out that you were going to record a track, it seemed that it would be something about overcoming yourself, about how hard it was for you at some point, but then you managed and overcame everything. Isn't that in your song?
- Some similar moments, perhaps, can be seen there. One verse has a line about me crying into my pillow and the other half is more fun.
- Alena, I want our video broadcast to be watched more actively. To attract viewers, please show your manicure. (Alena shows her nails). Write to us about what kind of manicure Alena has. In my opinion - a very nice manicure and very unusual. At least unusual for me. I have not done such a manicure for a long time, perhaps because of my age.
Okay, we still have 10 minutes left, let's move on to the present. What is happening in CSKA now? Are you training now, or are you on vacation?
- I was given a week of rest, starting from Wednesday, that is, from yesterday. On the first of June, I start training, I will already be charged, because already on June 4 I have my first ice show, and on June 15 the training camp begins. So I will start working soon.
-Where are you going to the training camp?
-It will be in Novogorsk. As always. My beloved Novogorsk! Which year in a row...
-Yes, you can't miss this place! You have already changed the group, and still you have to return to Novogorsk.
-Yes, already the fifth year... no, even the sixth year. Nightmare, such scary numbers...
- Well, what to do ... The athlete has a short career, but nevertheless, one has to endure such episodes. A lot of incomprehensible information about your training process in CSKA. It is clear that now you have a week of rest ... All the time they talk about some kind of probation, then it's all postponed, then again they say: "Alena is on probation." When will it end, and what is it all about?
- Yes, it's just that the media inflate information, or invent it, take pieces of phrases, put them together - you get a headline. And in our country it is enough for many people to read the title without looking into the rest of the text - and they immediately begin to comment. It even seems to me that if, instead of headings, the entire text of the articles was printed in italics at once, it would be more useful.
- That is, I understand correctly that the issue has been resolved - were you accepted into the group?
- My coach will definitely tell you about it. But... I think if two programs have already been done for an athlete, then this probably says something.
-Good answer! How do you see the next season - both for you personally and for our sport in general. Yes, we have already talked a bit about the fact that many internal tournaments will be added to the calendar. But nevertheless - what plan have you outlined for the training process for the next season?
-Well, now is a great opportunity to work on new elements, because now is the right time to experiment. Now you can not be afraid of risk, this risk will be absolutely justified. As they say - we are not losing a cow.
- Can we count on the fact that next season we will see you ... Well, a triple axel, or even two - this is the default, but what about quadruple jumps?
- I'll see how things develop. Well, of course - I want to try, at least I want to try to perform a quadruple jump!
- Have you had any attempts at training yet?
-It was, but for a very long time, and now, at the moment, no. But my physical characteristics, my capabilities are such that I have everything I need to [perform quadruple jumps].
-That's a bold statement!
- Well, I have the required jump height, my height will no longer increase, so why not? Why shouldn't I try?
-Trying is one thing, but performing in competitions is quite another. You understand very well that for competitiveness it is necessary to have at least one ultra-c element, and even better if there are two such elements, or even more so three.
- Well, about two or three elements, I would argue ...
- Okay - one!
- Well, that is...
- Triple axel is no longer enough.
-Two elements might be enough. But it is not exactly.
-As an example - Liza Tuktamysheva. Two triple axels, of which one is in a cascade. And she didn't make it to the Olympics - again!
-First, it's a slightly different story. Lisa, as I understand it ... I didn’t watch her on purpose, but, in my opinion, something didn’t work out for her in the short program. And that's why she couldn't [get to the Olympics]. But she had chances, all athletes had equal chances.
-Are you serious now? That is, if Liza Tuktamysheva had perfectly performed both programs at the Russian Championships, would she have beaten [the figure skaters who went to the Olympics]?
-May be. Maybe I'm not saying it's absolutely accurate.
-You say she had a chance.
- There are always chances. Of course, if she had skated cleanly, it is not clear how other skaters would have performed ...
-It seems to me that this has nothing to do with one another - if Liza skated cleanly, then others ... Probably, one could say this about Kamila Valieva - she skated cleanly and everyone else fell apart, such a scenario would be possible ...
- Well, anyway, there is some percentage of the probability that if it were so, then ... But, on the other hand, if, if, if yes, if mushrooms grew in your mouth. So it's too late to think about it now.
- Well, I don't know, I guess I can't agree with you on this issue.
- Chances are all the same.
-Well, in what sense are the chances for everyone the same?
-Literally. Chances are always the same for everyone.
- That is, conditionally, here Kamila Valieva enters the ice, followed by Liza Tuktamysheva - and they have the same chances?
- Well, Kamila does one number of jumps and Lisa does another.
-That's right, it turns out that the chances are no longer the same.
-Well, on the other hand, no one bothered Lisa to study new elements...
- Well, that's another question - of course, of course.
- In the original version, as my mother says, you have two arms and two legs, everyone has the same body structure. The only question is how you use this body.
-OK then. Which of our skaters do you think will continue their career next season? And most importantly, why would they continue to do so? I mean those who have already been to the Olympics, who performed, who did everything they could, who have already received all the titles.
- I think that everyone will skate. Everyone will train and compete.
-This is serious?
-Yes. I think yes.
- Why do you think?
-Why not? Are there any objective reasons?
-There is. For example, money. As long as you're on the team, you get paid more.
- Well, I think that along with the increase in the number of competitions won, [there is more money anyway].
-Money is never too much.
-Yes, that's understandable. But I said: why do they need to stop their careers?
-Because all the titles are obtained. The Olympic Games were won by someone, not won by someone ...
-Here, why do those who did not win, although this is the dream of any athlete, need to stop their career?
- What do you dream about in sports?
- I dream of performing at competitions, getting a boost of energy, delighting the audience for as long as possible, as far as my health allows.
- Once you said that an athlete can control herself for a year or two (but two years is already a stretch), but in order to skate the entire Olympic cycle ...
- I meant the tough, absolutely strict pre-Olympic regime. This is when on a day off you cannot afford to go to some kind of entertainment, you cannot go anywhere at all - only the house and the ice rink. Well, still an institute or a school ..
-Don't you have such a routine?
- No, in any case, I can afford to go somewhere on a day off, meet friends, I am generally a positive person, I do not get tired of being in some kind of society. Therefore, for me, meeting with a large number of people is a vacation. I can stay late on a Saturday night somewhere. On Sunday I can't, of course. I can go to the cinema on Sunday, just go for a walk, do some outdoor activities - and it won't hurt me. But subject to the strict pre-Olympic regime, this would be unacceptable.
-You and I still haven't discussed (and you don't seem to want to discuss it) your final transfer to the CSKA group. Was there any ultimatum that Elena Buyanova gave you during your transition?
- Yes, they simply told me: “Make a decision for yourself - do you want to train and skate, or do you not want to.” Naturally, I answered: “I want”, but then they asked me again several times, they said: “Are you sure of your decision?”. The last time I received the results of my medical examination, the doctor asked me: “Do you want to get an excuse for not exercising?” - and then Elena Germanovna herself told him: “She doesn’t want to!”.
In fact, I already have an adult, conscious attitude to the training process, so when I go out on the ice, I will no longer say: “Oh, something hurts me, something pricks, somehow I feel uncomfortable, I'm not ready today." Well, if I'm not ready, then I will jump, remaining not ready. I go out and do the work that the coach gave me. Tired or not, good mood or bad - it doesn't matter at all, everything will be fixed during the training, because I'm doing what I love.
-What will you do after the end of your sports career?
-I have big plans.
- Share with us these plans.
- I'm still aiming for a higher medical education.I don’t know yet which university I will study at, whether I will succeed. Maybe these plans will change, but still this dream remains with me.
- Thank you, Alena, for today's conversation.We really hope, dear radio listeners, that we answered all your questions to the maximum.
I had to restart my hearth a pair of times during the ex 
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