Alena Kostornaia | Page 403 | Golden Skate

Alena Kostornaia

I see Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, but who are the others?
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DizzyFrenchie said:
Because she's too good for that. I wish her a much better future than most Disney stars.
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I agree to a point… the money would be amazing!! And children all over would ❤️ her and she them..
But she has as yet much to accomplish in the elite arena as an extension to her career same as other Russian skaters..
She is to be admired for her spirit, beauty and charisma
 
patee said:
The long-awaited very long interview with Aliona. I hope we'll get a complete translation, because she speaks about (almost) everything we ever wanted to know about her. :)
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First 23 minutes of the interview:

Hello everyone, this is the “Without Water” channel, and today we are talking with the European champion in figure skating, the winner of the Grand Prix stages Alena Kostornaya. Alena, hello! I'm very glad to see you! How are you feeling, how is your hip?

-Well, it's fine... Good!

You answer a little uncertainly ... Well, in general - how was the operation, how was the recovery?

-The surgery went well overall, as did the recovery. In fact, it was all very hard, very long. Well, that is, it was hard and long for me, because I was already tired of this sitting and of this, to be honest, idleness.

But you were very strongly supported by your fans...

-Yes, many supported me, and it was naturally felt. But I wanted to somehow move and be more independent.

Well, in general, of course, this series of injuries just haunts you over the past few seasons. At first, you broke your hand and said: “I don’t want to be left without an arm at the age of 18.” Was this said as a result of emotions, or do you now, after a while evaluating this situation, understand that you should have overcome yourself and continued training with a cast?

- No, it wasn't worth it.

Shouldn't have competed at the Russian Championship, to try...?

-I... It's over, it's over and... Let's just say I don't regret it. That is, well, if it happened like that, it means that it should have been like that - that's all ...

Well, was it really that serious at the time? Well, that is, if we conditionally compare...

- No, I could not perform and train. There are a few different injuries. That is, here I can’t [train] at all, I can’t move because it hurts, and there I couldn’t because various secondary problems arose. That is, my hand did not fit into the sleeve of the dress, I was twisted to one side, because gypsum is still a heavy structure, despite the use of modern technologies. That is, there was no chance.

Well, I mean, at that moment, you didn't think about what that...

- "Damn, well, I had to do it, then I would have..."

Yes! Did you have any regrets?

-Not!

This is the most important thing, because... Tell me, are you saying this to the end honestly, and if you asked yourself this question, do you have any regrets?

- Well, naturally, the thought “but if I had not broken my arm” is another question. But since this has already happened, then in general, in the conditions in which I was then, everything was right.

Did you break your arm in some stupid way, or...

-Not! I am honest... I, as an honest athlete... Well, they told me: “Go and do it” - and I went to do it, train, and then I fell off the jump. It's not as if I went to a party somewhere on vacation and danced there so that I broke my arm. No, it was at training session, so...

When you watched the Olympics - Shcherbakova, Trusova, Valieva - what did you feel? Joy for the girls? Disappointment? Pain? Or...

- I didn't watch. Well, I was offended by the fact that theoretically, purely hypothetically, I could be there, if not for all this. Yes, of course it was a little embarrassing. Well, I kind of (makes gestures with his hands). No, no - everything!

Well, you are friends with Anya Shcherbakova. I'm sure you congratulated her.

-Yes! Naturally, as soon as I found out [about her victory], I congratulated her. I was extremely happy for her. I even watched her performance. Well, more correct - excerpts from the performance. I was scrolling through Instagram, and there, in addition to the photos in which Anna showed that she did win, there were still fragments of the performance, and I watched at it.

And what can you say about it?

- Well, she fought, skated worthy of gold!

I just really liked her performance. It was very clean skating.

-I just saw Anya's performances so many times that...

What is not surprising for you? (laughs)

-Yes! For me, this is not surprising. So for me it was not the kind of news that makes you say “Wow”, but still I reacted to it “Bro, you're doing great!”. Well, just respect. Something like that.

Did you do any analysis on the issue that if Sasha hadn’t put this triple axel in the short program, then ...

-I know that Sasha would not refuse a triple axel.

Would not refuse?

-Not!

And why?

- She can't be persuaded. That is why. Well, Sasha said - Sasha went.

That is, theoretically - if she had not fallen then, she could have won?

-Yes, she could. Well, we are all [skaters] to some extent [stubborn] sheep. Because if we want, if we need, then we will go for it anyway, regardless of what we were told - it is possible or not. We will go for it, we need it. Well, that is, she had to perform this triple axel - and she went to jump. No matter how they tried to dissuade her, no matter how they begged, no matter how they prayed. Well, that is, like...

And what, there were moments when they begged her and said “Sasha, it will be better this way”?

- I think that yes, there were such moments, but I'm not sure about it. I think she herself understood that... But she would not give up her complex content, because this is... Well, this is her main highlight.

And what would you choose - five landed quads, or Olympic gold?

-I would choose healthy limbs.

What do you think, is it realistic to repeat this achievement of Sasha Trusova? Also, is there anyone around her?

- Of the girls, maybe someone will. But honestly, I don't even know who it is. That is, I cannot name those who, perhaps, someday will do it. Well, maybe they won't. Although the quadruple axel was still done.

After the victorious European Championship, you had to go to the World Championship in the status of the main favorite. But a combination of circumstances, and ... Honestly, in all honesty - this whole pandemic and everything else - all this just ruined your career, which was at its peak ...

- Not that these circumstances broke [my career]. I had a lot of back problems at the time. That is, I won the European Championship, as they say, “by leaps and bounds.” That is, I did not train hard before the European Championship. If I did train, it was very meager and bad. I competed there and did everything. But it would have been very difficult for me to continue this further, because due to the injury I was no longer in physical shape. Well, here I was being treated, and then the World Championship was canceled, and I thought: “Well, in general, this is also not bad!”

Are you calming yourself down now or do you really think so?

- No, well, of course, I think so, because ... Damn, what's the point of going to competitions without elements? Well, that's just embarrassing.

Well, why, after all, did you win the European Championship?

- Yes, I won, but then I had to improve my shape, but I couldn’t do it, because I had an injury and I was sitting at home again.

By the way, what happened to your back?

- There is a lot of everything, a lot of different diagnoses, injuries that were not serious at first, but then aggravated. Well, because of this...

You worked with a psychologist, did you analyze this topic?

-There was a moment when I worked with a psychologist. But this is connected with another topic, which I, in general, do not want to dive into.

Was it related to sports or something else?

-Fifty fifty. The problems that arose in sports could interfere with my future life.

What was the most difficult and most enjoyable sporting moment in your career? I'm not asking in the abstract, but about specific situations.

-The most difficult thing is when I get injured and think “God, again! Yes, what is it?" And the most pleasant thing is when, having gone through this, I go out on the ice again.

- So you're talking about the very first step on the ice after the injury?

-Not. Rather, about the moment when I can do a sequence of steps or execute at least a fragment of a program. Yes, it's nice. And I say to myself: “Yes! I'm still capable of something!". And, of course, at the moment when the jumps are restored.

What is your favorite jump and what is not your favorite?

- The jump that, surprisingly, I can recover after a long break and perform almost the first time is the triple Axel. But only one try! That is, the first attempt will be such that everyone will say “Wow, how does this even work ?!”. And then I start to train this jump, and everything goes as always. Well, that is, falls, mistakes begin there, I try to adjust the jump for myself. This means that I enter the jump the way I should, but I try to do it the way I feel most comfortable. And here my problems inside my head already begin.

What about your not favorite jump?

- Not a favorite jump - this is probably a loop.

Why? Are you constantly failing at something?

- No, everything works out, it's just that this jump is short and uncomfortable. I'm talking about my inner feelings. Performing a loop for me is the most inconvenient - when compared with other jumps.

What are your favorite and not favorite programs? Has your love for music changed in a different direction? That is, you used to like lyrical compositions, but now you have switched.

-Not. In general, I like ... Well, to mix. To mix everything. That is, I do not like it when I have the same programs, the same styles. I love to try myself in something new, so that there is always something different. Besides, it's always interesting. Therefore, I do not have favorite and unloved programs. There are programs that I get tired of. That is, here is “Angel”, when I performed this for the second year - everyone said: “Wow, this is cool” ...

I can say that too! This is a great program!

-This is a really cool program, it revealed me from the other side. But doing it for the second year was hard. I mean, I didn't enjoy it.

Didn't enjoy it because you wanted something new/

-Yes, of course. New, really fundamentally new was the program for the song of Billy Eilish. Everyone reacted to this program like this: “Wow, this is cool, this is cool, no one has skated like this before”, and I triumphed. And so each program is a little bit different. I strive to ensure that the music does not repeat itself, except for the music from Romeo and Juliet. This music is my all-time favorite. Every time this music is taken, I say: “Yes!!”

By the way, I wanted to ask you - again, when watching the “Angel” program, which I saw at several tournaments, I noticed this: many skaters, after completing their performance, bow to all four sides - bow to the audience, judges, do some special trips. And you somehow always did the completion of the program very modestly. After you have stood in your last position, you can only wave your head like that - and that's it, you're leaving. Why?

- Well, no, I do an obligatory bow on four sides - and then I just go back, thinking, “Well, I did it, now I would have to rest as soon as possible.”

For some reason, I was surprised why at the end all the skaters try, as it were ...

- Firstly, this happens because... Well, there is such a feature that the next athlete cannot be released onto the ice until you finish your bows and go to the side of the rink. And this period of time is sometimes very important and very valuable.

That is, when someone bowed in front of you for a very long time ...

- We .... To be honest, any athlete in the depths of his soul hates the one who bows for a long time, the one who stands like this, holding on to his back ...

Many, many people actually do this...

-Ten bows, he still stand, and even tears on his eyes - oh my God! And you are standing in front of the gate, they don’t let you out and you can’t run out onto the ice. And here I stand and think: “My God, I would like to stab you with a knife!” There are separate stories for such people down there...

Listen, here are the toys they throw to you on the ice. I read somewhere that you, on the contrary, do not like it when soft toys are thrown to you.

- No, why, I like it, I just don't take everything with me. I basically choose three or four toys that I like, or take them “on request” - my friends have small children, and I naturally bring them toys. And so, for myself, I take one or two. Because why would I need more? And the rest of the toys ... Well, after us, children usually train on the rinks. And these children will be just insanely happy with these toys. And we, of course, leave them, give them.

Well, of course. Many athletes, in fact... In our sport (synchronous swimming) it is simply forbidden. Do not throw toys into the water.

- Well, in your sport, of course, it is forbidden. You won’t have such water striders there to swim and collect all this ...

And could ... (laughs) You, by the way, famously said - “water striders”. This is what we call a person who measures the temperature of water. Small children could collect [toys] too…

- Damn, well, firstly, the toys will become wet, and secondly, there ... Well, fu! Oh no! I don't think this is a very good idea. And ice can't do anything wrong with toys. But for the most part, it's banned now. Very conveniently made in Japan. There is a place in front of the rink where there are special bags that look like garbage bags, the names of the skaters are written on them. And people, instead of throwing toys on the ice, put toys in these bags. And then these packages are brought to the skaters. Great system, just great, I don’t understand why we still don’t have this.

But...

- Apparently, these toys will simply disappear from our bags, or the fans will start shifting them from one bag to another. We have cheerful fans, we have very cheerful fans, from whom you can expect anything, and therefore ... Therefore, sometimes I am simply shocked by them.

What shocked you the most?

-Sometimes the behavior of some fan bases towards each other, or towards other athletes. Sometimes it's just like... (covers her face with her hands). Nightmare!

Well, that was the worst thing, why are you covering your face like that?

- Well, because ... Let's take everyone's favorite confrontation between Alina (Zagitova) and Zhenya (Medvedeva). This example is easier to explain.

I think everyone knows about it.

-Yes. There is no such thing that some [fans] treat others adequately, understanding that these are the girls who train and compete with each other. Fans attack each other like that... That is, sometimes if you go to the chat, you will see this! It is now that the rules have appeared, according to which participants are banned for using obscene words ...

And where exactly are the fans banned?

- Well, for example, in Telegram chats. There, sometimes if you start reading the comments under the publication: “Zhenya is better! --No, Alina is better. And sometimes Zhenya takes part in the show, and there was such a situation: she appears and they shout to her: “Zhenya, you are the best!”. It is, in general, normal when they shout like that. But then someone shouts: “No, Alina is the best!”. And I think - well, now Zhenya is performing, Alina will be performing - and they will also shout to her “No, Zhenya is the best!”. And Zhenya herself reacted to this in the following way: “Is it possible, I’ll just turn around and leave here.” Well, it's kind of like that for me too...

But at soccer matches, fans also shout various insults at each other, don't they?

- It's soccer, it's different. We have one person go skating. If two people went skating at once - well, shout, it would not be so insulting. And when you perform - this is your time, these are your fans, you are doing your job - and then someone shouts something else, you quarrel with the audience. And at the same time, the athlete still needs to perform the program, show something. And, of course, this is unpleasant. It's embarrassing.

Have you had such a situation?

- No, I didn't have that. Although no, it was, but at that moment I was sitting in Kiss and cry, my performance had already ended, I was glad that I managed to complete it. Yes, I didn’t do the program well enough, I didn’t finish something, but I was glad that I completed it. And there was no question of any first place, I hadn’t even been given score yet, and then ... Here I am sitting with the coaches in Kiss and cry, we are discussing what needs to be worked on, and then they shout something like: “You so bad, worthless, and Lisa is the best.” It was about Liza Tuktamysheva. I... No, okay, if I said that I'm better, that I'm cooler - no. I objectively understood that I skated worse, that she would be the first, and this is unconditional - everything is decided and there are no questions. I didn't yell, "No! It's all untrue!" I just sat and waited for the score to see how many points my performance was worth, to see the protocol and understand what I need to work on.

[At the hippodrome]

Alena, we are at the hippodrome today. Why do you have a love for horses and where did it come from?

-Genes! (laughs) My aunt has a horse and that's how it all started. My whole family loves animals. Dad is a big lover of animals, and all, no matter which ones. This is probably where it all started. And then there's the horse - it's such a graceful, free and beautiful animal, and therefore ...

Why does your aunt have a horse? Is she a horse racing professional or is she a horse breeder?

- She's into show jumping. How professional - I can not say. But she took part in the competition. Probably, these are amateur competitions, because she has not been involved in this sport since childhood - well, something like that.

Are you feel confident in the saddle?

-Yes!

So you regularly go horseback riding, or maybe even jumping?..

-Yes, I do dressage and show jumping. Show jumping is the priority, of course. Still, it's more interesting. If I don't have injuries, I do it regularly. Once a week at least.

And if we talk about any show jumping competitions - have you already tried to take part at least at the amateur level?

-Not. Naturally, this all requires a lot of preparation. I rather do this for myself. It's like a way to relax.

If you have been involved in horses for so long, then why did you choose figure skating and not equestrianism?

-Because I didn't have that choice.

What is it like? Didnt your parents care about your opinion?

-I have always been figure skating, I have never been asked about it. And at some point, I just paid a visit to my aunt and her horses and immediately said: “wow, this is cool. Mom, I like it, let's go here.” And while I had to beg my mother, it was not so often. And when I myself found a place where I would do [equestrian sports] and did everything else myself, then, naturally, I began to ride a horse much more often.

That is, since how many years have you been in figure skating?

-From the age of four. Almost four.

And when did you realize that you would also like to do show jumping?

-Probably when I was 10 years old.

Well, yes, six years have already passed, and I think that left figure skating at the age of ten is no longer possible ...

- Well, yes, the question of change somewhere was no longer there. There was already a division: one is a sport, and the other is just my hobby.

Have you ever been to a real professional race?

-Not. I watched it on TV, but I never went to the races themselves.

Have you bet on horses?

- No! (Laughs) Dangerous thing!

Are you a gambler in general?

-In fact yes! But it all depends on the situation to which it concerns.

Any bets among figure skaters?

-Yes. This happens all the time in training.

Tell!

- Basically it's a bet on jumps - whether you do them or not. And the bet always goes, shall we say, in one direction. That is, if I do it, then nothing, no one owes anyone. If I don't, then I owe whoever I bet with.

What exactly should you do?

-We mostly bet on money.

Mostly money?.. And I heard recently - I don't know if it's true or not - that the loser has to somehow clean the blades of the skates or something like that ...

-Ah, well, when I didn’t earn money yet and couldn’t lose money, then this happened. The losers untied the laces on the skates, brought chocolates ...

That is, the one who won - sits down, you untie his shoelaces, and he sits like a king?

- Well, yes, the winner sits like a king, and you wipe his skate blades, put on covers ...

That is, as a servant?

-Yes! It was such a thing...

(pause)

Alena, let's go get acquainted with our today's horse. I don't even know if it's him or her, what's his name...

Woman with horse: Bukva!

Bukva? Bukva hello!

(to horse)
-Hi! Are you afraid of flashes? Don't be afraid, it's okay, it's okay...

She is so soft!

- She's so well combed!

(in a studio)

If we talk about falls, you told me behind the scenes that you even fell off a horse.

-Yes!

Tell me about it.

- Well, it was the case, I was still small. I was just studying, the training was at the very beginning. And then we went to the stable, located near our dacha, ten minutes by car, or less. Well, we went, and at that time it was autumn. Dampness, dirt, these puddles mixed with the coating. Well, ten minutes later the horse reared up, I fell back - and into a puddle. Right into all this dirt. I'm just like this (runs a palm over my face) I got dirty in all this, in all this slick - fu, just disgusting. It is clear that after that the lesson did not continue. After that, they laid old newspapers in the trunk of the car - and I was went home in the trunk.

It was painful?

- It didn't hurt, it was dirty. I think I even sipped a little of this dirt.

And if you compare a fall from a horse and a fall after jumping on ice? Where is the scariest and most painful?

-Everything happens unexpectedly, just during the jump, I understand: now it will hurt. Basically so. And the fall from the horse - mostly it happens unexpectedly, like this (snaps her fingers) - and that's it, fell.

Listen, but in fact you are very lucky that you didn’t break anything in yourself, that it all happened so carefully and calmly.

- And I was generally lucky in this sense, because nothing happened to me after falling from a horse.

Have you fallen many times?

-Two such serious cases, and the rest - so ... Once I did not fasten the saddle well, the saddle began to slide to one side, well, I moved out with the saddle, then something else. But mostly these are incidents - not such that it was necessary to urgently take me to the hospital. Nothing. On ice, I fall harder.

Liza Tuktamysheva, about whom we have already spoken, she is preparing quadruple jumps in her fifteenth or sixteenth season. Are you planning...

- I have a very good ... Here's what I can highlight - she and I have very good physical data. I mean, we're both short. I hope I'm not lying - she's about the same height as me. Maybe just a little higher.

Are you 155 centimeters tall?

-Yes. When we stand next to her, there is a minimal difference between us, maybe like this (points with her fingers). And this body will remain with us, that is, we will not become taller, we will not grow dramatically. The only thing to keep is an acceptable weight. But I think that at Lisa's age, it's not difficult anymore. So the body allows us to do [quadruples]. The rest depends on desire.

Will you attempt quads?

-I will look at how my arms, legs and whole body will behave. Because now it's hard for me to talk about any jumps.


 
Alex Fedorov said:
First 23 minutes of the interview:

Hello everyone, this is the “Without Water” channel, and today we are talking with the European champion in figure skating, the winner of the Grand Prix stages Alena Kostornaya. Alena, hello! I'm very glad to see you! How are you feeling, how is your hip?

-Well, it's fine... Good!

You answer a little uncertainly ... Well, in general - how was the operation, how was the recovery?

-The surgery went well overall, as did the recovery. In fact, it was all very hard, very long. Well, that is, it was hard and long for me, because I was already tired of this sitting and of this, to be honest, idleness.

But you were very strongly supported by your fans...

-Yes, many supported me, and it was naturally felt. But I wanted to somehow move and be more independent.

Well, in general, of course, this series of injuries just haunts you over the past few seasons. At first, you broke your hand and said: “I don’t want to be left without an arm at the age of 18.” Was this said as a result of emotions, or do you now, after a while evaluating this situation, understand that you should have overcome yourself and continued training with a cast?

- No, it wasn't worth it.

Shouldn't have competed at the Russian Championship, to try...?

-I... It's over, it's over and... Let's just say I don't regret it. That is, well, if it happened like that, it means that it should have been like that - that's all ...

Well, was it really that serious at the time? Well, that is, if we conditionally compare...

- No, I could not perform and train. There are a few different injuries. That is, here I can’t [train] at all, I can’t move because it hurts, and there I couldn’t because various secondary problems arose. That is, my hand did not fit into the sleeve of the dress, I was twisted to one side, because gypsum is still a heavy structure, despite the use of modern technologies. That is, there was no chance.

Well, I mean, at that moment, you didn't think about what that...

- "Damn, well, I had to do it, then I would have..."

Yes! Did you have any regrets?

-Not!

This is the most important thing, because... Tell me, are you saying this to the end honestly, and if you asked yourself this question, do you have any regrets?

- Well, naturally, the thought “but if I had not broken my arm” is another question. But since this has already happened, then in general, in the conditions in which I was then, everything was right.

Did you break your arm in some stupid way, or...

-Not! I am honest... I, as an honest athlete... Well, they told me: “Go and do it” - and I went to do it, train, and then I fell off the jump. It's not as if I went to a party somewhere on vacation and danced there so that I broke my arm. No, it was at training session, so...

When you watched the Olympics - Shcherbakova, Trusova, Valieva - what did you feel? Joy for the girls? Disappointment? Pain? Or...

- I didn't watch. Well, I was offended by the fact that theoretically, purely hypothetically, I could be there, if not for all this. Yes, of course it was a little embarrassing. Well, I kind of (makes gestures with his hands). No, no - everything!

Well, you are friends with Anya Shcherbakova. I'm sure you congratulated her.

-Yes! Naturally, as soon as I found out [about her victory], I congratulated her. I was extremely happy for her. I even watched her performance. Well, more correct - excerpts from the performance. I was scrolling through Instagram, and there, in addition to the photos in which Anna showed that she did win, there were still fragments of the performance, and I watched at it.

And what can you say about it?

- Well, she fought, skated worthy of gold!

I just really liked her performance. It was very clean skating.

-I just saw Anya's performances so many times that...

What is not surprising for you? (laughs)

-Yes! For me, this is not surprising. So for me it was not the kind of news that makes you say “Wow”, but still I reacted to it “Bro, you're doing great!”. Well, just respect. Something like that.

Did you do any analysis on the issue that if Sasha hadn’t put this triple axel in the short program, then ...

-I know that Sasha would not refuse a triple axel.

Would not refuse?

-Not!

And why?

- She can't be persuaded. That is why. Well, Sasha said - Sasha went.

That is, theoretically - if she had not fallen then, she could have won?

-Yes, she could. Well, we are all [skaters] to some extent [stubborn] sheep. Because if we want, if we need, then we will go for it anyway, regardless of what we were told - it is possible or not. We will go for it, we need it. Well, that is, she had to perform this triple axel - and she went to jump. No matter how they tried to dissuade her, no matter how they begged, no matter how they prayed. Well, that is, like...

And what, there were moments when they begged her and said “Sasha, it will be better this way”?

- I think that yes, there were such moments, but I'm not sure about it. I think she herself understood that... But she would not give up her complex content, because this is... Well, this is her main highlight.

And what would you choose - five landed quads, or Olympic gold?

-I would choose healthy limbs.

What do you think, is it realistic to repeat this achievement of Sasha Trusova? Also, is there anyone around her?

- Of the girls, maybe someone will. But honestly, I don't even know who it is. That is, I cannot name those who, perhaps, someday will do it. Well, maybe they won't. Although the quadruple axel was still done.

After the victorious European Championship, you had to go to the World Championship in the status of the main favorite. But a combination of circumstances, and ... Honestly, in all honesty - this whole pandemic and everything else - all this just ruined your career, which was at its peak ...

- Not that these circumstances broke [my career]. I had a lot of back problems at the time. That is, I won the European Championship, as they say, “by leaps and bounds.” That is, I did not train hard before the European Championship. If I did train, it was very meager and bad. I competed there and did everything. But it would have been very difficult for me to continue this further, because due to the injury I was no longer in physical shape. Well, here I was being treated, and then the World Championship was canceled, and I thought: “Well, in general, this is also not bad!”

Are you calming yourself down now or do you really think so?

- No, well, of course, I think so, because ... Damn, what's the point of going to competitions without elements? Well, that's just embarrassing.

Well, why, after all, did you win the European Championship?

- Yes, I won, but then I had to improve my shape, but I couldn’t do it, because I had an injury and I was sitting at home again.

By the way, what happened to your back?

- There is a lot of everything, a lot of different diagnoses, injuries that were not serious at first, but then aggravated. Well, because of this...

You worked with a psychologist, did you analyze this topic?

-There was a moment when I worked with a psychologist. But this is connected with another topic, which I, in general, do not want to dive into.

Was it related to sports or something else?

-Fifty fifty. The problems that arose in sports could interfere with my future life.

What was the most difficult and most enjoyable sporting moment in your career? I'm not asking in the abstract, but about specific situations.

-The most difficult thing is when I get injured and think “God, again! Yes, what is it?" And the most pleasant thing is when, having gone through this, I go out on the ice again.

- So you're talking about the very first step on the ice after the injury?

-Not. Rather, about the moment when I can do a sequence of steps or execute at least a fragment of a program. Yes, it's nice. And I say to myself: “Yes! I'm still capable of something!". And, of course, at the moment when the jumps are restored.

What is your favorite jump and what is not your favorite?

- The jump that, surprisingly, I can recover after a long break and perform almost the first time is the triple Axel. But only one try! That is, the first attempt will be such that everyone will say “Wow, how does this even work ?!”. And then I start to train this jump, and everything goes as always. Well, that is, falls, mistakes begin there, I try to adjust the jump for myself. This means that I enter the jump the way I should, but I try to do it the way I feel most comfortable. And here my problems inside my head already begin.

What about your not favorite jump?

- Not a favorite jump - this is probably a loop.

Why? Are you constantly failing at something?

- No, everything works out, it's just that this jump is short and uncomfortable. I'm talking about my inner feelings. Performing a loop for me is the most inconvenient - when compared with other jumps.

What are your favorite and not favorite programs? Has your love for music changed in a different direction? That is, you used to like lyrical compositions, but now you have switched.

-Not. In general, I like ... Well, to mix. To mix everything. That is, I do not like it when I have the same programs, the same styles. I love to try myself in something new, so that there is always something different. Besides, it's always interesting. Therefore, I do not have favorite and unloved programs. There are programs that I get tired of. That is, here is “Angel”, when I performed this for the second year - everyone said: “Wow, this is cool” ...

I can say that too! This is a great program!

-This is a really cool program, it revealed me from the other side. But doing it for the second year was hard. I mean, I didn't enjoy it.

Didn't enjoy it because you wanted something new/

-Yes, of course. New, really fundamentally new was the program for the song of Billy Eilish. Everyone reacted to this program like this: “Wow, this is cool, this is cool, no one has skated like this before”, and I triumphed. And so each program is a little bit different. I strive to ensure that the music does not repeat itself, except for the music from Romeo and Juliet. This music is my all-time favorite. Every time this music is taken, I say: “Yes!!”

By the way, I wanted to ask you - again, when watching the “Angel” program, which I saw at several tournaments, I noticed this: many skaters, after completing their performance, bow to all four sides - bow to the audience, judges, do some special trips. And you somehow always did the completion of the program very modestly. After you have stood in your last position, you can only wave your head like that - and that's it, you're leaving. Why?

- Well, no, I do an obligatory bow on four sides - and then I just go back, thinking, “Well, I did it, now I would have to rest as soon as possible.”

For some reason, I was surprised why at the end all the skaters try, as it were ...

- Firstly, this happens because... Well, there is such a feature that the next athlete cannot be released onto the ice until you finish your bows and go to the side of the rink. And this period of time is sometimes very important and very valuable.

That is, when someone bowed in front of you for a very long time ...

- We .... To be honest, any athlete in the depths of his soul hates the one who bows for a long time, the one who stands like this, holding on to his back ...

Many, many people actually do this...

-Ten bows, he still stand, and even tears on his eyes - oh my God! And you are standing in front of the gate, they don’t let you out and you can’t run out onto the ice. And here I stand and think: “My God, I would like to stab you with a knife!” There are separate stories for such people down there...

Listen, here are the toys they throw to you on the ice. I read somewhere that you, on the contrary, do not like it when soft toys are thrown to you.

- No, why, I like it, I just don't take everything with me. I basically choose three or four toys that I like, or take them “on request” - my friends have small children, and I naturally bring them toys. And so, for myself, I take one or two. Because why would I need more? And the rest of the toys ... Well, after us, children usually train on the rinks. And these children will be just insanely happy with these toys. And we, of course, leave them, give them.

Well, of course. Many athletes, in fact... In our sport (synchronous swimming) it is simply forbidden. Do not throw toys into the water.

- Well, in your sport, of course, it is forbidden. You won’t have such water striders there to swim and collect all this ...

And could ... (laughs) You, by the way, famously said - “water striders”. This is what we call a person who measures the temperature of water. Small children could collect [toys] too…

- Damn, well, firstly, the toys will become wet, and secondly, there ... Well, fu! Oh no! I don't think this is a very good idea. And ice can't do anything wrong with toys. But for the most part, it's banned now. Very conveniently made in Japan. There is a place in front of the rink where there are special bags that look like garbage bags, the names of the skaters are written on them. And people, instead of throwing toys on the ice, put toys in these bags. And then these packages are brought to the skaters. Great system, just great, I don’t understand why we still don’t have this.

But...

- Apparently, these toys will simply disappear from our bags, or the fans will start shifting them from one bag to another. We have cheerful fans, we have very cheerful fans, from whom you can expect anything, and therefore ... Therefore, sometimes I am simply shocked by them.

What shocked you the most?

-Sometimes the behavior of some fan bases towards each other, or towards other athletes. Sometimes it's just like... (covers her face with her hands). Nightmare!

Well, that was the worst thing, why are you covering your face like that?

- Well, because ... Let's take everyone's favorite confrontation between Alina (Zagitova) and Zhenya (Medvedeva). This example is easier to explain.

I think everyone knows about it.

-Yes. There is no such thing that some [fans] treat others adequately, understanding that these are the girls who train and compete with each other. Fans attack each other like that... That is, sometimes if you go to the chat, you will see this! It is now that the rules have appeared, according to which participants are banned for using obscene words ...

And where exactly are the fans banned?

- Well, for example, in Telegram chats. There, sometimes if you start reading the comments under the publication: “Zhenya is better! --No, Alina is better. And sometimes Zhenya takes part in the show, and there was such a situation: she appears and they shout to her: “Zhenya, you are the best!”. It is, in general, normal when they shout like that. But then someone shouts: “No, Alina is the best!”. And I think - well, now Zhenya is performing, Alina will be performing - and they will also shout to her “No, Zhenya is the best!”. And Zhenya herself reacted to this in the following way: “Is it possible, I’ll just turn around and leave here.” Well, it's kind of like that for me too...

But at soccer matches, fans also shout various insults at each other, don't they?

- It's soccer, it's different. We have one person go skating. If two people went skating at once - well, shout, it would not be so insulting. And when you perform - this is your time, these are your fans, you are doing your job - and then someone shouts something else, you quarrel with the audience. And at the same time, the athlete still needs to perform the program, show something. And, of course, this is unpleasant. It's embarrassing.

Have you had such a situation?

- No, I didn't have that. Although no, it was, but at that moment I was sitting in Kiss and cry, my performance had already ended, I was glad that I managed to complete it. Yes, I didn’t do the program well enough, I didn’t finish something, but I was glad that I completed it. And there was no question of any first place, I hadn’t even been given score yet, and then ... Here I am sitting with the coaches in Kiss and cry, we are discussing what needs to be worked on, and then they shout something like: “You so bad, worthless, and Lisa is the best.” It was about Liza Tuktamysheva. I... No, okay, if I said that I'm better, that I'm cooler - no. I objectively understood that I skated worse, that she would be the first, and this is unconditional - everything is decided and there are no questions. I didn't yell, "No! It's all untrue!" I just sat and waited for the score to see how many points my performance was worth, to see the protocol and understand what I need to work on.

[At the hippodrome]

Alena, we are at the hippodrome today. Why do you have a love for horses and where did it come from?

-Genes! (laughs) My aunt has a horse and that's how it all started. My whole family loves animals. Dad is a big lover of animals, and all, no matter which ones. This is probably where it all started. And then there's the horse - it's such a graceful, free and beautiful animal, and therefore ...

Why does your aunt have a horse? Is she a horse racing professional or is she a horse breeder?

- She's into show jumping. How professional - I can not say. But she took part in the competition. Probably, these are amateur competitions, because she has not been involved in this sport since childhood - well, something like that.

Are you feel confident in the saddle?

-Yes!

So you regularly go horseback riding, or maybe even jumping?..

-Yes, I do dressage and show jumping. Show jumping is the priority, of course. Still, it's more interesting. If I don't have injuries, I do it regularly. Once a week at least.

And if we talk about any show jumping competitions - have you already tried to take part at least at the amateur level?

-Not. Naturally, this all requires a lot of preparation. I rather do this for myself. It's like a way to relax.

If you have been involved in horses for so long, then why did you choose figure skating and not equestrianism?

-Because I didn't have that choice.

What is it like? Didnt your parents care about your opinion?

-I have always been figure skating, I have never been asked about it. And at some point, I just paid a visit to my aunt and her horses and immediately said: “wow, this is cool. Mom, I like it, let's go here.” And while I had to beg my mother, it was not so often. And when I myself found a place where I would do [equestrian sports] and did everything else myself, then, naturally, I began to ride a horse much more often.

That is, since how many years have you been in figure skating?

-From the age of four. Almost four.

And when did you realize that you would also like to do show jumping?

-Probably when I was 10 years old.

Well, yes, six years have already passed, and I think that left figure skating at the age of ten is no longer possible ...

- Well, yes, the question of change somewhere was no longer there. There was already a division: one is a sport, and the other is just my hobby.

Have you ever been to a real professional race?

-Not. I watched it on TV, but I never went to the races themselves.

Have you bet on horses?

- No! (Laughs) Dangerous thing!

Are you a gambler in general?

-In fact yes! But it all depends on the situation to which it concerns.

Any bets among figure skaters?

-Yes. This happens all the time in training.

Tell!

- Basically it's a bet on jumps - whether you do them or not. And the bet always goes, shall we say, in one direction. That is, if I do it, then nothing, no one owes anyone. If I don't, then I owe whoever I bet with.

What exactly should you do?

-We mostly bet on money.

Mostly money?.. And I heard recently - I don't know if it's true or not - that the loser has to somehow clean the blades of the skates or something like that ...

-Ah, well, when I didn’t earn money yet and couldn’t lose money, then this happened. The losers untied the laces on the skates, brought chocolates ...

That is, the one who won - sits down, you untie his shoelaces, and he sits like a king?

- Well, yes, the winner sits like a king, and you wipe his skate blades, put on covers ...

That is, as a servant?

-Yes! It was such a thing...

(pause)

Alena, let's go get acquainted with our today's horse. I don't even know if it's him or her, what's his name...

Woman with horse: Bukva!

Bukva? Bukva hello!

(to horse)
-Hi! Are you afraid of flashes? Don't be afraid, it's okay, it's okay...

She is so soft!

- She's so well combed!

(in a studio)

If we talk about falls, you told me behind the scenes that you even fell off a horse.

-Yes!

Tell me about it.

- Well, it was the case, I was still small. I was just studying, the training was at the very beginning. And then we went to the stable, located near our dacha, ten minutes by car, or less. Well, we went, and at that time it was autumn. Dampness, dirt, these puddles mixed with the coating. Well, ten minutes later the horse reared up, I fell back - and into a puddle. Right into all this dirt. I'm just like this (runs a palm over my face) I got dirty in all this, in all this slick - fu, just disgusting. It is clear that after that the lesson did not continue. After that, they laid old newspapers in the trunk of the car - and I was went home in the trunk.

It was painful?

- It didn't hurt, it was dirty. I think I even sipped a little of this dirt.

And if you compare a fall from a horse and a fall after jumping on ice? Where is the scariest and most painful?

-Everything happens unexpectedly, just during the jump, I understand: now it will hurt. Basically so. And the fall from the horse - mostly it happens unexpectedly, like this (snaps her fingers) - and that's it, fell.

Listen, but in fact you are very lucky that you didn’t break anything in yourself, that it all happened so carefully and calmly.

- And I was generally lucky in this sense, because nothing happened to me after falling from a horse.

Have you fallen many times?

-Two such serious cases, and the rest - so ... Once I did not fasten the saddle well, the saddle began to slide to one side, well, I moved out with the saddle, then something else. But mostly these are incidents - not such that it was necessary to urgently take me to the hospital. Nothing. On ice, I fall harder.

Liza Tuktamysheva, about whom we have already spoken, she is preparing quadruple jumps in her fifteenth or sixteenth season. Are you planning...

- I have a very good ... Here's what I can highlight - she and I have very good physical data. I mean, we're both short. I hope I'm not lying - she's about the same height as me. Maybe just a little higher.

Are you 155 centimeters tall?

-Yes. When we stand next to her, there is a minimal difference between us, maybe like this (points with her fingers). And this body will remain with us, that is, we will not become taller, we will not grow dramatically. The only thing to keep is an acceptable weight. But I think that at Lisa's age, it's not difficult anymore. So the body allows us to do [quadruples]. The rest depends on desire.

Will you attempt quads?

-I will look at how my arms, legs and whole body will behave. Because now it's hard for me to talk about any jumps.

Click to expand...
I don't know how to thank you Alex, I'm starting to run out of words... :) :thank:
 
part 2:

How to cope with this series of traumas and the depressive state that arises because of this? Do you have any personal advice?

- I don't know... There are always a lot of people who support me, I always keep in touch with my friends. And in fact, along with every injury, I get ... That is, it seems that the injury happens, and at the same time I gain something at that moment. That is, any injury when you are sitting at home without training is always time that you can spend on learning, on yourself, or on something else. That is, it cannot be said that you just lie motionless and nothing happens. This is a movement, but in some other areas. Perhaps you are gaining something.

That is, if you have already learned figure skating, then your body as a whole remembers these skills. Now, if you don’t ride for five years, then yes, then it will be difficult. And if the break lasted three months, then, as my experience has shown, three or four months is not a period after which it is impossible to recover and you should end your career

About learning something new - in another interview you said that you already have a song recorded and ready and you want to publish it.

-Yes!

When can this be expected?

- I'm currently working on resolving this issue with my agents.

But do you want to release this song in the near future?

- First of all, I would like to... I haven't been to vocal classes for a long time, because it was difficult for me to get there because of my leg. And before that I had a sore throat with significant complications. It was just when I sang Skyfall very badly. But I finished the song all the way to the end. Of course, I was very scared, I have a sore throat, my throat is covered in white raids ...

What for? Just explain to me - why torture yourself like that? I saw this video and...

- Because I... It was a private event, it took place in a school building, and this video was not supposed to get on the Internet.

So you didn't realize it was going to be published?

-The video should not have been published. This is, let's say, just leaked material.

Was it stolen?

- No, just one girl was recording a video, not knowing who I was. She didn't know my name, nothing.

But you saying it was a closed community?

- Well, yes, the organizer was a girl who sang too. But it was in the building of the vocal school. Many people are engaged in singing there with different teachers. There we had a private event.

And I thought they were people from figure skating ...

-No, it was a private party. Well, an event where I could invite my parents or relatives. But I didn't really want them to see it. Especially since my mom doesn't like it at all. And this girl just recorded a video, which she then published in her own Telegram channel. Somehow this video was found, sent to other places. And when later, after about seven minutes, I wrote to her: “please delete this” - she deleted it, but someone already ...

Seven minutes?!

-Someone has already copied the video from the screen and sent it to the chats. I thought: “Well, since it happened, they could at least publish the second part, which was good” ... Well, well, it was important for me to sing and overcome my fear, because I didn’t know that when I I'm worried, my voice is shaking. When I went on the ice during the competition, it was usual - here I go on the ice, and that's it - after all, I was not forced to talk at the same time. And there I start rehearsing song - and this is what happens. That is, I even try to say something smoothly, in an even voice, but my voice is like this (shakes her hand) trembles, the vocal cords are overstressed and it sounds like either a squeak or a bass, it’s not clear what it is generally. And I think, "My God, what am I doing." Besides, I was very nervous. And then, for the second time, when I started to perform Skyfall again - albeit crooked, askew, but okay, I overcame myself, I took a small step forward and it helped me.

What was your reaction to that video?

- Well, I looked it up with the teacher, we discussed it. In principle, I did not hear anything new for myself. I mean - I didn’t hear anything new in the sound, because at every lesson, doing the chanting, I shot myself on video. So I didn't hear anything new. But it was a shame, of course, that they posted a bad first part, although the second part was better. It really was better.

Have you read the comments on this video?

-Of course... There, people had one favorite topic: the girl is dangling from one sphere to another, she is going through a puberty period. But, guys - I was already 18 years old at that time. What is the puberty period here?

And what was it, if not a puberty period?

-And I always liked to sing, and I was always the first to shout: “Let's go to karaoke!”. That is, I am the same person in the company who shouts: “Karaoke!”. In any incomprehensible situation, we go to karaoke. I even already have a favorite karaoke, where everything is cool.

What is your signature song? Each of those who love karaoke has a signature song.

-I'm basically... For me it's Adele, with "Rolling in the Deep" and "Skyfall", "Someone like you" and "Easy on me". Also, this is Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”, Miley Cyrus. And of course Idina Menzel “Let it Go”. In general, everything is mostly in English. And, of course, the song “Exhibit” (laughs). Well, it's just for fun...

Do you like the group "Leningrad"?

- No, I like the song itself. It's is so freak and funny. And so, in general, there are a lot of things [I love from music], but mostly they are foreign singers, there are very few from the Russian stage.

(pause)

In August 2020, you made the decision to leave the Eteri Tutberidze group. How did you tell her about it?

- We talked twice. Once I was sent back from the checkpoint and the guards said “No!”. And the second time...

You mean the checkpoint at the base in Novogorsk?

-Yes.

So the guards didn't let you through?

- Well, I collected my things, reached the exit, and the guards say: “You have not been issued a pass.” I ask them: “How is this to be understood?”. And they: “You can’t go out, we won’t let you through.” I answered: “Okay!” (shows thumbs up). So... And the second time we were talking all together, with the coaches. After my mother took me, I sat at home for a week, they didn’t give me a phone, nothing ...

How old were you at that time?

- So... I haven't turned seventeen yet.

Sixteen years...

-Here. And everyone thought that I would change my mind, but I did not change my mind. And then at one fine moment ... Our house was being renovated at that time and I lived in the same room with my mother. Mom left somewhere, I called Eteri Georgievna and told her: “Eteri Georgievna, I want to try to work differently. Another way of working. I worked with your system, and now I want to try in a different way.”. She answered me: “So that's how it turns out it's called! Okay, then it's OK." Well, that's all. And after that, five minutes later, Tutberidze published a post on Instagram.

Mom calls me, asks: “What did you do?”. And I answer: “I think I made a transfer.” She told me: “Well, why? Did that make it easier for you?" I told her, “Maybe yes.” Well, that's all.

As I understand that then you were accused of making too high demands on coaches, refusing to train with other athletes.

- We had a group. And sometimes they added small children to us, or rather, small children compared to me.

And how old were they? Well, you were 16, and them?

-Twelve. Sometimes eleven. And they sometimes ... Well, they had it because of their age - they are small, they interfered with us. Well, that is, it was like this: you call in for a jump, and they are somewhere on the side of you - whack! And now she is already lying on the spot where you should have landed your jump. She falls there, something else is going on. You say to yourself “Okay” - and make another circle. And while you make this circle... And we have something similar to a stream - everyone moves in their own corridor, and if you follow this order, then there are no collisions. And because of her fall, because I have to make an extra circle, she goes beyond this corridor. And now you need to wait until everyone jumps and accelerate again. And there are not three of us there, it is impossible to let everyone through.

Well, while you're skating in circles like this, you're cooling down, you're getting cold, as if you already find yourself in a different time period. You forget your skills, your hands and feet freeze, you become lethargic and lazy. And on top of that, while you are doing these laps, the coaches start scolding you and asking: “What is this short track”? Well, in general, that's how it was, well, that's all …

Are you the only one in this situation? No one else has ever skated with the younger ones?

-I was just not used to this...

Well, if everyone is on an equal footing, if all the elders have such conditions, they skate with the younger ones, then why are you offended?

- I just said: “Guys, we have too many people. Usually there were six of us, and now there are 12. Simple logic indicates that the free space has become half as much. “. And then, when we collided, or when something similar to the incident with Sofia Akatieva in Novogorsk happened ... There Dasha moved on the ice with her leg raised, and Sonya did this (shows with her hands) - and practically was left without a knee. This is traumatic. But they told me, "We don't know anything." I replied, "Okay, OK." They didn't listen to me. It's like with sweets in a store - if they are not in Pyaterochka, then I will go to Magnit (names of Russian supermarket chains). Well, it's logical - I'll go look for the sweets I need. Well, I went to a place where I was offered other conditions.

But later you came back?

- Yes, then I returned - in order to ... Well, I thought that maybe there is a possibility, there is a chance, if this happened for a certain period, that I can quickly - once, and fly into the cage (to be included in the number of athletes applying for a place in the Olympic team), despite injuries and other circumstances. But this did not happen. That's all, in fact.

Did you feel regret about what happened, that is, that you, let's be honest, freaked out? You freaked out and left.

-No, I didn't have any regrets. I don't know what would have happened to me if I had stayed. Maybe I would have been forced to finish my career before this moment (apparently, until the moment I return to Tutberidze).

And when you came back, didn't you feel ashamed?

- Well, when on Channel One I was forced to publicly, let's say ...

Yes, you and Eteri Georgievna gave short interviews...

- Yes, I was a little offended, because they did this for a reason that was not clear to me, only with me. Well, that's kind of okay...

What do you mean, how did they treat you?

- Well, it was some kind of self-affirmation. I had to admit that I was wrong, that now I realized everything, “excuse me”, something else ...

Did you apologize in this interview?

- I had to say in every phrase how wrong I was.

(a fragment of an interview in March 2021 is shown)

Was the text of these answers written for you?

-No, I did not have a pre-written text, but the meaning of the answers was implied. There were specially selected questions that forced me to say: “yes, I was probably wrong.” Well, okay. All this has already happened and gone.

Just in that interview, Eteri Georgievna said that her daughter persuaded her to take you back.

-Diana.

Yes, Diana. Have you spoken to Diana since? How do you generally communicate with her?

- We often communicated with Diana at that time. Not now, because they are very busy, they have training there, a different time zone. And so, in general, I have a good relationship with her, at some point we were in touch almost 24 hours a day, every day. And I don't know why, but Diana believed in me. That is, I didn’t particularly believe in myself, but she believed.

Are you grateful to her for talking to her mother?

-Yes.

That is, for the fact that Eteri took you back?

-Yes. In fact, I was extremely surprised. Well, that is, I write to Diana: “Well, no?”. And she replies: “Now you will be in shock. Yes!". Well, I: “Wow!”. Well, from the main criteria there was this - without ...

You should have stopped bickering [with the coaches], I take it?

-Yes. That's all, and, of course, this triple axel. But the triple axel is a jump and, accordingly, I could do it anywhere. But this condition - not to argue, not to answer - it meant to step over yourself, through this one of mine ... Well, not pride, but something close to this term.

And you couldn't do it?

- No, why, everything that depended on me, I did. But in the end, when I already understood that there were few chances, I thought: “Well, why am I doing all this?”. And then there was a fracture of the arm - and now, in fact, we parted ways.

As I understand it, if the first time you freaked out, then the second time, when you broke up with Tutberidze, it was she herself who told you that everything was over.

-Yes. Well, we ... She called me over, said: “Well, you understand that we are not succeeding with you, we will not work together further. And you don’t plan to change, and we won’t change because of you either.” This is where we ended...

What did you feel when you heard those words?

- When I was sitting at home with a broken arm, I talked to my mother and told her: “Mom, I will leave very soon. I am 100% sure that now Eteri Georgievna will say - that's all, our cooperation is over. Mom answered me: “Why did you think so, you first go to training.” And I say: “Mom, listen to me - you must always have some kind of plan. And I want to go to Elena Germanovna” (to Buyanova). Mom asked me: “Why not to Mishin?”. I said: “Mishin has Liza, I won’t fit in there. Besides, this is St. Petersburg, and I don’t want to move at all, and so on.” In general, I said that I could not train there, it would be very difficult for me. Mom told me: “Do as you know, this is your figure skating, after your first transition, I told you everything - goodbye.”

Is the first transition from Sambo-70 to the Tutberidze group, or from Tutberidze to Plushenko?

-Yes, from Tutberidze to Plushenko.

But that transition to Eteri from “Sambo-70” - was it your mother’s decision?

-I got into the same warm-up with them (the girls from the Tutberidze group) and thought: “Wow - they jump and laugh, and how cool and fun they are.” But these were competitions. And I just didn't know what was going on inside.

Didn't you have fun inside? You made all sorts of great videos together.

- No, I'm not talking about that! Between the girls - yes, we had fun. I mean, the coaches are also so cool, everything is positive, they joke, Eteri Georgievna is talking some nonsense. Well, very sometimes incorrect statements that microphones should not record, and therefore she sometimes did like this - “Oh!” (covers his mouth with his hand). And she says to the operator: "Cut it, cut it." Well, I’m thinking: “Wow, how fun they have, so also funny jokes.” But of course, it was only until I got inside and realized what training is there.

What is training there?

- Nightmare (smiles). No, it leads to a certain result, but sometimes the methods of achieving this result are such that it is not worth it.

Is it hard physically or mentally?

-Together.

(at the hippodrome)

Do you like being photographed at all?

-Well, depending on what state I'm in.

What does “in what state” mean?

- Well, there are different moments when people come up to me to take pictures with me, I feel uncomfortable refusing, and I immediately understand that the photos will turn out to be terrible.

And what spontaneous shots do you know that photographers like to take at competitions, where the face is twisted?

-I don't understand at all why filming during rotations, during jumps.

Photographer Woman: I don't get it either...

- Or when someone just stands in a position, sorry, butt up. Why photograph this - well, damn it? Well, that is, this is hardly a superframe, and the author will not be praised for this.

Do you treat your photos like this with humor? Or, on the contrary, do you write to the editor: “Immediately delete this terrible photo!”?

- Girls sometimes send me photos, and I ask fan groups not to publish such materials. And if it still gets somewhere, and the fan group does not publish it, then it is quickly forgotten.

By the way, about fan groups - in your fan group in Telegram they made a video on the topic: “If Alena were a color, then purple, if flowers, then lilies” ...

-Yes, of course, nothing was agreed with me, but in general it is quite true.

Well, that is, the color, the season, who would you be - if we go through each of the points now ... Come on, I'll read to you, and you will say whether it matches or not. Color - purple.

-Yes!

Flowers - lilies.

-I don't think so here. Peonies are more suitable for me, and a certain variety, but I forgot the name of this variety.

Season - summer

-Yes!

The character is Harley Quinn.

- Well, that's for sure.

Clothing brand - "Seline"

(Alena nods)

Thing - skates

-I'm not sure about that.

So you wouldn't want to be skates?

-Yes, I probably wouldn't.

The animal is a golden chinchilla.

- I'd better name a horse.

Would you like to be a horse?

-Yes, or ... (thinking)

Or a pony

- (to the horse) What do you think?

If you were a horse, what color and breed?

-Freeze, of course.

And the color?

-Black.

Black! The word is “beauty”... Or “rebellion”?

-More like the second one. Or "extraordinary".

In December 2021, you announced that you were opening your own YouTube channel, you deliberately announced this quite loudly. But for eight months there has not been a single new video ...

-I try to record videos all the time, but it doesn't work, because I have constant injuries, and I can't make new content because of some kind of restrictions - either because of my hands, or because of my legs. And the hospital will not allow me to make content from the hospital.

But you have such content there - you talked about dresses, about makeup ...

-These are conversational videos, and I wanted there to be some kind of action, but so far it doesn’t work out ...

What would you like to do? What headings?

-Probably, I would make a section “Warm-ups”...

So something sporty?

-Yes, something related to sports, something ... Well, let's say - "Followers control my life" and another cool thing - "All day in the same color." This is what I really want to record on video, but I still can't do it, because there are no suitable events. And to look at how I go out on the ice and back - “to the ice - from the ice, to the ice - from the ice, I came home, I returned” ...

I think a lot of people will be interested!

-Well, that is not super content, of course.

The heading “Followers control my life” is when they write to you, what should you do?

- This is when I ask a question, for example: “Today I will have this or that for breakfast?”. And then I ask such questions all day long, write down all the answers, choose the ones that got the most votes from them - and shoot a video about how I do it all.

Here is your idea...

- The bottom line here is that it needs to be done in reality, and not staged. Everything must be real. And this is very difficult to achieve.

So you want to continue?

-Yes, of course.

And when do you plan to resume filming videos?

- I thought that now ... I had a moment before the first period of rehabilitation, but I was in the country, and I did not have not only the equipment, but also nothing necessary. And I didn’t want to go to Moscow for all this. And now I have training and therefore it's hard. As soon as I enter the normal mode, I will immediately start.

Just recently, you announced that you are starting to cooperate with the TASS news agency and will write columns for them ...

-I'll write my columns. That is, it will be mine ... Well, not a rubric, I don’t know how to call it. In general, this is completely mine, they only edit. That is, they help me, I'm, let's say, on an internship. I am taught to do everything right, to talk about what, how and why. Let's say that if I work as a journalist on television...

And, here, do you have such a dream - work on television?

-Yes, I wanted to work there. Not always, but it would be interesting to try. But I do not want immediately climb into the camera, but I want before doing this, learn. Learn to speak, learn to formulate thoughts correctly. So they told me - come on, we will start with the column, we will teach you and give you the opportunity to move on.

Do the editors give you some tasks, or do you come up with topics yourself?

- Basically, these are my thoughts, my ideas. I tell them: “I have an idea to write about this”. And then they either approve or disapprove. Then I write the material, they help me with this - they edit the text, send it to me for approval so that something radically different from the original does not appear there.

Do you understand that if you write about figure skating, then you may have to write about some backstage events, about some moments that are inaccessible to the average viewer?

-Yes, I understand that, but I won't reveal all the secrets anyway. Anything that concerns me - please, no problem. And as for other people - no, then I would violate other people's boundaries. That is, I will not set people up.

That is, you will not write any provocative articles?

- About myself, I can write anything. I can even make news about myself and write about it - why not. But for other people, no. It would be unpleasant for me if someone took and wrote some information about me that I would not want to publish for everyone.

Has it ever happened that another person said or wrote something about you and offended you?

-Yes, it happened. It happened many times. They write really hurtful things about me. But you can't please everyone.

I understand that you don't like to go back in time, but I want to talk about the transition to Evgeni Plushenko. First, Sasha Trusova moved there, and then, after some time, you too.

-I went after Sergei Aleksandrovich Rozanov. Well, I learned the triple Axel with him. Well, he was constantly with me in training, we had a good connection. And I went right to him.

Tell us about him, what role he played in your life.

(Alena laughed)

- What do you mean, what role did he play? Well, he was my coach. He coached me and supported me. Well, in general, everything, nothing of some transcendental.

Well, you went after him after all...

-I passed because with him I learned the element that made me... Which brought me to the pedestal, to the first place. I thought that this should be repeated, re-learned. At that time there was a quarantine, everyone forgot how to jump. And I thought: “Since he did it the first time, it will probably be easier the second time.”

And?..

- Well, there was progress, but then I constantly ... Then I have one problem, then a second, then a third, then something else. And the older I got, the more serious the injuries became, and the harder it was to recover.
 
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