JazzUp, I don't remember seeing your wonderful translation of the Alina portion of the Inna Goncharenko interview in this thread. Hopefully, you don't mind me reposting it. It is just so nice to read.
Interview with Inna Goncharenko - the gist of what they said about Alina:
Q: Well, we've discussed all the ladies except Alina Zagitova. We kept her for dessert, so to speak. One of the questions that pops up is how is it possible that first she was in excellent form at the test skates and then a month passed, she's again in that top form then and it turns out she has her next start a month later. Can you as a coach, explain how this is being done?
A: One can only say "Respect!" to Eteri that has streamlined the training process this way; she definitely doesn't give any easy time to anyone; and explains to everyone why it's required to be that way. It's sort of "Red terror" - why red? because it's fair. In a previous interview I was asked to evaluate Alina; I said that she looks professional; what I meant here, that she's more professional than others. It all adds up; an athlete of her level that has experience of different competitions, having passed through hell and high water, it is more difficult for them to always present themselves, that is, not to drop the level. There's also the problem of excess weight; and managing personal time; they get invited to TV and ice shows, etc - you have to be everywhere and you need to be so professional to manage your personal time in the first place and tune your emotions, your psyche correctly. And the way she does it - I think she's great, the girl is sharp and a beauty as well. And I think her tech elements that are very high-quality are enough for her; she performs beautiful programs at an excellent level, she gives us interesting imagery, that is, it will certainly be a high base value and good components. Well, I would like to wish good luck and health to her.
Q: Another question about Alina from the chat - "Will Alina be able to make the national team without any ultra-с elements?" - and you just said that she should not add any, if we understood you correctly?
A: I think at the moment no, because if she skates her programs with all the elements she has now, but on some kind of high energy level, like you know, when she stepped out, you could feel the strength; she's high class, and it draws you in - if she does that, then I think she doesn't need anything else. She does exactly what figure skating is - she gives a complete performance, from start to finish, like a finished piece of art. And it's great and it will be appreciated by the judges, no doubt. Will she require ultra-с to prove anything? well, she's already proved everything to everyone! She's an Olympic Champion already. She just needs to go out and do her magnificent stuff. Of course you never know how the cards play out and there's only one first spot - but it happens sometimes that the second and third places are somehow "golden" too. This is a sport and now her task is to be in it as an active athlete;
Q: So there's no competition between her and quadsters and Liza, and she doesn't have a problem with that?
A: I don’t see any girl of that caliber now, they are all still tiny; they are still trying to break in with their quads and prove themselves; and she’s already done with proving to everyone, so for me her performance is more energy filled, more cohesive in a way, that is if of course she’s done everything and has a good skate.
Q: I don’t want to sound somehow provocative but still I want to understand - they skate on the same ice, and Alina of course understands that right next to her the girls are constantly doing quads probably in the dozens; and as you said, she is an Olympic champion already, and really has got everything, proved all the titles - what could motivate her now?
A: Well, because all of the skaters are primarily fanatics, they are people who just love it. She loves it, it's her life. And why do you think that she does not learn and does not try to jump quads?
Q: We haven't seen any videos of her jumping on a fishing rod (ref to their previous discussion of another skater, where Inna laughed off the video with her 4S)
A: There was one some time ago and I saw it. So, let's wait and see. I don't think that she just skulks around watching the other girls jump - she works too.