Andrei Mozalev
- Thread starter Mariott
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Interview with Andrei Mozalev 02.03.2023.
Interviewee:
M. - Andrei Mozalev
Interviewers:
B. - Ekaterina Bobrova
Zh. - Andrei Zhurankov
(Mar.) - my remarks
Part 5. How many quads does Andrei Mozalev own? Will there be new ones? European Championship-2022. Olympics-2022. Has Andrei changed? Andrei Mozalev's dreams and goals. Ban Russian athletes and Andrei's motivation.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
B: Your coach talked about plans and learning other quads. Which quads do you have and which ones are you learning for next season? Maybe you will try something new at the Finals (Russian Grand Prix - Mar.)? You are declared for the Final, right?
M.: Yes, of course.
B: The same content?
M. (smiling slyly): Let it be a secret. I don't like to reveal secrets ahead of time.
B. (in an intrigued and dissatisfied voice): All right...
Zh.: I can honestly tell you why we are asking about this. We had a conversation with Kirill Anatolievich Davydenko. It was in Moscow during the national team's test skate. "We understand what we need. Today men's skating it requires more than two quads (different kinds of quads - Mar.), it requires possession of three", he said.
M.: Yeah, that's true, but... I used to jump quadflip (quickly corrects himself) more precisely, I still jump it now.
B: You're working on it.
M. (laughs): For now, I'm just jumping this (not including in the jumping content of the program - Mar.). And what happens next, you think for yourself.
B.: Okay, we won't push you (laughs) we promised not to push you, so we'll ask you another question. You were preparing for the 2022 Olympic Games. You took third place at the Russian Championship. You were initially included in the national team, right?
M.(serious, corrects): Initially I made the Olympic team (emphasizes intonation of the word "I"). Then I became Zhenka instead of Misha (Evgeny Semenenko instead of Mikhail Kolyada. Andrei uses informal variants of the names "Zhenka" and "Misha" because he maintains friendly, informal relations with them - Mar.).
B.: Really? M (in a hard, uncompromising tone): Yes (and this guy is not as douchy as he may seem, he's willing to show his teeth - Mar.).M.(serious, corrects): Initially I made the Olympic team (emphasizes intonation of the word "I"). Then I became Zhenka instead of Misha (Evgeny Semenenko instead of Mikhail Kolyada. Andrei uses informal variants of the names "Zhenka" and "Misha" because he maintains friendly, informal relations with them - Mar.).
B: I somehow thought it was the other way around, I remember being so indignant.
M.(patiently clarifies the situation): At first (looks down for a moment, remembering or coping with emotions) Zhenka went to Europein stead of me. Misha refused to participate - and I went there.
B.(interrupts): Ah, I get it, apparently I confused it with the EuropeanChampionships.
M. (finishing the sentence): I was literally told about it the day before I left.
Zh.:Wait, wait. Europe! Was it a successful or unsuccessful championship for you? Your feelings after the European Championship (Mozalev won SP, but ailed in FS and remained 4th - Mar.).
M.(patiently clarifies the situation): At first (looks down for a moment, remembering or coping with emotions) Zhenka went to Europein stead of me. Misha refused to participate - and I went there.
B.(interrupts): Ah, I get it, apparently I confused it with the EuropeanChampionships.
M. (finishing the sentence): I was literally told about it the day before I left.
Zh.:Wait, wait. Europe! Was it a successful or unsuccessful championship for you? Your feelings after the European Championship (Mozalev won SP, but ailed in FS and remained 4th - Mar.).
M. (sighing): Halfway through. The short program performed well. I was very nervous before the free skating program, I don't know why. Stupid thoughts. I got nervous. I didn't skate very well during the free skate.
Zh.: Wait, you were the first after the short program?
M. (with a constrained sigh): I was the first, right.
Zh.: Mark remembers this. That's what Kondratyuk remembers all the time.
M. (smiling slightly): Why?
Zh.(heatedly): We were discussing this again recently. We were commenting on the European Championships together and we were talking about Mark's successful championship. Mark said again: I was second after the short program, it was easier for me. But we were separated by a hundredth of a point. The three of you guys scored roughly equal points there, the difference was 0.7 points, I don't remember exactly.
M: The three of us had a score of about 99.
Zh. (hotly): Yes, but you were the first.
B. (dreamy tone): It's a small gold medal.
Zh. (hotly): And what was the next thing? Well, yes, the small gold medal, he has it now.
M. (laughs): Yes, the medal is lying at my home, on a shelf.
Zh. (laughing): In a prominent place? Or did you hide it away?
M. (recalling, nodding): In a prominent place.
Zh. (impatiently): Okay, what happened before the free skate? I got caught up, as you call it.
M. (relaxed, smiling, stretching): Yes, for some reason I started thinking about something unnecessary and clutched myself (saddened), everything, then almost nothing worked out. I didn't do well in the free skating program.
Zh.: Your feelings after the European Championship? "Eh, now without the Olympics"?
M. (serious): No, why. I realized that after all, they were choosing between Zhenka and me, who would go to the Olympics. Then I beat him. They told me that I would go. I said: "Well, at least I did it (laughs), I didn't become the first, at least I will go to the Olympics".
B.: You can perform a lot at European Championships and World Championships, but the Olympic Games are something completely different. It's a different world. Describe your Olympic Games to us.Tell us about your emotions, what did you do there: were you happy, scared, anxious?
M.: Well, I wasn't particularly afraid, because, frankly speaking, I realized that I didn't go there to fight for first places, but just to enjoy the Olympics. It was like my first experience, to feel what the Olympics are like. For me it was something incredible. When we arrived at the Olympic Village....
Zh. (in a snide voice): And when you took the test... (rapid test for antibodies to Covid-19 - Mar.).
M.:It was a terrible test, the worst test ever. We were still waiting for a long time. We were not allowed to leave the apartment. We couldn't go out until the test results came back. Everyone has already gotten their results, and we can't go out, and we're hungry.....
Zh.: Who are we?
M.:The boys and I lived together. Zhenka, Mark and I lived in the same apartment.
Zh. Oh, and it happened that the results of your tests were not announced for a long time?
M.: Yes.
Zh.: That's interesting. Have the other athletes gotten their results yet?
M.: I think the whole team (OCR Olympic team - Mar.) was waiting for the results.
Zh.: Ah, I see. And how long did you have to wait?
M.: mmm, I don't remember. Probably about six to eight hours.
B: And you really weren't allowed to go out to eat and they didn't bring you food?
M: We were brought a small lunch, but not particularly tasty (laughs) there in the on principle, all food was so-so.
B. (surprised): Really? It's just that I remember that there are big canteens there and they cook all the food of the world in general.
Zh.: That was afterwards. I mean, they didn't even get to the canteens.
B: No, you're talking about the food in general was bad?
M. (nodding): And even in the dining room, it was still....
Zh.: Ah, you didn't like the food at all.
M.: Yes, she has a specific flavor, let's call it that (lowering her eyes embarrassedly).
B.: Wow! Interesting.
Zh. You were living with the three of you. What about the feeling of internal competition?
M. (slightly perplexed): We were like one team back then. Although we are one team, we represent one national team (pauses, looks a little indignant) We supported each other in everything. After all, it was the first time we were all together at the Olympics (smiles broadly).
Zh.: When Mark participated in the team competition, what did you and Eugeny do?
M.:The two of us went to cheer (kneads his wrists, thought about it) I cheered, sat on a sofa, well, what is it called... in such a box(shows his hands) (Andrei means K&Cof the ROC team - Mar.).
Zh.: Do you remember how Kondratyuk skated?
M.: Sure.
Zh.: Short program?
M: Yeah.
Zh.: Was it nerve-wracking?
M: Yeah, I was nervous (laughs for a few seconds).
Zh.: Did you feel that?
M.: (through laughter) Yeah.
Zh.: Because “the fever” was shaking him and everyone.
M.: We all was shaking.
B: And then you - well, I'm just curious. Did you discuss afterward, "Hey, Mark, you performed for the audience, for the judges, how did it feel"?
M.: What public? There was no audience (laughs).
Zh.: "Mark, do you remember when you performed for us?"
Common laughter.
B: Okay, I just forgot.
Zh.: Me too. It was like a while ago, but it's been so long....
(The interviewers delicately skip the topic of Andrei's unsuccessful performance in individual competitions at the Olympics - Mar.).
B.: Have you changed a lot after the Olympics?
M.(thinking, looking down, rubbing his palm against his palm) Well,yes, many things have changed. I've changed my approaches to various things. But I can't evaluate myself objectively (shrugs). I think people around me should evaluate me.
B.: Maybe you have this feeling: before the Olympics I was a differentperson, and then my whole life changed, and life was divided into "before" and "after".
M. (in a protesting tone): No, I don't think so. I don't feel anything like that (shakes her head negatively).
B.: Okay. Are dreams and goals the same thing for you?
M.: Yes.
B.: Do you have a dream?
M: I have a goal.
B.: That's it!
Zh.: There must be something unfulfilled in dreams
M: I only have goals in my life.
B: And yet you say that a dream and a goal are the same thing.
Zh.: How long ago did you have this goal?
M. (answers both questions at once, gesturing actively): My dreams in childhood were dreams, but now they have already formed into goals.
Zh.: Wait, when you were a kid, they were dreams, and now they're... you've kind of turned them into goals?
M.:Yes, I have an idea of a certain path I am following (draws a straight line on the table with the index finger of his right hand).At that time it was a thought in my head (waving the hand with fingers spread out near his right ear), but now it is a definite goal(again drawing a straight line with his finger), towards which I am going.
B.: Did you have dreams in your childhood that did not turn into goals? There are different kinds of dreams. Or you had one dream as a child, like everyone else. To become an astronaut, to go to the Olympics, to win the Olympics, things like that....
Zh.: Do you want to clarify if he had dreams that were not related to figure skating and therefore did not turn into career goals?
B.:I didn't want to go that deep into the details so as not to embarrass our guest. Yes, that's about right.
M.: There are very few other things in my life besides figure skating (smiles). So certain dreams and goals have always been related to figure skating. And it's the same now.
B.:This season was very difficult, just like last season... How do you motivate yourself? You say that this season is very hard for you, youare tired. But you still come to train... how do you force yourself to go out on the ice?
M.: In any case, my goal is...(pauses, then decides and says out loud) Olympic gold, so.... I have three years until the next Olympics. I realize that'snot a lot of time, there's a lot to do and you need to start taking action now. To be honest, I should have started yesterday, so...(laughs).
M.: There are very few other things in my life besides figure skating (smiles). So certain dreams and goals have always been related to figure skating. And it's the same now.
B.:This season was very difficult, just like last season... How do you motivate yourself? You say that this season is very hard for you, youare tired. But you still come to train... how do you force yourself to go out on the ice?
M.: In any case, my goal is...(pauses, then decides and says out loud) Olympic gold, so.... I have three years until the next Olympics. I realize that'snot a lot of time, there's a lot to do and you need to start taking action now. To be honest, I should have started yesterday, so...(laughs).
Zh.: You did it. You started yesterday, when you became world junior champion. That was the day before yesterday... You started the day before yesterday, Andrei!
M. laughs.
B.: No, it was like this: the day before yesterday he won the World Junior Championships, the day before yesterday he went to the firstOlympics. And tomorrow... Tomorrow will only come tomorrow (laughs).
B.: That's good. In that regard, I have one question to you. I understand you perfectly well. Your goals are very logical, and we wish you to achieve them. We will be rooting for you, worrying about you. However, there is a very interesting situation, uncertain, let's call it that. But if you follow the trends, what is being discussed in the International Olympic Committee, in the Olympic Committees of other countries, we rather get support for the idea that athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports will be allowed to participate in international competitions, including the Olympic Games. Now, of course, we are discussing the Summer Olympics. Obviously, some decision will be made by the Winter Olympics. If you are offered to participate not even as part of a group of athletes from Russia, as it was in 2018, but in general as part of a group of athletes under the auspices of the Olympic Committee, that is, you know, without gender, without flag, without country, without name, to put it bluntly
Zh.: Well,with a name, but without a flag.
B.: Yes, without a flag. Will you still qualify in that case and go to the Olympics?
M.: Sure.
B.: Good for you. I support you in that.
Zh.: Well,with a name, but without a flag.
B.: Yes, without a flag. Will you still qualify in that case and go to the Olympics?
M.: Sure.
B.: Good for you. I support you in that.
M.: Still, my goal is Olympic gold, once again, so everything else doesn't matter much.
To be continued.
The next part is the final part, I hope to get this over with quickly. There won't be as much interesting and emotionally colored information there anymore.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
A few words about the history of Andrei's costume for the Olympic Games:
"A good relationship with an athlete helps to find competent artistic solutions, to bring something personal to the costume, to make it special and memorable. This was the case with Maria Evstigneeva and Andrei Mozalev: the Aries constellation was embroidered on the figure skater's costume for the Olympic free skating program, and it was no coincidence.
"Why stars? Because sailors navigated by them back then. I asked Andrei when his birthday was, and the constellation of Aries appeared on the suit," - Evstigneeva explained.""
full text in Russian
"A good relationship with an athlete helps to find competent artistic solutions, to bring something personal to the costume, to make it special and memorable. This was the case with Maria Evstigneeva and Andrei Mozalev: the Aries constellation was embroidered on the figure skater's costume for the Olympic free skating program, and it was no coincidence.
"Why stars? Because sailors navigated by them back then. I asked Andrei when his birthday was, and the constellation of Aries appeared on the suit," - Evstigneeva explained.""
full text in Russian
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Andrei Mozalev in a conversation with Match TV:
- This is the second season on row that Russian figure skaters have not been able to take part in international competitions. If the first year was a year of getting used to this, what are your feelings now?
- It seems to me that none of us have gotten used to it yet.
- With the absence of international competitions in your life, has your preparation for the season changed in any way?
- I can say that the preparation is even more serious than when we had international competitions in our life, because we have a very high level of competition in Russia now. And besides, everything can change at any moment and you need to be ready for everything, to be fully armed.
- Do you already have anxious thoughts: "What if they don't even let you on the international arena before the Olympics?".
- I admit, I sometimes have such thoughts, but I hope and believe in the best.
Read the interview with Andrei Mozalev very soon on Match TV!
for Andrusha
- This is the second season on row that Russian figure skaters have not been able to take part in international competitions. If the first year was a year of getting used to this, what are your feelings now?
- It seems to me that none of us have gotten used to it yet.
- With the absence of international competitions in your life, has your preparation for the season changed in any way?
- I can say that the preparation is even more serious than when we had international competitions in our life, because we have a very high level of competition in Russia now. And besides, everything can change at any moment and you need to be ready for everything, to be fully armed.
- Do you already have anxious thoughts: "What if they don't even let you on the international arena before the Olympics?".
- I admit, I sometimes have such thoughts, but I hope and believe in the best.
Read the interview with Andrei Mozalev very soon on Match TV!
for Andrusha
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Andrei Mozalev - about the show program tournament, criticism, new programs, readiness for the season and echoes of the Beijing Olympics
Part 1
Andrei Mozalev has been at the top of Russian men's singles skating for a number of years. The figure skater represented Russia as a member of the national team at the Beijing Olympics and won bronze at the Russian Championships.
Match TV correspondent talked to Andrei Mozalev and found out what content the skater will present next season, how the pre-season training camp went and how Andrei Mozalev copes with anxious thoughts amid the absence of international competitions.
- Your season turned out to be ambiguous: you had some successes, somewhere you performed a little worse. Did you try to figure out the reasons?
- Of course. My coaches and I analyze every start, every mistake, everything. We try to eliminate each failure, draw conclusions.
- Wasn't it a decrease in performance after the Olympic season?
- Rather not. But nevertheless, I would like to note that the post-Olympic season was very difficult for me, because the Olympic season was quite nervous and exciting. It was hard to get ready and start after it.
- One of the most striking programs of the past season is from the Russian Challenge. Very unusual idea of combining strip plastics and ice. How was the number created?
- It was our idea with Lelya Romanova - my creative producer and the founder of the fan club. We wanted to bring something new and unusual to figure skating, to go beyond the boundaries of the usual, to show that figure skating is about creativity, creativity, non-standard music and challenge.
- What difficulties did you face?
- The main difficulty was that the dancers live in Moscow and I live in St. Petersburg. In fact, the whole number was staged already in Moscow, when I arrived at the "Russian Challenge". Unfortunately, we had very little time to practice the number, but we wanted to bring it to perfection.
- How did the girls get used to the fact that they had to perform on the ice?
- It seems to me that in the end they never got used to it (laughs). For the girls it was their first experience, everything was new, unfamiliar, cold, slippery. But they were very good, real professionals, they overcame themselves and danced.
- There were a lot of positive comments, but also some people did not appreciate the number. What is your attitude to criticism in general?
- Calmly. I always listen to constructive criticism. As for the show-tournament, I decided for myself: the main thing is that I like it myself and that it was unusual. And there will always be criticism for anything unusual that goes beyond the established stereotypes.
- Do you often read comments on social networks?
- Very rarely, I don't have time for that.
- Should we expect more such experiments?
- Now I can say one thing - we will continue to look for non-standard solutions, experiment, try something new. Time will show whether it will be embodied in competition programs or demonstrations.
- But do you have the desire to come up with something else?
- Absolutely! I want to do something even more interesting. If I get such an opportunity, I will definitely think of something.
- Last season you also created a new format of competition - the Russian Jumping Championship. Can you say that this tournament is close to you?
- Yes. We had competitions in our childhood - elements at the All-Russian competitions "S.A. Zhuk Memorial" among boys and girls. We actively jumped everything that we had managed to work on by that time. Well, since I am a soloist, jumping and Mozalev are inseparable from each other.
- At tournaments like this, don't you need to diversify your jump set? A lot of people did the same jumps.
- Everyone did what he knows how to do and what - it is important - is stable. In the same team competition you need not to let your team down, so everyone jumps what they land confidently. Similarly in the individual competition. It's better to do a jump on a plus than a more difficult jump but on a minus or base value.
- At tournaments like this, is the risk not close to you? Do you go the route of doing exactly what you can?
- Of course, because here the risk is unjustified, in my opinion.
- How are things with your health now?
- I think I'm fine, I think, ugh, ugh.
- You haven't practiced for a few days.
- I pulled my groin a little, I stayed at home for a couple of days, healing the sprain. Now everything is fine, it's fine.
- You recently changed your skates. How's the rollout going?
- It's already good, even better than sometimes it happens. For a while, though, it was hard to jump in them.
- How was the preseason training camp?
- Very fruitful. I worked a lot on physical training - we did it at the training camp in Sochi. Then we had ice training camp in Orenburg, our group had it there last year as well. All in a standard, labor mode.
Part 2
Part 1
Andrei Mozalev has been at the top of Russian men's singles skating for a number of years. The figure skater represented Russia as a member of the national team at the Beijing Olympics and won bronze at the Russian Championships.
Match TV correspondent talked to Andrei Mozalev and found out what content the skater will present next season, how the pre-season training camp went and how Andrei Mozalev copes with anxious thoughts amid the absence of international competitions.
- Your season turned out to be ambiguous: you had some successes, somewhere you performed a little worse. Did you try to figure out the reasons?
- Of course. My coaches and I analyze every start, every mistake, everything. We try to eliminate each failure, draw conclusions.
- Wasn't it a decrease in performance after the Olympic season?
- Rather not. But nevertheless, I would like to note that the post-Olympic season was very difficult for me, because the Olympic season was quite nervous and exciting. It was hard to get ready and start after it.
- One of the most striking programs of the past season is from the Russian Challenge. Very unusual idea of combining strip plastics and ice. How was the number created?
- It was our idea with Lelya Romanova - my creative producer and the founder of the fan club. We wanted to bring something new and unusual to figure skating, to go beyond the boundaries of the usual, to show that figure skating is about creativity, creativity, non-standard music and challenge.
- What difficulties did you face?
- The main difficulty was that the dancers live in Moscow and I live in St. Petersburg. In fact, the whole number was staged already in Moscow, when I arrived at the "Russian Challenge". Unfortunately, we had very little time to practice the number, but we wanted to bring it to perfection.
- How did the girls get used to the fact that they had to perform on the ice?
- It seems to me that in the end they never got used to it (laughs). For the girls it was their first experience, everything was new, unfamiliar, cold, slippery. But they were very good, real professionals, they overcame themselves and danced.
- There were a lot of positive comments, but also some people did not appreciate the number. What is your attitude to criticism in general?
- Calmly. I always listen to constructive criticism. As for the show-tournament, I decided for myself: the main thing is that I like it myself and that it was unusual. And there will always be criticism for anything unusual that goes beyond the established stereotypes.
- Do you often read comments on social networks?
- Very rarely, I don't have time for that.
- Should we expect more such experiments?
- Now I can say one thing - we will continue to look for non-standard solutions, experiment, try something new. Time will show whether it will be embodied in competition programs or demonstrations.
- But do you have the desire to come up with something else?
- Absolutely! I want to do something even more interesting. If I get such an opportunity, I will definitely think of something.
- Last season you also created a new format of competition - the Russian Jumping Championship. Can you say that this tournament is close to you?
- Yes. We had competitions in our childhood - elements at the All-Russian competitions "S.A. Zhuk Memorial" among boys and girls. We actively jumped everything that we had managed to work on by that time. Well, since I am a soloist, jumping and Mozalev are inseparable from each other.
- At tournaments like this, don't you need to diversify your jump set? A lot of people did the same jumps.
- Everyone did what he knows how to do and what - it is important - is stable. In the same team competition you need not to let your team down, so everyone jumps what they land confidently. Similarly in the individual competition. It's better to do a jump on a plus than a more difficult jump but on a minus or base value.
- At tournaments like this, is the risk not close to you? Do you go the route of doing exactly what you can?
- Of course, because here the risk is unjustified, in my opinion.
- How are things with your health now?
- I think I'm fine, I think, ugh, ugh.
- You haven't practiced for a few days.
- I pulled my groin a little, I stayed at home for a couple of days, healing the sprain. Now everything is fine, it's fine.
- You recently changed your skates. How's the rollout going?
- It's already good, even better than sometimes it happens. For a while, though, it was hard to jump in them.
- How was the preseason training camp?
- Very fruitful. I worked a lot on physical training - we did it at the training camp in Sochi. Then we had ice training camp in Orenburg, our group had it there last year as well. All in a standard, labor mode.
Part 2
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
Andrei Mozalev - about the show program tournament, criticism, new programs, readiness for the season and echoes of the Beijing Olympics
Part 2
- Who helped you with the programs for the next season?
- Our choreographers Denis Lunin and Igor Koscheev helped us to the programs. Igor mainly deals with hands, and with Denis we work on sliding, ligaments, paths, the main line of choreography. I was also actively involved in the productions. Both programs are our joint, team work. This year we did not involve outside choreographers.
- Have the programs turned out in your own style or will it be something that we have not seen from you yet?
- The style is mine. And the music will be unusual and very beautiful, deep content, interesting choreography.
- Did you take part in choosing the music or was it suggested by Kirill Davydenko?
- Yes, I took part in choosing the music. The music for the short program was found by Denis Lunin, back in the tournament of show programs, it was the second option for my number. I was very attracted to this track then, and I told the coaches that I wanted to set a competition program to it. Kirill Anatolyevich [Davydenko] suggested the music for the free skating program.
- Will you reveal the ideas of the programs?
- This season we decided to realize our long-standing idea - to create and show one storyline for two programs, a story with a continuation and an ending. Anticipating possible questions about repeating the concept [we are talking about the libretto of last year's programs by French figure skater Adam Siao Him Fa], I would like to point out that we have been nurturing this idea for several years, but we decided to realize it only this season; it was now that all the pieces of the puzzle came together - my moral readiness, the choice of music, the intended choreography, the deep meaning. In short, the stars aligned. And this will be the story of a fallen Angel, his Book of Life.
The short program is chapter one, the story opens with Angel's exile on Earth. He wanders in confusion and confusion towards the big city, his black wings rustling helplessly behind his back... Being sure of absolute human sinfulness and viciousness, he will long and painfully search for his way on Earth, his way of coexistence with us.
The second chapter - an free program - will tell about the transformation of feelings, consciousness, the bodily shell of the Angel.
People open for him from a different side, he is deeply touched by the way we are able to love, friendship, empathy. And wanting to experience the same range of feelings, he makes a difficult but unambiguous decision - he wants to become human. To do this, he needs to free himself from the cage, which has become his incorporeal angelic body, already alien and foreign. And so the wings are decisively thrown off, and for the first time in his endless life he is in great pain.
Now he is mortal, losing consciousness from the pain, he hears the sounds of an approaching ambulance... He knows and believes - he will definitely be saved.
This is the end of Angel's Book of Life - there is one more person on Earth, but that's another story...
- For the second season in a row Russian figure skaters cannot take part in international competitions. If the first year you were getting used to this, what are your feelings now?
- It seems to me that none of us have gotten used to it yet.
- With the absence of international competitions, has the preparation for the season changed in any way?
- I can say that the preparation is even more serious than when we had international competitions, because we have a very high level of competition in Russia now. And besides, everything can change at any moment, and you need to be ready for everything, fully armed.
- Don't you already have anxious thoughts "what if they don't even let you on the international arena before the Olympics"?
- I admit, sometimes they do. But I hope and believe in the best.
- Almost two years have passed since the Olympics in Beijing. How often do you remember those events? Do they give you additional motivation?
- Of course! My performance was not good. And I want to prove that I am the best, it gives me strength and motivation to work further, without sparing any effort and to move forward every day towards my goal.
- You have repeatedly said that your goal is Olympic gold...
- Of course, yes!
- We live in the era of figure skating when a quadruple axel is possible. What would you like to do that you haven't done before in this sport?
- I haven't had any such thoughts so far. Now I have another task in front of me - to find stability and confidence in what I already know how to do.
- The beginning of the season is approaching. How can you assess your readiness for it?
- I am still about 70% ready.
- What else do you need to work on?
- I need to work about the programs to make them look complete, together with the jumps. I've already rolled out the short program, the free skate is left. There is still time, I'm working on it.
- Will you make it harder this season?
- This season will have the same content as last season.
link
Part 2
- Who helped you with the programs for the next season?
- Our choreographers Denis Lunin and Igor Koscheev helped us to the programs. Igor mainly deals with hands, and with Denis we work on sliding, ligaments, paths, the main line of choreography. I was also actively involved in the productions. Both programs are our joint, team work. This year we did not involve outside choreographers.
- Have the programs turned out in your own style or will it be something that we have not seen from you yet?
- The style is mine. And the music will be unusual and very beautiful, deep content, interesting choreography.
- Did you take part in choosing the music or was it suggested by Kirill Davydenko?
- Yes, I took part in choosing the music. The music for the short program was found by Denis Lunin, back in the tournament of show programs, it was the second option for my number. I was very attracted to this track then, and I told the coaches that I wanted to set a competition program to it. Kirill Anatolyevich [Davydenko] suggested the music for the free skating program.
- Will you reveal the ideas of the programs?
- This season we decided to realize our long-standing idea - to create and show one storyline for two programs, a story with a continuation and an ending. Anticipating possible questions about repeating the concept [we are talking about the libretto of last year's programs by French figure skater Adam Siao Him Fa], I would like to point out that we have been nurturing this idea for several years, but we decided to realize it only this season; it was now that all the pieces of the puzzle came together - my moral readiness, the choice of music, the intended choreography, the deep meaning. In short, the stars aligned. And this will be the story of a fallen Angel, his Book of Life.
The short program is chapter one, the story opens with Angel's exile on Earth. He wanders in confusion and confusion towards the big city, his black wings rustling helplessly behind his back... Being sure of absolute human sinfulness and viciousness, he will long and painfully search for his way on Earth, his way of coexistence with us.
The second chapter - an free program - will tell about the transformation of feelings, consciousness, the bodily shell of the Angel.
People open for him from a different side, he is deeply touched by the way we are able to love, friendship, empathy. And wanting to experience the same range of feelings, he makes a difficult but unambiguous decision - he wants to become human. To do this, he needs to free himself from the cage, which has become his incorporeal angelic body, already alien and foreign. And so the wings are decisively thrown off, and for the first time in his endless life he is in great pain.
Now he is mortal, losing consciousness from the pain, he hears the sounds of an approaching ambulance... He knows and believes - he will definitely be saved.
This is the end of Angel's Book of Life - there is one more person on Earth, but that's another story...
- For the second season in a row Russian figure skaters cannot take part in international competitions. If the first year you were getting used to this, what are your feelings now?
- It seems to me that none of us have gotten used to it yet.
- With the absence of international competitions, has the preparation for the season changed in any way?
- I can say that the preparation is even more serious than when we had international competitions, because we have a very high level of competition in Russia now. And besides, everything can change at any moment, and you need to be ready for everything, fully armed.
- Don't you already have anxious thoughts "what if they don't even let you on the international arena before the Olympics"?
- I admit, sometimes they do. But I hope and believe in the best.
- Almost two years have passed since the Olympics in Beijing. How often do you remember those events? Do they give you additional motivation?
- Of course! My performance was not good. And I want to prove that I am the best, it gives me strength and motivation to work further, without sparing any effort and to move forward every day towards my goal.
- You have repeatedly said that your goal is Olympic gold...
- Of course, yes!
- We live in the era of figure skating when a quadruple axel is possible. What would you like to do that you haven't done before in this sport?
- I haven't had any such thoughts so far. Now I have another task in front of me - to find stability and confidence in what I already know how to do.
- The beginning of the season is approaching. How can you assess your readiness for it?
- I am still about 70% ready.
- What else do you need to work on?
- I need to work about the programs to make them look complete, together with the jumps. I've already rolled out the short program, the free skate is left. There is still time, I'm working on it.
- Will you make it harder this season?
- This season will have the same content as last season.
link
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
That's so cute! Japanese fans noticed Andrei's facial expression during the interview on 02.03. It's so cute, he's so handsome in any mood!
By the way, I remember about the translation and will finish the last part of the interview in the next few days.
By the way, I remember about the translation and will finish the last part of the interview in the next few days.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2022
I wonder why Chempionat decided to publish this cool photo only now, to coincide with Andrei's interview. There is a mood in it, there are emotions.
Yes, I remembered about the costume rating, and I will do it to pass the time until the test skates.
Yes, I remembered about the costume rating, and I will do it to pass the time until the test skates.
