part 2:
- Let's go back a little. After the Cup of the first channel in the media, everyone somehow unanimously began to discuss your possible retirement. But when you answered reporters, you probably meant something completely different?
- I said that first I need to rest and recover, but I want to continue, however, there are circumstances that do not depend on me. And these circumstances can simply affect my future plans, I think, like any athlete. I believe that I said everything as it is, and most people understood what I was talking about. But I was very interested to read what people think about this situation. After the Olympics, I didn’t even have a thought whether to finish or not - just continue! And before the World Championships, I felt an incredible amount of energy in myself ... And after ... It was sometimes difficult to prepare for the Cup, in terms of the fact that sometimes it was hard for me to force myself.
- What did you feel at that moment?
- There was some misunderstanding of what was happening. Athletes will understand me - the World Figure Skating Championships is one of the most important competitions. If you do not take the Olympic year, then this is the most important start of the season and it is very difficult to refuse it. But I'm glad that in the end I gathered myself in training and in performances.
- But still: what would you say to those who believe that it is necessary to leave the sport at the peak of achievements?
– This is a very controversial issue. It seems to me that the word “must” cannot be here at all. A person skates as long as he has a desire, motivation. If at a young age you understand that it’s enough to torture yourself, then this is your life, and you have the right to look for something else, more interesting in it. If you feel that you are in the right place, you decide how long it will last - 5, 20 years or more. And there and there can be pluses. I personally wouldn't associate it with any medals.
-What has changed for you since the Olympics? Do you have an understanding that you have done something significant?
- Honestly? Not much has changed. Unless the realization came even more that at the most necessary moment I did it - I showed the best skatings, and I am proud of that.
-Have you gotten used to the attention?
- I have been competing as senior athlete three seasons already, there were other major competitions. Therefore, I have become accustomed to some kind of attention. Perhaps it has become more, this, of course, is very nice.
- When success comes, a lot of new responsibilities come: to participate in filming, to give interviews ... Are you tired of answering the same questions several times?
-I have already had so many interviews that, sometimes, it seems to me that I have already told everything I can about myself (Laughs). So there is no such thing. At first, I was generally embarrassed to give interviews - I was 13 years old, maybe younger, plus all people are different ... Well, it affected me so much. Until now, I have this: I try not to say too much. It is better for me when they don’t talk about me at all than when my words cause some kind of negative resonance. I do not speak on any controversial topics that can be interpreted differently. I always answer sincerely, but I do not like provocative questions and have the right to avoid them. I just don't like negativity and take a lot to heart. What I say is usually about my sports career, performances or my life, but nothing which can be used to interpretation, to find a second meaning.
- Do shooting for glossy magazines inspire you?
-It's always a new experience. There are some very interesting projects. For example, for the Hello magazine, I was shot in three images: gold, silver and bronze. There are very beautiful photos and an unusual idea, I liked it. The outfits, the make-up, the image - everything was very beautiful.
– You seem to be already contributing to the media space yourself. In February, during the Olympic Games, the whole country enjoyed watching your vlogs from Beijing on TV and, as far as I know, this is not the first such experience for you. And now you continue to actively post some stories on social networks ...
- Well, I do it on an amateur level, not for any specific purpose. For me, this is an emotional release: it helps to distract, share something, show a piece of my life. The process itself is a pleasure - I like to shoot, edit video, glue, overlay sound and so on.
-Have you thought about getting into journalism seriously?
- I thought I wouldn't rule it out.
-Let's get back to the main point. What was the most difficult for you in this difficult season?
-I would not say that the season was some kind of special. There could be daily routine difficulties, and who does not have them. During the season, I gradually got in shape and tried not to think about the bad, and probably about the good too. Just, as usual, I trained, performed and tried to skate at each start so that there were no questions to myself, so that my conscience would not torment me.
- When something didn’t work out on the ice, you probably heard negative comments addressed to you.
-I realized over time that individual negative comments can’t piss me off. Another thing is when you constantly boil in this negativity, it gradually turns into a sad mood. And then it can be difficult to get yourself out of this state.
– Do you solve this problem yourself?
– Yes, it’s more convenient for me to keep everything in myself and figure it out on my own. Therefore, I tried to cope with what worries me.
- What kind of person are you in general in life - is it always positive or does it depend on your mood?
- Differently. I am very emotional in life. Little things can make me happy and a lot of things can upset me. I’ll come to training in a good mood, the jump doesn’t work out and I can get upset because of this. Even now, after winning the Olympics.
- Didn't you see any special difficulties for you in Beijing either?
- Is it just the long wait for the start. We spent two weeks in Beijing before the start of the competition. I got so used to it that on the day of the short program it was difficult to convince myself that this was already the very main moment for which I had been preparing all this time. In general, it seemed that the beginning of the Olympics would never come. But in reality it turned out that these were one of the least nervous skates.
- Can you describe in a few words what it is - the Olympics?
- ... No, I won’t tell. I won't pick up the words.
- Do you often review your free skate in Beijing today?
- A couple of times, probably. Now the memories are still fresh, perhaps in the future I will revise to refresh them. For me, these are the moments for which I skate. When you manage to show the best that you are capable of, this feeling cannot be compared with anything. Sometimes I want to return to those feelings, remember how it was then, it gives motivation. Therefore, sometimes I like to rewatch old performances. And children's skatings, too.
-In addition to the victory, do you remember the Olympics with any other vivid emotions? Maybe a new day after the end of the competition, when the realization of what has already been done gradually comes, has become somehow special, brought unexpected events and impressions?
– No, there was nothing like that. Of course, I experienced strong emotions during the award ceremony, when I stood on the podium. But my skates bring me much more emotions than what happens afterwards. For me, the brightest, most memorable moment of the Olympics is the end of my free program until the moment I leave the ice. Such a peak of all emotions.
-Do you already have plans for how you will spend your summer?
- I'm going to rest in a warm place, fully recover physically and mentally, not to think about anything. Where - we will decide closer to the point. I will have the whole of May to rest. And I will come - I will take the exam.
–Last summer, in an interview with the IFC, you talked about how you jumped from a parachute, adding that you love such activities, love heights, the feeling of flying, and in general in the summer you try a lot of things - tennis, circus trapezes, a water park with steep slides ... Will you surprise with something else?
- Maybe. My fans gave me a helicopter flight for my birthday...