At the beginning of June Tekla Hristi posted a video at the Daugavpils fan club that isn't available on YouTube. It was taken in
2015 after Junior Olympic silver. There was a request to give a survey, because Deniss was speaking English, but his Mom Russian. There was no response. I was surprised that there could be found any stuff I haven’t seen or read.
Although I think I know almost everything about Deniss, I found the material interesting. His mother turns out to be a good speaker too. But Deniss here differs much from what he was like some time later. He is so serious, speaks so wisely and deliberately. Maybe it's because he is speaking Latvian. I’m awfully sorry indeed that I can translate something but
I can’t convey you his interesting word choice, the manner and the intonation he expresses himself. 
Now Dennis has grown up and speaks as an adult, so it means that we won’t have any more that lovely teenager who used to speak like a professor. When I’m watching this stately and purposeful young man doing “Duet“ so amazingly, I’m overwhelmed with pride but at the same time… I’m a bit sad.
I’m on a long way to my destination, so I have time to do a little summary of what I think is interesting. Hope you’ll enjoy even if there is not much new or even it turns out to be very long.
https://www.bilibili.com/video/av22185259?spm_id_from=333.338.__bofqi.17
2.56
Mother. There arose a question about toughening him up physically, and the first activity, which came to mind, was swimming. Everyone in our family loves swimming, because there are so many lakes around.
(Daugavpils is situated in Latgale, it is a district which is rich in bigger and smaller lakes).
4.12
Deniss. I think I have talent, because in the competitions I usually have one of the best results in the components. I may not be able to jump as well as the Americans or the Russians do, but I skate well. Jumps can be learned, but getting good points in choreography and skating is hard work. :think:
I like movements and different physical activities, so I like to dance. I like art and drawing. I know I have a good ear for music. These are my parents’ talents. My mom was a dancer, my father did rowing. I like to improvise, it's hard for me to do the same thing day after day.
7.55
M. Figure skating is a very difficult and complicated sport. You must constantly increase your potential, constantly improve, and keep up with the younger. First of all, it’s a crazy work. It means repeating something hundreds of times. Yes, he has a natural ability to choreography but otherwise it’s never-ending sweat.
D. In figure skating competition is fierce The big countries have better schools, coaches, a more orderly system and big investments. When I started, I was almost the only one. Mom helped me a lot. I watched on the Internet other skaters to learn what to do and how to do things. I started the complicated stuff very late because there was no chance.
12.00
D. Every two months I go to Paris, where my coach Sneskiene teaches me. At home I'm just to learn at school. I have to travel a lot and I enjoy it.
(At Euro Champs he told Stephane’s friend Maxim Trankov that he will always be grateful to his trainers Sneskiene and Urmanov)
2.54
M. It happens that you watch him and come to conclusion you have to be stricter and more demanding because in France everything is sooo democratic. But sometimes you feel you must slacken the reins, give him more freedom and independence. When he returns, it is felt that he has missed us a lot. It’s felt.
(Mother becomes a bit emotional).
13.42
D. I have to find time for studying. It's not difficult as learning to me means to open a book, read it carefully and shut the book.
(Lucky him!) It's easy to learn, because if I do something, then I try to do it properly. I like history, not to mention music, art and sports classes. Yes, and maths. My grandfather helps me because he was a professor of mathematics at Daugavpils University.
14.44 I actually learn English in France. When I went there, I knew only “hello “and “good bye”.
(I do not believe it). I can speak French a little bit and understand a lot. I speak Russian at school. When I come to Latvia after the summer, I first think in English, then say it in Latvian. Russian Lyceum is the second best school in Latvia this year. Nobody gives me good marks because I'm a skater. No way! The teachers teach very well and they want me to do everything and that is sometimes complicated.:scratch:
15.48
M. I’m strict about the requirements to study well, whatever others say. Nobody needs stupid athletes. Figure skating is related to physics and mathematics. The head must work pretty quickly to figure out all the elements, to calculate the points. Skating makes the athlete think.
17.41
D. In my childhood, the others chaffed that figure skating is only for girls. I was not very popular. Now that they value me as a good athlete, they support me. :thumbsup: I do not have many friends, mostly I have my classmates. I have a friend Tuti (?) in France; he's my coach's son. We spend a lot of time together; we share common interests and hobbies.
(He took a video of Deniss when he was collecting money and said that Deniss was like a brother for him) https://www.pursu.it/pursuit/campaign/169
19.00
M. Ticket prices for men's competitions are the most expensive. It's an azartic sport where the audience most enthusiastically cheers triples and quads, besides it is connected with beauty too. But the degree of difficulty is terribly high.
20.36
D. I want to take the best places, fight for medals and present Latvia in the world. :medal" I want to do something good for my country. I don't want to live anywhere else. I wish there was the best sports school in Daugavpils. I would like to host ice-shows in Latvia. I would like to design and sew sports outfits according to my taste.
(It seems that he will have any opportunity to fulfill his dreams)
24.50
M. Does he change? Yes, like all children. In the morning, when you wake him up at 7.00, he murmurs-"please, two minutes more", but in the evenings when he has to go to bed, he begs for twenty minutes more. Like all children, nothing is different.
:2thumbs:
His mom seems like a real sweetheart!...BTW, his birthday us coming up rather soon, isn't it? If I remember right, it was in the beginning of August?
