Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin | Page 332 | Golden Skate

Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

Thanks to Snow63 very much for the translation of Elena's interview on buro247.ru :thank:

Some silly questions but whatever, it's a light one. Enjoy. :)

Interview with Elena (without introduction):

Q: why did you choose this place for a shoot? (I have no idea what 'place' they're talking about. There's no mention of that in the article)
A: I spend the bigger part of my life on the ice: on the trainings, competitions and communication with my colleguaes. So this is probably the most important place for me.

Q: What do you likein your profession the most?
A: It's the ability to create, to improve, to progress every day, and to show my emotionas and bring joy to other people.

Q: What have you spent your first paycheck on?
A: I gave it to my parents. (how sweet of her. It's actually a some kinds of Russian tradition, I did the same by the way :)

Q: What are you most proud of?
A: [I'm most proud of] that I can overcome myself - that was tested on practice. And also that I try to find my way out of any situation with dignity.

Q: What are you most ashamed of?
A: All people have sins, and did things they're ashamed of. But I would like not to speak about it on public, I'd better tell about them and confess my sins in church.

Q: Where is the place you feel yourself most comfortable at?
A: It's where my most dear people are: my mother, grandmother and brother.

Q: What are you looking at in the first place when you meet a new person?
A: Their eyes, and probably their smile :)

Q: Is there something you're depend on?
A: I depend on different life situations.

Q: How do you spend your free time?
A: I try to spend it with my friends. Or I'm just relaxing, reading some interesting book.

Q: The brightest moment of your life.
A: That's probably the feeling after our short dance 'Carmen' at Moscow Grand Prix event on autumn of 2014. I still remember it. I don't know what it was, how it was, hot did it happen, but I put my whole soul in that performance and received an incredible pleasure out of it. It's very hard for me to put these feelings in words. It is an indescribable feeling, and then I felt myself like a very strong person.

Q: What kind of people you are trying to avoid, and to surround yourself with?
A: I try to avoid the envious and evil people. I feel them from a distance, and do not allow them being aroud me. And I surround myself with sincere people.

Q: What's your guilty pleasure?
A: I'm trying to avoid such desires, honestly.

Q: What would you want to change in the world?
A: If I would have an opportunity, I'd built a comfortable shelters for homeless animals in the first place.

Q: What era would you choose to be transported with a 'time machine'?
A: I would be interested to see different eras: to look at dinosaurs and at French kings, to meet Esenin, Akhmatova and Vysotskiy. In general, the choice is difficult.

Q: How many time you're spending on your social media?
A: Not very much now. And it's mostly Instagram.

Q: What's your favourite book from your childhood?
A: It's «Пеппи Длинныйчулок» ('Pippi Långstrump' of Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren. It's required to read it in middle school in Russia). The heroine is so extraordinary, bright, brave. I like it.

Q: What time are you waking up at?
A: 8 a.m.

Q: What's your biggest fear?
A: To lose my mother.

Q: What's the main thing your parents have teached you?
A: To never give up!

Q: What are you usually whatching on TV?
A: I don't watch TV.

Q: What subject you think you can teach at school?
A: P.E.

Q: Is there something you always keep close to yourself?
A: An Orthodox icon.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks a lot, Alba and Snow63 :).



What I am thinking about now, though, is that the withdrawal of Papadakis/Cizeron from the GPs has just lessened Elena and Ruslan's chances of getting into the GP final, even though this unfortunate turn of events has probably vacated one more spot in it. Now Gilles/Poirier have a chance of winning TEB which would get them in almost for sure, and I think it's more likely for Bobrova/Soloviev to win NHK now than for Elena and Ruslan to even get second at CoR. But they would have to win to be in for sure which is very, very unlikely. Because, although they can surely get much higher scores than at CoC, I don't believe they will get around what Weaver/Poje and Cappellini/Lanotte got at SC and CoC in the FD yet, and I also don't believe that both of those teams will be much worse than they were at their respective events allowing I/Z to beat them with a lower combined score than they got. Actually, I don't quite believe that even one of W/P and C/L will be much worse than they were, that's why I wrote that it's more likely for Bobrova/Soloviev to win gold at NHK than for Elena and Ruslan to win silver at CoR. In case if I/Z are third again, even just a second place will be enough for B/S. Also, if Gilles/Poirier don't win at TEB that would mean that either Coomes/Buckland, Stepanova/Bukin or Hubbell/Donohue won, which in turn would mean that the winning team could get into the final with a third or even fourth place at NHK (Coomes/Buckland currently have just one GP spot, but there is a small chance that they will be invited to NHK now when P/C have withdrawn).

In short, the team that wins at TEB or Gilles/Poirier even with a second place (if Coomes/Buckland win and don't get a second spot at NHK) and Bobrova/Soloviev have a greater chance than Elena and Ruslan. Things can always happen, of course, I just hope that would not involve anything really bad for Bobrova/Soloviev, Gilles/Poirier or another team with potential to win at TEB.

In truth, I would not worry about that so much if I was not going to GP final. But now when I am going almost for sure I really wanted to see the 'Frida' FD live there.
 
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lauravvv said:
Thanks a lot, Alba and Snow63 :). What I am thinking about now, though, is that the withdrawal of Papadakis/Cizeron from the GPs has just lessened Elena and Ruslan's chances of getting into the GP final, even though this unfortunate turn of events has probably vacated one more spot in it. Now Gilles/Poirier have a chance of winning TEB which would get them in almost for sure, and I think it's more likely for Bobrova/Soloviev to win NHK now than for Elena and Ruslan to even get second at CoR. But they would have to win to be in for sure which is very, very unlikely. Because, although they can surely get much higher scores than at CoC, I don't believe they will get around what Weaver/Poje and Cappellini/Lanotte got at SC and CoC in the FD yet, and I also don't believe that both of those teams will be much worse than they were at their respective events allowing I/K to beat them with a lower combined score than they got. Actually, I don't quite believe that even one of W/P and C/L will be much worse than they were, that's why I wrote that it's more likely for Bobrova/Soloviev to win at NHK than for Elena and Ruslan to win silver at CoR. In case if I/Z are third again, even just a second place will be enough for B/S. Also, if Gilles/Poirier don't win at TEB that would mean that either Coomes/Buckland, Stepanova/Bukin or Hubbell/Donohue won, which in turn would mean that the winning team could get into the final with a third or even fourth place at NHK (Coome/Buckland currently have just one GP spot, but there is a small chance that they will be invited to NHK now when P/C have withdrawn). In short, the team that wins at TEB or Gilles/Poirier even with a second place (if Coomes/Buckland win and don't get a second spot at NHK) and Bobrova/Soloviev have a greater chance than Elena and Ruslan. In truth, I would not worry about that so much if I was not going to GP final. But now when I am going almost for sure I really wanted to see the 'Frida' FD live there.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't worry. This GP season has been unpredictable thus far and Ice is always slippery. I believe that this team has been down to work since they got back from China and surely working steadily. If the make the GPF great, if not more preparation time for Nationals. I hope you get to see them in Barcelona. I am hoping very much to see them in Boston:)
 
lauravvv said:
Thanks a lot, Alba and Snow63 :).



What I am thinking about now, though, is that the withdrawal of Papadakis/Cizeron from the GPs has just lessened Elena and Ruslan's chances of getting into the GP final, even though this unfortunate turn of events has probably vacated one more spot in it. Now Gilles/Poirier have a chance of winning TEB which would get them in almost for sure, and I think it's more likely for Bobrova/Soloviev to win NHK now than for Elena and Ruslan to even get second at CoR. But they would have to win to be in for sure which is very, very unlikely. Because, although they can surely get much higher scores than at CoC, I don't believe they will get around what Weaver/Poje and Cappellini/Lanotte got at SC and CoC in the FD yet, and I also don't believe that both of those teams will be much worse than they were at their respective events allowing I/Z to beat them with a lower combined score than they got. Actually, I don't quite believe that even one of W/P and C/L will be much worse than they were, that's why I wrote that it's more likely for Bobrova/Soloviev to win gold at NHK than for Elena and Ruslan to win silver at CoR. In case if I/Z are third again, even just a second place will be enough for B/S. Also, if Gilles/Poirier don't win at TEB that would mean that either Coomes/Buckland, Stepanova/Bukin or Hubbell/Donohue won, which in turn would mean that the winning team could get into the final with a third or even fourth place at NHK (Coomes/Buckland currently have just one GP spot, but there is a small chance that they will be invited to NHK now when P/C have withdrawn).

In short, the team that wins at TEB or Gilles/Poirier even with a second place (if Coomes/Buckland win and don't get a second spot at NHK) and Bobrova/Soloviev have a greater chance than Elena and Ruslan. Things can always happen, of course, I just hope that would not involve anything really bad for Bobrova/Soloviev, Gilles/Poirier or another team with potential to win at TEB.

In truth, I would not worry about that so much if I was not going to GP final. But now when I am going almost for sure I really wanted to see the 'Frida' FD live there.
Click to expand...

You bring up some good points and I agree that this is the most likely scenario. However, we should just wait and see, teams don't always perform as expected. Unfortunately, that goes for IZ as well...so the best thing they can do now is remain calm and work hard. If they don't make the GPF, no big deal, they have more time to prepare for Nationals, which as of right now at least looks like it will be very competitive.
 
Hello, missed this thread (Chinese internet is awful!). I was back on Monday evening but had two busy days, so i didn't read anything.
I didn't see IZ outside the rink and they were the only dance team whom I didn't see outside the rink, so you may imagine how lucky I am. Anyway, I didn't feel like I could say something important to them besides 'hello, guys, you're great', so i don't think that they missed something in my not seeing them. )))
I also tried to get to practice but failed. No spectators were allowed for practice sessions.
The first day was good for them, the waltz went pretty well and the Rock you part rocked. The music was VERY loud, but the audience cheered them almost as loudly. I was surprised, really. I'm a bit concerned about Rostelecom now, with the arena full of Russian fans the noise will be tremendous.
Frida wasn't at its best. IZ had plenty of small mistakes and looked shaky. Whatever they say that they already feel each other I don't think it's true. I mean they might feel each other emotionally but they still lack this automatic unison that long-paired couples have. All these rough moments show it but it only can be cured with time. Nevertheless I enjoyed the program greatly and even the black costumes looked better than on TV. Oh, and the twizzles were much better than during the warm-up (Ruslan lost balance there).
The third day uncovered the third black set of costumes. Elena even managed to change one black dress to another black dress by the grand finale. I hoped for Latina, but I think it's wise of them to train steps and twizzles whenever possible. Latina can wait.
The very end of the gala was boring because some Chinese sponsors talked a lot in Chinese and the skaters had to wait. I have a short video of Elena having fun at the very end but I'll upload it later.
 
I loved IZ's SD skate at COC - the speed, the joy, the connection, the way everything seemed so effortless. FD seemed to me a bit less emotional than before, on both their parts, and I think there were some deliberate slight changes, like when Elena's gut-wrenching projection of Frida's pain seems to have disappeared (unless it has to do with the way the cameraman shot the dance).

However, I don't think the way IZ skated FD had anything to do with their scores because their lowest PCS were for transitions and skating skills, not interpretation or performance. And it was similar for SD which was perfect IMO. So I think that IZ's scores in the FD at COC are as much of a joke as their scores in the SD.

Nor do I believe it has anything to do with IZ's music choices. My musical tastes are as conservative as they come. I don't listen to Queen or any other rock music in my free time, and I have never seen the film about Frida. On the other hand I like or love the music in CL and CB programs. However, none of this prevents me from getting either of IZ's programs or enjoying them even more than CL's and CB's (which I do enjoy a lot too). IZ's are just more interesting and, when they skate them with their usual artistic expression, they have more of an emotional impact on me.

I find it hard to believe that almost all the judges on two panels (for SD and FD) are more obtuse when it comes to interpreting programs than I am, or that they have a harder time evaluating skating skills and the difficulty of transitions than the knowledgeable fans. Also keep in mind that rock music is really old now - people who were in their twenties during the sixties are in their seventies now.

So I think it is a corruption case with these two panels, pure and simple - may other people be as fair and decent to them as they are to others. Of course, the Rus Fed has no reason to invite judges corrupted against the top Russian ID team to COR, so I expect IZ to receive fair scores there. If they don't I'll see it as a far-reaching problem, but still of temporary nature. That kind of innovation, expression and skills in about everything (some things I can see for myself, others I have to rely on others for) just can't stay ignored forever. And luckily IZ are young and healthy (touch the wood!). I think they may have been a bit disappointed after the SD or just plain nervous after they'd seen what kind of judging went on there, but judging from their interview after the FD it looks like they understand that they have to stay patient: keep the music the enjoy and can project well and work hard. The fact that they should stay together and keep their coaches just goes without saying, I think. (I don't think any coach is powerful enough to make two panels of judges vote his way or make a foreign skating federation invite coaches he prefers. I think that politicking goes on much higher level.) I was a bit worried to see somewhat less connection between Elena and Ruslan in the gala skate than I saw in "Je t'aime" the entire past year (at least as it seemed to me), but I hope it's just because of last minute substitution rather than any more serious issues. (And I must be the only IZ fan who prefers their SD costumes at COC and MO to their gala costumes. I find the former more beautiful and elegant.)

I don't think their getting into GPF or not will affect their scores and placing at any of the championships the rest of this winter. I'm sure that judges understand as well as we do that getting into GPF is very much a matter of chance. But if IZ don't get to go to Barcelona this year, I'll feel sorry for the fans who'll be there, and for everybody involved because I think that there's a much greater chance of seeing the top ID teams scored fairly in Barcelona than in Boston, and it'd be such a pity to lose this chance. (I do wonder if that's exactly the reason why some interested parties did such a sledgehammer job of trying to drown IZ in Beijing. Were they worried to see the true picture emerge in Barcelona? Were they concerned that it might jeopardize their chances to orchestrate things their way in Boston or in the very list discredit the Boston results in the eyes of many?)

sunn1ly said:
Sometimes I wish that Russia and other advance in the sport countries should be able to send like 5-6 teams(skaters) on worlds or euros and the best 2 or 3 teams to participate in the final marks just because some programs even without the high scoring are real masterpieces and deserve recognition.
Click to expand...
I wish for that all the time! I hate quotas. I want to see all the top skaters in every discipline at Worlds, and IMO the fact that every year some of them are missing dimishes world championships.
 
lauravvv said:
Thanks a lot, Alba and Snow63 :).



What I am thinking about now, though, is that the withdrawal of Papadakis/Cizeron from the GPs has just lessened Elena and Ruslan's chances of getting into the GP final, even though this unfortunate turn of events has probably vacated one more spot in it. Now Gilles/Poirier have a chance of winning TEB which would get them in almost for sure, and I think it's more likely for Bobrova/Soloviev to win NHK now than for Elena and Ruslan to even get second at CoR. But they would have to win to be in for sure which is very, very unlikely. Because, although they can surely get much higher scores than at CoC, I don't believe they will get around what Weaver/Poje and Cappellini/Lanotte got at SC and CoC in the FD yet, and I also don't believe that both of those teams will be much worse than they were at their respective events allowing I/Z to beat them with a lower combined score than they got. Actually, I don't quite believe that even one of W/P and C/L will be much worse than they were, that's why I wrote that it's more likely for Bobrova/Soloviev to win gold at NHK than for Elena and Ruslan to win silver at CoR. In case if I/Z are third again, even just a second place will be enough for B/S. Also, if Gilles/Poirier don't win at TEB that would mean that either Coomes/Buckland, Stepanova/Bukin or Hubbell/Donohue won, which in turn would mean that the winning team could get into the final with a third or even fourth place at NHK (Coomes/Buckland currently have just one GP spot, but there is a small chance that they will be invited to NHK now when P/C have withdrawn).

In short, the team that wins at TEB or Gilles/Poirier even with a second place (if Coomes/Buckland win and don't get a second spot at NHK) and Bobrova/Soloviev have a greater chance than Elena and Ruslan. Things can always happen, of course, I just hope that would not involve anything really bad for Bobrova/Soloviev, Gilles/Poirier or another team with potential to win at TEB.

In truth, I would not worry about that so much if I was not going to GP final. But now when I am going almost for sure I really wanted to see the 'Frida' FD live there.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's the most likely scenario but at this point there is nothing they can do about it. The way judges scored them and the other two couples in the SD in CoC I think that even with a great skate in both programs they wouldn't have given them the scores in order to win a gold or silver there. The only thing these two can do now is skate their best, make no mistakes, give it all in terms of performance and let the chips fall where they may. They had two strong GPs and not so much luck, like some other couples with TEB and NHK now. It reminds me a bit the situation that Napoli and Milan had during the Champions League 2013-2014 season in football. Napoli finished third and didn't make it through despite having 12 points, same as the 1st and 2nd place teams, while Milan finished 2nd and made it despite having 9 points because they were facing an easier group. Not making the GPF despite having a great skate or a silver in CoR it's okay. I would feel sorry but not disappointed with them. Not going through because they have a poor skate is something I would be disappointed and worry about. Right now more than anything they need to build up their scores and reputation.


p.s. It's a pity that P&C withdrawn so late to be replaced. They must've know that participating right now was out of question given her serious injury and lack of time they had to train properly. Another team could've, and should've had their spot.
 
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Spiral said:
I don't think their getting into GPF or not will affect their scores and placing at any of the championships the rest of this winter. I'm sure that judges understand as well as we do that getting into GPF is very much a matter of chance.
Click to expand...

I don't think it either. Take top 6 men at the Worlds: only two of them had made it to the previous GPF. And of the remaining two, Yuzuru's getting there had been questioned by many, he had a really troublesome start last season.
I can't stop thinking that maybe missing the Finals could be good for IZ as they'll have more time to prepare for the Nationals. They were really tired last year and this year the Nationals won't be easier.
 
Tanka said:
Hello, missed this thread (Chinese internet is awful!). I was back on Monday evening but had two busy days, so i didn't read anything. I didn't see IZ outside the rink and they were the only dance team whom I didn't see outside the rink, so you may imagine how lucky I am. Anyway, I didn't feel like I could say something important to them besides 'hello, guys, you're great', so i don't think that they missed something in my not seeing them. ))) I also tried to get to practice but failed. No spectators were allowed for practice sessions. The first day was good for them, the waltz went pretty well and the Rock you part rocked. The music was VERY loud, but the audience cheered them almost as loudly. I was surprised, really. I'm a bit concerned about Rostelecom now, with the arena full of Russian fans the noise will be tremendous. Frida wasn't at its best. IZ had plenty of small mistakes and looked shaky. Whatever they say that they already feel each other I don't think it's true. I mean they might feel each other emotionally but they still lack this automatic unison that long-paired couples have. All these rough moments show it but it only can be cured with time. Nevertheless I enjoyed the program greatly and even the black costumes looked better than on TV. Oh, and the twizzles were much better than during the warm-up (Ruslan lost balance there). The third day uncovered the third black set of costumes. Elena even managed to change one black dress to another black dress by the grand finale. I hoped for Latina, but I think it's wise of them to train steps and twizzles whenever possible. Latina can wait. The very end of the gala was boring because some Chinese sponsors talked a lot in Chinese and the skaters had to wait. I have a short video of Elena having fun at the very end but I'll upload it later.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recap Tanka!
 
I'm just annoyed that due to chance (and also a little bit of bad skating during Worlds last year) there is possibly not going to be any Russian team in the GPF. Not that any of the other teams don't deserve it, I just think a couple of the Russian teams are definitely capable of challenging the top tier and I'll be pissed if they don't get the chance until Worlds, yknow.
 
LisaM said:
I'm just annoyed that due to chance (and also a little bit of bad skating during Worlds last year) there is possibly not going to be any Russian team in the GPF. Not that any of the other teams don't deserve it, I just think a couple of the Russian teams are definitely capable of challenging the top tier and I'll be pissed if they don't get the chance until Worlds, yknow.
Click to expand...

Considering the Russian schedule, and how close GPF is to their actual nationals, skipping it SOMETIMES, is a blessing in disguise. Sometimes athletes need to train. :shrug: Especially when they have demanding programs. There is a lot of dance talent, and all things being equal that will be in full display come 4CC, EC and WC.

My only real disappointment, we don't know when we'll see P/C.
 
The Russian teams were a little unlucky with their assignments, but B/S have probably the best shot at the GPF right now. I`m of course disappointed that I/Z probably won`t qualify, but the upside of it is that they have around 1 month to train for Nationals, which will be a bloodbath in Ice Dance. In the end what counts the most are the placements at Euros and Worlds. W/P won nearly every of their competitions last season, but the only thing people seemed to remember was their loss at Worlds. The GP series is important, but not qualifying for GPF won`t be the end of the World.

Regarding their PCS at CoC, I also hoped that they would get PCS closer to C/B and C/L, but those scores usually come with time. P/C managed to improve their PCS from a 50 to a 56 last season, so even if I/Z don`t receive these PCS now, doesn`t mean it`s never going to happen.
 
You guys are right, I didn't think about the extra time they'd get for Nationals. We all remember how much they grew technically between Nationals and Euros last year, I hope they can pull off something similar this year.
 
tulosai said:
Thank you so very much! She actually perhaps seems a bit more spiritual/religious than I'd previously realized from other interviews. I really enjoyed this one :)
Click to expand...

I think most person's perception of her is a bit skewed. I'm glad she decided to remain in the ranks a bit longer. This way we've gotten better acquainted.;)
 
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