Yevvgeniya Medvyedeva: “I achieved everything thanks to my character - good, complex, mischievous”
The famous skater summed up the results of the outgoing year and talked about life in Canada.
The life of a professional athlete is a continuous series of competitions and trainings, and if we are talking about a talented and titled athlete, then all this goes under the scrutiny of the public. For one of the brightest figure skaters of our time - Yevgeniya Medvyedeva - the next tournament will be the Russian Championship, which will be held in the last week of December. But even after that, Zhenya, unlike ordinary Russians, does not rest - the athlete will perform in the play “The Wizard of Oz”, the first ice show in her life.
“I managed to overcome myself”
-- In which company will you celebrate the New Year? What traditions do you have associated with this holiday?
- On the 31st I have ice shows, but they will end early in the evening, and I will have time to come home, help set the table and celebrate with family. This is our tradition, nothing changes from year to year - like most people, I celebrate the New Year with my family, with my favorite salads. Our grandmother goes to bed early. And my mother and I usually go somewhere, celebrate the New Year with friends - on Red Square or in some cafe reserved in advance. We try to relax and have fun.
-- Your zodiac sign is Scorpio, horoscopes promise a difficult, but successful next year. Here's an example: "You have a lot to learn in a few months, to reconsider the attitude to what seemed familiar." Satisfied with such a forecast? Or would you fix something in it?
- Forecast for that and forecast so that it is what it is. No need to change anything. Everything suits me. My path has never been easy. For me, it’s not new to learn a lot in a few months. In general, I do not listen to horoscopes. I know that some of them are invented. Yes, it happened that something came true. But this is nothing more than a coincidence.
-- But there are some signs, traditions that you observe before the competition?
- There are no such traditions. It is important for me to look good, to be neatly combed, made up. I try not to get attached to anything, as it knocks the brain down a little. Even if something goes wrong, I can always focus on my skating.
-- Often the same astrologers recommend amulets, precious stones ... Are there any amulets that are always with you?
- Jewellery is always on me - a ring, I take off my earrings almost never. I have a favorite napkin holder for dry napkins - it’s like a soft toy (this is a cat), and her name is Luna. I go out with her all the time in competitions, and when I'm on ice, I can see my trainer who holds Luna.
-- How do you remember the past year?
- I remember that I managed to overcome myself. I went through many failures and difficulties. As a result, it turned out to show himself in very good shape at the competitions. My team and I have done great programs that so many have liked. I think that I managed to change myself for the better. This is what I was striving for.
-- Tat'yana Tarasova after your performance at the Russian stage of the Grand Prix said: “Well, how not to respect such an athlete? Well, she doesn’t have quad jumps today. Not the fact that she will never. Because the Salchow, which she learns, is ready for her ... ". Are Tat'yana Anatolyevna’s predictions correct? And is it possible to say that the difficult jumps of young skaters are successful for them primarily because of their age?
- What can I say? Tat'yana Anatolyevna - a wise woman, we will treat her with humour, say that she is always right.
And about the young skaters - what does this 'young' mean? It’s even indecent to call them that. They are already big athletes, have reached the senior level, will participate in senior tournaments. The girls are absolutely legendary, they jump a unique number of quadruple jumps and deserve only respect from the rest of the athletes and journalists.
“My English is much better.”
-- You have been training in Canada for a year and a half. How is your life in Toronto arranged? How do you spend your free time there?
- In preparation for competitions it is very rarely possible to get out somewhere. Basically, I sit at home, skate, train, sit at home. I often spend my free time at home, I love to wrap myself in a blanket and watch TV shows. Mom lives with me, she is always there, we talk a lot. But when I feel that I need to socialise, I go alone or with friends to a shopping center or to a cinema. We also go to the theater, to the circus. I can go shopping, look at branded things. I like to sit quietly in a coffee shop for several hours - it restores me very well.
-- What to bring to Russia as a gift?
- I usually bring maple syrup. I myself am not a fan, but people like it.
-- And how are things with the language?
- My English has become much better. Sometimes they even tell me that I communicate without an accent. But I do not believe this. In public places I communicate quite freely. Although I do not know many terms. For example, talking in a bank or answering a phone call in Canada is sometimes difficult for me, because I can not hear or understand something. Sometimes I feel stupid because of this. But the situation is getting better and better every month.
-- How has your relationship with coach Brian Orser changed this year?
- Brian and I are working quite harmoniously, we have already begun to understand each other by almost a hundred percent. Just like in any family working in sports, there are disagreements that we easily and quickly resolve, find compromises and move on. Working relationships have changed only for the better. And not only with Brian, but also with Tracy Wilson.
-- How is the training process in Canada different from the one you are used to in Russia?
- Training processes in Canada and in Russia are like different planets. I will not say which is better, which is worse. Just completely different. I had to get used to the Canadian school for a year and a half until full understanding with the team. We are so used to each other now that it seems that it has been so for many years.
-- Was it easy for the coach to agree to your participation in the New Year ice show of Ilya Averbukh? How long did Ilya persuade you?
- Brian understands perfectly well that I also have things to do in my homeland. And I think that he was ready for the fact that I could have tours with shows in Russia. He calmly reacted. We told him that I will have a show on New Year's. He replied: “Okay, good.” And he simply asked when I would be back.
As for Il'ya - no, he did not persuade me at all. It was a conversation of adults, in such things people do not persuade each other - there is either "yes" or "no." And we just weighed the pros and cons and decided: why not? After all, Il'ya and I have been working together for many years.
-- Averbukh actually staged you more than one program. How is he helping you now?
- Il'ya always supports me. We work in different countries, but I feel that he is always morally close. After each competition, when there is an opportunity, when I'm in Russia, we meet, discuss mistakes, future plans. I know that Ilya can always be relied on.
-- You are the main star of The Wizard of Oz. What is common between you and your heroine Dorothy?
- Many immediately noted the resemblance between me and Dorothy. Even Dorothy’s hair in the film is reddish. My hair is just red now.
-- By the way, what book, film or concert from recent times impressed you?
- Recently, when I come home after training, I immediately turn on the TV and watch two or three films a night. Recently revised the "Corpse of the Bride" - a cartoon that I saw only in childhood. Now I decided to refresh it in my memory. And remained in absolute delight. It seems to me that I will soon have a marathon based on the works of Tim Burton (director of The Corpse of the Bride and many other films. - Ed.).
“I'm not throwing money around”
-- When you want to improve your mood, what are you doing for this to happen?
- When I am in a bad mood, I eat deliciously. It always helps. I can’t do anything about it. This is not yet reflected in my figure.
-- Have you learned to cook well after moving to Canada?
- I always cooked well. When I really want, I cook culinary masterpieces. But since I basically don’t want to do this, I’m making myself simple dishes rich in protein and vitamins. I try to eat as simple as possible. Simple nutrition is the key to health. Favorite recipes - my and my mother's. I really like to make cakes, bake cheese cakes, pancakes. I have to follow a diet, but I like it and it’s not difficult. There are no prohibitions in terms of nutrition. I allow myself sweets and other stuff, but I always know the measure. In a non-competitive period, I can eat a pie in the evening - and everything will be fine. But a couple of weeks before the competition I am pretty tough on myself and keep to not allowing myself to eat too much.
-- If it was possible to change one trait in your character and appearance, then what would you change?
- I do not want to change anything in my character. Due to my character, on the one hand, good, on the other hand, mischevious and complex, I am where I am now. And around me are the people I need. And facial features - yes, I agree, I would change something in myself. I am calm about plastic surgery. If you want to fix something, you need to change it in order to feel more confident. I would like to change the shape of my nose - since childhood I’ve been talking about this. But whether I will do this is a big question.
-- People often think that in the life of athletes of your level there are special privileges - business class on flights, an expensive car with a driver, restaurants and diamonds. But how is this in reality?
- Flying business class is a necessity, as I personally fly a lot, and the flights are long. For example, from Toronto to Tokyo the flight is 14 hours. This is difficult, because my back, hips, my whole body hurts. It’s necessary to recover a couple of days. And training begins the day after arrival. Therefore, comfortable chairs in business class - this is important. Athletes do not save on health. And restaurants and diamonds are all such conventions! Perhaps such attributes are inherent in some kind of sport, but certainly not to figure skating. This is everyone’s choice, it depends on what the athletes are doing outside the rink, what kind of people are nearby. And the prize fund of each competition is not a secret at all. Everyone can go to the ISU website, look at the price money and approximately estimate a skater's earnings. From these figures we can conclude that we do not swim in diamonds and do not throw money down the drain in expensive restaurants. We are people like everyone else. And quite rationally, we look at life and manage our income.
-- And what gift do you allow yourself for the New Year ?
- I won’t make a present for myself, I consider it useless. For me, the most important thing is to receive some - not necessarily material - gifts from people whom I value, just attention from the heart. And to meet those with whom I had long wanted to meet.
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From:
https://teleprogramma.pro/stars/int...ego-blagodarya-harakteru-8212-horoshemu-u601/
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