Oh, this was a good interview. (watched both video and read it) She seems better, which is good to see.
And oddly enough, some of the things she said - while they initially hurt a bit - made me feel more relieved afterwards. Her comments about how she proved everything at the last Olympics make it very clear: She‘s not going to Beijing and she knows it. And she has, in a way, found her peace with it.
She‘s still trying to come back to competition because she loves the feeling but we always knew that. Most people would have given up in her situation and disappeared into the sunset to earn more money and loads of other opportunities. And after the years of rigorous training, who can blame them for wanting a normal life? But Zhenya lives for skating and she will give it her everything to make it happen. I respect that, though I also understand the struggles and pain she‘s going through. I hope that she doesn‘t force herself to continue for the sake of her fans. While I will be very sad to see her retire, I much rather want her to be happy and healthy. She‘s so talented and there‘s loads of things she can do outside of competitive figure skating. Every ice show will be delighted to have her, once they‘re back, for one. And with how well her coaching seminar in Mexico went, it‘s obvious she can use her popularity to promote the sport all over the world.
I still think, if she was healthy, she would have lots to give. She‘s not “done“ artistically by any means but sometimes your body knows better. Seems that with her that‘s the case and I hope she realises it soon. But judging by the way she‘s talking, she is in the process of that.
Don‘t get me wrong - I want her back on competitive ice because that‘s where she belongs. But realistically, the way figure skating in Russia is right now, there is no chance for her to make it onto the big stage ever again. Is it worth to live in pain for that all the time?
Personally, I am hoping there will come a change in figure skating soon because right now, it‘s making me lose a lot of my enjoyment. Not exactly because of Zhenya missing from competition - it was obvious that this was going to happen and sooner rather than later. But I just can‘t get behind a lot of the so called “evolution“ of the sport, though the last year‘s made it a little more complicated as I started rooting for athletes who are right in the middle of “evolutionizing“ it. So, basically, I sit here cheering for athletes whose skating doesn‘t make me feel joy but who I want to succeed nevertheless to escape this toxic system they‘re trying not to drown in. But that‘s a matter for another subject.
As for Zhenya: I respect her. I respect her love for this sport. But at this point, I hope she figures out her priorities and realises that hurting yourself everyday might not be worth it in the end.
I do very much hope to see her programs in costumes again, though. Maybe in competition, maybe in a farewell performance, maybe at a show. Whatever her health permits.
www.olympicchannel.com
www.olympicchannel.com
It does sound like its getting better but I guess realistically we won’t see her until next year (if shes better)
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