here we go again, this time, side by side 4 toe, wheeee, Javi & Pchiddy
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFH0-rIqEEj/
Javi is on the cover of May 8th El Pais Semanal , here is the link to the interview & article
http://elpaissemanal.elpais.com/confidencias/javier-fernandez-el-nuevo-rey-del-deporte-espanol/#
Translation of his interview please
The article starts in a very interesting manner: from his mother's POV. She was very nervous for the competition and they didn't talk to him a lot so he wouldn't get distracted. And after the SP, they were even more worried, not only because he was second but because he was in a lot of pain. The doctors had to infiltrate his ankle to reduce it a bit. His sister Laura on the other hand wasn't nervous for him at all, she said that, after he has a tough SP he takes some pressure off himself and does better in the FS.
But after the FS, his mom was hugging Miki in tears. His Spanish coach said it was 'a display of physical and mental strength without precedents in figure skating history'. The Boston Globe said it was 'One of the best FS ever seen. maybe even the best'.
They move to his meeting with the President, who showed Javier four fingers (for his European Titles) and then two (for his World Titles) and Javier nodded, smiling. Another reporter said that 'what happens with Javier is the great miracle of Spanish Sports'. They talk a bit about his hectic schedule after Worlds: going to Japan for Ice shows, having endless appointments in Madrid for a few days, then heading to Canada for more shows. Oh, and his manager is a friend of his from school
His first pair of skates were his sister's old skates. At his rink, the nicknamed him 'the Lizard' because he was mischievous; sometimes his mom had to get him on the ice herself. But after that he didn't want to get off. He didn't listen to the coaches, he spent time pulling at the girls' skirts and throwing frost from the ice at them. But then he skated and it all came naturally, because his skates weren't of good quality, some thought he was going to injure himself, but he was soon going for 2As. He was never afraid of falling.
Because skating is so expensive (their parents spent 450 euros a month for both Javi and Laura, when his father didn't even earn 1500 per month), Laura moved to another club, in another city (Jaca), where they offered her a scholarship. Their mom moved with her, and a few months later Javier joined them after his former club kicked him out.
They stayed there for 2 years, in that town the boys made fun of Javi because he skated. And while Laura was the best juvenile skater in Spain, Javier considered quitting and going for hockey instead. Laura said he wasn't motivated and didn't feel the support of the coaches.
Then the skating camp in Andorra happened where he met Morozov. He would train him for free, but Javier's parents still had to pay for his expenses overseas. His parents asked if he was sure, he said it was a dream and he wanted to try. Then his dad said 'you won't try, you will get it'.
Because it got more expensive, his father got two jobs and his mom started working (they had to pay between 2000 and 3000 euros a month). Javier shared an apartment with a former coach from Jaca, who helped him with the language and American lifestyle. His parents said they the Federation didn't provide him any financial support and that they didn't like him leaving the country. The Federation sort of ignored him when he went home to compete.
They talk about the life he had as Morozov's student, moving to Russia and Latvia. Still there were results and he qualified for the 2010 Olympics, finishing 14th. But since Morozov payed more attention to other skaters (the article mentions Florent, for whom his Federation did pay for his training), and Javier wanted more stability, he moved to Brian. Brian said he was talented, but lost and undisciplined. Javier's own dad has said Brian is like a second father.
They talk a bit about his controversial statements in Sochi (and I really wish they could drop that already), Javier said he couldn't help himself and looked up on the Internet and broke down in tears at the things that were being said about him.
Nowadays he does have financial support and fellow Spanish teammates Javier Raya and Sonia Lafuente (one of the girl he used to throw ice frost at) have joined him in Toronto. He's not to worried about the working visa anymore, he can't drive because of it, but he does just fine on a bike
His parents know he is not like a soccer player, he won't be rich and he will have to look for another financial support after he retires, but they don't care, they are happy watching their soon fulfill his dream.
I would have never though that Morozov coached him for free! And he has nice eye for catching on Javi talent when he was young. I guess Javi must be really happy he is able to repay his parents for all they've been doing for him all those years!
