Javier Fernandez

[evergreen]

That's lovely to read. It must be very nice to have people who really, really believe in you and are willing to go through all the good and bad days together with you.

Exactly, in his book, Brian said that Javi is the kind of person that if you throw him down the cliff, he is not going to get up by himself even if you give him a hand; Team Brian, including David, Tracy and himself, will not hesitate to jump down the cliff to be with him and climb up together. In short, they stick together through thick and thin and are ready to fight to the end.

I guess "cracking the whip" also must be part of it, though Brian said a couple of years ago that he had to get really angry with Javi sometimes because he thought Javi was so talented and he didn't want Javi to have any regrets later in life.

Brian has to use different tricks to push Javi through training sessions, as Javi may be still reluctant to practice even he got really mad. He would show his severe disappointment, "what I am going to do with you, ah..., I am so upset you are not working hard ", this generally works better and Javi would then go back and train harder. Brian learned this from his own childhood experience. His mom did not get angry with Brian if he did poorly with his school work but merely showed him that she was very disappointed in him, which made him feel guilty and he would push himself to study harder from then on.

This is how he describes Javi and Hanyu in his book:-

Javi is my lovely son needs my care and attentions; Yuzuru is my twin brother who reassembles my younger self very much...

 

[Jaana]

Does anyone have a video of this interview? Would love to see it. As far as I know, Javi has a good fan base in Finland:luv17:


https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10153764161640944&id=12523150943&substory_index=0

I have not seen it on tv, perhaps it has appeared on a Finnish skating magazine (which I unfortunately do not have).? Anyway the text on that page: Kiira asked about Javi´s future plans after skating. Javi´s dream is to become a coach.

 

[evergreen]

I have not seen it on tv, perhaps it has appeared on a Finnish skating magazine (which I unfortunately do not have).? Anyway the text on that page: Kiira asked about Javi´s future plans after skating. Javi´s dream is to become a coach.

Thank you very much, Jaana. I read somewhere it was aired sometime during 2016 Euros', apparently, Kiira knows Javi very well and said that he used to play tons of video game. Javi said that he still plays when he wakes up in the morning and in the middle of practice sessions


I came across this Spanish article yesterday. I could generally understand what is about by google translate, but don't get the metaphor of "green dog" or "green swan".
http://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/otros-deportes/20160404/40857399118/javier-fernandez-patinaje-hielo-espanol.html

The article said that Spain almost lost their skating genius 7 years ago when Javi was unmotivated with poor work ethic. He can easily land difficult jumps such as 3 Axel and quads, which let him assume he does not need to work hard to get these jumps.

There is a youtube video where Javi's Spanish coach recalled how Javi landed his 1st 3Axel at 15, without learning any technique, he wanted to try it and just go for it.

 

[xibsuarz]

Thank you very much, Jaana. I read somewhere it was aired sometime during 2016 Euros', apparently, Kiira knows Javi very well and said that he used to play tons of video game. Javi said that he still plays when he wakes up in the morning and in the middle of practice sessions


I came across this Spanish article yesterday. I could generally understand what is about by google translate, but don't get the metaphor of "green dog" or "green swan".
http://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/otros-deportes/20160404/40857399118/javier-fernandez-patinaje-hielo-espanol.html

The article said that Spain almost lost their skating genius 7 years ago when Javi was unmotivated with poor work ethic. He can easily land difficult jumps such as 3 Axel and quads, which let him assume he does not need to work hard to get these jumps.

There is a youtube video where Javi's Spanish coach recalled how Javi landed his 1st 3Axel at 15, without learning any technique, he wanted to try it and just go for it.

Green dog is a term used for someone who is weird or rare to find. I think they switched it to green swan because they are more elegant and because of how Javi has evolved in his career.

 

[tzazu]

New photo in Canada with Eric Radford:luv17:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFhePBeDi4m/?taken-by=javierfernandezskater&hl=es

 

[honghe]

Brian learned this from his own childhood experience. His mom did not get angry with Brian if he did poorly with his school work but merely showed him that she was very disappointed in him, which made him feel guilty and he would push himself to study harder from then on.

Kudos to Team Brian for being smart instead of simply telling their skaters what to do
I have so much respect for these people at the Cricket Club after reading your posts, evergreen. I wish Brian's book were also published in English... it would be interesting to read!

Speaking of video games... I'll use it as an excuse to rewatch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABf69t4HdV0
They are both so cute in this video :luv17:

 

[evergreen]

Kudos to Team Brian for being smart instead of simply telling their skaters what to do
I have so much respect for these people at the Cricket Club after reading your posts, evergreen. I wish Brian's book were also published in English... it would be interesting to read!

I am glad that you enjoy reading them Japan is the country keeping the sports alive and the only market where Brian can get decent deal for his book.
Team Brian begins with a conversation between Brain and Hanyu, and in the rest of 6 chapters Brain talked about his own competitive career, Kim Yuna, and the three years coaching Javi and Yuzuru. Of course, the book mainly focuses on the latter.

I could tell the original transcript was written in English and perhaps Brian may consider releasing an e-book App of which fans could pay & download from apple or google store.

Speaking of video games... I'll use it as an excuse to rewatch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABf69t4HdV0
They are both so cute in this video :luv17:

They were definitely having fun and enjoyed each other's company very well. Thankfully, video games are relatively "healthier" addiction, though in his old lazy days, Javi oftentimes stayed up the whole night playing games and missed the training sessions next day. David Wilson mentioned in a recent interview that he quit smoking last year, I wish Javi did too.

 

[Spiral]

I so wish Brian Orser's book were available in English! He's had such a full life in sports, as a skater, as a pro performer and as a coach!

But I'm a bit shocked that Javier smokes. I thought no athlete could afford to do that.

 

[evergreen]

But I'm a bit shocked that Javier smokes. I thought no athlete could afford to do that.

I was not shocked at Javi's smoking, but don't like him start smoking at young age, I guess this was a trade off when he has to live by himself since 17. Probably a bad trait he learned from Morozov.

Having said that, I know a lot of skaters of Team Russia are smokers, Plushenko smokes, I don't know whether he still does. Shizuka Arakawa was a smoker until 2003-04 season. Tonya Harding smokes even she has asthma. The worse case is late Chris Bowman, he did drug when he was competing , let alone smoking, what a waste of talent. :noshake:

Javi is indeed fortunate coming to TCC and having Brian and his team to guide him to the right direction for his skating and his life. :luv17:

 

[Spiral]

Oh, I had no idea Plushenko or Arakawa smoked (I'm less surprised about Bowman and Harding, since they were both known for not being strict followers of athletic discipline). So apparently one can be a top athlete and smoke. Still wish no one would do it, though, since it does no favors to one's lungs. Maybe after Javier leaves the sport and its pressures and is happily settled he'll stop (I hope).

 

[evergreen]

Oh, I had no idea Plushenko or Arakawa smoked (I'm less surprised about Bowman and Harding, since they were both known for not being strict followers of athletic discipline). So apparently one can be a top athlete and smoke. Still wish no one would do it, though, since it does no favors to one's lungs. Maybe after Javier leaves the sport and its pressures and is happily settled he'll stop (I hope).

Arakawa smoked to battle with her frustration over the years after Nagano; she quit smoking as soon as she joined Tarasova, taking her advice seriously.

Artur Dmeitriev smoked throughout his entire competitive career, so did Zhulin, Platov & etc .

Anton Sikharulidze was a smoker when he was competing.

But I found that nowadays much less skaters smoke, it make sense since the sports has evolved a lot and became much more physically demanding. Smoking is well known for causing endurance issues.

Smoking deadens the appetite, I envisage this is one of the reasons why many Russian skaters/ballet dancers smoke, e.g. Baryshnikov. But Javi does not need to control his weight by a cutting diet, Brian said that he has a genetically gifted body and no matter how much he eats, he won't gain weight.

I guess he began smoking because of boring/home sick/it was fun to mingle with his Russian friends. There are a lot of temptations out there when a teenage boy lives alone by himself.

I don't think that Javi smoked to deal with pressure. Up till 2016 worlds, I sometimes doubt whether he was competitive enough to become a legendary champion. Of course, everyone are nervous when they are competing, but one does not have much pressure if his expectation is lower. Javi had self-confidence issues because he had never thought he would be an ISU champion, the biggest achievement he thought he could get was Spanish National Champion.

 

[evergreen]

Green dog is a term used for someone who is weird or rare to find. I think they switched it to green swan because they are more elegant and because of how Javi has evolved in his career.

xibsuarz- Thank you

Here is another article published by Marca earlier last month. This time they used the metaphor of Garra de Leon, a very strange red flower growing in the driest desert to praise Javi, which I like very much

According to this article, Javi receives government funding in an amount of 72,000 euros per year. Good for him. IIRC, he lost the funding of Spanish federation in the off season of 2013 and had to do a lot of shows in summer, mainly in Japan, to earn his training & living expenses for the upcoming Olympic season.

 

[honghe]

Brian said that he has a genetically gifted body and no matter how much he eats, he won't gain weight.

I'm sure a lot of people would want that, too

A friend of mine started smoking when he was living away from home as a teenager and befriending a lot of older boys, so I'm not surprised. Still, I hope Javi quit smoking. It is not good for athletes, and even for non-athletes, it could hurt their long-term health. He needs to take good care of his body.
I think even in the ballet world there are people who recognize the harm of smoking. I remember reading that the late choreographer Roland Petit used to get really mad at Ivan Vasiliev when he saw Vasiliev smoke between practices.

Speaking of expectations... At the press conference after one of Javi's Euros wins, they asked him whether he remembered his result at his first Euros. He remembered that he didn't qualify for FS, but not his exact rank (he was 28th:shocked. They then asked him at that time whether he thought he could one day become European champion, and Javi said "no, not at all."
I guess now with what he has achieved there might be more expectations and more pressure, but I do hope these will only affect him positively, and he can still be his funny, friendly and happy self.

 

[LRK]

Well, his first World title seemed to have steadied him rather than the reverse - I thought he looked very solid throughout the season; much more so than the season before, for example - and hopefully the second title will build on the good work.

 

[honghe]

In case you wonder... Javi is better at rolling in grass than at playing golf:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFpxoVNji-4/

 

[evergreen]

Agreed. The 1st world title made him hungry for more victory, "I want some more" :clapper:

 

[evergreen]

In case you wonder... Javi is better at rolling in grass than at playing golf:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFpxoVNji-4/

At least he hit the ball:rofl2:

 

[honghe]

At least he hit the ball:rofl2:

Lol that's true.

Is that a tatoo on his leg? Looks like Olympic rings:shocked:

 

[evergreen]

Lol that's true.

Is that a tatoo on his leg? Looks like Olympic rings:shocked:

he has it ever since he was 17, it is Olympic rings plus a black skate underneath; he got it with his childhood friend Sonia, who has a similar almost identical one on her back, except the skate is white. In a fan interview, he said he was thinking about to get another one, perhaps the image of his cat by the time she is gone, but he admitted it was very painful to tattoo

 

[evergreen]

ok, here is a video I want to share with you, as I cannot help laughing whenever I watch it, Javi & Alex are

2013 Ice Welcome party + Backstage