Javier Fernandez
- Thread starter matmuh
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
I'm just passed page 200 in reading through all the past Javi fan posts! Of course, the 2016 Worlds FP is my fave performance, but I must say, this one to "I'll Be Home for Christmas" from Christmas 2016 is up there! Thanks to whomever shared it back then. It's so fun to come across these little gems I never saw. I thought I'd bring it up again because other newer Javi fans like me may not have seen it too.
https://youtu.be/4ov2CeSH7MQ
https://youtu.be/4ov2CeSH7MQ
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2006
Stars on Ice Canada kicked off last night - there have been quite a lot of stuff in social media on the practice days.
Javi did two solo numbers, the show version of the old SP I Love Paris was one and then there was a new routine of which 39 seconds here:
https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/990030486037778432
The song is Prometo by Pablo Alborán - whom I think Javi has mentioned to be one of his favourite Spanish artists. Would love to see more....
E
Javi did two solo numbers, the show version of the old SP I Love Paris was one and then there was a new routine of which 39 seconds here:
https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/990030486037778432
The song is Prometo by Pablo Alborán - whom I think Javi has mentioned to be one of his favourite Spanish artists. Would love to see more....
E
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2016
I was doing zapping tonight and, without expecting it, I found on the screen an interview with Javi (in Chester, Cuatro channel). I suppose that, in a few days, we'll be able to find the interview online but, until then, here's an advance. The interview was quite common, a quick review to Javi's history, we have seen that (a lot of times) before, except for a couple of detailed answers about Morozov and Miki Ando. We have heard similar things before, but it was gossip. This time is not gossip, it's him talking about his own life, that's why I repeat it here:
Talking about Morozov he said that he is very grateful to him because he gave him the opportunity of his life but at the end, the situation was very bad for Javi and things didn't end well. The reason for the bad ending? A woman that told Morozov that she didn't want to be with him anymore, because she wanted to be with Javi. The name of the girl? Miki Ando.
Javi also confirmed that, at present, he has no relationship with Morozov or with Miki. It sounded like "we are in no speaking terms" but this is only my interpretation.
Javi was in that interview with his sister and his mother and it didn't look like a slip of the tongue, it was like he was prepared to clear up things of his past but, again, my interpretation.
I always enjoy watching Javi but, being honest, I found the whole interview a waste of time. If he needs to clear up personal things of his past, I hope he knows what he is doing but it was a lost opportunity to promote his and the rest of spanish skaters future: the high performance center they talked about in the past and more ice rinks. Who's to blame? The interviewer has a big part of responsability too, that's for sure.
I have seen the previous post about Javi in Stars on Ice these days and I'm glad he's back to work, because in the interview (pre-recorded I guess) he looked like he's gained a couple of kilos... he had very good holidays!!
Not sure if anyone shares my opinión in all this...
Talking about Morozov he said that he is very grateful to him because he gave him the opportunity of his life but at the end, the situation was very bad for Javi and things didn't end well. The reason for the bad ending? A woman that told Morozov that she didn't want to be with him anymore, because she wanted to be with Javi. The name of the girl? Miki Ando.
Javi also confirmed that, at present, he has no relationship with Morozov or with Miki. It sounded like "we are in no speaking terms" but this is only my interpretation.
Javi was in that interview with his sister and his mother and it didn't look like a slip of the tongue, it was like he was prepared to clear up things of his past but, again, my interpretation.
I always enjoy watching Javi but, being honest, I found the whole interview a waste of time. If he needs to clear up personal things of his past, I hope he knows what he is doing but it was a lost opportunity to promote his and the rest of spanish skaters future: the high performance center they talked about in the past and more ice rinks. Who's to blame? The interviewer has a big part of responsability too, that's for sure.
I have seen the previous post about Javi in Stars on Ice these days and I'm glad he's back to work, because in the interview (pre-recorded I guess) he looked like he's gained a couple of kilos... he had very good holidays!!
Not sure if anyone shares my opinión in all this...
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2014
Oh, I wish he wouldn´t have brought Miki into the conversation, he could have circle around the subject 
I think that the interviewer should not have brought Ando into conversation, Morozov was enough. Besides, I believe that Ando and Javi are still friends, nothing more. I´d guess that Ando has found a new partner long ago and Javi has appeared in photos with his new girlfriend.
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2014
I had the same impression...
On another note. I tried to get tickets for fantasy on ice kobe. From what I know Javi will be there so please wish me luck on the lottery.
Good luck! I'm going to Revolution on Ice myself, so I wish you can get to see him too. :agree:
I hope you get them! :agree:
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
Yes, I met him tonight and he confirmed it was choreographed by David Wilson. This new program is soooo emotional and beautiful, showcasing the great depth of his interpretation. The crowd at Montreal responded very well to his performance.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2018
Javi only gonna be at Euros this season? And Spanish nationals?
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
He said he wasn't going to.compete at the Spanish Nationals this year.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
Wow! Lucky you -- so jealous! David Wilson seems to really connect well with Javi for choreography. Anxious to see the new program.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2018
So I guess Euro will be his last competition before retirement.... That makes me sad indeed
Javier was in this tv show the other day: https://www.cuatro.com/chesterinlove/javierfernandez-patinaje-charlacompleta_2_2554155096.html
Here you have the translation of the complete interview:
Risto: Javier Fernandez, nice to meet you finally!
Javi: Finally!
R: Welcome to Chester, sit please. How are you?
J: Very well!
R: I'm very glad you are here, seriously.
J: Imagine me!
R: And i'm also going to tell you why, it was a long time since we didnt have in the Chester a first level elite athlete like you. Maybe lots of people can't tell who you are by looking at your face, by the name yes because you were all over the news, but i barely know you, i remember a february morning when suddenly i woke up and saw you had done an achievement, i didn't knew you at all and suddenly i see this.
(Video about the olympics)
R: This is the time lots of spanish people saw you for the first time, no? they said who is this guy? where is he coming from? but he suddenly gives us a medal for our country.
J: I have been in this for a long time too, i have been skating for 20 years and it's true that before this olympics i got 2 world championships, 6 europeans...but olympics its a media boom, not only in your country but around the world.
R: You just said it, 6 europeans, 2 worlds in a row, now the medal...where are you coming from dude? I would like to know how you started in this, whats your background, if you come from a family of athletes...
J: My parents weren't athletes, my sister a little bit since she started skating before i did. And i with my football ball used to go with my parents to pick her up and i said i wanted to skate too. I idolized my sister since i was little and i wanted to do what my sister was doing too.
R: Whats the age diference between you two?
J: Two years, she is two years older than me. And i liked it(skating).
(Video of little Javi)
R: When you watch this, what do you think?
J: How everything has changed. But at that time i didn't knew what was going to happen with me, i was doing it like if it was any other sport. And how everything has changed, after seeing me like this and then i watch a video of the last competitions i say...how life evolves.
R: At sometime when you were starting, before your profesional career, did you suffer the Billy Elliot syndrome?
J: A little bit. It's true that a little bit.
R: That you are in a "girls" sport and what is a boy doing in a girls sport.
J: Yes, i think we still have that mentality that there are boy sports and girl sports. The sport for boys its football and girls can't do football...LIE, girls can do football the same than boys. The same with skating.
R: But that happened to you?
J: It happened to me when i was little. "If that sport is for girls" it's not...or with the Hockey boys "Bah you do a girls sport" i say just because you are wearing an armor it means you are more macho than me? No, it's not like that.
R: Thats right.
J: But it's also something that you learn and makes you stronger. When someone tells you "Why are you doing that?" and you want to do it, in the end you try harder. "Now im going to really show you how it is to do it".
R: Now you are going to see, right?
J: yes, totally!
R: Well, back to your sister. I would like to know what your sister is to you. You said you idolized her. Because you were a world champion but your sister also got high, she got to be spanish champion.
J: Spanish champion, she went to europeans, worlds...yes, she always was a very good student, very hardworking in everything she has done. And i was more wild.
R: You said what she is for you, now i want you to listen what you are for her. Hi!
Laura: Hi! good evening Risto, good evening Javi!
R: How are you Laura?
L: Well today i'm here to tell what my parents and me feel for you. For what you have achieved during all this time. First as a person, as a brother, you show us humbleness, sportmanship, the hard work, persistence to get to improve yourself everyday.And to that adding all you have done as an athlete... the pride is so big. In the end, sharing so many trainings, the stress from competitions, to see how we were here and we are going up...i think there is no words to describe what we can feel for all of that. I want to also use this moment to remind you everything you have achieved in this sport, not only in spain where everyday there is more people that knows it, everytime more kids want to practice this sport...also in the world defending this sport that peole wants to see. Maybe this is only the beginning and now lots of paths are opening up and whatever you choose there is still a lot with what you can surprise us.
R: But tell me something bad about him, as a sister im sure you two had arguments. Because you were also competing, you were spanish champion, and suddenly you see your little brother...this little brat now also wants to skate.
Llaughs) I was very perfectionist, always wanted to follow some rules and maybe he was the opposite. And i think sometimes i scolded him a lot because of this, because i thought he wasn't using what he had at the 100% like he could and...
R: He lacked discipline no?
L: Yes, maybe. But i also think that thanks to that he got where he got, and the other extreme that was me also isn't the best one to get there. When you don't even think about things and you see a goal as something that is far away that maybe you can get there, and you simple think and struggle day by day, maybe then it's easier to get there.
R: Laura one thing, maybe you say no to look nice, but you can say yes. Were you ever envious from your brother?
L: No, never. On the contrary. I think that we are very diferent and the fact that seeing that someone so close to you achieves those dreams that maybe you hypothetically thought as yours...I think there isn't words to describe that pride. I think that simply being able to be there and being able to share that with him it's...envy never.
R: Very well. Do you have anything to say to your sister?
J: That i love her.
(They kiss)
R: Thanks a lot Laura. (She leaves)
J: This was a surprise.
R: You are going to be a good guy in the end. There is no way to catch you in anything. It's that i love the heroes that are humans and have like...lack of discipline or being rebellious...i think that makes you more human, no? If you say "a perfect guy for the last 20 years" i don't believe it.
J: No, i think nobody is perfect. We always had a time when we were good at some things and bad at others.
R: Sure. For example, your first coach... Nikolai, no?
J: Yes...
R: How did he find you? i mean, how he found a diamond in the rough?
J: He saw me in Andorra, at a summer camp we did in Andorra a long time ago. And he was teaching there. Its some intensive weeks. When those two weeks finished he told me "I want to have a meeting with you".
R: How old were you then?
J: I was 17. And he asked to me "what do you want to do? if i offer to you to come to the united states and train with me and my team would you like to come or not?"
R: And you?
J: I said yes. And he said "then if you really want to come in a week i buy you a plane ticket and you are in the united states with me" in a week! and i had to answer at that moment if yes or no. I said yes. And after that i talked with my parents.
R: And what you said to them? "I just told a russian man that im going with him" Its a thing like very... no? (laughs)
J: "I'm going to the united states"
R: With a russian man.
J: With a russian man.
R: That i just met.
J: In a week.
R: I'm your father dude and...(laughs)
J: After all they knew it was a chance that i couldn't lose, they knew how it was...they understood it, and that one of the best coaches in the world at the time came and told you "come with me and i pay your flight"...
R: So your parents said yes, obviously.
J: Yes.
R: And you took that flight and went with him.
(Javi and Nikolai pictures video)
R: And what happened dude? you got there to the united states and...?
J: You can imagine, i didn't knew any english, at all. 17 years old, i go there, you can imagine how lonely i was.
R: Where you went? what city?
J: New Jersey.
R: Ney Jersey?! wow!
J: I couldn't speak english, you can imagine the classes the first 6 months until i started to catch up with the crazy rhythm...
R: Because this russian coach didn't speak spanish?
J: Nothing, just russian and english, i could choose.
R: And how the ****(swear word) you trained if he wasn't able to speak with you?
J: Using signs.
R: A 17 years old boy that arrives alone to New Jersey, is alone in front of a guy that can't understand his language...crying is not enough, for sure you were feeling bad no?
J: It was hard.
R: For how long you were like that?
J: Two years...well, a year and a half in New Jersey and then the russian coach, Nikolai decided to go to Russia. So then we all the skaters went to russia with him. Another crazyness.
R: Now that you already had learned english?
J: (laughs) I had to learn russian. And there in russia we were for a year. Living at athlete residences, hotels...there were awful moments. Of being lonely, of not knowing what to do, of boredom, of thinking things too much, of saying what i'm doing? where i am? why? why i have choosen this? there were moments of asking myself am i crazy? whats the benefit from all this? what happyness has all of this? you woke up one day and...we sometimes talked about this with other mates, you woke up and said "****(swear word) if im not smiling anymore" i look out of the window and want to go to sleep again already. So there were times when it was hard.
R: What you are describing it's called depression.
J: Yes, totally. I had depression, anxiety attacks... that nowadays i do understand everything, that i used to think about that a lot but now i understand.
R: Did you get treated at that time?
J: Yes with the anxiety attacks i said "i can't breathe" and i went to the doctor and he said "you are perfectly fine" and i said "that's not possible i see weird" and they made me some testsand said "you are fine, those are axiety attacks" and until i didn't understood it...
R: You said "I see weird"?
J: Yes, "i see weird, i see like if i were..."
R: Like if i were?
J: I don't know...like if i were on a dream, like if reality wasn't real.
R: ****(swear word). You must have be having really bad times to get to that dude.
J:But later i understood it. This in the end is something i'm creating myself.
R: Your parents for sure must have been also having a really bad time.
J: Very bad.
R: Because seeing a son like that.
J: And in the other side of the world.
R:And you can't do anything, you can't go to see him.
J: Very bad. I say this lots of times. If it wasn't for my parents that in the end tried to give me everything and...if i think that i'm a father, that i'm not, but i have a son and it's happening to him what happened to me and i won't know what to do. What my parents did it's amazing.
R: Enriqueta.
J: Hi mom! (smiles)
R: You as a mother, if you had Nikolai in front of you today what would you say to him?
E: Well, i would say thankyou because he gave a very important opportunity to my son, because without him giving that chance to him Javi would probably be dedicated to another thing nowadays. Because at that time Javi was giving up on skating, he was getting more into hockey. But i would say thanks for giving him that chance and then i would give him a neck slap for making him have such a bad time.
R: (laughs) I agree 100% with you in that neck slap, thanks for coming and speaking to us. (applause) It's that sometimes the people is not aware of what there is behind success, no?
J: Yes, when i decided...when the relationship we had as a coach and skater was broken...
R: Why was that relationship broken up?
J: Well, it was broken because...
R: Tell the truth. (Javi laughs) Because i have read some things...
J: Really?
R: Yes.
J: There was a person between us that decided that instead of being with him wanted to be with me. And there it broke.
R: What does that mean?
J: Because of a girl...
(Pictures of Javi, Miki, And Nikolai)
R: Because of a woman?
J: Because of a woman.
R: That fell in love with you and not him?
J: Right. And there it got broken.
R: And he decided that was unbearable already.
J: Yes. But well i also understood it, in the end thats something that already passed. And now i don't have relationship with either the old coach, that i feel a little bit sad about it because he is a person that helped me a lot. Neither with the other person, neither with the girl. It was something to say well goodbye...but well later it changed.
R: It changed with the arrival of another important person to your life, that's Brian right?
J: It's Brian.
(Pictures of Javi and Brian)
J: Brian had already seen me competing.
R: He had been world champion in 1987 i believe?
J: Yes. World champion and two silver at the olympics.
R: He saw you then?
J: He saw me but he had never said anything to me until i went and i said we want to try, go to Toronto if you are interested. I try to see if i like the way of training there.
R: So with Brian you already understood each other in english and everything fine no? here already since the begining...
J: Yes it was another way of starting. And i went to toronto to try that week and i liked it. Laughs all around, coaches with the athletes, coaches with the other coaches, everybody...a good environment!
(Video training at the Cricket Club)
R: It seems that Brian didn't only gave to you a good training but also a diferent life.
J: Yes.
R: Light.
J: Yes. Also he helped me a lot...I always say that he hasnt been only my coach he also has been my friend and part of my family.
R: And there the sport results start to improve substantially.
J: Significantly. A lot more.
R: Then is when you achieve those six europeans in a row?
J: Yes, and the two worlds...almost everything important happened with Brian.
(Worlds 2016 video in russian)
R: I love the way they pronounce your name "Javier Fernandez" (Javi laughs) I, as a talent shows judge im unable to value this because of course, i don't know...i was told there is a very complicated spin there with 4 spins.
J: It's a quadruple.
R: A quadruple? Thats very hard?
J: It's the hardest jump you can do. Because there is 4 spins in the air. It can be a single, double, triple or a quadruple. Nobody has done anything more than a quad, yet.
R: Sochi. 2014. Flag bearer. You go out there with the spanish flag, a pride for you i imagine, an honor.
J: An honor.
(Video of Javi as the flag bearer)
R: (Reading from a newspaper) "The spanish flag bearer in Sochi recommends the gays to have some shame." This is a headline that was published in a newspaper and it generates another crisis to you. A reputation crisis in this case. What happened here?
J: So...
R: Did you say that?
J: What i said was "we are at a country where they have a law, we have to respect that law, because we are at a country that it's not ours" no? unfortunately that law they have...it's a ****. But i'm at a place that it's not my home so i have to respect the laws that they have there, at least that's what i think. But not this(pointing at the headline). How i'm going to say...
R: You didn't say that the gay couples should have some shame during the olympics?
J: How im going to say that?
R: No?
J: It's crazy, it's crazy, i can't even understand it. And my coach came after me "but how is Javi going to say that if i'm gay, his best friend is gay, how?" But the person that wrote this article decided that those were the right words.
R: How this affected to you in your sports performance?
J: I don't know. I think it didn't affect me but my coach said that yes. I was fourth in this olympics...
R: Less than two points away from the medal...
J: Less than two points away from the medal.And well it's true that i had a bad time because...
R: Did you cry after this?
J: Yes, yes. Of course, how i'm not going to cry? Imagine opening your social media...that they told me not to do it, but i needed to see it...and all the messages, of course. At that time i didn't even knew what to do, i wanted to hide and never get out. Of course i said i was sorry 300 thousand times because in the end what people read is this. (pointing at the headline)
R: Yes... Now there is a football worlds in Russia, and i heard that some first level athletes are going to use it to come out from the closet and do it in Russia. Something remarkable if it happens. I hope. Today we invited here a first level athlete that came out, let him tell us his experience.
J: Ok.
Victor: Good evening Risto, good evening Javier.
R: Good evening.
V: I would like to review the statement you were just talking about right now. When some years ago at Sochi unfortunately you said that gays should have some shame. I know and im aware, and im for sure...you was even explaining it now, that for sure your words were taken out of context. That also for sure your intention was to protect or to take away stress from the homosexual athletes in front of a potential repression. However you have to be aware that you are an example for others in sports, you are one of the best spanish athletes and you are a mirror where lots of people look into. And your opinion counts and you also generate opinion. So, because all of this, the words you use, a mediatic person like you, have to be better chosen because sometimes you can hurt sensitivities without wanting to do so. In this case for example the LGTBI collective. You that are an athlete like me, know very well that in the sports world there is a taboo with homosexuality. And well, my experience is that 2 years ago i decided to make public my sexuality, i decided to say openly that i'm gay, because i firmly believe that possitive examples are very important. It's very important that we show that not everything in sports is bad, that you can be a first level athlete and be homosexual. My reality is not the one that lots of other people live, there is lots of guys and girls that had to quit what they like, their passion that it's sport, because they had bullying situations, because they couldn't show who they are because of fear. And despite we are moving forward little by little there is still lots of walls to knock down, lots of barriers to break down...and we are only going to achieve that making us visible, from the freedom, from stop being afraid, it's the only way we are going to keep moving forward. And i think that not only the homosexual athletes have the responsability to take a step forward but also the other athletes creating a good environment, and more people like you that have more voice that others.
R: Something to add?
J: That he is right. I have also seen it in skating, because i have many friends from childhood that the same happened to them, that always was a barrier there, that they said "but my family, but my friends..." but also maybe because... the people that decide at some point in their lives that they want to come out from the closet what they are achieving is that others will have it more easy, like you have done it, right? that lots of people have saw that. And i think that little by little...it's totally true that not only you should do something but everybody.
R: Actually, ideally we should reach a point where people don't care who anybody sleeps with. But that's it, to judge what? Why i have to care?
J: There is nothing to judge.
R: Of course, there is nothing to judge. So that coming out from the closet actually is like a public possition that you have to take...that ai agree with him, when you are an example you have to take a step forward so there is lots of kids that look up to you. But we should reach a point where...
V: Where that's not news anymore, exactly. That what already is normal would be seen as normal. And that something like that would be anecdotic and not news.
R: Thanks a lot and good luck.
(They hug and say Victor goodbye)
R: He broke my hand dude, omg. (laughs) Well, so you were comfortable, you felt good in here?
J: Yes, very good.
R: Yes?
J: Yes really, Risto.
R: I'm aware you were very scared of coming here.
J: (laughs) Risto, is that you...
R: I what?
J: You are scary! Before getting to know you, you are scary! really!
R: But i don't eat anyone, dude!
J: I know but...holy ****!
R: Well i only eat the politicians, but because they deserve it. But people like you, on the contrary, what you need is space, that people gets to know you and see what an example you are...and what can i do? nothing but clapping to you, dude! That's what has to be done.
J: Here today we are a team, for the information we gave.
R: Exactly, and you were speaking about minority sports, i don't care about what ratings we make tonight if we are able that all the messages that were tonight in this couch are important to anyone. Really.
(Clapping)
R: Thanks a lot Javi.
J: Thanks to you Risto.
R: It was an honor having you here.
J: Thanks a lot.
Here you have the translation of the complete interview:
Risto: Javier Fernandez, nice to meet you finally!
Javi: Finally!
R: Welcome to Chester, sit please. How are you?
J: Very well!
R: I'm very glad you are here, seriously.
J: Imagine me!
R: And i'm also going to tell you why, it was a long time since we didnt have in the Chester a first level elite athlete like you. Maybe lots of people can't tell who you are by looking at your face, by the name yes because you were all over the news, but i barely know you, i remember a february morning when suddenly i woke up and saw you had done an achievement, i didn't knew you at all and suddenly i see this.
(Video about the olympics)
R: This is the time lots of spanish people saw you for the first time, no? they said who is this guy? where is he coming from? but he suddenly gives us a medal for our country.
J: I have been in this for a long time too, i have been skating for 20 years and it's true that before this olympics i got 2 world championships, 6 europeans...but olympics its a media boom, not only in your country but around the world.
R: You just said it, 6 europeans, 2 worlds in a row, now the medal...where are you coming from dude? I would like to know how you started in this, whats your background, if you come from a family of athletes...
J: My parents weren't athletes, my sister a little bit since she started skating before i did. And i with my football ball used to go with my parents to pick her up and i said i wanted to skate too. I idolized my sister since i was little and i wanted to do what my sister was doing too.
R: Whats the age diference between you two?
J: Two years, she is two years older than me. And i liked it(skating).
(Video of little Javi)
R: When you watch this, what do you think?
J: How everything has changed. But at that time i didn't knew what was going to happen with me, i was doing it like if it was any other sport. And how everything has changed, after seeing me like this and then i watch a video of the last competitions i say...how life evolves.
R: At sometime when you were starting, before your profesional career, did you suffer the Billy Elliot syndrome?
J: A little bit. It's true that a little bit.
R: That you are in a "girls" sport and what is a boy doing in a girls sport.
J: Yes, i think we still have that mentality that there are boy sports and girl sports. The sport for boys its football and girls can't do football...LIE, girls can do football the same than boys. The same with skating.
R: But that happened to you?
J: It happened to me when i was little. "If that sport is for girls" it's not...or with the Hockey boys "Bah you do a girls sport" i say just because you are wearing an armor it means you are more macho than me? No, it's not like that.
R: Thats right.
J: But it's also something that you learn and makes you stronger. When someone tells you "Why are you doing that?" and you want to do it, in the end you try harder. "Now im going to really show you how it is to do it".
R: Now you are going to see, right?
J: yes, totally!
R: Well, back to your sister. I would like to know what your sister is to you. You said you idolized her. Because you were a world champion but your sister also got high, she got to be spanish champion.
J: Spanish champion, she went to europeans, worlds...yes, she always was a very good student, very hardworking in everything she has done. And i was more wild.
R: You said what she is for you, now i want you to listen what you are for her. Hi!
Laura: Hi! good evening Risto, good evening Javi!
R: How are you Laura?
L: Well today i'm here to tell what my parents and me feel for you. For what you have achieved during all this time. First as a person, as a brother, you show us humbleness, sportmanship, the hard work, persistence to get to improve yourself everyday.And to that adding all you have done as an athlete... the pride is so big. In the end, sharing so many trainings, the stress from competitions, to see how we were here and we are going up...i think there is no words to describe what we can feel for all of that. I want to also use this moment to remind you everything you have achieved in this sport, not only in spain where everyday there is more people that knows it, everytime more kids want to practice this sport...also in the world defending this sport that peole wants to see. Maybe this is only the beginning and now lots of paths are opening up and whatever you choose there is still a lot with what you can surprise us.
R: But tell me something bad about him, as a sister im sure you two had arguments. Because you were also competing, you were spanish champion, and suddenly you see your little brother...this little brat now also wants to skate.
L
laughs) I was very perfectionist, always wanted to follow some rules and maybe he was the opposite. And i think sometimes i scolded him a lot because of this, because i thought he wasn't using what he had at the 100% like he could and...R: He lacked discipline no?
L: Yes, maybe. But i also think that thanks to that he got where he got, and the other extreme that was me also isn't the best one to get there. When you don't even think about things and you see a goal as something that is far away that maybe you can get there, and you simple think and struggle day by day, maybe then it's easier to get there.
R: Laura one thing, maybe you say no to look nice, but you can say yes. Were you ever envious from your brother?
L: No, never. On the contrary. I think that we are very diferent and the fact that seeing that someone so close to you achieves those dreams that maybe you hypothetically thought as yours...I think there isn't words to describe that pride. I think that simply being able to be there and being able to share that with him it's...envy never.
R: Very well. Do you have anything to say to your sister?
J: That i love her.
(They kiss)
R: Thanks a lot Laura. (She leaves)
J: This was a surprise.
R: You are going to be a good guy in the end. There is no way to catch you in anything. It's that i love the heroes that are humans and have like...lack of discipline or being rebellious...i think that makes you more human, no? If you say "a perfect guy for the last 20 years" i don't believe it.
J: No, i think nobody is perfect. We always had a time when we were good at some things and bad at others.
R: Sure. For example, your first coach... Nikolai, no?
J: Yes...
R: How did he find you? i mean, how he found a diamond in the rough?
J: He saw me in Andorra, at a summer camp we did in Andorra a long time ago. And he was teaching there. Its some intensive weeks. When those two weeks finished he told me "I want to have a meeting with you".
R: How old were you then?
J: I was 17. And he asked to me "what do you want to do? if i offer to you to come to the united states and train with me and my team would you like to come or not?"
R: And you?
J: I said yes. And he said "then if you really want to come in a week i buy you a plane ticket and you are in the united states with me" in a week! and i had to answer at that moment if yes or no. I said yes. And after that i talked with my parents.
R: And what you said to them? "I just told a russian man that im going with him" Its a thing like very... no? (laughs)
J: "I'm going to the united states"
R: With a russian man.
J: With a russian man.
R: That i just met.
J: In a week.
R: I'm your father dude and...(laughs)
J: After all they knew it was a chance that i couldn't lose, they knew how it was...they understood it, and that one of the best coaches in the world at the time came and told you "come with me and i pay your flight"...
R: So your parents said yes, obviously.
J: Yes.
R: And you took that flight and went with him.
(Javi and Nikolai pictures video)
R: And what happened dude? you got there to the united states and...?
J: You can imagine, i didn't knew any english, at all. 17 years old, i go there, you can imagine how lonely i was.
R: Where you went? what city?
J: New Jersey.
R: Ney Jersey?! wow!
J: I couldn't speak english, you can imagine the classes the first 6 months until i started to catch up with the crazy rhythm...
R: Because this russian coach didn't speak spanish?
J: Nothing, just russian and english, i could choose.
R: And how the ****(swear word) you trained if he wasn't able to speak with you?
J: Using signs.
R: A 17 years old boy that arrives alone to New Jersey, is alone in front of a guy that can't understand his language...crying is not enough, for sure you were feeling bad no?
J: It was hard.
R: For how long you were like that?
J: Two years...well, a year and a half in New Jersey and then the russian coach, Nikolai decided to go to Russia. So then we all the skaters went to russia with him. Another crazyness.
R: Now that you already had learned english?
J: (laughs) I had to learn russian. And there in russia we were for a year. Living at athlete residences, hotels...there were awful moments. Of being lonely, of not knowing what to do, of boredom, of thinking things too much, of saying what i'm doing? where i am? why? why i have choosen this? there were moments of asking myself am i crazy? whats the benefit from all this? what happyness has all of this? you woke up one day and...we sometimes talked about this with other mates, you woke up and said "****(swear word) if im not smiling anymore" i look out of the window and want to go to sleep again already. So there were times when it was hard.
R: What you are describing it's called depression.
J: Yes, totally. I had depression, anxiety attacks... that nowadays i do understand everything, that i used to think about that a lot but now i understand.
R: Did you get treated at that time?
J: Yes with the anxiety attacks i said "i can't breathe" and i went to the doctor and he said "you are perfectly fine" and i said "that's not possible i see weird" and they made me some testsand said "you are fine, those are axiety attacks" and until i didn't understood it...
R: You said "I see weird"?
J: Yes, "i see weird, i see like if i were..."
R: Like if i were?
J: I don't know...like if i were on a dream, like if reality wasn't real.
R: ****(swear word). You must have be having really bad times to get to that dude.
J:But later i understood it. This in the end is something i'm creating myself.
R: Your parents for sure must have been also having a really bad time.
J: Very bad.
R: Because seeing a son like that.
J: And in the other side of the world.
R:And you can't do anything, you can't go to see him.
J: Very bad. I say this lots of times. If it wasn't for my parents that in the end tried to give me everything and...if i think that i'm a father, that i'm not, but i have a son and it's happening to him what happened to me and i won't know what to do. What my parents did it's amazing.
R: Enriqueta.
J: Hi mom! (smiles)
R: You as a mother, if you had Nikolai in front of you today what would you say to him?
E: Well, i would say thankyou because he gave a very important opportunity to my son, because without him giving that chance to him Javi would probably be dedicated to another thing nowadays. Because at that time Javi was giving up on skating, he was getting more into hockey. But i would say thanks for giving him that chance and then i would give him a neck slap for making him have such a bad time.
R: (laughs) I agree 100% with you in that neck slap, thanks for coming and speaking to us. (applause) It's that sometimes the people is not aware of what there is behind success, no?
J: Yes, when i decided...when the relationship we had as a coach and skater was broken...
R: Why was that relationship broken up?
J: Well, it was broken because...
R: Tell the truth. (Javi laughs) Because i have read some things...
J: Really?
R: Yes.
J: There was a person between us that decided that instead of being with him wanted to be with me. And there it broke.
R: What does that mean?
J: Because of a girl...
(Pictures of Javi, Miki, And Nikolai)
R: Because of a woman?
J: Because of a woman.
R: That fell in love with you and not him?
J: Right. And there it got broken.
R: And he decided that was unbearable already.
J: Yes. But well i also understood it, in the end thats something that already passed. And now i don't have relationship with either the old coach, that i feel a little bit sad about it because he is a person that helped me a lot. Neither with the other person, neither with the girl. It was something to say well goodbye...but well later it changed.
R: It changed with the arrival of another important person to your life, that's Brian right?
J: It's Brian.
(Pictures of Javi and Brian)
J: Brian had already seen me competing.
R: He had been world champion in 1987 i believe?
J: Yes. World champion and two silver at the olympics.
R: He saw you then?
J: He saw me but he had never said anything to me until i went and i said we want to try, go to Toronto if you are interested. I try to see if i like the way of training there.
R: So with Brian you already understood each other in english and everything fine no? here already since the begining...
J: Yes it was another way of starting. And i went to toronto to try that week and i liked it. Laughs all around, coaches with the athletes, coaches with the other coaches, everybody...a good environment!
(Video training at the Cricket Club)
R: It seems that Brian didn't only gave to you a good training but also a diferent life.
J: Yes.
R: Light.
J: Yes. Also he helped me a lot...I always say that he hasnt been only my coach he also has been my friend and part of my family.
R: And there the sport results start to improve substantially.
J: Significantly. A lot more.
R: Then is when you achieve those six europeans in a row?
J: Yes, and the two worlds...almost everything important happened with Brian.
(Worlds 2016 video in russian)
R: I love the way they pronounce your name "Javier Fernandez" (Javi laughs) I, as a talent shows judge im unable to value this because of course, i don't know...i was told there is a very complicated spin there with 4 spins.
J: It's a quadruple.
R: A quadruple? Thats very hard?
J: It's the hardest jump you can do. Because there is 4 spins in the air. It can be a single, double, triple or a quadruple. Nobody has done anything more than a quad, yet.
R: Sochi. 2014. Flag bearer. You go out there with the spanish flag, a pride for you i imagine, an honor.
J: An honor.
(Video of Javi as the flag bearer)
R: (Reading from a newspaper) "The spanish flag bearer in Sochi recommends the gays to have some shame." This is a headline that was published in a newspaper and it generates another crisis to you. A reputation crisis in this case. What happened here?
J: So...
R: Did you say that?
J: What i said was "we are at a country where they have a law, we have to respect that law, because we are at a country that it's not ours" no? unfortunately that law they have...it's a ****. But i'm at a place that it's not my home so i have to respect the laws that they have there, at least that's what i think. But not this(pointing at the headline). How i'm going to say...
R: You didn't say that the gay couples should have some shame during the olympics?
J: How im going to say that?
R: No?
J: It's crazy, it's crazy, i can't even understand it. And my coach came after me "but how is Javi going to say that if i'm gay, his best friend is gay, how?" But the person that wrote this article decided that those were the right words.
R: How this affected to you in your sports performance?
J: I don't know. I think it didn't affect me but my coach said that yes. I was fourth in this olympics...
R: Less than two points away from the medal...
J: Less than two points away from the medal.And well it's true that i had a bad time because...
R: Did you cry after this?
J: Yes, yes. Of course, how i'm not going to cry? Imagine opening your social media...that they told me not to do it, but i needed to see it...and all the messages, of course. At that time i didn't even knew what to do, i wanted to hide and never get out. Of course i said i was sorry 300 thousand times because in the end what people read is this. (pointing at the headline)
R: Yes... Now there is a football worlds in Russia, and i heard that some first level athletes are going to use it to come out from the closet and do it in Russia. Something remarkable if it happens. I hope. Today we invited here a first level athlete that came out, let him tell us his experience.
J: Ok.
Victor: Good evening Risto, good evening Javier.
R: Good evening.
V: I would like to review the statement you were just talking about right now. When some years ago at Sochi unfortunately you said that gays should have some shame. I know and im aware, and im for sure...you was even explaining it now, that for sure your words were taken out of context. That also for sure your intention was to protect or to take away stress from the homosexual athletes in front of a potential repression. However you have to be aware that you are an example for others in sports, you are one of the best spanish athletes and you are a mirror where lots of people look into. And your opinion counts and you also generate opinion. So, because all of this, the words you use, a mediatic person like you, have to be better chosen because sometimes you can hurt sensitivities without wanting to do so. In this case for example the LGTBI collective. You that are an athlete like me, know very well that in the sports world there is a taboo with homosexuality. And well, my experience is that 2 years ago i decided to make public my sexuality, i decided to say openly that i'm gay, because i firmly believe that possitive examples are very important. It's very important that we show that not everything in sports is bad, that you can be a first level athlete and be homosexual. My reality is not the one that lots of other people live, there is lots of guys and girls that had to quit what they like, their passion that it's sport, because they had bullying situations, because they couldn't show who they are because of fear. And despite we are moving forward little by little there is still lots of walls to knock down, lots of barriers to break down...and we are only going to achieve that making us visible, from the freedom, from stop being afraid, it's the only way we are going to keep moving forward. And i think that not only the homosexual athletes have the responsability to take a step forward but also the other athletes creating a good environment, and more people like you that have more voice that others.
R: Something to add?
J: That he is right. I have also seen it in skating, because i have many friends from childhood that the same happened to them, that always was a barrier there, that they said "but my family, but my friends..." but also maybe because... the people that decide at some point in their lives that they want to come out from the closet what they are achieving is that others will have it more easy, like you have done it, right? that lots of people have saw that. And i think that little by little...it's totally true that not only you should do something but everybody.
R: Actually, ideally we should reach a point where people don't care who anybody sleeps with. But that's it, to judge what? Why i have to care?
J: There is nothing to judge.
R: Of course, there is nothing to judge. So that coming out from the closet actually is like a public possition that you have to take...that ai agree with him, when you are an example you have to take a step forward so there is lots of kids that look up to you. But we should reach a point where...
V: Where that's not news anymore, exactly. That what already is normal would be seen as normal. And that something like that would be anecdotic and not news.
R: Thanks a lot and good luck.
(They hug and say Victor goodbye)
R: He broke my hand dude, omg. (laughs) Well, so you were comfortable, you felt good in here?
J: Yes, very good.
R: Yes?
J: Yes really, Risto.
R: I'm aware you were very scared of coming here.
J: (laughs) Risto, is that you...
R: I what?
J: You are scary! Before getting to know you, you are scary! really!
R: But i don't eat anyone, dude!
J: I know but...holy ****!
R: Well i only eat the politicians, but because they deserve it. But people like you, on the contrary, what you need is space, that people gets to know you and see what an example you are...and what can i do? nothing but clapping to you, dude! That's what has to be done.
J: Here today we are a team, for the information we gave.
R: Exactly, and you were speaking about minority sports, i don't care about what ratings we make tonight if we are able that all the messages that were tonight in this couch are important to anyone. Really.
(Clapping)
R: Thanks a lot Javi.
J: Thanks to you Risto.
R: It was an honor having you here.
J: Thanks a lot.
Could it be that Sandra Bezic also contributed to the program? She's mentioned in Javier's instagram and his manager's instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh6lb3Lnv1G/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiZRrhXjCVf/
http://www.sunrisehokuriku.co.jp/schedule/kdschartist.php?id=7455
Javi has been added to the cast of Nagano Olympic and Paralympic 20th year project Heroes and Future.
Aside from Javi the lineup is amazing! Candeloro, Stojko, Takeshi Honda, Chen, Medvedeva, Plushenko, the Shibutanis, Hanyu, Uno, Tanaka, Tomono, Yamamoto, Miyahara, Higuchi, Kihira, Muramoto/Reed, among others.
Javi has been added to the cast of Nagano Olympic and Paralympic 20th year project Heroes and Future.
Aside from Javi the lineup is amazing! Candeloro, Stojko, Takeshi Honda, Chen, Medvedeva, Plushenko, the Shibutanis, Hanyu, Uno, Tanaka, Tomono, Yamamoto, Miyahara, Higuchi, Kihira, Muramoto/Reed, among others.
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Sticky
