- Maxim, after the Russian championship you said that you want to take a break.
- Yes, I talked about this absolutely openly. I wanted to let go of the situation, not to think about anything. I participated in the show of Ilya Averbukh, spent time with my relatives, did what I wanted.
At that time, I thought for myself that everything was finished with the sport. Gained weight. The show jumped only triple, no more. I had everything there was great. In the "Nutcracker" he played two roles at once: Drosselmeyer and there was a solo number of the "invited guest of the Toreador". It was necessary to quickly change clothes, again to go out on the ice. It was a good experience in terms of mobilization, jumping in the dark, because the show is muffled. Yes, and physically it was necessary to withstand 3 performances a day. It was such a New Year's marathon. I do not remember the exact figure, but for two weeks in St. Petersburg, we played about 40 performances. Then, to be honest, I did not think what would happen next, but for myself I finished with the sport.
- How did your dad react to this, is he also a figure skating coach?
- Said: "Thank God." He was very worried about me, and the whole family was worried. But after the Russian championship I had a period when everything changed literally every day, turned upside down. When in February I called my dad and said that I was coming back, he took it as a joke. He was really shaking from my phone calls.
"Why did you change your mind and decide to return?"
- We phoned Zhenya Plushenko, met and talked. He said that Inna Germanovna Goncharenko, who had parted with CSKA, transferred to the Academy. Before starting to train with Zhenya, I consulted with my parents and friends. I asked for an opinion from Ilya Averbukh. He did not try to dissuade me, said that this is a chance, why do not I try again.
I had a thought before that, maybe, to return to CSKA, but I drove them away from me. And then everything turned into Zhenya, Inna Germanovna. Zhenya very heavily charged me during training. I could not and did not want to look ungrateful.
I am grateful to Zhenya Plushenko for offering to work with him. If it were not for this, then probably my life would have been different.
- But in fact earlier you and Zhenya had strained relations.
- Time passes. Negative emotions evaporate. And you do not need to feed yourself with this. And then Zhenya and I had never communicated before in this life. When this happened, we met, talked, looked at each other from the real side and realized that we are classy boys.
Everything that happened was in the past. Zhenya immediately said on the first training session that "from now on you are nobody. You have no titles or ranks. You're just a figure skater who came from the village of Cockroach Vyselki, just Maxim. And we all start from scratch. " He convinced that there was no need to look back, just look ahead. And for me, everything became easier. There was a huge desire to work.
- Why it did not work out at the Plushenko Academy?
- Zhenya has an excellent Academy, but ice of a non-standard size. Professionals are difficult to prepare there, Zhenya is constantly on the road. And I did not have time to wait. When I decided to continue, I really wanted to work, I had to put the programs.
- How did Gene and Inna Germanovna explain her departure?
- All honestly said. But it's easier to talk about business with peasants. There are no unnecessary emotions. We talked with Zhenya. Parted friends. He said: "Call at any time." Wished for success.
Then I met Inna Germanovna. He explained that I'm returning to CSKA Moscow, to Elena Germanovna. She replied: "I understand. It seems to me the right decision. " I was glad that she understood me. We parted well, without a drop of negativity. She even invited me for a weekend at the dacha. I am grateful to Inna Germanovna for everything. During our work we have become very close.
- Was it difficult to call Elena Germanovna?
- First I wrote to her, then called, and we met. She, of course, was in shock. I did not expect anything like this. We talked for more than two hours, although it seemed to me that the conversation was short. After that she thought for a very long time. And on April 1 I received a message to come to the coaching room, grabbed skates and ice at 4pm. I realized that a new life begins.
- It's always difficult to come back. Question: for what?
- In the life of every athlete there are periods when you work on the run, without a soul or something. At such times it seemed to me that if I finish, everything will be super, super life will begin. Perhaps through this I had to go through, because understanding something comes on my own mistakes. While you are not encountering something yourself, you will not get involved. I'm just like that. I realized that the feeling of unfulfilledness in the future will simply devour me.
- Do not you worry that there are other guys in the team who perform well?
- If there is sparring, then due to this you can grow. Just take everything right. For a place under the sun it is necessary to fight, and not just to serve a number.
I need to return the trust of people, fans, and then recently in social networks from me something began to unsubscribe. There are, of course, dedicated fans, which I know by their names. The rest need a result. There is a result - like. No result - the love has passed. But so in all sports.
Over the past months, I understood a lot. For example, you do not have to say much, give promises. You just need to turn on your head and prove it on the ice. Better late than never. Although, probably, it was possible earlier.
Olga ERMOLINA, Tatiana FLADE
