- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
Translation Part II
During the season there were a number of publications with sensational titles: The Skater Who Will Replace Plushenko, The Main Olympic Hope etc Does it put pressure on you?
I simply do not read that kind of stuff and I am trying not to make much of it, so no, there is no pressure. Also I try not to read comments in forums & social media. There are people who wish well but also those who are jealous. It could be unpleasant. Why would I need that?
As you touched the subject of social media, the next question: you sure receive lots of letters from your fans
Not anymore (laughing) everyone forgot me
Oh no, the new season starts soon, it will begin again. But they used to write a lot I think. Do you read everything you got or not. Do you have enough patience?
Yes, there were many letters. I read all and try to reply to all.
Could you tell of some unusual or funny story related to your fans?
One time it was during the Worlds in Boston my coach Valentina Mikhailovna and I went to a supermarket nearby our hotel and there I was recognised by one guy. He said that he liked very much my performance, took a photo with me and called his Mum. It was unusual.
Another time a girl saw me in Mariinski Theather, she too came over and took a photo. Well, it is nice to be recognised
How your family survived through this season with you?
My family of course supported me very much. It is a big deal. My relatives were watching TV coverage and at night too, spoke to me on the phone, wrote to me. They got upset and felt happy with me. But they do not watch me live on my request.
It is better than nobody sees you?
That’s right (laughing)
Once when I was 12 or 13 my Mum said that she hadn’t seen me compete for a long while and decided to come to the rink. And though she just was watching but psychologically it put pressure on me. And I realised that it would be better if she watched me afterwards, in recording. Maybe my family would like to see me live but I don’t’ feel comfortable so since then my Mum never comes to my competitions.
Different sources give different stories of how you began figure skating. How did it happen really?
Now we’ll put the record straight. The thing is that my great-grandmother, my Mum’s grandmother loved figure skating very much, always was watching it on TV rooting for our skaters. My Mum followed her. When I was 5 years old the question came up what sport should I do. My Dad said – wrestling, my Mum – figure skating. And then while my Dad was organising himself to take me to the group, my Mum went with me to the rink. First I was training at the Ice Palace Yubileiny and then when Academy of Figure Skating was build we moved over there.
You live in Kolpino [St Petersburg’s suburb] it is a long way from your rink
I haven’t lived in Kolpino always, before we’d lived in Primorsky district in St Petersburg for 15 years
How do you get on with your teammates (national team)
We all get on well. I try to maintain good relations with everyone. With Maxim Kovtun when we were training together in USA we got on well too.
Did you manage to communicate with Javier Fernandes & Yazuru Hanyu off ice
Not really because my English is not great though during my stay in USA I really improved -already could understand what people were saying to me and tried to answer.
During the season there were a number of publications with sensational titles: The Skater Who Will Replace Plushenko, The Main Olympic Hope etc Does it put pressure on you?
I simply do not read that kind of stuff and I am trying not to make much of it, so no, there is no pressure. Also I try not to read comments in forums & social media. There are people who wish well but also those who are jealous. It could be unpleasant. Why would I need that?
As you touched the subject of social media, the next question: you sure receive lots of letters from your fans
Not anymore (laughing) everyone forgot me
Oh no, the new season starts soon, it will begin again. But they used to write a lot I think. Do you read everything you got or not. Do you have enough patience?
Yes, there were many letters. I read all and try to reply to all.
Could you tell of some unusual or funny story related to your fans?
One time it was during the Worlds in Boston my coach Valentina Mikhailovna and I went to a supermarket nearby our hotel and there I was recognised by one guy. He said that he liked very much my performance, took a photo with me and called his Mum. It was unusual.
Another time a girl saw me in Mariinski Theather, she too came over and took a photo. Well, it is nice to be recognised
How your family survived through this season with you?
My family of course supported me very much. It is a big deal. My relatives were watching TV coverage and at night too, spoke to me on the phone, wrote to me. They got upset and felt happy with me. But they do not watch me live on my request.
It is better than nobody sees you?
That’s right (laughing)
Once when I was 12 or 13 my Mum said that she hadn’t seen me compete for a long while and decided to come to the rink. And though she just was watching but psychologically it put pressure on me. And I realised that it would be better if she watched me afterwards, in recording. Maybe my family would like to see me live but I don’t’ feel comfortable so since then my Mum never comes to my competitions.
Different sources give different stories of how you began figure skating. How did it happen really?
Now we’ll put the record straight. The thing is that my great-grandmother, my Mum’s grandmother loved figure skating very much, always was watching it on TV rooting for our skaters. My Mum followed her. When I was 5 years old the question came up what sport should I do. My Dad said – wrestling, my Mum – figure skating. And then while my Dad was organising himself to take me to the group, my Mum went with me to the rink. First I was training at the Ice Palace Yubileiny and then when Academy of Figure Skating was build we moved over there.
You live in Kolpino [St Petersburg’s suburb] it is a long way from your rink
I haven’t lived in Kolpino always, before we’d lived in Primorsky district in St Petersburg for 15 years
How do you get on with your teammates (national team)
We all get on well. I try to maintain good relations with everyone. With Maxim Kovtun when we were training together in USA we got on well too.
Did you manage to communicate with Javier Fernandes & Yazuru Hanyu off ice
Not really because my English is not great though during my stay in USA I really improved -already could understand what people were saying to me and tried to answer.
I was waiting for some updates on Mika 
That's only two weeks ahead!
