Recent lengthy
interview with Sonya
"The quadruple salchow still needs some work."
— What can you say about your short program at the Moscow Cup final?
"It was a typical work start. The coaches responded positively to the skate, very positively. Generally speaking, they said it was fine, it would work."
— During the warm-up, they said you didn't have any musical accompaniment. What was the problem? Did it throw you off?
"No problem. Apparently, the organizers just didn't find it at the post office right away. It didn't bother me."
— What do you think about the free program performance?
— I tried a new element at competition—a quadruple salchow. I included it in my free program. It definitely needs some work. Overall, we'll keep improving.
— When did you start training the quadruple salchow?
— A very long time ago, to be honest. But at some point I switched to the toe loop and kind of put off learning the salchow. So I picked it up relatively recently. And it just so happened that this competition was the perfect time for me to try it out.
- And why?
— Due to the fact that the start does not affect any selection and so on.
— You said in September that you weren't training the quadruple salchow yet. So, you were able to perfect the jump in three months?
— To be honest, I practice it in periods. That is, when there are no important competitions coming up. I roughly plan the content I plan to perform at upcoming competitions. And when there is an opportunity to practice a salchow for potential inclusion in the program, I do it in practice. If I decide it's not worth the risk at these competitions, I don't practice it.
— Will you be preparing three quadruples for the Russian Championship?
— I can't say yet. We'll see how the training process goes.
— In your opinion, who has the best quadruple salchow? Quadruple toe loop?
— I really liked the salchows of Kamila Valieva and Yuzuru Hanyu. I also liked Kamila's toe loop.
— How do their quadruple jumps differ from others?
“They put less effort into them, and also the position of their body and shape during the jump are purely visually very beautiful, in my opinion.
"Sixth win in a row? I never thought about it."
This is your sixth victory in a row. How do you feel about it?
"I haven't thought about it, to be honest. Is it hard to keep up such a streak? That's just how things work out. It's not just up to me. What are your impressions of winning gold in the Moscow Cup final? I'm happier with a clean skate than with the gold medal."
— How did you prepare for this tournament?
— Nothing, to be honest. I skated for three days after the Channel One Cup, remembered the short program, and here I am. Was it hard? It's unusual; I've never had this kind of experience before.
— You mentioned the Channel One Junior Cup. What were your overall impressions of the tournament?
"I really enjoyed it. It was very vibrant, very emotional. The event was superbly organized. I think it was interesting for both the athletes and the spectators. We worked on our free program to prepare for the tournament."
— What do you think about your performance at the CPC?
— It’s not perfect, but there is already some progress compared to the Grand Prix stages.
What did your captain, Alena Kostornaya, say after the performance? What do you think of her in this role?
"She praised me and said I was doing well. As for captaincy, it was a new experience for Alena. And I think she handled it well. Alena was friendly with all the team members."
— What can you say about your teammates?
"The guys are great, everyone's open and kind. And I met some new people—Polina Shesheleva and Yegor Karnaukhov, whom I hadn't met before, and Taisiya Sheptalina and Dmitry Pekin."
— How would you describe your team?
— Supportive, we were all rooting for each other. The support was really palpable during the performance. Was anyone particularly active? I don't know, it's probably immodest to say, but I was really worried about the guys (
laughs).
— How was the general number set up for the tournament opening?
"Egor Murashov was invited as the organizer and director. And he choreographed the performances for each team separately.
— How was your experience working with him? Are you satisfied with your participation in the issue?
"Our routine turned out interesting and fun, so I think Egor did a great job. As for my performance, I messed up a bit (
laughs). I got a little confused at one point, forgot a move, and started it later than I should have, which caused me to get out of sync with the other participants. But overall, I'm happy; it was fun."
— Whose performance at the tournament evoked the most emotions for you? Did you watch any of your competitors, and who stood out?
— Whose performance? Aldara Sambuev's (
laughs). I watched all the boys' programs. But not the girls', because I skated last. I just couldn't watch. You can't be in the arena, so I didn't watch anyone before their performance. But after their performance, I watched everyone's program. I liked Arseniy Fedotov's free program. In my opinion, he's improved a lot since last season.
"A junior jumping tournament would be of interest to the public."
— Did you get to see Kaluga this year? What about in 2023?
— Not really, to be honest. We didn't have much time because we arrived on Friday afternoon and left on Saturday evening, and practically all our time was taken up with training, productions, and all that. I also wasn't able to see the city in 2023; it was a similar situation.
You competed in the 2023 Cup but missed the 2024 tournament. What's changed in the two years since your last participation? Perhaps you've improved in some way?
— Of course. I've changed my content a little, beefed it up a bit.
— Any thoughts on what you’ll spend the tournament prize money on?
"I honestly haven't thought about it because I don't have any yet (
laughs). I usually either give them to my parents or have them pay for my Unified State Exam preparation."
— If you were the organizer of the Cup, what would you add, subtract, or change?
— It's hard to say, to be honest. I probably would have divided the teams differently. What was wrong there? Not exactly wrong, I just would have done it a little differently.
— Juniors have already had their own Channel One Cup, but what other tournaments would you like to see for skaters your age?
"I think, in principle, a junior jumping tournament would be interesting. The current trend is for juniors to have more ultra-C jumps, and if that were the case, more people would probably be able to show them off to the public."
— What about the “Russian Challenge”?
"Oh yeah! That would be cool too. Although... It's probably difficult. Because, in my opinion, the Ice Age that was was a version of Russian Challenge, but for kids."
— If you were to imagine, what kind of number would you present to the public?
"That's a tricky question, too, because every year the Russian Challenge has a specific theme. To be honest, I've sometimes thought about doing an exhibition number myself, in case I need one. Of course, no one's invited me anywhere yet (
smiles). But hypothetically, I think it would be a new image for me, which would be more interesting to express in an exhibition number rather than in a competition program, because not all numbers are suitable for a competition format. I'd include some props in the number, which would be interesting."
— Aldar Sambuev's words about wanting to take to the ice with the accordion immediately come to mind. Would you like to try something similar?
— I don’t play the accordion, so (
laughs)… I don’t know, to be honest. But yes, I think it would be really interesting to include some props
(smiles).
— In your opinion, do juniors lack such adult tournaments?
"No, I don't think there's a shortage. Juniors are juniors, and they don't have enough experience yet anyway. And, conversely, it's good that these tournaments exist, and it's good that they exist specifically for adults, because they're much more interesting in terms of spectators. Watching these kinds of entertaining adult tournaments is much more entertaining."
“I wonder how the seasons would have turned out if I had already skated in the adult ranks.”
— Speaking of adult competitions, starting next season, you could reach a new age level. Have you thought about it, and have you decided yet?
— Yes, I thought about it. I hope everything works out. As for the exact solution, I don't know, to be honest. I guess it's impossible to give a definitive answer. Well, not exactly.
— Do you think you’ve already outgrown junior sports?
— I can't say. I'd like to try myself in the seniors, but I can't say that I can't compete in juniors at the same time, that's a categorical thing.
— Under the old rules, you would have competed in the adult category a long time ago. Have you thought about it?
— Yes. And it's not really a shame, but I wonder how my seasons would have gone if I'd been skating in the seniors for three years now. Would I have been able to compete with the seniors? On some level, probably.
You've won two of the two Russian Grand Prix events. How has the series gone for you? Are you happy with your performances?
"This year has been a great success. I'm not entirely satisfied with the performances, maybe 50 percent. They showed what I need to work on more. What exactly? Spins, jumps, and some choreography."
— You're also at the top of the rankings. Does that add a sense of responsibility?
— No. I only had my last starting number at the Channel One Cup. That's all.
— What do you think about how the season is going for you?
"Well, it's hard for me to judge. Again, because it's not over yet, I think it would be more appropriate and proper to sum things up after the main events are over."
— The Grand Prix final was also held during the Channel One Cup. Did you watch it?
— Partially. I mostly looked at men.
— What can you say, for example, about Ilia Malinin?
"Ilia is a phenomenon, there's nothing more to say (
smiles). Honestly, I find it hard to believe. Especially when, a few days after the final, they posted his quadruple Axel-quadruple Axel sequence. Honestly, I still can't believe it, because for me, it's just something fantastic (
smiles). And I don't think anyone can jump like that."
— In your opinion, what helps Ilia Malinin not only create but also expand his content?
"I don't know, to be honest, because I haven't seen how he trains, how he lives, or what influences his enormous success. I know he did gymnastics as a child, and that sport helps him perform many tricks, like somersaults and raspberry twists. But in general, as far as the jumps go, I can't explain it yet (s
miles)."
— In the short program, he attempted a quadruple axel cascade. What do you think about that?
"I think it's actually quite easy for him to do. I don't know why it didn't work out at this particular competition, but I'm sure he does it with ease. With relative ease (
smiles). Will he be able to do the cascade this season? Of course, I have no doubt."
Malinin also said that after the Olympics he plans to show off his quintuple jump to the public. Could you share your thoughts?
"I'll repeat that I can't believe it. It seems impossible to me (
smiles). No, I understand that he'll do it, and I even believe it. But I honestly don't understand how it's possible. Overall, I think he'll succeed."
"Ilia's already aiming for a quintuple jump and has been doing a quadruple axel for a while now. Meanwhile, none of the girls have yet landed a quadruple axel, let alone a quintuple. What's the reason for that?"
"The Axel is a difficult jump for girls, in general. It's not physiologically feasible for everyone, because any guy, if he works hard, can land a triple Axel, but not every girl can."
— Do you think we'll see a quadruple axel from a girl in the near future?
"I don't know, to be honest. I don't know any girls yet who can do it. But at some point, Alexandra Trusova also became a phenomenon and defied gravity with her quadruple jumps. So I think it's entirely possible—a girl will be found who can land a quadruple Axel."
"It would be great if Trusova returned to sports."
Speaking of Alexandra Trusova, she recently said that her era isn't over, hinting at a return to the sport. What's your opinion on this?
— It would be really cool if Sasha came back (
smiles). Would I like to compete with her someday? Oh yeah, that would be absolutely amazing.
— What do you like about Sasha? Do you have any favorite programs of hers?
"I like Sasha for her unwavering willpower, persistence, tenacity, and hard work. I'd highlight both her Olympic programs—the short and the free. I'd also single out "The Fifth Element" and "Game of Thrones."
— Kamila Valieva, by the way, is also planning to return to competitions. What do you think? Would you like to talk to her?
"I hope I'll get to compete alongside her at the same events, because she's been my biggest idol for a long time. So I'm really looking forward to it (
smiles). Yes, of course, I'd love to talk. I'd be really interested!"
— You said you admire Camila's spins. What qualities would you like to adopt from her?
"Kamila has unique flexibility, in my opinion. As far as I know, she started out in rhythmic gymnastics. And that's where her quality as a figure skater comes from. And she has very beautiful lines."
— Returning to the Grand Prix Final, did you watch the women's singles? What did you think of the results?
"No, just the results. To be honest, I can't really evaluate the results because I didn't watch the programs themselves."
— Did you follow the results in pairs and dance?
"Yes, I know all the results, but I haven't seen them all. So it's really hard to comment because I didn't see how they performed. If I had... I hope I'll be able to do so someday."
— Whose pairs and duets’ performances have you seen this season?
"I watched Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Baudry's free dance . I saw all the Russian dances and couples' dances. I watched all the test skates. So, I probably didn't rewatch the ones who didn't compete."
— Did you like the productions of Cizeron and Fournier Baudry?
"I watched their rhythm dance too. I really liked it, it was exciting. And I liked the free dance, yes, it was unusual."
— What do you think about their confrontation with Chock and Bates?
"Well, it's complicated, I don't know, but I think they're roughly on par. To say for sure who's stronger, one of the pairs would have to pull ahead in this battle. Meaning, become significantly better."
— In your opinion, which of them will win Olympic gold?
— For now, judging by the scores and results of the Grand Prix Final, it's probably Chock and Bates. But I think things could still change.
— Who would you personally like to give the gold to in this battle?
— To be honest, I only watched Chock and Bates’ free dance, but I didn’t see the rhythm dance, so I can’t judge yet.
"I like Dikidzhi from a technical point of view, and Kondratyuk from an emotional and artistic point of view."
— Did you watch the International Junior Grand Prix Final?
— No, I haven't looked at it at all. However, I do know a little bit about the results, I think, of the girls and boys. But not much.
— In the free skate, all the juniors attempted a triple axel. What are your thoughts on this?
"I'm really curious why they all study the triple Axel and include it in their programs, rather than quadruples. Because, in my opinion, quadruple jumps can sometimes be even easier than triple Axels. But then again, it's none of my business."
— Have you ever tried a triple axel? What progress have you made in learning this jump?
"Well, yes, of course, but I can't master it yet. When I do, it's a little worse at first, then a little better. I have two competitions in the same week, so I've put off learning the new ultra-si for a bit. I hope to get back to it after the Moscow Cup finals."
— Did you follow the senior rounds of the Russian Grand Prix? What can you say about the results? For example, Mark Kondratyuk is the only one to win two out of two rounds.
"Yes, of course. Well, I kept a close eye on both the international and Russian ones. Mark has very interesting programs, very vibrant and emotional this year, so it's only logical that he won twice."
— Do you have any favorites in the Russian Grand Prix series?
"From a technical standpoint, I really liked Vlad Dikidzhi, and from an emotional and artistic standpoint, I liked Mark Kondratyuk. I think Masha Zakharova was a revelation for everyone; she came back, and even came back with quads. I think that's amazing. You could even say it was a success—she came within a step of the podium twice. Masha did well. And I want to support my friend and classmate Masha Elisova, who also made her debut in this Grand Prix series. And once, she also came within a step of the podium.
Masha Elisova just recently finished a tournament in Minsk. Did you speak with her before leaving?
"I congratulated her on third place over the phone. We talked before she left, of course. We always support each other."
— The Russian Championships are coming up very soon. Could you share your expectations?
"I'll be rooting for Masha Yelisova. I'll be keeping an eye on the results, of course, because the competition among women is very tough this year, with a lot of contenders for the podium. I think there will be a very close fight for first place, and it will be very interesting for everyone."
Let's move away from figure skating for a bit. Do you watch any other sports?
— To be honest, I usually don't watch anything during the season. I mean, when there are big events like the World Cup, I really enjoy that and root for it. I sometimes watch hockey because my brothers are hockey players, and they watch it too. Otherwise, I don't really follow it. Do you have a favorite team? I always support CSKA Moscow, but I rarely watch games.
— What do you enjoy doing off the ice?
"I'm trying to learn as much as I can now, because it's such a busy time, so to speak. Basically, training and studying take up most of my time, and other than that... For leisure, I usually enjoy cultural activities, like going to the theater. I really enjoy them. And cooking probably takes the pressure off me a lot."
— Which performance do you remember the most?
"I usually go to good performances; they all stand out. The day before the short program, for example, I went to see "Leopoldstadt." I really liked it; the subject matter is quite serious and profound—it's about the persecution of Jews; I even thought about staging a program on that topic."
— Mark Kondratyuk has just one of the programs on a similar topic.
"I wouldn't want something like that. I'd like to come up with something of my own, something interesting and original. But yes, perhaps I could choose a theme like that."
— Where does such love for theatre come from?
— My mother taught me. My mother really loves the theater, and we go together.
— Are you interested in other types of art?
— Yes, I really like art museums, I really love exhibitions dedicated to different art movements.
— Do you have any hobbies?
— Yes. I love handicrafts, for example, I can draw, and all that stuff. I also really enjoy organizing parties. New Year's is coming soon, and I'm preparing for it very thoroughly. If I have time, I'll try to prepare gifts for all my loved ones, for my family, and come up with some fun activities for New Year's Eve—organizing a New Year's table—that's all I really love doing (
smiles).
"I'm not planning on studying to become a coach yet."
— What was the most unusual gift you were ever given?
— A piano, probably. They gave it to me for my birthday.
— Do you know how to play?
— I used to study. I studied at a music school for the first two years, but then the training started taking up more and more of my time, and I no longer had the strength to juggle regular school, music school, and training. So I had to quit music school. But now my brothers play the piano; they're studying. One has already graduated from music school, and the other is still studying.
— What did you play on the piano?
— Pieces from the school music program. Well, I mean, I didn't play anything serious until second grade. Just some etudes. Of what I can play, I can still play "Happy Birthday" (
smiles). What can I play besides "Happy Birthday"? Nothing, I don't remember (
laughs). I can play scales.
You mentioned cooking among your hobbies. Who do you cook for and what exactly?
— For my family—my mom, dad, and brothers. I mostly bake some baked goods or sweets, I guess (
smiles).
— Did you treat the coaches to your delicacies? Do you bake cakes, for example?
— Yes, I have. I bake cakes, yes. I think I'm a pretty good one. I think I can handle almost any baked good, except for those that require special equipment and so on. I certainly don't want to consider myself a great cook or pastry chef, but, in general, I have a wide selection (
smiles).
— Speaking of your love for organizing holidays, it turns out that you also prepare sweets and cakes for certain celebrations?
— Yes, I generally help set the table and I love to prepare something sweet for the table. For example, gingerbread cookies are a popular New Year's treat (
smiles).
— You said that you are serious about your studies, but how are they going for you?
— To be honest, I have very little time due to my training schedule, and I try very hard to use every opportunity to do something about my studies.
— How do you manage to combine serious training and studying?
"This season has been really difficult, to be honest. The workload at school is really heavy right now because all the teachers, especially those in specialized subjects, are preparing for the Unified State Exam. And they assign a huge amount of material because of that, and I simply don't have the time to do it all, so school is lagging a bit behind."
— Do you study in a regular school or online?
— Yes, in a regular, full-time education. It's terrible (
laughs).
— How is your training day structured in this regard?
On an average day, I have practice, school, and then practice. I get home pretty late and try to squeeze in some homework afterward. And sometimes that doesn't work out; sometimes I go straight to bed because I get home late.
— Do your teachers make any concessions to you?
"Some do. I'd even say they mostly do. Because I've had many of my teachers since fifth grade, they've gotten used to my demanding schedule and, in fact, even make some allowances for me."
— In what way, if it’s not a secret?
"They assign some homework to grade, because usually we only get grades for written assignments in class, when we're actually sitting and writing. This way, I can make something at home and bring it back."
— Have you already thought about what exams you will take?
— I'm currently preparing for social studies and English, which are optional subjects. But as for the full set of subjects, to be honest, I haven't fully decided yet because I'm still thinking about what major to go to later, and I can't say for sure. There are simply no options.
— There’s not even, let’s say, a plan to go study to become a coach?
— No, I'm not planning on becoming a coach right now. I'm currently in the socioeconomics class, so I think my future major will be in the humanities: sociology, economics. Political science, maybe. Or maybe not (
laughs). Overall, it's all very interesting to study.
— Have you ever had to sacrifice training for studying or vice versa?
"Yes, of course, it was both. I could skip school an extra time for practice, or, conversely, I could skip practice because I had to write some important paper."
— Do you feel like sports help you in any way in your studies? In discipline, for example?
"Yes, there is such a thing. More precisely, it's not even about discipline, but about overcoming yourself. For example, sometimes you don't feel like sitting down to study, but you tell yourself that you have to. That's it—go and do it."
"Knowledge of biology is very important in our sport."
— How does studying help with sports?
"Well, studying helps in all areas of life. It's intellectual development, and it can't have a negative impact."
— Maybe there is some specific example?
"Well, for example, the knowledge I gain from biology is very important in our sport. It explains a lot of fundamental principles, including physics, by the way. But biology was most important to me. We have a very interesting teacher who is deeply involved in his subject, and he truly speaks with great depth. When we studied human anatomy last year, most of the topics were very important, and I understood what they were explaining. For example, why warming up is necessary in sports, what other factors influence it, how muscles work, how the body works, the nervous system. In short, it's all very important."
— Do you have any favorite subjects?
— Overall, I like social studies. I don't like cramming, so to speak (
laughs). But then again, it explains many social processes, which is very interesting to me. I like history in general because I think it's very interesting even as a hobby. And I also like biology, I think. Especially the anatomy section.
— You mentioned history and social studies. Would you consider becoming a lawyer? Maybe not just a regular one, but a sports lawyer?
— To be honest, I don’t really like working with papers (
laughs).
— Do you have any subjects that you don’t like?
— Yes, physical education (
laughs). The physical education teacher isn't exactly making concessions.
— So you skip physical education classes?
"Well, yeah, of course I do. She just makes me take tests. I don't really like that."
— Which subjects are easier for you and which are more difficult?
— Everything is roughly on the same level. Whatever I immerse myself in, I succeed at.
— Finally, let's discuss the news about the IOC's recommendation to allow Russian juniors to compete internationally. Did you see it?
— Yes, I saw it, of course. It motivates me to work harder. What was your first reaction? Relief (
laughs). In general, I've been waiting for this news for a long time. And I'm very glad it happened.
— Do you think the ice has broken?
"I don't know. It doesn't affect me directly yet. Perhaps, somewhere higher up, in the administration, there have already been some changes (
laughs)."
— In your opinion, how will we be received at the competition?
"I think it's calm. For some, perhaps this will also motivate them to work harder."
— You said you're preparing for the Unified State Exam in English. Could you, say, hold a conversation with foreign figure skaters?
"I really love learning languages, English in particular. Well, I'm just preparing systematically. Of course, I can hold a conversation, yes."
— There's a chance we'll be able to go to the Junior World Championships this season. What are your thoughts on that?
— It would be interesting, probably (
smiles). I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it, to be honest.
— “Spartacus” and “War and Peace,” also under the Russian flag—that would be very beautiful.
— Well, yes, I suppose it would be symbolic on the international stage. The quintessence of Russian culture? Yes, I absolutely agree.
— Do you think we could compete on equal terms with the rest?
"I don't know, to be honest, it's difficult. I know that rankings have a huge impact on scores on the international stage. Considering that the Russian juniors won't have them, it's hard to say yet how the competitions will go."
