Hungarian Skating News

[Taso]

Hungarian is related to Finnish and is a Uralic language (= originating in the Ural Mountains). Estonian is also related to Finnish. Finnish & Hungarian are called Finni-Ugric languages as they have descended from the ancient Finno-Ugric languages. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uralic_languages

I travelled in Hungary for a few days once without a dictionary and none of the words, except Kave = coffee seemed similar. Couldn't even read street names. But somehow got along with German or gestures.

Eys, I found German to be very helpful when dealing with older people, and younger people spoke English. I figured out how to read and pronounce things before I went, but I really couldn't say much of anything at all. I've actually been to Hungary twice, once for 2 days and another time for a week, but I still can't recognize Hungarian at all when I hear it unless it's obvious like in an interview with Hungarian athletes :P

[Finnice]

But the Finns don´t understand Hungarian and the Hungarians don´t understand Finnish. Still, the both times when I have been in Hungary, the Hungarians have treated me/us very friendly when hearing that we are Finns and language relatives to them. I really appreciate that. Közönöm (sp).

Julia is very longlasting. She is one of the very few current skaters who were already in WM in Helsinki 1999. Kudos for that.

[Poggi]

Közönöm (sp).


It is "köszönöm", but szívesen (you're welcome) :)

Actually (slyghtly off-topic, of course) even though Finnish and Hungarian are supposed to be similar languages, they are not - (like fraternal twins maybe) as Hungarian is part of the Uralic tradition, not the Finn, and there were some similar languager (mansi, manyi and the like) but they aleady became extinct, so yeah, Hungarian language must be puzzling, as there is nothing similar around. :) (I have a friend who keeps going on about the origins of the Hungarian language and how all languages are originated from Hungarian, so sadly this discussion caought me on a soft spot)

[igniculus]

But the Finns don´t understand Hungarian and the Hungarians don´t understand Finnish.

LOL, so true! For me, I always watch the "native" interviews of the Finnish skating ladies, and I try to figure out what they said, but I simply have no clue. :D

[igniculus]

Welcome to Part 2 of the interview with Júlia! :cheer:

Panikk! :scream: The forever young and beloved diva in level 4 blue eyeshadow gets all sorts weird questions in this segment! :eek: Witness the intriguing attempts to lure out some tidbits of Júlia about her private life, boyfriend or marriage plans, no Evan-approved costume color choices ;) and some other, general awkwardness! :duh: :lol:
These women, always the talk about relationships. ;) :P

Video feed:
http://atv.hu/videotar/2008_maj_080528_no3x_sebestyen_julia_2.html


Transscript & translation:

Cecília: Do you ever get nervous?

Júlia: Y-.... yes. *laughs*

Cecília: For how long? During the whole skate?

Rita: Until she's on the ice...

Júlia: This is really tough, because... there are fragments in time where I'm nervous. During or after the 6-minute warm-up, when I leave the ice and I have to skate last, that'a awful, really awful. There, I really can't wait to get on the ice and there, I can feel I'm nervous. But when I take the ice, and I'm announced, I only have my job on my mind, and... Especially during the 2004 Eruopean Championships, I watched the tapes and performances, and that silence the arena had... I can't believe I did it and was able to skate in front of it... I didn't realize there were so many people, only at the very end when they were cheering for me loudly...

Host: You said you will definitely stay till the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Does this mean you believe in yourself that you'll be able to achieve great results till that or you don't have any more expectations from yourself anymore?

Júlia: Well, we always have expectations towards ourselves, without that, you can't do this. You'll always need motivation, and I have it. I feel the power in me that will enable me to reach certain results. I feel that I can still do this job. And after this season and its results, I really feel I'm capable of more good results, and maybe I'll have a little bit more support while, of course, I'm doing what I'm able to, then... there is a chance for a podium at the Europeans, and, well, I'd love to get an Olympic entry or entries for Hungary. So, these are my goals.

Host: You're 27 years old. While you're still competing, there is no chance for a husband?

Júlia: *laughing*

Cecília: And a child? :eek:

Júlia: No. Um...

Host: Or it doesn't have any relation to competing?

Júlia: It sure has. But I think, right now, figure skating is the most important thing for me. Everybody can see that there is so little time left already, so I'm channeling all my energy into this. After that, everything else can come.

Host: Is there one, by the way? [apparently, she asks if there's somebody right now in Júlia's life as a boyfriend/partner :wall:] Is there a man in your life whom you could see as your future husband?

Júlia: No... There are people around me, I have many friends, but um... right now, I'm channeling all my energy into skating. *laughs*

Host: Is it hard, by the way, to meet new people or friends, or to maintain relationships when you're training that much, go from competition to competition, country to country?

Júlia: It's hard, it's not easy. Because in figure skating... well, there are other sports too, but in figure skating, we had many difficulties, like there were times when we had no ice rinks at all. So we had to travel to other countries, to training camps... So it's not easy, but you're trying.

Host: Did you ever encounter somebody who tried to become your friend just because you were famous? To use you? Do you have such bitter experiences?

Cecília: Don't think about them..

Júlia: Um... not. I always think the best of people approaching me, that's how I always do and feel personally too.

Host: Did you ever have a rebellish period where you revolted against your strict training regimen?

Júlia: No.

Host: Not even in your youth?

Cecília: YOUTH?! *stunned*

Júlia & Rita: *laughing*

Cecília: You said that?!

Host: I meant in her childhood...! When she was younger!

Cecília: Well, sorry! I'm sitting here!

Host: *whispering* I'm sorry! When she was younger. I missed the end of the word.

Cecília: Yeah, of course.

Host: I'm in a hurry to ask this question because it intrigues me! Did you ever have this kind of feeling that you miss something [due to skating] ...?

Júlia: No. And I never even thought about missing a skating session for going out [to party] or do something else. I really loved to do this always in my life, that such things weren't even possible for me.

Rita: And how much are you involved in designing your costumes? Because your figure skating costumes are gorgeous!

Júlia: Thank you! In the last couple of years, my costumes were always designed in St. Petersburg and they were made there too. It's interesting, because-...

Cecília: How did you end up there?

Júlia: There is a Russian choreographer, Nina Petrenko, who did programs for me, and she had connections and they recommended me [this store/designer]. And... they took measures once and then... It was always like this: they e-mailed me the designs and I picked the ones I liked, and... In time, they recognized me too, they got to know what kind of costumes fit me better and what could be good for me on ice. And they produced the costume(s) for me and sent it to me via the post. There was actually a funny story, maybe in the first year [of working with them]. My mom went to the post office [to pick up my package], she opened it and called me on the phone almost crying that "OMG, this costume looks horrendous!" It's color. Because it had an orange-yellow-green-kind of color. And looking back those tapes, it was one of the best fitting costumes because it looked so good on the ice. Bright colors on the white ice [I]always look good. It was really-really great. It's totally different holding the costume in your hands and having them on the ice.

Host: You mentioned your mum now. Are they [your family] more critical or baised towards you?

Júlia: Um, both. But I think this is right so, to have the balance..

Host: So in a good proportion?

Júlia: Yes. I think they need to be critical some days because it's what makes you work harder. And I think your close relatives don't want to do any harm to you [by their critics and observations]. I always try to accept their critics.

Cecília: Do you have any dreams on ice?

Júlia: On the ice?

Cecília: Yes, with the ice.

Júlia: :confused:

Cecília: No?

Júlia: Yes, I had some dreams, both good and bad.

Cecília: Don't tell the bad one, or fast like this [untranslateable blabling]. Don't think about them!

Júlia: No. *laughs* I have a dream that keeps returning, mostly before competitions, that I get late to the competition and miss it.

Host, Cecília & Rita: Oooh...

Júlia: That I miss the competition by arriving late...

Cecília: And the good one?

Júlia: The good one? Well...

Host: ... that she skates flawlessly.

Júlia: Yes...

Cecília: And are thes dreams colorful?

Júlia: Yes, colorful. That the program I'm doing is done perfectly. Yes.

Cecília: May it be like that.

Host: When you finish competiong after 2010, would you turn pro? For American ice shows?

Júlia: Yes, well...

Cecília: It's not a disadvantage...

Júlia: This means two things, actually. There is the ice revue, where they perform stories, of course. Something like that exists in Hungary too. But there are also those so called pro shows, where Olympic and World champions get invited... And I had the honor to participate in such a show in Germany, on 2 of Katarina Witt's galas. Of course.... I'd love to participate in such galas, but... it's something far away right now as I need to have great results at World Championships to get a chance for an invitation.

Host: And the love, husband and child question follows even after that? :duh:

Júlia: *laughs* No. When you reach that, you already think different, when you finished competing.

Host: But could it be possible to be overrun [by love]? And that you start thinking differently?

Júlia: Yes, it can happen. Everything can happen. Life is unpredictable.

Host: Did it happen already or not?

Júlia: *laughs* It will.

Rita: Nothing can take you away from this path, from figure skating!

Júlia: No, nothing, nothing! I always try to find the balance between figure skating and private life.

Host: Thank you for being here!

Júlia: Thank you.

Cecília: Best luck!

~the end

[Alanya]

Such a cute interview :) That Cecilia sounds fun too, good she was there, think it helped some with the "awkard questions"?
Btw, is something known about her lovelife and were they fishing to get her to talk about that? Or was it just general talkhshow-prying?

[shah]

Granny seems very decent, modest, laborious and persistent in her plans...good for her, keep my fingers crossed for 2010 and a medal in Helsinki next year!

[Poggi]

I wanted to punch Cecília Esztergályos. so badly..! she didn't even let Júlia say anything at all, she just came up with all those totally :confused: questions... :mad: :angryfire

[igniculus]

Btw, is something known about her lovelife and were they fishing to get her to talk about that? Or was it just general talkhshow-prying?

Seriously, I have no clue. She is not like the typical Hungarian celebrities who are hounded by the press all the time. The tabloids never cared about her as they did it with DivaNóra when the infamous split with Attila was made public...

[igniculus]

The Hungarian National Skating Federation had a general meeting recently about reviewing the 2007/2008 season, successes, financial situation, upcoming plans, and many more.

A basic sheet of information:
http://www.moksz.hu/szovetseg/kgy_2008.pdf

Tidbits and observations to figure skating, ice dance and synchro skating:

- the fed is celebrating its 100th birthday this year and plans to commemorate this in a very special event where everybody needs to be invited who contributed to the developing and promoting of the Hungarian skating. Therefore, an organizing team was set up to make sure everything works out. Head of this team is Dr. Klára Kozári (the lady Júlia Sebestyén talked about in her recent video interview ;) ), other members: Eszter Jurek, József Merényi, Károly Csanádi.

- all goals were achieved this season in all 5 disciplines.

- the participants of the meeting were presented the applications for hosting future international competitions in Hungary. Most important of them was the bidding for the World Figure Skating Championships in 2011 (21-27 March). Nagano (Japan) is the only other city bidding for the rights that is confirmed in this document. There is also a bidding to host the World Championships in short track speed skating in 2011 (11-13 March). Here are more bidding countries listed: Great Britain, South Korea, Canada.

- as most important goals for next season, the Olympic qualifications were set up. 2 entries for ladies singles and 1 ice dance couple is needed to accomplish.

- Eszter Jurek, head of the figure skating department summarized the achievements of this area. She said all the senior results exceeded previous expectations (and the results of the previous season). The development of the upcoming skating generation looks really promising. Financially, this department had more income than estimated. She thanked for parents and coaches for their dedication and support.

- Sándor Nagy (coach of the former team Hoffmann & Elek) talked about the season of the ice dance discipline. He mentioned the split of said couple as a devastating move for this discipline, but Nóra is not giving up and teaming up with Max Zavozin looks really promising for her. He pointed out that the future of this department should not be measured by Olympic qualifications (or the lack of them).

- on behalf of the synchronised skating department, Vera Siági-Varga spoke about "the 2007/2008 season being the most successful of all" for its skaters. She said that financial support, right training circumstances and dedication payed off massively. She noted that to reach even better results, the continuous education and training of the coaches and judges is crucial.

- György Sallak, head of the federation suggested that a system of points should be created to measure the achievemtents, results and training status of the skaters in each disciplines. :yawn: He agreed that there should be an emphasis on training of coaches and judges.


That's all. ;)

[igniculus]

Some other news (http://www.moksz.hu/elnoksegi/elnoksegi08_09.html) on the Federation's site.

Summary:

the Hungarain Fed is bidding to host a Junior Grand Prix competition this season


there are plans for the renovation of the Gyakorló Jégcsarnok, host venue for the Nationals and training place for many athletes. Said venue will also serve from now on as a training rink only for figure skaters and ice dancers - ice hockey won't disturb the ice time anymore.

the head of the Fed is officially assigned to deal with USFSA about the case of Maxim Zavozin, to fulfill the requirements of the USFSA (most likely :sekret: :bribe: ), so that the ice dance team of Nora Hoffmann & Maxim Zavozin can attend competitions starting this season already.

[sbanet]

Thanks for the update! :cheer: :smokin:

[shah]

Some other news (http://www.moksz.hu/elnoksegi/elnoksegi08_09.html) on the Federation's site.

Summary:



the head of the Fed is officially assigned to deal with USFSA about the case of Maxim Zavozin, to fulfill the requirements of the USFSA (most likely :sekret: :bribe: ), so that the ice dance team of Nora Hoffmann & Maxim Zavozin can attend competitions starting this season already.


that's what I'm awaiting impatiently. can't wait to see Diva Nora back on ice :)! any news on Atilla, btw?

[igniculus]

any news on Atilla, btw?

I've got my sources :P ;) but nothing skating-related news to report so far.

[Finnice]

Thanks for the update! I can´t wait to see DivaNora in action again.