Vasily Konov's interview with Elizaveta Tuktamysheva for Rsport: "There will be a third attempt to get to the Olympics!"
rsport.ria.ru
The Empress of figure skating, the most honest and frank athlete who is never at a loss for words and at the same time is a crowd's favorite - its all about Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who had found some time during quarantine to give a long interview to Rsport.
- I checked your Instagram before the interview and saw a "women's post" about make-up there. How much time does it take to get a competitive make-up before going onto the ice?
- It's different for everyone, some needs more time, some less. For me it takes about an hour, at least 45 minutes. This is a make-up and a hair.
- You do it yourself?
- Yes, always. It’s like a ritual before the competition that must be performed, otherwise something will go wrong.
- Did you study make-up somewhere or did you come up with it yourself?
- I think all the girls study by trials and errors. I just loved this from childhood and somehow it attracted me a lot, so I learned rather quickly.
- And what was the biggest problem?
- Eyeliner, probably (laughs). Like for any girl, this is the most difficult part - to use eyeliner.
- During self-isolation, you, together with Yury Smekalov, came up with a great idea to choreograph a free program. Whose idea was it?
- It was Yury’s idea. I am glad that there's such a creative choreographer in my life. I immediately agreed to it because it was an unexpected idea for me. In figure skating it is customary to try to hide everything, not to reveal what kind of program there will be next season, what kind of music, what costumes. And here everything was open for the public, and not only that, the audience themselves could take part in the process.
- By the way, were there many participants in the challenge?
- Yes, there were a lot of mentions, but to be honest, I did not count. We chose three winners who were creative and did great.
- What did Alexey Nikolaevich say?
- Based on the already established figure skating tradition that it is better not to show future programs before the start of the season, there was a certain skepticism on his part. But since Alexei Nikolaevich is an innovator and he isn't called a professor for nothing, so he decided to agree to this bold act and very quickly changed his mind, allowing us to start this project.
- Anya and Sergey Semaks [former football player, now coach and his wife] introduced me to Yura, and of course it is not surprising that as a cool choreographer he comes up with some creative ideas. But on the other hand, why didn’t he choreograph your Spartacus program? It would be logical to expect this from a ballet choreographer, not a surprising oriental program.
- Initially, we turned to Italian choreographers [Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte], and they proposed "Spartacus" before we even started working with Yury. And we went for it. But I do not regret anything, all the choreographers did an excellent job.
- So with Yuri you worked on an oriental dance, right?
- Japanese one.
- To me it looked more like some kind of Indian dances, especially with your arms positions.
- I wouldn’t say it, because in India there is still more softness in the moves of the hips, body, different arms positions. Here the moves are sharper. There are some soft moments,of course, but it's still a Japanese dance.
- You are a fan of “Zenit” [St Petersburg football club] and you will be skating to “Spartacus” [team from Moscow and a principal rival] for the whole season?
- (Laughs) I think people will forgive me when they see my program.
- How did Elizaveta Tuktamysheva from Glazov end up in St. Petersburg?
- Everything happened gradually. For four years I went there and back, and the I was 14 years old we finally moved to St. Petersburg with my family.
- So, you already had all the triples by the way you moved to St. Petersburg?
- Yes. This was before the season when I debuted in seniors for the first time. I already had skated in juniors for a season, and then I started doing some senior events - the Grand Prix and got to the Grand Prix finals. I moved to St. Petersburg before that season.
- Did you realize at that young age that you had some Ultra C elements?
- I did not include the triple axel in the programs when I was 12. I only did it at practices, but it wasn't necessary. Very few people jumped 3-3 in programs back then. And at that time triple axel wasn't considered as an ultra-C, so there was no such wow-effect in doing it.
- And when do you think that wow-effect appeared?
- I think at the Worlds when I skated a clean short program with a triple axel.
- It was 2015?
- Yes.
- So, the best year of your career?
- I would call the last two years the best ones in my career. 2015 turned out to be the best in terms of results, but I was in my best athletic shape during last two years, I had better performances, harder content. I have never been in such a great shape as in last two years.
- Will you have enough strength to keep yourself in this shape for a long time?
- I don’t know, let's see (laughs). But now there's a quarantine, and it seems like we can exhale for a little bit.
- On the one hand - to exhale, but on the other hand, in figure skating it's very important to maintain stability in executing jumps, because it's also an automatism to a certain extent. And here we get a break for more than a month, and it makes no sense to compare jumping on the floor to jumping on the ice.
- Yes, of course, this is true, but in any case skaters usually have a break for two or three weeks. Therefore, if it is possible to somehow train your vestibular apparatus on a spinner, for example, or to somehow spin at home, there will not be such a problem when an athlete will be back on the ice. At least, there will be some muscle memory left. It's not the same as if you are back on the ice after an illness or after 6 months long recovery from a surgery. During this period we all train at homes and understand that will be back on the ice pretty soon, our brain is already focusing on the fact that we can’t relax, we will need to return to a competitive shape rather soon. We already haven’t practiced for a very long time, and the brain understands that you can’t completely relax - you watch performances, watch figure skating - and it works. Well, of course, there will be a new season, everything will start from scratch.
- By the way, how did you react to the fact that they decided not to postpone the Worlds for the fall, but simply to cancel it?
- I view it as a positive, because it seems to me that it would not be reasonable to have Worlds in the fall, since it will be a new season already. It's not clear to me what programs the athletes could go out with: new ones that we haven't practiced enough or the already forgotten old ones? Therefore, it is better to cancel Worlds now and then have next Worlds in the spring as we usually do.
- So know you have a warm-up before the qualification for the Olympic Games. You haven't been at the Olympics yet. Will there be another attempt?
- There will definitely be another one! The most intensified one (laughs)! A push, so to speak, to the Olympics. But I will make every effort, I’ll try to make it work this third time.
- Don't you find it offensive that you are now called the oldest member of the Russian national figure skating team?
- No, I don't find it offensive. It’s even somewhat pleasant, because few people can reach my age and remain competitive.
- Well, on the other hand, the Empress cannot be young, right?
- It’s also true, of course (laughs).
- Why the Empress?
- I was called The Scarlet Empress when I was 13 years old. I used to skate in a red dress, they even started a group on VK.com. Then there was another photoshoot - I was in a white dress, with a crown. And so it started.
- I see, your love of red color remains. Photo in a red pantsuit, red lipstick.
- Yes, red is my color.
- So it's all about the power of fire and a vamp woman?
- (Laughs) Yes, but at the same time silly and funny.
- The main thing is funny. If you have a great sense of humor, then everything is ok, too.
- That's for sure. If we do not laugh at ourselves, then life will laugh at us.
- You wanted to play in a movie. In what genre do you see yourself, what role? What character?
- I would ... (thinks)
- Bond girl?
- I do not know. I often watch "Friends", this is my favorite series, and I imagined whom of these three women I could have been if I got invited, if I had such opportunity. I adore Phoebe for her brilliant open nature. She is so open to the world, and I love this so much. I love Rachel because she loves fashion and is very funny. And I love Monica for her control. And I still don’t understand who I would want to be. Because I am open to the world, I love control and at the same time I like to laugh at myself very much, but I have such a silly head (laughs).
- From what you listed, I have the image of a comedy heroine.
- Well, comedy, yes. So, not a Bond girl, you know, rather ... Have you seen 'Red' with Bruce Willis and John Malkovich?
- Yes, of course.
- And there was a girl of Willis's character.
- A bit crazy one.
- Yes, that character looks like me, like my character from the movie, it seems (laughs).
- And what is Lisa Tuktamysheva’s feature in life? From what I saw at the arenas, in conversations, what our common acquaintances told me - you are a good-natured laugher.
- Well, yes, something like that. But at the same time, I can be a femme fatal (laughs). But very rarely.
- This, of course, is a red make-up and a red pantsuit ...
- Yes, but more often it's a funny, bit weird girl - Liza Tuktik.
- Are you ready for competition with young Tutberidze's girls?
- I think yes. I think we got two programs that could be very successful for me the next. I have a great desire to go out and perform with all my heart, to give all of myself, because I really like my current programs.
- What needs to be done to be on equal footing and beat the girls who go for several quads and jump, jump, jump?
- You need to show something else. Each has its own strengths. How to beat them? At least, if you look on the last season's results, then it is indeed very difficult to beat them, almost impossible. It is really difficult to compete with a skater with three quads in the free program or with five quads. It is necessary to do all the elements at +5 GOE, get the highest marks - all spins, step sequences, and you also need ultra-C elements. But to me it seems that you really have to be a genius in order to be at the highest step of the podium right now.
- But - again, I judge from the point of view of the ordinary viewer - maybe your age is a bargaining chip, because when Tuktamysheva comes to the ice, it’s a real grown up woman's skating.
- Yes, maybe, but in any case, real grown up woman or not, the execution and difficulty of the elements are the most valued and important things. So, if there is a combination of both femininity and well-executed elements, spins, jumps - then you can be competitive. Unfortunately, you can't get a medal only for being feminine (laughs).
- But then it turns out that you need to add a quad.
- It turns out that yes, I need.
- And which quad that will be?
- It will be a quad toe loop. I think that if I'd do a quad, it'll definitely be a toe loop, because it was the easiest way for me to learn and land it.
- So you are ready to add difficulty in order to win?
- I was ready for this at the end of this season, but given the quarantine situation we can’t train and skate as we usually do, so I don’t know what the next season will be like. Perhaps the content I already have will be enough. If skate cleanly with all three triple axels in two programs, skate well, be consistent, then this will be a good result for me. When there is such a long break, learning the quadruple from the scratch is not easy.
- On the other hand, your rivals are in the same situation, especially since they have a significant disadvantage - they will become a year older and at that age, of course, this change will somehow affect their performances.
- Perhaps it will, perhaps not. Everyone has a different physiology, maybe someone will do through puberty in an easy way. But I do not like to guess what will happen next. I will try to just squeeze the maximum out of my body and not to think what may happen to the bodies of my rivals.
- At what Grand Prix events would you like to take part in next season?
- I really love Japan, I am always pleased to skate there, and I always really hope that I will get NHK Trophy. Last year it was very cool in Las Vegas, I really liked it. I don’t know exactly the cities of the Grand Prix next season, there is still no information, but I would like to perform in Japan, but we will see.
- Did you get to a casino in Las Vegas?
- We lived in a hotel and downstairs was a casino. Classic hotel for Las Vegas. But we didn’t go there, because you are allowed to go there only from the age of 21, and in my company I was the only one who was over 21 (laughs). Therefore, we just walked around and enjoyed the views of the city.
- Well, you could go down there on the sly, especially if you lived in the same hotel with a casino ...
- But I’m not a gambler! I passed by and did not understand why people are wasting money on it.
- And what is a better way to spend money on?
- To buy something for myself, I think. Something for my face, body, hair, to protect skin already, to stay young longer (laughs). You should never waste time on this. Now when I have grown up, I also believe that it's better not to spend some money simultaneously, but better buy one thing later, but it would be a better one. And not like in childhood, when you buy a hundred pieces of some junk (laughs). Then you don’t wear any of what you bought. Now the process is way more conscious.
- I will not say who, but one athlete told me that once while sorting through her wardrobe, she found several packed things because she bought them and then even forgot what she bought. Was it like that?
- It happened a couple of times to me. Not exactly that same but still - I bought something and remembered about it but things were still packed and remained with the label because I had never put them on in my life. And I didn’t understand why I bought them at all. As a result, I gave it that stuff to my friends, because either it did not suit me, either my wardrobe.
- You understand that competition in Russia is very difficult, are you ready to change citizenship?
- I think not, because it kills a lot of time and ... This is such a difficult step, that is, if I were 15 or 18 at least - this is one thing, but at my age, I think if I understand that I don’t have the strength to compete anymore, to skate, then it would be easier to start some kind of business and to gradually enter a different industry, well, or just to skate in shows.
- By the way, about other industry or shows. Would you like to start your own show or are you ready to take part in Averbukh, Rudkovskaya, Navka's shows?
- I would like to participate in all kinds of shows at first, and I will not refuse, of course, any offers - I hope there will be some by the end of my career. And then, when I get an understanding of how this industry works, then, yes, maybe I’ll start my own show, but this is very unlikely, because you really need to do this by your own, have contacts, to live in it. This is a difficult and serious work. I don't know. Both options are possible (laughs).
- Which show impressed you the most?
- I actually didn’t see many fairytale shows, I usually watch the shows I take part in. But when I saw the last show of Navka, it impressed me. And I also really liked the Averbukh's show "Carmen".
- Do you perform your 'Toxic' exhibition in shows?
- I skated it last year on the show ... No, the year before last, it turns out ... No, last year. In 2019, yes. I already forgot what year it is now on quarantine (laughs).
- 2020. And today is the 5th of May.
- Yeah, that's fine, thank you (laughs). I performed that program only at one tour, I didn’t skate it in the second one because skaters usually change programs anyway. And if I do my own show, as it was on March 9th in Saint Petersburg, then, of course, I skate to this program. Many people remember it and I don’t want to keep this costume in the closet forever. But when you are invited as a star, you need to surprise people with something new.
- If I don’t confuse anything, Alexey Nikolaevich was the initiator of that program.
- Yes. I suggested music and an idea, and Alexei Nikolaevich proposed an idea to make the number more vivid and catchy.
- Taking into account the removal of your blouse, did you get any offers from Playboy or other magazines?
- No, I didn't, by the way (laughs). MAXIM quoted me a couple of times, but that was all.
- I'm talking about professional photo shooting. That is, we can now say that Elizaveta Tuktamysheva is open to suggestions, and if a serious magazine is ready to organize a photoshoot?
- I would agree.
- Nothing is forbidden?
- Well, for me it's beautiful. I follow the MAXIM magazine on Instagram, for example - for me it is beautiful. They show beautiful bodies, beautiful women.
- For me, the main thing is not to be vulgar.
- Yes, to do it beautifully, not in a vulgar way. For example, in some beautiful underwear. We are not saying that you must definitely get naked in front of the camera and here is your cover of the magazine.
- You can make a remake of the picture from the back from your Instagram.
- (Laughs) This is already too much for me.
- So we work without repeats?
- Yes (laughs).
And that was only the first half of the interview..
Елизавета Туктамышева: третья попытка попасть на Олимпиаду будет!
Императрица фигурного катания, самая честная и откровенная, спортсменка, которая не лезет за словом в карман и при этом остается любимицей публики – все это про РИА Новости Спорт, 07.05.2020
The Empress of figure skating, the most honest and frank athlete who is never at a loss for words and at the same time is a crowd's favorite - its all about Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who had found some time during quarantine to give a long interview to Rsport.
- I checked your Instagram before the interview and saw a "women's post" about make-up there. How much time does it take to get a competitive make-up before going onto the ice?
- It's different for everyone, some needs more time, some less. For me it takes about an hour, at least 45 minutes. This is a make-up and a hair.
- You do it yourself?
- Yes, always. It’s like a ritual before the competition that must be performed, otherwise something will go wrong.
- Did you study make-up somewhere or did you come up with it yourself?
- I think all the girls study by trials and errors. I just loved this from childhood and somehow it attracted me a lot, so I learned rather quickly.
- And what was the biggest problem?
- Eyeliner, probably (laughs). Like for any girl, this is the most difficult part - to use eyeliner.
- During self-isolation, you, together with Yury Smekalov, came up with a great idea to choreograph a free program. Whose idea was it?
- It was Yury’s idea. I am glad that there's such a creative choreographer in my life. I immediately agreed to it because it was an unexpected idea for me. In figure skating it is customary to try to hide everything, not to reveal what kind of program there will be next season, what kind of music, what costumes. And here everything was open for the public, and not only that, the audience themselves could take part in the process.
- By the way, were there many participants in the challenge?
- Yes, there were a lot of mentions, but to be honest, I did not count. We chose three winners who were creative and did great.
- What did Alexey Nikolaevich say?
- Based on the already established figure skating tradition that it is better not to show future programs before the start of the season, there was a certain skepticism on his part. But since Alexei Nikolaevich is an innovator and he isn't called a professor for nothing, so he decided to agree to this bold act and very quickly changed his mind, allowing us to start this project.
- Anya and Sergey Semaks [former football player, now coach and his wife] introduced me to Yura, and of course it is not surprising that as a cool choreographer he comes up with some creative ideas. But on the other hand, why didn’t he choreograph your Spartacus program? It would be logical to expect this from a ballet choreographer, not a surprising oriental program.
- Initially, we turned to Italian choreographers [Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte], and they proposed "Spartacus" before we even started working with Yury. And we went for it. But I do not regret anything, all the choreographers did an excellent job.
- So with Yuri you worked on an oriental dance, right?
- Japanese one.
- To me it looked more like some kind of Indian dances, especially with your arms positions.
- I wouldn’t say it, because in India there is still more softness in the moves of the hips, body, different arms positions. Here the moves are sharper. There are some soft moments,of course, but it's still a Japanese dance.
- You are a fan of “Zenit” [St Petersburg football club] and you will be skating to “Spartacus” [team from Moscow and a principal rival] for the whole season?
- (Laughs) I think people will forgive me when they see my program.
- How did Elizaveta Tuktamysheva from Glazov end up in St. Petersburg?
- Everything happened gradually. For four years I went there and back, and the I was 14 years old we finally moved to St. Petersburg with my family.
- So, you already had all the triples by the way you moved to St. Petersburg?
- Yes. This was before the season when I debuted in seniors for the first time. I already had skated in juniors for a season, and then I started doing some senior events - the Grand Prix and got to the Grand Prix finals. I moved to St. Petersburg before that season.
- Did you realize at that young age that you had some Ultra C elements?
- I did not include the triple axel in the programs when I was 12. I only did it at practices, but it wasn't necessary. Very few people jumped 3-3 in programs back then. And at that time triple axel wasn't considered as an ultra-C, so there was no such wow-effect in doing it.
- And when do you think that wow-effect appeared?
- I think at the Worlds when I skated a clean short program with a triple axel.
- It was 2015?
- Yes.
- So, the best year of your career?
- I would call the last two years the best ones in my career. 2015 turned out to be the best in terms of results, but I was in my best athletic shape during last two years, I had better performances, harder content. I have never been in such a great shape as in last two years.
- Will you have enough strength to keep yourself in this shape for a long time?
- I don’t know, let's see (laughs). But now there's a quarantine, and it seems like we can exhale for a little bit.
- On the one hand - to exhale, but on the other hand, in figure skating it's very important to maintain stability in executing jumps, because it's also an automatism to a certain extent. And here we get a break for more than a month, and it makes no sense to compare jumping on the floor to jumping on the ice.
- Yes, of course, this is true, but in any case skaters usually have a break for two or three weeks. Therefore, if it is possible to somehow train your vestibular apparatus on a spinner, for example, or to somehow spin at home, there will not be such a problem when an athlete will be back on the ice. At least, there will be some muscle memory left. It's not the same as if you are back on the ice after an illness or after 6 months long recovery from a surgery. During this period we all train at homes and understand that will be back on the ice pretty soon, our brain is already focusing on the fact that we can’t relax, we will need to return to a competitive shape rather soon. We already haven’t practiced for a very long time, and the brain understands that you can’t completely relax - you watch performances, watch figure skating - and it works. Well, of course, there will be a new season, everything will start from scratch.
- By the way, how did you react to the fact that they decided not to postpone the Worlds for the fall, but simply to cancel it?
- I view it as a positive, because it seems to me that it would not be reasonable to have Worlds in the fall, since it will be a new season already. It's not clear to me what programs the athletes could go out with: new ones that we haven't practiced enough or the already forgotten old ones? Therefore, it is better to cancel Worlds now and then have next Worlds in the spring as we usually do.
- So know you have a warm-up before the qualification for the Olympic Games. You haven't been at the Olympics yet. Will there be another attempt?
- There will definitely be another one! The most intensified one (laughs)! A push, so to speak, to the Olympics. But I will make every effort, I’ll try to make it work this third time.
- Don't you find it offensive that you are now called the oldest member of the Russian national figure skating team?
- No, I don't find it offensive. It’s even somewhat pleasant, because few people can reach my age and remain competitive.
- Well, on the other hand, the Empress cannot be young, right?
- It’s also true, of course (laughs).
- Why the Empress?
- I was called The Scarlet Empress when I was 13 years old. I used to skate in a red dress, they even started a group on VK.com. Then there was another photoshoot - I was in a white dress, with a crown. And so it started.
- I see, your love of red color remains. Photo in a red pantsuit, red lipstick.
- Yes, red is my color.
- So it's all about the power of fire and a vamp woman?
- (Laughs) Yes, but at the same time silly and funny.
- The main thing is funny. If you have a great sense of humor, then everything is ok, too.
- That's for sure. If we do not laugh at ourselves, then life will laugh at us.
- You wanted to play in a movie. In what genre do you see yourself, what role? What character?
- I would ... (thinks)
- Bond girl?
- I do not know. I often watch "Friends", this is my favorite series, and I imagined whom of these three women I could have been if I got invited, if I had such opportunity. I adore Phoebe for her brilliant open nature. She is so open to the world, and I love this so much. I love Rachel because she loves fashion and is very funny. And I love Monica for her control. And I still don’t understand who I would want to be. Because I am open to the world, I love control and at the same time I like to laugh at myself very much, but I have such a silly head (laughs).
- From what you listed, I have the image of a comedy heroine.
- Well, comedy, yes. So, not a Bond girl, you know, rather ... Have you seen 'Red' with Bruce Willis and John Malkovich?
- Yes, of course.
- And there was a girl of Willis's character.
- A bit crazy one.
- Yes, that character looks like me, like my character from the movie, it seems (laughs).
- And what is Lisa Tuktamysheva’s feature in life? From what I saw at the arenas, in conversations, what our common acquaintances told me - you are a good-natured laugher.
- Well, yes, something like that. But at the same time, I can be a femme fatal (laughs). But very rarely.
- This, of course, is a red make-up and a red pantsuit ...
- Yes, but more often it's a funny, bit weird girl - Liza Tuktik.
- Are you ready for competition with young Tutberidze's girls?
- I think yes. I think we got two programs that could be very successful for me the next. I have a great desire to go out and perform with all my heart, to give all of myself, because I really like my current programs.
- What needs to be done to be on equal footing and beat the girls who go for several quads and jump, jump, jump?
- You need to show something else. Each has its own strengths. How to beat them? At least, if you look on the last season's results, then it is indeed very difficult to beat them, almost impossible. It is really difficult to compete with a skater with three quads in the free program or with five quads. It is necessary to do all the elements at +5 GOE, get the highest marks - all spins, step sequences, and you also need ultra-C elements. But to me it seems that you really have to be a genius in order to be at the highest step of the podium right now.
- But - again, I judge from the point of view of the ordinary viewer - maybe your age is a bargaining chip, because when Tuktamysheva comes to the ice, it’s a real grown up woman's skating.
- Yes, maybe, but in any case, real grown up woman or not, the execution and difficulty of the elements are the most valued and important things. So, if there is a combination of both femininity and well-executed elements, spins, jumps - then you can be competitive. Unfortunately, you can't get a medal only for being feminine (laughs).
- But then it turns out that you need to add a quad.
- It turns out that yes, I need.
- And which quad that will be?
- It will be a quad toe loop. I think that if I'd do a quad, it'll definitely be a toe loop, because it was the easiest way for me to learn and land it.
- So you are ready to add difficulty in order to win?
- I was ready for this at the end of this season, but given the quarantine situation we can’t train and skate as we usually do, so I don’t know what the next season will be like. Perhaps the content I already have will be enough. If skate cleanly with all three triple axels in two programs, skate well, be consistent, then this will be a good result for me. When there is such a long break, learning the quadruple from the scratch is not easy.
- On the other hand, your rivals are in the same situation, especially since they have a significant disadvantage - they will become a year older and at that age, of course, this change will somehow affect their performances.
- Perhaps it will, perhaps not. Everyone has a different physiology, maybe someone will do through puberty in an easy way. But I do not like to guess what will happen next. I will try to just squeeze the maximum out of my body and not to think what may happen to the bodies of my rivals.
- At what Grand Prix events would you like to take part in next season?
- I really love Japan, I am always pleased to skate there, and I always really hope that I will get NHK Trophy. Last year it was very cool in Las Vegas, I really liked it. I don’t know exactly the cities of the Grand Prix next season, there is still no information, but I would like to perform in Japan, but we will see.
- Did you get to a casino in Las Vegas?
- We lived in a hotel and downstairs was a casino. Classic hotel for Las Vegas. But we didn’t go there, because you are allowed to go there only from the age of 21, and in my company I was the only one who was over 21 (laughs). Therefore, we just walked around and enjoyed the views of the city.
- Well, you could go down there on the sly, especially if you lived in the same hotel with a casino ...
- But I’m not a gambler! I passed by and did not understand why people are wasting money on it.
- And what is a better way to spend money on?
- To buy something for myself, I think. Something for my face, body, hair, to protect skin already, to stay young longer (laughs). You should never waste time on this. Now when I have grown up, I also believe that it's better not to spend some money simultaneously, but better buy one thing later, but it would be a better one. And not like in childhood, when you buy a hundred pieces of some junk (laughs). Then you don’t wear any of what you bought. Now the process is way more conscious.
- I will not say who, but one athlete told me that once while sorting through her wardrobe, she found several packed things because she bought them and then even forgot what she bought. Was it like that?
- It happened a couple of times to me. Not exactly that same but still - I bought something and remembered about it but things were still packed and remained with the label because I had never put them on in my life. And I didn’t understand why I bought them at all. As a result, I gave it that stuff to my friends, because either it did not suit me, either my wardrobe.
- You understand that competition in Russia is very difficult, are you ready to change citizenship?
- I think not, because it kills a lot of time and ... This is such a difficult step, that is, if I were 15 or 18 at least - this is one thing, but at my age, I think if I understand that I don’t have the strength to compete anymore, to skate, then it would be easier to start some kind of business and to gradually enter a different industry, well, or just to skate in shows.
- By the way, about other industry or shows. Would you like to start your own show or are you ready to take part in Averbukh, Rudkovskaya, Navka's shows?
- I would like to participate in all kinds of shows at first, and I will not refuse, of course, any offers - I hope there will be some by the end of my career. And then, when I get an understanding of how this industry works, then, yes, maybe I’ll start my own show, but this is very unlikely, because you really need to do this by your own, have contacts, to live in it. This is a difficult and serious work. I don't know. Both options are possible (laughs).
- Which show impressed you the most?
- I actually didn’t see many fairytale shows, I usually watch the shows I take part in. But when I saw the last show of Navka, it impressed me. And I also really liked the Averbukh's show "Carmen".
- Do you perform your 'Toxic' exhibition in shows?
- I skated it last year on the show ... No, the year before last, it turns out ... No, last year. In 2019, yes. I already forgot what year it is now on quarantine (laughs).
- 2020. And today is the 5th of May.
- Yeah, that's fine, thank you (laughs). I performed that program only at one tour, I didn’t skate it in the second one because skaters usually change programs anyway. And if I do my own show, as it was on March 9th in Saint Petersburg, then, of course, I skate to this program. Many people remember it and I don’t want to keep this costume in the closet forever. But when you are invited as a star, you need to surprise people with something new.
- If I don’t confuse anything, Alexey Nikolaevich was the initiator of that program.
- Yes. I suggested music and an idea, and Alexei Nikolaevich proposed an idea to make the number more vivid and catchy.
- Taking into account the removal of your blouse, did you get any offers from Playboy or other magazines?
- No, I didn't, by the way (laughs). MAXIM quoted me a couple of times, but that was all.
- I'm talking about professional photo shooting. That is, we can now say that Elizaveta Tuktamysheva is open to suggestions, and if a serious magazine is ready to organize a photoshoot?
- I would agree.
- Nothing is forbidden?
- Well, for me it's beautiful. I follow the MAXIM magazine on Instagram, for example - for me it is beautiful. They show beautiful bodies, beautiful women.
- For me, the main thing is not to be vulgar.
- Yes, to do it beautifully, not in a vulgar way. For example, in some beautiful underwear. We are not saying that you must definitely get naked in front of the camera and here is your cover of the magazine.
- You can make a remake of the picture from the back from your Instagram.
- (Laughs) This is already too much for me.
- So we work without repeats?
- Yes (laughs).
And that was only the first half of the interview..
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"Tuk-Tuk!" 
