Tinami Amori
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Checks and balances of Maxim Kovtun. How he won the Russian Nationals.
By Andrey Shitihin. Sport-Express.
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...nie-chempionat-rossii-mihail-kolyada-1493696/
Maxim Kovtun: to return to figure skating lost 15 kg (32 lbs) in 3 weeks.
Maxim Kovtun in Saransk became a 4-time Russian Figure Skating National Champion. A day after his triumph he came to talk to journalists and to shared with he had to go through to return to the top.
How to lose weight in 3 weeks.
Kovtun: When I returned to Elena Bouianova she set me a harsh condition – lose weight, approximately, in 3 weeks. But I was ready for it, and started to lose weight even before she stated it. At that time I have already lost approximately 3 kg, but the goal was to lose 11-12 kg more. I managed it. I hade a strict diet regiment, all was prescribed. If I failed to lose this weight, they would not allow me (take me) to the training camp.
My diet plan was developed by my friend, a dietician and a boxing coach. Besides loosing weight, a goal was also to keep the strength. Each day there was jogging, training, ideal diet, no food after 6 pm. Also every day there was a mandatory steam room (banya, hot sauna). The weight went up and down for some time, remained unstable, but then it all evened out. Fortunately I was able to lose it (weight) at the same rate as I gained it. But it was not easy.
One must fight for a place in life.
At one point I realized the realities of life. (prior to that) It was just sport, and my thought were that even if it does not work out, it’s not a big deal – I will be in demand, here or there, and in any case will not parish. But in reality it is not like this, one must fight for a place in life. Each man is for himself (on his own). I understood that a feeling of not succeeding will eat me alive, if I don’t attempt a comeback. At that point is when I had the clear picture of how the work should be structured. I received this chance, and don’t want to loose it.
Sleep-Skate. Skate-Sleep.
I looked with opened eyes at the (past) performances – very many aspects which require work. Now we will come back to Moscow and begin the skating. We will work with extra effort all the way until the Europeans. I’ve already processed (in my mind) that I am back on the team. Need to consider all the mistakes made here at Nationals, find the reasons why they happened and fix them. To increase difficulty in the programme is not considered. Work must be done on what is in already, but each element must be executed well.
I realized that I should not spread myself thin. If you’re in figure skating, then you should not distract yourself with secondary, like social media and socializing. For some it may not be destructive, but not in my case. During last 7-8 months, from the time I returned to Elena Germanovna (Buianova), my life cardinally changed. (now it is) Sleep-train, train-sleep (sleep-ice, ice-sleep). I was ready and now am used to it. This kind of rhythm (routine) in some ways is better, for your life, makes it easier. At least while I am in sports.
Checks and Balances.
More than half a year I keep a diary of my training regime, write in all that I do or don’t do during practices. (and put check marks next to them): there are only 3 options, Fall is X, Pop is 0, Laded is I. Besides that I write commentary on the practice, what went well and what not. Every morning I write down my weight, to have a full picture for analysis.
Together with Sasha Uspensky we evaluate (each) training session, to understand where and what can be improved. He (SU) is Elena Germanovna’s assistant (coach) and (he) invests a lot of effort into me. Each warm up has the same routine (mechanism). He (SU) is in charge of stroking and edge work. Each training process we spend with 100% maximum.
Maximum Stabilization.
I am trying to stabilize all my elements to the maximum. During last week before Nationals, from Monday to Friday, I have not made a single mistake on the 4S and 4T. To reach this (goal) took the longest time. This type of process (approach) leads you to remain in the “training state of mind” during competitions. It was very important for me to make the team. No secret, in figure skating support is important including the material contribution (given to a team member). When not on the team, all is hard.
No-comfort Zone, I am not expecting it (comfort).
Before I skated on emotions and the results could be anything (random). But there was no predictability. Sometimes I did great, sometimes I flopped. Now everything is different, the work is more productive, and does not depend on my mood (feelings). (my coaches) Keep me constantly out of a comfort zone, so that nothing would stun me. Here is an example. One day I am told today is a test skate (with officials present), I come to the rink and it’s only Elena Germanovna. Then unexpectedly (I come for a regular practice) and the whole Federation is there, Gorshkov, Kogan, Tarasova. And I must learn not to react, who is or is not present. No-comfort Zone, and I do not expect it.
****
By Andrey Shitihin. Sport-Express.
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...nie-chempionat-rossii-mihail-kolyada-1493696/
Maxim Kovtun: to return to figure skating lost 15 kg (32 lbs) in 3 weeks.
Maxim Kovtun in Saransk became a 4-time Russian Figure Skating National Champion. A day after his triumph he came to talk to journalists and to shared with he had to go through to return to the top.
How to lose weight in 3 weeks.
Kovtun: When I returned to Elena Bouianova she set me a harsh condition – lose weight, approximately, in 3 weeks. But I was ready for it, and started to lose weight even before she stated it. At that time I have already lost approximately 3 kg, but the goal was to lose 11-12 kg more. I managed it. I hade a strict diet regiment, all was prescribed. If I failed to lose this weight, they would not allow me (take me) to the training camp.
My diet plan was developed by my friend, a dietician and a boxing coach. Besides loosing weight, a goal was also to keep the strength. Each day there was jogging, training, ideal diet, no food after 6 pm. Also every day there was a mandatory steam room (banya, hot sauna). The weight went up and down for some time, remained unstable, but then it all evened out. Fortunately I was able to lose it (weight) at the same rate as I gained it. But it was not easy.
One must fight for a place in life.
At one point I realized the realities of life. (prior to that) It was just sport, and my thought were that even if it does not work out, it’s not a big deal – I will be in demand, here or there, and in any case will not parish. But in reality it is not like this, one must fight for a place in life. Each man is for himself (on his own). I understood that a feeling of not succeeding will eat me alive, if I don’t attempt a comeback. At that point is when I had the clear picture of how the work should be structured. I received this chance, and don’t want to loose it.
Sleep-Skate. Skate-Sleep.
I looked with opened eyes at the (past) performances – very many aspects which require work. Now we will come back to Moscow and begin the skating. We will work with extra effort all the way until the Europeans. I’ve already processed (in my mind) that I am back on the team. Need to consider all the mistakes made here at Nationals, find the reasons why they happened and fix them. To increase difficulty in the programme is not considered. Work must be done on what is in already, but each element must be executed well.
I realized that I should not spread myself thin. If you’re in figure skating, then you should not distract yourself with secondary, like social media and socializing. For some it may not be destructive, but not in my case. During last 7-8 months, from the time I returned to Elena Germanovna (Buianova), my life cardinally changed. (now it is) Sleep-train, train-sleep (sleep-ice, ice-sleep). I was ready and now am used to it. This kind of rhythm (routine) in some ways is better, for your life, makes it easier. At least while I am in sports.
Checks and Balances.
More than half a year I keep a diary of my training regime, write in all that I do or don’t do during practices. (and put check marks next to them): there are only 3 options, Fall is X, Pop is 0, Laded is I. Besides that I write commentary on the practice, what went well and what not. Every morning I write down my weight, to have a full picture for analysis.
Together with Sasha Uspensky we evaluate (each) training session, to understand where and what can be improved. He (SU) is Elena Germanovna’s assistant (coach) and (he) invests a lot of effort into me. Each warm up has the same routine (mechanism). He (SU) is in charge of stroking and edge work. Each training process we spend with 100% maximum.
Maximum Stabilization.
I am trying to stabilize all my elements to the maximum. During last week before Nationals, from Monday to Friday, I have not made a single mistake on the 4S and 4T. To reach this (goal) took the longest time. This type of process (approach) leads you to remain in the “training state of mind” during competitions. It was very important for me to make the team. No secret, in figure skating support is important including the material contribution (given to a team member). When not on the team, all is hard.
No-comfort Zone, I am not expecting it (comfort).
Before I skated on emotions and the results could be anything (random). But there was no predictability. Sometimes I did great, sometimes I flopped. Now everything is different, the work is more productive, and does not depend on my mood (feelings). (my coaches) Keep me constantly out of a comfort zone, so that nothing would stun me. Here is an example. One day I am told today is a test skate (with officials present), I come to the rink and it’s only Elena Germanovna. Then unexpectedly (I come for a regular practice) and the whole Federation is there, Gorshkov, Kogan, Tarasova. And I must learn not to react, who is or is not present. No-comfort Zone, and I do not expect it.
****
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Methinks Kolyada, Aliev and many other skaters, no matter their nationality, should be taking notes...
Kovtun is only talking about his own journey, not telling others what they need to do. 
