The whole interview:
by
Kosntantin Lesik for sport24.ru
Q: Tell me about your skate at the nationals
AK: It was a failure. It's fine I was able to pull it together for the LP and prove myself am a fighter and never give up no matter how hard it is.
Q: What happened in the SP?
AK: I was really ready, was in a good mental and physical shape... and then I was out of it. I fell from the 3A and was lost. After the skate I sat in my hotel room for 2 hours in shock. Then I walked in the room and set myself for the LP
Q: How did you set yourself up?
AK: I was looking in the mirror and saying am a man! I understoo all was lost. That I fell 3 times and I have nothing to lose now. But I will not give up. And the next day I went out there and skated for myself. I had to prove myself all the work was not for nohting. I went and didn't leave a place to be weak. Things happen, but it's not yet a done deal. Of course it's a shame. I understood that I could have been in the top 5 and ended up being 11th. How can you do a clean LP and fall 3 times in the SP? But I was having a great time in the LP. It was cool.
Q: The competition took place with no audience. How did you like it.
AK: The mood was great. There were no audience, but on the other hand we were not risking it. It was unusual of course, but taking the pаndemic around it's better skate without the audience and in the bubble than not skate at all. We all god used to the new reality, so it was cool. I hope things will improve soon.
Q: The championships in Russia are held with the audience, in the USA without. What do you think is the right way?
AK: Note: it's my point of view, and it does not mean I'm right. I think without is better. Not risking the athletes, coaches and the audience. The СОVID impacts people differently. And there is nothing more sacred than peoples' lives.
Q: What are you plans now?
AK: Train, analyze the mistakes. I will retire after the Olympics, so I have 12 months left, hence I need to plan with my coaching team so in a year I will be able to say I gave it all.
Q: Why do you retire?
AK: I have 0 chances to make it to the Olympics. I will not get the passport on time. Hence no games. The Worlds and the 4CC - yes. Olympics - no. So I want to dedicate the next 12 months to the ice and close that chapter of my life.It's already clear I will not become an Olympic champion. I moved to the USA because of the sport, but it helped me in the other aspects, I got my green card. Think I took all I could from the ice. The results could be better of course, but I only have one life. I'm 20, I have to think how do I use the oppotunities that the USA gives me.
Besides, am a big guy. Am not biult for the figure skating. I'm huge. I'm 179. Ok, not like Marak Ignatov, but nevertheless, it's too tall for a single skater. Last year I got my green card and decided to move to Boston with some friends. We decided we'd skate till the Olympics and that's it. Skating is fun, I enjoy being so young and being able to do all that.
Q: Do you feel the negative impact of skating on your body?
AK: At the age of 13 I hurt my back badly. It was one of the reasons for a move to the USA. Then I had a leg injury. My parents are vary about my health. I feel how my bones make sounds when I jump. I don't want to kill myself. I have to face the truth: I'm not built to be an Olympic champion. I don't want to stick around for another 4 years and leave at the lowest.
Q: What will you do then? Will you stay in the USA?
AK: I will become a local student in September. Previously I was studying as a foreigner. We are now picking the uni together with my parents - I applied to 11 places. I will be studying part time and after I retire I will become a full time student. Then my goal is to get accepted to one of the best American law schools.
I constantly speak in 2 languages now. I have an interesting migration story. I could write a book about my move and the paper work adventures. I would love to help people who can't develop to their full potential in Russia. Am not the best skater out there, but when I moved to the USA I was able to win the Junior GPF. In Russia I wouldn't even have made it to the international competitions. A lot of talented skaters can't develop appropriately. I would love to become an immigration lawer. I have a project for a website that will help the Russians pursuing an education in the USA. It only seems tough. It's really easy. I have many Russian friends in the USA who helped me out here. I want to help the others now.
Q: Did you follow the competitions held in Russia?
AK: I watched everything. Am a big fan of figure skating. On one hand it's cool you held so many competitions, on the other it's a bit sad.
Q: Why sad?
AK: I grew up in a medical family. My dad is an oncologist, mom endocrinologist, who witnessed the meningitis outburst. In our family the human life was always the most important thing. The соrona influences people differently. My friend's father was a healthy man, who did not smoke or drink, but because of the соrona he had to be hospitalized. You look at these examples and you understand anyone can die from it.
So yes, we can't stop the spread 100%, but when people take their masks down in the public events Russia gets it share of dirt. All you need to do is to put the mask on correctly! Pull it up to your nose, what's the big deal? It's broadcaseted all over the world and it does not look right.
Q: We were later critisized for the after party.
AK: It's silly. These silly things happen and then everyone gets соvid. That attitude upsets.
Q: What were you surprised with in the Russian competitions?
AK: I was really impressed with Anna Scherbakova. Everyone skated great, there were so many quads. The biggest impression - Kolyada! After he moved to Mishin he has that special energy on the ice. You watch the Russian nationals and there is Kolayda and the rest of the field. He is flying above the ice! His programmes are genious! It's is transformed. I saw him landing a 4s and 4luts - he really does them! It's a wow! If there was a book `This is how you skate' Kolyada would be there - the lines, the high jumps, the gorgeous landings. The costume for his LP - it looks so simple, the usual shirt, but it's so great. Speachless.
Q: Can he compete with Chen?
AK: You need to see the technical part, it depends on Kolyada and Mishin. he has the toeloop, salchow, lutz. But Nathan is a figure skating phenomenal. Every time I skate with him and every time am in ave of his abilities. It's a different level of figure skaintg. He lands the quads just like I land triples. I saw how he was skating in one of the nationals practices. At the end of his programme he has the toeloops. In one of them Nathan skated through and then the 8th jump was a 4T. The 8th jump! And it looked so easy, no effort. Chen, Hanyu, Kolyada, Fernandez - the skaters you can watch forever.
Q: One of the main issues this season is a possibility of the age change. What do you think?
AK: I have a point of view and I will be hated for it. But I think there is a difference between the ladies skaitng and the girl skating. Tuktamysheva takes the ice and it's a real woman. Kostner - a woman. I don't want to hurt the young girls, they have their technical content, gorgeous programmes, transitions. Who am I to critisize them? Eteri is a genious coach whose results are mindblowing.
But the sport has to be fair. The girls have a hard time going through puberty and looking at the it's even harder seeing hte younger ones who do all the elements better. If the figure skating is for women it should be women who are competing there.
Q: Things are uneasy in the USA now. What do you think about what's going on?
AK: The elections were clear. Trump lost. That's it. For me the USA is one of the best countries in the world. Last year I drove from Texas to Boston - through half of the country. I saw how people live. Many put posters on their houses - who will thye vote for. And a lot supported Biden. So I think it was fair. It's good that Biden won - most of the Americans prefer him. Now everyone believes in him. I hope he'll be able to unite the country because it's not now.
Q: In what way is Biden better than Trump?
AK: Trump is not loved because he constanly lies. There are papers that count how many times he told lies. Many consider him being a racist and a homophobe. It's obvious from his comments.
The раndemic was hard on everyone. Trump did not show the leadership in the tough times. Hence he is not much admired. Especially after his twits, as many think, made people go to the DC.
Q: Was banning his account a right decision?
AK: I think so. But it's a local stuff. The president who inspires an attack not only on one of the most sacred places, but we say it was not an attack on the Capitol, but on the Amerinca democracy. It's disgusting. It's a low blow. You just attacked the democracy. And did it without wearing the masks. Why do you need to break the law? You want to protest? Go on and protest. In peace. Why do you need to attack the building where the USA was built. You lost, relax.
I can't vote but I do have my point of view. I like some things from the democrats and some from the republicans. At some point I liked Trump, but after the раndemic I started supporting Biden. It's important for me all people would be equal. The understanding and the respect are important. Everyone has a point of view, we are all different and I hope a moment we will be able to respect the other's point of view will come. When the leader is spearating the people it's the worst.
Besides Biden supports the masks. He is an experienced politician. I hope he'll be able to cope.
Q: What does his presidency mean for Russia?
AK: I don't think it will become worse. It was ok and it will remain so. When I moved to the USA the president was Obama, then Trump now Biden. Globally nothing have changed. You need to understand a lot depends on the senate, the congress. The power is divided. The president's job is to be the leader and Biden suits for that. He is kind, decent and has a lot of experience.
Q: There are things that happen in Russia as well. Do people in the USA know about Navalny?
AK: I entered the NBC today to read the news and the news about his arrest was 3rd on the main page. People who are interested in politics 100% know who he is. When he only started his investigations in 2015-16 not many heard about him. Now he is in the news a lot. His poisoning was in the news as well.
Q: Do you have a point of view about it?
AK: What is there to tell? It's Russia. No need to talk, everyone knows everything. Even though I live in the USA am a Russian citizen and I grew up there. Such situations upset me. I hope all will be good in the end, but am glad there are people who come back and fight for the truth.
) profile says he is attending UD [Delaware] and is the class of '22 and "UDFS" indicates he is a member of their collegiate figure skating team.
olympics.nbcsports.com
He [Paniot] will be eligible for International Comp again starting in 2021
(Vincent was 4th last year).
sport24.ru
When I read things like this, I question my love of this sport. 
