This evening:
https://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/sendun...avchenko-Endlich-ganz-oben,sendung887442.html (trailer)
half our documantary on Aljona Savchenko, airing 11.35 p.m. on ndr
Some 'highlights' (in order as they appeared in the documentary)
I focused on the new interviews for this documentary (in comparison to interview clips of the past)
A: Aliona
S: Robin Szolkowy
M: Bruno Massot
W: Daniel Weiss
K: Alexaner König
Best quote (while touring on Art on Ice):
Q: How is it to live without the pressure of competition?
A: Competitions are no pressure, it's pleasure.
(continuing: Bruno does not like that, I love it.)
Flashback on her getting to Chemnitz.
S: We were able to to skate well, Ingo did good things, we could clone them very well but some some communication on a friendly, straightforward basis was far far away.
A: Some input by everyone was missing.
S: He formed us and we achieved the results due to his talent.
Flashback on 'Stasi'-problem with Steuer.
S: I know I felt really bad. Everyone of us felt really bad. And we never even talked about it. Not as a trio at least. These were some of my worst career moments. I think I was never that alone as back then. The language barrier with Aliona was a big thing here, as some easy german words are not enough for such a big topic. We were totally left alone by the fed.
On Ingo/Aliona
W: You could see very early that Aliona was the woman of Ingo's dreams, not only in life but especially on ice. This would have been the one, he could have won olympics with. And you could tell, this was heading into the wrong direction. I think he opened some doors, which should remain closed for a coach.
A: The relationship was tough. If there have been private problems, there have been problems on the ice.
S: The entire scenario was a big no-go. One example: I came to the rink. Ingo's door (at the office) is closed, Aliona is warming up, alone. Then I knew immediately, mum and dad did fight again. (awesome phrase
) This will be fun. Actually I could go back home again.
A: We won medals, that all that matters, despite how we treated each other. The important thing was there (medal). We wanted to stay loyal, because we were content.
Aliona flashback on her 1st euro title. Awesome to hear her describing the feeling of succeeding and realizing it while performing.
On why the team was never that popular/beloved in Germany despite their success:
S: First of all figure skating is not that important anymore here in GER, our team compilation was always controversial, I do not look like the typical German, Aliona coming from UKR with broken language, then Ingo with his Stasi-past.
A: In Chemnitz I was only focused on figure skating, the entire life besides figure skating was no life at all.
W: She was such a bitch these days, eroded by her own ambition.
On Vancouver:
A: It was a disppointment of course. I cried, and the show had to go on.
S: No one was encouraged in our team. I was the guilty one. I was often the guilty one, even for things was not responsible of. I was simmering inside, quite often, but one thing was clear: I wanted that success too and this is the price I had to pay.
On Sochi:
A: I put both bronze medals in the basement. I said, they will never get out of there until I have olympic gold.
(seeing images of that flower ceremony again
One of the saddest memories for me in figure skating, seeing her crying on Robin's shoulder that hard
)
On the the split with Robin:
S: They did miss the point of explaining their plans to me (continuing with a different partner instead of making money in shows) or of seeing me as full-fledged member and not only as means for purpose.
A: I wished we could have parted better, but that's the way it is and we have to live with it.
On pairing up with Bruno:
A: I had to much energy, you know then, you have to go on.
W: I did not know him too well, I saw some tall, a bit, not overweight, but plump big man. Does this fit?
On split with Steuer:
A: We wanted to remain with Steuer but financially this was not possible for us (as they should have to pay them by themselves) and he did not want to find any compromise and it was obvious for me, this happened for a reason. This was the end. The chapter was closed. Finished.
On move to Oberstdorf and new start:
K: It was awful. To form these 2 as a team, was a big challenge for me. Bruno wanted to become a star and she was already one and there were always some arguing in practice like 'I am the star, you have to do what I am saying' and 'Get your high nose back down'.
M: Aliona is, I do not want to say the ukrainian army is responsible for this, but she is focused on the sport like no one else. If she has an idea, she will get it. I am practicing hard, but more in the funny way. I want to have fun on the ice.
A: I am still angry, we are the only sportsmen on that level without any sponsors besides Bundeswehr (army) and Sporthilfe. Without them we could not have done it.
On Liam:
A: He was so relaxed, my soul.
On König:
A: He trusted me, I trusted him, it is really important to communicate with each other, real communication within the team. (
as she is calling him 'Herr König', Mister König)
On 'new' Aliona:
W: The combo with König and Liam did change her. She became kinda soft but still with her fighting spirt. Everyone in the figure sakting world, the federation said: We do not recognize her anymore.
K: She is open minded, she listens to other opinions to reflect on them. I think she did one big step for her pesonality in that regard.
A: I think this was the best decision of my life. New partner, new coach. All this nature here did calm me. I got some inner freedom. To fly and no one is holding me back.
On Pyeongchang:
A: 3rd, 4th, 5th, that did not matter: the goal wad gold.
K: (on FS performance) Oh my god, what is happening right now? In me, there was total silence.
M: This was actually the big strength of our team, that she never gave up. Never never never never.
K: These are the many many hours (tearing up), the bliss.
W: This will be a free skate for ages.
Bronze medals moved to living room: (end of documentary)
A: They are now together (laughing), they all belong together. This is my way, my life.
---
Overall this short documentary was well done.
I only disliked the obvious black mark they put on Steuer. Only showing clips of him 'coaching as a dictator'.
A shame they could not bring Steuer to this. I would have killed for his point of view
Nice to see Szolkowy agreed to be part of this. I did not get rid of the feeling he is still kinda bitter about some things.
Lots of short moments where Aliona did not come along as very likeable. I like that approach of the documentary to give a full picture here.
Team for worlds
and the 3T+3T Combo looked < on the second 3T, but great 3A 
! After the really bad season he had so far this was very decent. Let's hope that both can pull off a strong FS as well.
