A new TSL interview with Aljona Savchenko ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb0_JIaFh8w&feature=youtu.be
There's lots of interesting discussion. At about 26:43, Aljona talks about her working relationship with the Knierims. Her coaching philosophy is based upon her experiences as an athlete. Toward the very end, Aljona responds to a question about whether Russian fed ever wanted her to skate for them. They surely wanted her later on when she achieved success!
Aljona reveals that when she split with her Ukranian partner, Stanislav Morosov, there were a number of successful Russian pairs. Aljona asked the coach of Petrova/ Tikhonov (Ludmila Sinitsina Velikova) if she could join her group, and if she might know about a possible pairs partner. Apparently, there was not a great deal of belief in Aljona's promise at that time. So Aljona was not accepted. But she believed in herself she said, and she never gave up. I think Aljona had a different look and a unique body structure. Her belief in herself and her abilities gave her the drive to pursue her dream despite the rejection. And Aljona ended up inspiring so many skaters to be all that they could be regardless of whether or not they fit the preferred pairs skater mold!
What Aljona leaves out is how she ended up meeting Ingo Steuer, who obviously also believed in her.* I think Ingo was working with Robin at the time, and Robin needed a new partner. The rest is history. Together, the three of them changed how we viewed pairs skating. I understand from the way Aljona talks today, she seemingly doesn't want to think too much about the difficulty of those years with Robin and Ingo. However, without them her dream would have had to be realized in a totally different way. She can't divorce the success she had with them from who she was when she paired with Bruno and pushed the envelope to go further beyond the limitations she was ultimately confronted with during her Three Musketeers adventure.
Of course, the difficulties with Robin and Ingo seemingly had to do with many things, including Aljona's up-and-down off-ice relationship with Ingo, and Ingo's troubles with the German fed, as well as the jealousy surrounding Ingo's success with S/S. (Wiki states that Robin also was barred from receiving German fed funding due to the fact he was working with an 'unauthorized coach.'
How awful of German fed!
) Another cause of tension Aljona reveals in the TSL interview, is that Ingo was reluctant to relax control over the career decisionmaking for S/S, which is unfortunate. I do think that after their remarkable success with
Pina in 2011-2012, it might have benefited all involved had they sought out fresh input from different sources. That was a hugely complicated program to put together and they were never able to fully explore it completely satisfactorily. But it was such a stroke of brilliance in its conception and unique approach. I would love to know more about how that program came together, and who thought of the idea initially. They kind of seemed drained in seasons thereafter, and somewhat stumped for new ideas.
* I checked Aljona's Wiki page which indicates that Aljona told a German journalist she was looking for a new partner after her split with Morozov. The journalist is said to have spoken to German coaches who suggested Robin Szolkowy. Aljona had seen Robin compete before and they ended up trying out. There's no reference to exactly how Ingo came into the picture though, not even on Robin's Wiki page. I thought that Robin had worked or was working with Ingo at the time he tried out with Aljona. Maybe Robin hooked up with Ingo informally during the year-and-a-half he was searching for a partner and practicing synchro to maintain his skating skills. Or perhaps Ingo was one of the German coaches who had suggested Robin as a possible partner for Aljona, and he later teamed with them.
I hope they dont have another injury.
Boikova has nice lines and good technical ability, but I notice she has trouble with unsteadiness on jump landings occasionally.
But oh well, moving forward hopefully with sass and style. You guys seriously have got to connect more with visible emotion on the ice. Try harder and better, please. 
