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Anatoly Samokhvalov's interview with Evgenia Tarasova for ria.ru (please click the original link for the counter...)
AS: Evgenia, am following you for many years and think one day you’ll be a perfect wife.
ET: For now I’d rather be a perfect athlete.
AS: Who is the perfect athlete?
ET: The one who works like a clock.
AS: Is there a name?
ET: Samodurova. These days she was a perfect athlete. She came and nailed all she needed without looking around.
AS: I.e you have been perfect in the past?
ET: Yes, I had a good season – the pre-Olympic. Every competition Vladimir and I worked like a clock. The only place I failed was the team event where I missed the jump and the throw, but I was injured. Otherwise – yes, I was perfect. Vladimir had some mistakes, but they were minor. This season, however, Vladimir is perfect, I keep having troubles.
AS: Do you understand the reason?
ET: There are none. It’s all in my head.
AS: What bothers you?
ET: Worries. They bother. There is just so much – I was making mistake the whole past season, the end of the season was far from the best. The change of the rink, the change of the coaches, the change of all..
AS: So what worries you? Ok, so it’s a different coach and a different rink…
ET: For 8 years I came to the rink `Vdohnovenie’ (inspiration) daily like home. And then wham! I have to get used to a new venue.
AS: You felt more secure previously?
ET: We were under the same roof. The schedule was clear… Anyway, when I was on the way to `Vdohnovenie’ I knew there would be no surprises. Novogorsk… stuff happens there. Once we came to the rink and were told `no practice for you for now. Not your time. Come in an hour’. Sometimes there was no lights on the rink. Trankov had to run around and look for the switch.
AS: I.e. the post Olympics life is little fun?
ET: Yes. The Olympic season drained all our energy and emotions. We gave it all there.
AS: You now take season by season or look forward?
ET: We live with the Worlds. Unofficially it’s our season’s goal. All the competitions prior are just a practice. Though I now understand it’s kind of a wrong approach. We should take each competition as a major fight for the medals. We lost the Europeans and I just can’t convince myself it was a `practice’. It’s a competition I lost! And then… I don’t plan 3 years in advance, but I do want to skate in Beijing.
AS: Or will you reconsider and rethink after this season?
ET: No, it all leads to the Olympics. The ones in Korea didn’t satisfy us. Neither me, nor the partner nor the coaches. We didn’t get what we wanted. Hence Beijing motivates us.
AS: But the post-Korea depression is still on?
ET: No. It’s not a depression, but an aftertaste that will not go away easily. Though I try not to think of it – I made a mistake, oh well.
AS: Speaking of you as of an ideal wife I meant the balance between the spine you have and how feminine you are. What can break you?
ET: After the Olympics I heard a very important to me person saying I will never win. It is in my head and in my soul. It was hard to get rid of it. It was said when we were stressed and fighting. But I went on the ice and skated no matter what. I’m easily heart and easily offended. Especially by those who I trues. Sometimes Vladimir and I would have a fight, but we went out and worked, because we knew what was the goal. As for what is written about me by the foreigners – that I don’t care.
AS: What were you disagreements with Vladimir about?
ET: The working process. When all goes well everyone are nice and fun. Smiles all around. But then you get tired and hence the mistakes. Vladimir doesn’t hold back in such cases. He doesn’t care who made the mistake – me or him, he takes it very hard. He must fix it all now, right now, so it would be perfect. But it doesn’t always work that way. Hence the arguments, and the fights. Sometimes I understand I just have to shut up. He keeps shouting and doesn’t get a thing but a silence from me. Though even that doesn’t always work. Sometimes I provoke him. Though it’s really all a part of the working process.
AS: Did he provoke you much?
ET: He ignores me shouting. I can shout and there is no reaction. Then am ashamed for shouting.
AS: There was a rumour after the Olympics your pair might split.
ET: It was stretched – we didn’t skate well at the Games, we broke up as an off ice pair. So it was blown out of proportion and talks about the split circulated. People thought if we split up in real life we have to split on the ice. But Vladimir and I never even considered stopping working together. We made our decision – yes, we split, such things happen in life. But how is the sport related? He is a good partner, I am a good partner, we can win together. Why give it up?
AS: It’s hard to understand how can you..
ET: Split and be together?
AS: That. It’s masochism.
ET: Perhaps. Things were hard, but we realized there so many similar stories in figure skating. People split up and won the Olympics together. You have to set the priorities right in the sport. Vladimir and I decided the sport was more important. We don’t want to give up our chance.
AS: So the sport arguments never became personal and did not become a continuation of the split?
ET: There was no continuation and the personal stuff hardly ever comes up in the arguments. If at all. We have to be seriously mad for that.
AS: Nina Mozer was telling me once when the relationship between Volosozhar/Trankov just started she was not worried because she saw how good they are with each other and trusted them. Was she involved in your situation?
ET: We never discussed it. I don’t remember Nina Mikhalovna being for or against.
AS: Did Trankov share his experience?
ET: Not with me. Vladimir and I are in very good terms now, he can tell me things just as I can tell him. We just don’t live together anymore.
AS: Was it demotivating you at the Olympics that you were expected to win?
ET: Nina Mihkailovna asked us not to use the phones and not to read the internet. I didn’t, but I was told from every corner we almost have the gold. Everyone were telling it – the journalists were bugging us and asking so many questions. I could decline an interview, but they would chase and keep asking. Besides, we wanted to win just so badly. It’s the most dangerous thing: when you want something so badly, you are so close to the goal and think the victory is in your hands. It causes nothing good. We just had to go out and skate the programme, instead we went on the ice with the not needed emotions.
AS: Before the Europeans Nina Mikhailovna told me about the new fashion in the figure skating, where the lightness and easiness are important. How do you take the new decisions of the ISU?
ET: At any rate we have to adjust to the new rules. They become harder and it’s harder to adjust. But skating lightly and with an ease is something that is always noted and marked. We try to keep our approach to figure skating under the new rules.
AS: Trankov said that he was finally able to explain you that your thing is the amplitude powerful skating and not the face making to rock-n-roll. Yet you and Vladimir said yourself that you wanted changes.
ET: The thing with the SP that we gave up is that we left the points on the table not because of the programme, but the elements. Had we skated it clean we would be marked more than 80. The same as the programme we came back to – Rakhmaninov. Yet we made just one mistake when skating Rakhmaninov, so guess it matters indeed.
AS: Are you worried even should you win the Worlds the judges will consider you a team who made a step back and are not able to adjust to the new rules?
ET: I don’t think so. There is a difference between the SP and the LP. Our LP is not classical. We decided in the future we’ll stick to the music that might even be fast, but we should be able to skate in our style.
AS: But it won’t be a `Tosca’ or a `Carmen’?
ET: I hope not. I wouldn’t want it.
AS: The fast music is really not yours?
ET: I guess. The Olympic programme we needed a lot of time to get into, be able to stick to the rhythm and the breathing. It was hard, but we got used to it and it was a good programme. I don’t think we’ll completely give up the fun ideas.
AS: Was the argument with Trankov a long one?
ET: Yes, it took him a while to agree to our SP choice.
AS: Between the Nationals and the Europeans you participated a show. Did it ruin the preparations?
ET: The opposite. If we haven’t we would have been back on the ice on Jan 3-4, hence we’d start practicing after a week long break. In our case we competed on Dec 28th and were back on the ice for the show on Jan 2nd. There was no time to relax. We had a practice on Jan 2nd, skated the show on 4th. It was a good experience.
AS: You are an experienced pair, while your coach is not. Is it a risk?
ET: There is more responsibility. We know we mustn’t disappoint. But this season just goes all wrong for me. I keep making mistakes.
AS: Were you the ones to call Mozer at the beginning of the season?
ET: Yes. First there was an agreement Nina Mikhailovna would come once in a while, but the practice showed we were doing badly without her. Much worse. We asked her to come to the competitions with us – we felt more comfortable. She knows us so well that sometimes even a couple of words can change so much. It happened all the pairs elements would go wrong this season, day after day we would fail them. Then Nina Mikhailvona comes, tells Vladimir and I a couple of words and we land a perfect throw jump. I have no idea how she does it!
AS: What would she tell you?
ET: Just correct things. Hold the shoulder here, hold an arm there… She fixes things so easily – it’s a coaching thing.
AS: She told me she would gladly fix the elements she worked with you, but she didn’t dare touching the throw flip that you learned with Maksim.
ET: The flip came and went. Sometimes I would land it perfectly, sometimes I would almost fall on my head. It was all over the place.
AS: Is it confusing when Trankov works one way, then comes Mozer and works differently?
ET: No. Nina Mikhailovna worked on the stand alone elements. Mentally she would set us before the competition, when she would say a couple of words and Vladimir and I would compete with an ideal motivation.
AS: Evgenia, am following you for many years and think one day you’ll be a perfect wife.
ET: For now I’d rather be a perfect athlete.
AS: Who is the perfect athlete?
ET: The one who works like a clock.
AS: Is there a name?
ET: Samodurova. These days she was a perfect athlete. She came and nailed all she needed without looking around.
AS: I.e you have been perfect in the past?
ET: Yes, I had a good season – the pre-Olympic. Every competition Vladimir and I worked like a clock. The only place I failed was the team event where I missed the jump and the throw, but I was injured. Otherwise – yes, I was perfect. Vladimir had some mistakes, but they were minor. This season, however, Vladimir is perfect, I keep having troubles.
AS: Do you understand the reason?
ET: There are none. It’s all in my head.
AS: What bothers you?
ET: Worries. They bother. There is just so much – I was making mistake the whole past season, the end of the season was far from the best. The change of the rink, the change of the coaches, the change of all..
AS: So what worries you? Ok, so it’s a different coach and a different rink…
ET: For 8 years I came to the rink `Vdohnovenie’ (inspiration) daily like home. And then wham! I have to get used to a new venue.
AS: You felt more secure previously?
ET: We were under the same roof. The schedule was clear… Anyway, when I was on the way to `Vdohnovenie’ I knew there would be no surprises. Novogorsk… stuff happens there. Once we came to the rink and were told `no practice for you for now. Not your time. Come in an hour’. Sometimes there was no lights on the rink. Trankov had to run around and look for the switch.
AS: I.e. the post Olympics life is little fun?
ET: Yes. The Olympic season drained all our energy and emotions. We gave it all there.
AS: You now take season by season or look forward?
ET: We live with the Worlds. Unofficially it’s our season’s goal. All the competitions prior are just a practice. Though I now understand it’s kind of a wrong approach. We should take each competition as a major fight for the medals. We lost the Europeans and I just can’t convince myself it was a `practice’. It’s a competition I lost! And then… I don’t plan 3 years in advance, but I do want to skate in Beijing.
AS: Or will you reconsider and rethink after this season?
ET: No, it all leads to the Olympics. The ones in Korea didn’t satisfy us. Neither me, nor the partner nor the coaches. We didn’t get what we wanted. Hence Beijing motivates us.
AS: But the post-Korea depression is still on?
ET: No. It’s not a depression, but an aftertaste that will not go away easily. Though I try not to think of it – I made a mistake, oh well.
AS: Speaking of you as of an ideal wife I meant the balance between the spine you have and how feminine you are. What can break you?
ET: After the Olympics I heard a very important to me person saying I will never win. It is in my head and in my soul. It was hard to get rid of it. It was said when we were stressed and fighting. But I went on the ice and skated no matter what. I’m easily heart and easily offended. Especially by those who I trues. Sometimes Vladimir and I would have a fight, but we went out and worked, because we knew what was the goal. As for what is written about me by the foreigners – that I don’t care.
AS: What were you disagreements with Vladimir about?
ET: The working process. When all goes well everyone are nice and fun. Smiles all around. But then you get tired and hence the mistakes. Vladimir doesn’t hold back in such cases. He doesn’t care who made the mistake – me or him, he takes it very hard. He must fix it all now, right now, so it would be perfect. But it doesn’t always work that way. Hence the arguments, and the fights. Sometimes I understand I just have to shut up. He keeps shouting and doesn’t get a thing but a silence from me. Though even that doesn’t always work. Sometimes I provoke him. Though it’s really all a part of the working process.
AS: Did he provoke you much?
ET: He ignores me shouting. I can shout and there is no reaction. Then am ashamed for shouting.
AS: There was a rumour after the Olympics your pair might split.
ET: It was stretched – we didn’t skate well at the Games, we broke up as an off ice pair. So it was blown out of proportion and talks about the split circulated. People thought if we split up in real life we have to split on the ice. But Vladimir and I never even considered stopping working together. We made our decision – yes, we split, such things happen in life. But how is the sport related? He is a good partner, I am a good partner, we can win together. Why give it up?
AS: It’s hard to understand how can you..
ET: Split and be together?
AS: That. It’s masochism.
ET: Perhaps. Things were hard, but we realized there so many similar stories in figure skating. People split up and won the Olympics together. You have to set the priorities right in the sport. Vladimir and I decided the sport was more important. We don’t want to give up our chance.
AS: So the sport arguments never became personal and did not become a continuation of the split?
ET: There was no continuation and the personal stuff hardly ever comes up in the arguments. If at all. We have to be seriously mad for that.
AS: Nina Mozer was telling me once when the relationship between Volosozhar/Trankov just started she was not worried because she saw how good they are with each other and trusted them. Was she involved in your situation?
ET: We never discussed it. I don’t remember Nina Mikhalovna being for or against.
AS: Did Trankov share his experience?
ET: Not with me. Vladimir and I are in very good terms now, he can tell me things just as I can tell him. We just don’t live together anymore.
AS: Was it demotivating you at the Olympics that you were expected to win?
ET: Nina Mihkailovna asked us not to use the phones and not to read the internet. I didn’t, but I was told from every corner we almost have the gold. Everyone were telling it – the journalists were bugging us and asking so many questions. I could decline an interview, but they would chase and keep asking. Besides, we wanted to win just so badly. It’s the most dangerous thing: when you want something so badly, you are so close to the goal and think the victory is in your hands. It causes nothing good. We just had to go out and skate the programme, instead we went on the ice with the not needed emotions.
AS: Before the Europeans Nina Mikhailovna told me about the new fashion in the figure skating, where the lightness and easiness are important. How do you take the new decisions of the ISU?
ET: At any rate we have to adjust to the new rules. They become harder and it’s harder to adjust. But skating lightly and with an ease is something that is always noted and marked. We try to keep our approach to figure skating under the new rules.
AS: Trankov said that he was finally able to explain you that your thing is the amplitude powerful skating and not the face making to rock-n-roll. Yet you and Vladimir said yourself that you wanted changes.
ET: The thing with the SP that we gave up is that we left the points on the table not because of the programme, but the elements. Had we skated it clean we would be marked more than 80. The same as the programme we came back to – Rakhmaninov. Yet we made just one mistake when skating Rakhmaninov, so guess it matters indeed.
AS: Are you worried even should you win the Worlds the judges will consider you a team who made a step back and are not able to adjust to the new rules?
ET: I don’t think so. There is a difference between the SP and the LP. Our LP is not classical. We decided in the future we’ll stick to the music that might even be fast, but we should be able to skate in our style.
AS: But it won’t be a `Tosca’ or a `Carmen’?
ET: I hope not. I wouldn’t want it.
AS: The fast music is really not yours?
ET: I guess. The Olympic programme we needed a lot of time to get into, be able to stick to the rhythm and the breathing. It was hard, but we got used to it and it was a good programme. I don’t think we’ll completely give up the fun ideas.
AS: Was the argument with Trankov a long one?
ET: Yes, it took him a while to agree to our SP choice.
AS: Between the Nationals and the Europeans you participated a show. Did it ruin the preparations?
ET: The opposite. If we haven’t we would have been back on the ice on Jan 3-4, hence we’d start practicing after a week long break. In our case we competed on Dec 28th and were back on the ice for the show on Jan 2nd. There was no time to relax. We had a practice on Jan 2nd, skated the show on 4th. It was a good experience.
AS: You are an experienced pair, while your coach is not. Is it a risk?
ET: There is more responsibility. We know we mustn’t disappoint. But this season just goes all wrong for me. I keep making mistakes.
AS: Were you the ones to call Mozer at the beginning of the season?
ET: Yes. First there was an agreement Nina Mikhailovna would come once in a while, but the practice showed we were doing badly without her. Much worse. We asked her to come to the competitions with us – we felt more comfortable. She knows us so well that sometimes even a couple of words can change so much. It happened all the pairs elements would go wrong this season, day after day we would fail them. Then Nina Mikhailvona comes, tells Vladimir and I a couple of words and we land a perfect throw jump. I have no idea how she does it!
AS: What would she tell you?
ET: Just correct things. Hold the shoulder here, hold an arm there… She fixes things so easily – it’s a coaching thing.
AS: She told me she would gladly fix the elements she worked with you, but she didn’t dare touching the throw flip that you learned with Maksim.
ET: The flip came and went. Sometimes I would land it perfectly, sometimes I would almost fall on my head. It was all over the place.
AS: Is it confusing when Trankov works one way, then comes Mozer and works differently?
ET: No. Nina Mikhailovna worked on the stand alone elements. Mentally she would set us before the competition, when she would say a couple of words and Vladimir and I would compete with an ideal motivation.
would the interviewer tell a male skater he would be the ideal husband? 
, who was a pair that broke up personally and went on to win the Olympics.
