Anatoly Samokhvalov's interview with Nina Mozer for ria.ru
AS: Nina Mikhailovna, will all your team keep skating?
NM: Tarasova/Morozov are aiming for the next Olympic cycle. Natasha Zabijako when leaving Korea told me she is 100% going to prepare for the next Olympics. There were some questions regarding Enbert, he has his injuries from the past, but at any rate Zabijako/Enbert do not retire and keep going
AS: Was Enbert hesitating?
NM: Mentally he aimed to retire after the Olympics. But we discussed things and I can repeat: the team will be skating the next season. We had a stone on our shoulders: Natasha's inability to land a 2nd triple jump. Before the Worlds we changed the approach to the LP. I took a risk and changed the plan and I know it worked. This competition was very hard for Enbert. He had an eye problem and right before the SP he had a cut, the pus was taken out, he was skating with the antibiotics injections. But he overcame it and I thanked him for that several times. I think they can aim for the podium next year.
AS: They don't need a break?
NM: The opposite, the next season is good for them - no Olympic pressure
AS: Zabijako/Enbert are a beautiful team, but they lack the `chemistry'. What should they work on?
NM: That `chemistry' and speed. Perhaps on daring. They have the rest. Most importantly they are very consistent. In the competitions they do what they did in the practices. Not everyone is capable of that. They are beautiful, charismatic and have a will to grow into the winners.
AS: What do you mean `daring'?
NM: The chemistry. When you give away all you have not looking back and thinking you'll lack the power. It demands not just the beauty but giving all you have on your way to the medal. I had an interesting messaging with Tarasova. When she and Morozov were in a great shape before the Olympics, everything went great in the practices and I was thinking what should I do to make sure they don't overburn before the competition. It was later that Evgenia wrote me about her state before the LP `When I was going for the SP there was nothing holding me back. I just went there and did my job. Before the LP the pressure built. Everyone were discussing the medals and how we will be fighting for the gold'
That `golden fever' is our usual Russian story. Too many journalists, points of views, forums. The athletes, idiots, are reading all that. Zhenya started imagining herself on the podium and became nervous in the morning practice. `What if I fail an element' she asked. The minute she thought of it she was ready to fail them. I understand now had I told her then `do not worry' it would be still useless. You have to learn not to burn too early. Zhenya was still a child these Olympics. A child with no experience.
AS: But you predicted that situation while in the training camp in Fukoka
NM: That she will burn? No. She used to have various problems before the competitions before. She hit her hip before the SP and couldn't even walk without the pain. Last year she was participating both main events with the pain. A week before he competition he dropped her from the lift and she had a painful bump, on the second he cut her knee. She was only living to get through the pain and skate her programmes. Without paying attention to the details. Those details are the devil. They had a 6 points gap and less than a point behind the leader after the LP. They were healthy. What else do you need? Go and just skate! But their minds were busy with the unneed things such as what did the others think. And the real sharks of the figure skating were competing with them. Savchenko had a 20 years journey to that Olympic gold. Duhamel - 16. Vale Marchei waited for 16 years for these Olympics. The Chinese Sui who is the darling of the figure skating was going there to win. While my kind and nice Zhenya was busy thinking of the devil's details all these predators went there and beat her. Zhenya was just swinging in Korea.
AS: But Vladimir is a predator as well!
NM: Yes, he is. I've been watching his ability to concentrate in the last 2-3 recent competitions. He was dreaming of the Olympics and gave up everything for it. Zhenya is a nice and kind girl who tries to combine the sport with the social life. She is so talented and things work out for her, while the concentration is for people who work so hard for their goals. For the talents figure skating is fun and not always they are able to focus.
AS Was she always such a talent? Didn't she have to work so hard to make it in your group? Maksim Trankov was saying you didn't quite believe in Tarasova/Morozov.
NM: Maksim's words are misinterpreted. I had my reasons not to believe in them. First of all in Vladimir. He used to fail the elements, fall on stupid things. He could skate well and then fall on a spin and be off the podium. The deeper reason for disbelief in him is his health issues. In Japan I wanted him to undergo the checking but became ill myself and was late joining the training camp. But I think any person aiming for the next 4 Olympics has to understand what is going on with them. Vladimir is an adult, a big and tall guy. Once he stops watching his weight he gains it and the jumps are gone. I.e. he'll have to spend the next 4 years giving up his social life. But the most important is that every health test he undergoes ends up with being forbidden to do sports. Then his heart is re-tested and at the end he is sort of ok-ed.
Figure skating used to be easier. Now in order to achieve something you have to work to the top of your abilities. I was telling Trankov: I don't believe in Morozov. Because he is not healthy enough.
AS: But Morozov convinced you differently with his results?
NM: It's a result of a huge work they have done. They were not the main team - this Olympic season it was Volosozhar/Trankov and Stolbova/Klimov. Zhenya and Vladimir were n.3
AS: Had the Worlds changed you mind?
NM: Zhenya and Vladimir became silver medallists and it improved my and their mood a bit. It was important for her to do the LP. And she had. Next step is the gold, there is nothing else. And I wish the specialists who will be working with them next season will do well. Good luck to them.
AS: Not everyone liked their LP
NM: They were the ones to pick the music, though I offered a slightly different context.
AS: Seriously? They picked the boogie-woogie?
NM: We sometimes have adventures with the LP. I went to the USA for a vacation and they picked the rock-n-roll together with Peter Tchernyshev, even though I was dreaming to see them doing an evening boogie-woogie. Guess it's the destiny.
AS: Next is the gold. But do they have the resources?
NM: How should I know? Only god knows. It seems they do. The amount of work they do - yes. Making it coming true... I recently told Zhenya: it's a shame you are learning from your own mistakes. She said she learned enough.
AS: If you keep dreaming and imagining Stolbova/Klimov made it to Korea and healthy what would it be? A tragedy or a medal?
NM: Taking their characters it could have been a medal.
AS: What about their resources?
NM: I don't really want to discuss their options, I put so much effort in them... we went to Jorge, I did all I possibly could to have them ready for this season. By the way they have been working the last half a year I was sure we are in the right direction. The Europeans proved it. I was telling them the whole season: guys, we are aiming for the Olympics. When it was off I felt so empty.
AS: Do you have an answer why Stolbova was not invited?
NM: No.
AS: Going back to the team event, would it make more sense letting Tarasova/Morozov skate both the SP and the LP?
NM: You see, many take the golden Sochi experience into an account. But we had such an experienced skaters there - Pluschenko, Volosozhar/Trankov. In Korea we were not the even team, but the Canadians. A year before the Olympics it was obvious Canada will win the gold. Virtue/Moir came back. Chan held it till the Olympics, Osmond, who was so supported made it and the girl who won the nationals. The 2 times world champions Duhamel/Radford participated. In order to compete with such a team we would have to be a very even team. We wouldn't have won anyway. The ice dance points were lacking.
AS: Let's do it stupidly: Tarasova/Morozov skate a clean LP and Mikhail Kolyada does not fail his skates. We re there chances for the gold?
NM: We still wouldn't have won it. Besides, I was telling the federation since October Tarasova/Morozov will not hold it till the Olympics if we don't let them rest. I wanted them to skip the Europeans. But I was not allowed. So what is the result? All our main competitors who ended up on the podium missed the pre-Olympic competitions - Savchenko/Massot the Europeans, the Chinese and the Canadians the 4CC. We, on the other hand, competed everywhere because we `didn't have a right' to do differently.
AS: Why was it so important Tarasova/Morozov participate these Europeans?
NM: It was the home event. `You don't have a right, you can't do that, we are investing in you...'. I heard a lot of reasons and they came from the honorable and important people.
AS: Previously in a ria.ru interview you admitted you wanted to change the profession after the Olympic season. Who will take over your teams?
NM: It's a bit premature to talk, it's still under negotiations. I'm meeting people, talk, create a plan.
AS: Will the coaching team change?
NM: Some things will change, but again, premature to talk.
AS: Will the German specialist Szelkowy stay in the team?
NM: I would like him to, but it depends on the finances of our country. I can't expect Robin to work for free. He will be payed till February, for now that's it. I don't know what will be going on with the sport after.
AS: How fruitful is his work?
NM: There are a lot of redundant talks about how necessary he is. But I know exactly how much Zhenya and Vladimir need him. They need him mentally, politically and in some other ways. He gives them the information they really need in a very calm way. Especially before the competitions. See, 2 weeks before the competitions the skaters usually go mad, and can hardly deal with themselves. They need an experienced person who can help by their side. That's Robin.
AS: Is he a good coach?
NM: He sees the details that lead to the results. What is the coach for? To give an advice. The athletes of such a level know and can do everything themselves. It's the details that are important on that level.
AS: The worlds in Milano are over. How long will you be resting?
NM: The worlds were a milestone of my career. Indeed as I mentioned in the interview I step out of the coaching. I don't know yet and can't yet talk about how long the break will be. But I will certainly not coach in the next half a year. I told my athletes: your will won't change my mind. I am so tired I can't go on anymore. I need at least half a year to recover my mind and my body. I'm burnt out.
I really do hope the heal and continue, at least for another season or 2.
I particularly enjoyed this part:
