TAHbKA
Cats and garlic lover
- Messages
- 20,903
Andrey Simonenko's interview with Alexandr Zhulin `How are the skaters supposed to prepare for the Olympics while it's not even clear whether they'll participate?' for rsport.ria.ru
AS: Viktoria/Nikita took bronz in SA. Are you satisfied?
AZ: Very. Finally they pulled two clean programmes. Though some of the levels were downgraded by the technical pannel, but for me it was a clean, decent, solid skate. Not a 100% yet, but they are going the right direction. Am happy with their work in the last 2 weeks. Should they keep skating such way think they have a huge potential.
AS: At which point, do you think, they came to an understanding - after the failed competition in Minsk?
AZ: I think they understood some after Minsk and all after the GP in Japan. It's important for the coach to have his athletes understand him. If they do what the coach says - that's the most important.
AS: After the SD in SA they couldn't understand their level 1 in rhumba.
AZ: Me neither
AS: Is it hard to live such a moments - when it seems you've done all your could and that's the judges decision?
AZ: Of course it is. But that's our sport - qutie a subjective one. What can I say... for me their rhumba seemed fine. I believe had the technical pannel been different they would be marked differently. I do know a thing or two about figure skating after all.
AS: The results in SA came out in such way that Bobrova/Soloviev didn't make it to the GPF.
AZ: One stupid mistake on the spin in their Moscow GP prevented them from skating in the GPF. The guys already beat themselves for it, but, unfortunately, they missed several fractions of the point to make it. No matter, life does not end here. It's an Olympic season and there are a lot of competitions ahead of them. The nationals, Europeans, the Olympics, which I hope will happen for us. It is a shame they are out of the GPF, but that's the sport and you have to be ready for everything.
AS: Had they fixed that damn mistake on the spin?
AZ: There was nothing to fix. They were so ready and think they were just trying to perform that spin on a crazy speed. Even better than usually. While they should had done the usual. But, again, it's an experience. No one is mistake prone. And there is no doubt Bobrova/Soloviev is a great pair. it's a nonsense, a chance. How can you scorn them for that.. They came to the conclusions and there will be no more such mistakes.
AS: After Katia/Dima were 3rd in the FD in the Worlds in Helsinki there was a hope that result will stick this season. But still the leaders - Papadakis/Cizeron and Virtue/Moir get some unreachable points.
AZ: Don't forget it's an Olympic season and it's a sum up of the 4 years. The technical specialists and the judges look at those two teams as gods. Of course they receive the marks they deserved with their consistency and skating. It's more or less the same as what happened before the Sochi Olympics when Davis/White and Virtue/Moir were a clear leaders. Of course the French and the Canadians stand out now.
AS: But do you agree with that huge gap?
AZ: It's not my place discussing the marks. Its' the judges' thing.
AS: Taking the first part of the season it's a fact the rest of the teams will be aiming for the bronze at the most.
AZ: So it seems.
AS: And is the fight for the bronze equal?
AZ: That depends. Depends on how the SD will go, the FD, the practices, how the judges will decide. There are lots of factors. Don't forget the ice is slippery and everything can happen. Adn there is also the making it to the Olympics first of all. I think Katia and Dima are a great pair. And so are Viktoria and Nikita.
AS: Not making it to the GPF does not eliminate them from the raise in the future competitions?
AZ: Not at all. Besides, had Katia and Dima made it to the GPF rather than the Italians as a 6th pair what would have changed? Nothing. Had they done that spin and won the GP in Moscow and made it as number 3-4 it would be a different matter.
AS: You said `if the Olympics happen'. Do you follow how our athletes are stripped off their Sochi medals one after the other?
AZ: Of course, we do read the news. Zubkov is stripped of the gold, then 24 football players were doped in 2014 Worlds in Brazil. I feel so sorry for the athletes. All those decisions are made based on one person's word - Rodchenkov. There are no other witneses.
AS: Are the figure skaters influenced with those news?
AZ: of course. How can you concentrate on the work when you don't know whether you'll participate the Olympics or not? How can you get ready for something you might not be taken to? It's in everyone's mind. A terrible situation.
AS: We are now talking in Lake Placid where the Olympics coloured with politics took place. It seems the politics is back to the sports again?
AZ: It never really left. You may repeat all you want the sports is above the politics, but, unfortunately, it is not so. Should the Olympics happen without the Russian athletes it would be downgraded. For me it would be terrible. But the life goes on and we'll keep fighting.
AS: Viktoria/Nikita took bronz in SA. Are you satisfied?
AZ: Very. Finally they pulled two clean programmes. Though some of the levels were downgraded by the technical pannel, but for me it was a clean, decent, solid skate. Not a 100% yet, but they are going the right direction. Am happy with their work in the last 2 weeks. Should they keep skating such way think they have a huge potential.
AS: At which point, do you think, they came to an understanding - after the failed competition in Minsk?
AZ: I think they understood some after Minsk and all after the GP in Japan. It's important for the coach to have his athletes understand him. If they do what the coach says - that's the most important.
AS: After the SD in SA they couldn't understand their level 1 in rhumba.
AZ: Me neither
AS: Is it hard to live such a moments - when it seems you've done all your could and that's the judges decision?
AZ: Of course it is. But that's our sport - qutie a subjective one. What can I say... for me their rhumba seemed fine. I believe had the technical pannel been different they would be marked differently. I do know a thing or two about figure skating after all.
AS: The results in SA came out in such way that Bobrova/Soloviev didn't make it to the GPF.
AZ: One stupid mistake on the spin in their Moscow GP prevented them from skating in the GPF. The guys already beat themselves for it, but, unfortunately, they missed several fractions of the point to make it. No matter, life does not end here. It's an Olympic season and there are a lot of competitions ahead of them. The nationals, Europeans, the Olympics, which I hope will happen for us. It is a shame they are out of the GPF, but that's the sport and you have to be ready for everything.
AS: Had they fixed that damn mistake on the spin?
AZ: There was nothing to fix. They were so ready and think they were just trying to perform that spin on a crazy speed. Even better than usually. While they should had done the usual. But, again, it's an experience. No one is mistake prone. And there is no doubt Bobrova/Soloviev is a great pair. it's a nonsense, a chance. How can you scorn them for that.. They came to the conclusions and there will be no more such mistakes.
AS: After Katia/Dima were 3rd in the FD in the Worlds in Helsinki there was a hope that result will stick this season. But still the leaders - Papadakis/Cizeron and Virtue/Moir get some unreachable points.
AZ: Don't forget it's an Olympic season and it's a sum up of the 4 years. The technical specialists and the judges look at those two teams as gods. Of course they receive the marks they deserved with their consistency and skating. It's more or less the same as what happened before the Sochi Olympics when Davis/White and Virtue/Moir were a clear leaders. Of course the French and the Canadians stand out now.
AS: But do you agree with that huge gap?
AZ: It's not my place discussing the marks. Its' the judges' thing.
AS: Taking the first part of the season it's a fact the rest of the teams will be aiming for the bronze at the most.
AZ: So it seems.
AS: And is the fight for the bronze equal?
AZ: That depends. Depends on how the SD will go, the FD, the practices, how the judges will decide. There are lots of factors. Don't forget the ice is slippery and everything can happen. Adn there is also the making it to the Olympics first of all. I think Katia and Dima are a great pair. And so are Viktoria and Nikita.
AS: Not making it to the GPF does not eliminate them from the raise in the future competitions?
AZ: Not at all. Besides, had Katia and Dima made it to the GPF rather than the Italians as a 6th pair what would have changed? Nothing. Had they done that spin and won the GP in Moscow and made it as number 3-4 it would be a different matter.
AS: You said `if the Olympics happen'. Do you follow how our athletes are stripped off their Sochi medals one after the other?
AZ: Of course, we do read the news. Zubkov is stripped of the gold, then 24 football players were doped in 2014 Worlds in Brazil. I feel so sorry for the athletes. All those decisions are made based on one person's word - Rodchenkov. There are no other witneses.
AS: Are the figure skaters influenced with those news?
AZ: of course. How can you concentrate on the work when you don't know whether you'll participate the Olympics or not? How can you get ready for something you might not be taken to? It's in everyone's mind. A terrible situation.
AS: We are now talking in Lake Placid where the Olympics coloured with politics took place. It seems the politics is back to the sports again?
AZ: It never really left. You may repeat all you want the sports is above the politics, but, unfortunately, it is not so. Should the Olympics happen without the Russian athletes it would be downgraded. For me it would be terrible. But the life goes on and we'll keep fighting.
