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Elena Sobol's interview with Tatiana Tarasova: `I don't even consider working with the foreign skaters this season' for sport-express.ru
ES: Tatiana Anatolievna, what had you been up to this off season?
TAT: Till the middle of July am on a vacation, then I'll be dealing with my commentator work. I will be learning new things to be able to comment in the future - the rules will be slightly changed. I will also attend some judging seminars so I'll have the right information which I'll later process and project to the viewers. The viewers are different. And thank them for loving me as a commentator. They sent me so many messages, I feel supported and loved.
ES: Rightly so
TAT: I have to reciprocate, hence am planning gathering new information before the olympics. I plan going to the rink starting July, see the test skates. August - the juniors test skates and the seniors test skates in September in Sochi. Think the time before the season begins will fly very fast.
ES: Had any skater ask for your help before the Olympic season?
TAT: No. Our skaters are all set and am not even considering the offers from the foreign skaters, even though there were some.
ES: Because it's an Olympic season?
TAT: Because I decided so.
ES: Who will you be supporting?
TAT: I already supported all who I had to.
ES: What made you happy and what upset you last season?
TAT: The season is over and there is no point dwelling. Everyone are resting. There will be a new season and a new buzz. My late father used to say `don't look back. Go ahead'
ES: What's ahead?
TAT: The Olympics. I expect a fight to make it to the team. The 30x60m will decide. The new season will begin and the skaters will be reaching new goals.
ES: Do you think Medvedeva will make it? She will have to prove her being a lead.
TAT: We'll have to wait and be grateful for what she and Eteri Tutberidze have done every year. Am not going to discuss it.
ES: Do you like Medvedeva?
TAT: How can I not? She is a 2 times world champion.
ES: Do you believe the Sochi 2014 champion Adelina Sotnikova will go back to the previous level?
TAT: No.
ES: Do you believe in Pluschenko as a coach?
TAT: Once he proves himself - I will.
ES: Alina Zagitova is about to start the senior career. She and the coach will decide whether to become senior this season.
TAT: I spoke about that ever since I saw Alina. I said that girl, should she skate and progress the way she does, can win the Olympics. She is very interesting and have a huge potential.
ES: Should she rush the things?
TAT: She has a good coach. Who should answer that question. Staying back, like it was done with Stolbova/Klimov should never be done.
ES: Elena Radionova switched to Elena Buyanova. Will it be an interesting working relationship?
TAT: Yes. Buyanova knows how to work with the girls, it works for her. They already have interesting programmes, one was done by Tchernyshev. As for the technical side- that's the coach's responsibility.
ES: Will we see Yulia Lipnitskaya again?
TAT: I think not. She is a star who shone at her time and thank her for that. Yulia was a jewel of the Sochi Olympics. She will never be forgotten - the girl in the red dress. The great Spilberg sent her a letter. Have you ever received such a letter? No. Me neither. She did. She was fully recognized. It's her journey. A new one will begin for her.
ES: The state of the male skating is far from cheerful. What can you say about Kovtun? He medalled at the Europeans and the WTT this year. Had he progressed?
TAT: The progress is sometimes not about the placements, which is not related. Back at the time he was the first to integrate 2 quads in the his SP. Now he does not. He used to risk attempting 3 quads in the LP and he is not anymore. What progress should I be talking about? He used to be 4th at the Worlds and became 10th. It's a regress. I like Maksim, but he thought he had all the time in the world. The time has it's limits. He should work really hard. What should I be saying about Kovtun or even Kolyada? They have to go out there and skate. Being `a huge potential'....
Perhaps I am too demanding. But I can't do it differently - my father used to say you'd be fired for the silver. For me the only place existing is the 1st. The guys have what it takes to become first or at least medal, yet they hardly made it to the top 10... No one forbids them a thing. They should reconsider their preparation system together with their coaches. Something doesnt' work there. And saying `we are learning...'. You do what you do. There are skaters who were integrating the new quads during the season. So for now I can't answer a thing about Kovtun's or Kolyada's progress. I can confidently say there is no progress.
ES: Speaking of the quads - the ladies started landing them in the practices. Is it an interesting direction?
TAT: I like it.
ES: Do you think Volosozhar/Trankov should keep competing?
TAT: Everyone needs to find the motivation and the power. It's their question. An important one for them.
ES: What about Kawaguti/Smirnov?
TAT: I can't talk for them, but if I were in their shoes I wouldn't. Their injuries are too much. Besides, it seems Sasha wants to coach. For now he has a teacher to learn from - Tamara Nikolaevna Moskvina. It's not often the great athletes want to coach and it's appreciated.
ES: Do you see Trankov coaching?
TAT: I know he wanted to in the past. I haven't spoken to him recently. The coach's journey is a long one. It's a whole life that passes. For instance Nina Mozer was coaching since she was a girl, while her mom was still coaching. Yet her first Olympics were in Sochi, when the public learned about her.
ES: What can you say about Tarasova/Morozov?
TAT: They did great this year. Tarasova is a hero girl.
ES: Have they been in Stolbova/Klimov's shadow?
TAT: That's not true. Leave Stolbova/Klimov alone, leave that talent alone. Should they recover it will be our great happiness. Last year they were shot in the take off...
ES: The ice dancers Bobrova/Soloviev became 5th, Stepanova/Bukin - 10th.
TAT: It's the best result they could have expected.
ES: I.e. it's the objective result?
TAT: You think they were undermarked?
ES: There were such opinions after the championship in Helsinki.
TAT: Those who claim so should really open their eyes and see who skates which way. Katia and Dima, who missed 2 seasons did great for their level. What can we attempt in the ice dance? The guys are 5th. They should be 5th at the Olympics should they work hard, prepare new interesting programmes. It would be a great result.
ES: How many medals should we aim for at the Olympics?
TAT: It would be great if the girls would take 2 medals. There is a chance for a medal in the pairs, but depends which. For some - bronze is a great thing, for some - a miss. We'll do our best. After all we had no idea we'd do so great in Sochi. But it just went well. I wish everyone to be healthy and not in pain. For Stolbova/Klimov to recover from their injuries which prevent them from being the best. For Zhenya Medvedeva to find her style. Everyone will improve. We'll see the results soon. We should just be patient
ES: Tatiana Anatolievna, what had you been up to this off season?
TAT: Till the middle of July am on a vacation, then I'll be dealing with my commentator work. I will be learning new things to be able to comment in the future - the rules will be slightly changed. I will also attend some judging seminars so I'll have the right information which I'll later process and project to the viewers. The viewers are different. And thank them for loving me as a commentator. They sent me so many messages, I feel supported and loved.
ES: Rightly so
TAT: I have to reciprocate, hence am planning gathering new information before the olympics. I plan going to the rink starting July, see the test skates. August - the juniors test skates and the seniors test skates in September in Sochi. Think the time before the season begins will fly very fast.
ES: Had any skater ask for your help before the Olympic season?
TAT: No. Our skaters are all set and am not even considering the offers from the foreign skaters, even though there were some.
ES: Because it's an Olympic season?
TAT: Because I decided so.
ES: Who will you be supporting?
TAT: I already supported all who I had to.
ES: What made you happy and what upset you last season?
TAT: The season is over and there is no point dwelling. Everyone are resting. There will be a new season and a new buzz. My late father used to say `don't look back. Go ahead'
ES: What's ahead?
TAT: The Olympics. I expect a fight to make it to the team. The 30x60m will decide. The new season will begin and the skaters will be reaching new goals.
ES: Do you think Medvedeva will make it? She will have to prove her being a lead.
TAT: We'll have to wait and be grateful for what she and Eteri Tutberidze have done every year. Am not going to discuss it.
ES: Do you like Medvedeva?
TAT: How can I not? She is a 2 times world champion.
ES: Do you believe the Sochi 2014 champion Adelina Sotnikova will go back to the previous level?
TAT: No.
ES: Do you believe in Pluschenko as a coach?
TAT: Once he proves himself - I will.
ES: Alina Zagitova is about to start the senior career. She and the coach will decide whether to become senior this season.
TAT: I spoke about that ever since I saw Alina. I said that girl, should she skate and progress the way she does, can win the Olympics. She is very interesting and have a huge potential.
ES: Should she rush the things?
TAT: She has a good coach. Who should answer that question. Staying back, like it was done with Stolbova/Klimov should never be done.
ES: Elena Radionova switched to Elena Buyanova. Will it be an interesting working relationship?
TAT: Yes. Buyanova knows how to work with the girls, it works for her. They already have interesting programmes, one was done by Tchernyshev. As for the technical side- that's the coach's responsibility.
ES: Will we see Yulia Lipnitskaya again?
TAT: I think not. She is a star who shone at her time and thank her for that. Yulia was a jewel of the Sochi Olympics. She will never be forgotten - the girl in the red dress. The great Spilberg sent her a letter. Have you ever received such a letter? No. Me neither. She did. She was fully recognized. It's her journey. A new one will begin for her.
ES: The state of the male skating is far from cheerful. What can you say about Kovtun? He medalled at the Europeans and the WTT this year. Had he progressed?
TAT: The progress is sometimes not about the placements, which is not related. Back at the time he was the first to integrate 2 quads in the his SP. Now he does not. He used to risk attempting 3 quads in the LP and he is not anymore. What progress should I be talking about? He used to be 4th at the Worlds and became 10th. It's a regress. I like Maksim, but he thought he had all the time in the world. The time has it's limits. He should work really hard. What should I be saying about Kovtun or even Kolyada? They have to go out there and skate. Being `a huge potential'....
Perhaps I am too demanding. But I can't do it differently - my father used to say you'd be fired for the silver. For me the only place existing is the 1st. The guys have what it takes to become first or at least medal, yet they hardly made it to the top 10... No one forbids them a thing. They should reconsider their preparation system together with their coaches. Something doesnt' work there. And saying `we are learning...'. You do what you do. There are skaters who were integrating the new quads during the season. So for now I can't answer a thing about Kovtun's or Kolyada's progress. I can confidently say there is no progress.
ES: Speaking of the quads - the ladies started landing them in the practices. Is it an interesting direction?
TAT: I like it.
ES: Do you think Volosozhar/Trankov should keep competing?
TAT: Everyone needs to find the motivation and the power. It's their question. An important one for them.
ES: What about Kawaguti/Smirnov?
TAT: I can't talk for them, but if I were in their shoes I wouldn't. Their injuries are too much. Besides, it seems Sasha wants to coach. For now he has a teacher to learn from - Tamara Nikolaevna Moskvina. It's not often the great athletes want to coach and it's appreciated.
ES: Do you see Trankov coaching?
TAT: I know he wanted to in the past. I haven't spoken to him recently. The coach's journey is a long one. It's a whole life that passes. For instance Nina Mozer was coaching since she was a girl, while her mom was still coaching. Yet her first Olympics were in Sochi, when the public learned about her.
ES: What can you say about Tarasova/Morozov?
TAT: They did great this year. Tarasova is a hero girl.
ES: Have they been in Stolbova/Klimov's shadow?
TAT: That's not true. Leave Stolbova/Klimov alone, leave that talent alone. Should they recover it will be our great happiness. Last year they were shot in the take off...
ES: The ice dancers Bobrova/Soloviev became 5th, Stepanova/Bukin - 10th.
TAT: It's the best result they could have expected.
ES: I.e. it's the objective result?
TAT: You think they were undermarked?
ES: There were such opinions after the championship in Helsinki.
TAT: Those who claim so should really open their eyes and see who skates which way. Katia and Dima, who missed 2 seasons did great for their level. What can we attempt in the ice dance? The guys are 5th. They should be 5th at the Olympics should they work hard, prepare new interesting programmes. It would be a great result.
ES: How many medals should we aim for at the Olympics?
TAT: It would be great if the girls would take 2 medals. There is a chance for a medal in the pairs, but depends which. For some - bronze is a great thing, for some - a miss. We'll do our best. After all we had no idea we'd do so great in Sochi. But it just went well. I wish everyone to be healthy and not in pain. For Stolbova/Klimov to recover from their injuries which prevent them from being the best. For Zhenya Medvedeva to find her style. Everyone will improve. We'll see the results soon. We should just be patient