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Elena Vaytsekhovskaya's interview with Andrey Hekalo for ria.ru (please click the original link...)
The Russian specialist came to SA with the Australian pair Alexandrovskaya/Winsdor.
EV: Andrey, after the team triumph in the Sochi Olympics you disappeared from the Russian media. What happened?
AH: Private matters. My mom got very ill in Novosibirsk during the Olympic season. She lost her sight. While I wasn't there my friends took care of her and made sure she didn't lack a thing. Once the Olympics were behind us I decided there will be no coming help and it's my duty to take care of my mother. She waited for me her whole life while I attended the competitions and the training cams. Once I retired from the competitive skating I didn't know for how long it will last. This year on March 11th my mother passed away. Just by chance it was then that Alexandrovskaya called me and said she and the partner are looking for a coach and would love to come back. There were other offers which I didn't even consider. After all Katia and Harley are my athletes, I was coaching them for many years together with Andrey Pashin right till the Korea Olympics, it was with me they became the Junior world champions in 2017. They then worked for a while in Canada with Gothier, but something didn't work out there. Hence I really wanted to work with them again. Though it was tough at first.
EV: Too far away?
AH: It's not that. Katia gained too much weight while Harley lost all his strength. When I saw them in the state they were my first instinct was to get on a plane back to Russia. There was no question about a serious work. Hence they first had to get back in shape.
Harley had another problem, which first seemed unsolvable - his leg would inflammate and swell up so badly it became purple and he couldn't fit it in the skating boot. That was the reason they skipped the last Worlds. We changed he boots model for a wider ones, did some injections and for 2 months we would freeze the foot before the practice so it would shrink a bit, but nothing worked. I was cursing and not understanding how can an athlete allow himself to get to such a state. It was a desperate measure to offer changing the boot model and quite surprisingly it solved the problem. Of course we lost time - it was just 1.5 weeks before the Nebelhorn trophy, but from that moment on we started improving.
EV: I was watching your team in Las Vegas and couldn't help thinking I watch Tarasova/Morozov at their best times. You have a recognizable style. I can't believe your previous team did not try to get you back once you returned working.
AH: And yet it's so. I was not offered a job. It's probably for the best. At least that's what I told myself when I realized I was left redundant.
EV: See, before the Sochi Olympics the whole Mozer team seemed like a fist that strikes at once. When right after the Olympics you and Stanislav Morozov left and there was no place for Maksim Trankov there left and then Mozer herself semiretired it was quite upsetting.
AH: It was quite painful at first of course. But I took it quite calmly. At least when Tarasova/Morozov decided they wanted to work with Trankov I had no hard feelings they chose him and not me. I'm very close to Volosozhar and I knew Maksim's father quite well. We never fought. Hence when Maks had some coaching defeats last year I was upset. I really wanted him and the athletes to be successful. I still do.
At the same time I was confident I'll find a job. More than that - that the job will find me. I did not attend the rink, I did not ask for a job. I sometimes traveled around within the Russian regions and helped the coaches. I spend most of my time now in Australia. Though after the Olympics in Korea I had an offer from a different country. But it mean to move there for good. For a 100% job.
EV: I'll risk to guess it's China?
AH: How did you know?
EV: As far as I know the Chinese are now building a huge skating preparation programme. So it's easy to guess who all of a sudden needs high class specialists.
AH: In my case it wasn't about moving to Beijing. It was a completely different region where they built a crazy facility, a lot of skaters work there and they decided to start developing the pairs skating there as well. I once worked in the region - while still living in Siberia. Can you imagine how long ago it was? At the time I was invited by a man who worked in the Russian Chinese embassy. He is not an athlete, but he really wanted to develop our sport there. It were tough times and that job helped me to survive. I was touring with my athletes in various shows and the money we earned there were used on the boots, blades and the costumes. We didn't really get any salary back then - all the industry in Siberia stopped and many families were close to poverty.
The flight company `Siberia' supported us so much - they gave the guys almost free tickets. All the international competitions my athletes attended - they payed pennies for the flights.
As for the work with Tarasova/Morozov - I wish them success. It's a great team and it's not for nothing Stanislav Morozov and I worked with them for so long.
EV: How comfortable are you in Sidney?
AH: I have a very good relationship with the heads of the national sports, with the one who is responsible for the Winter Olympic sports and we have a complete understanding. Besides, I think Alexandrovskaya/Winsdor are capable of a much higher result than what they show now. They just need help to get there.
It's hard to get used there are other people on the rink at the same time we are there - those who payed for the mass skating. It happens that I want to snap really. But every time there is a grandmother or a grandfather who approaches and says `Super, Andrey! You have great athletes and it's a honour for us skating next to them'. What can I say? So I learn to collaborate. Of course when we have some skates scheduled everyone is really understanding and they clear the ice.
EV: Did you family move with you to Australia?
AH: Not yet. We have a lot back in Russia - a country house and 5 cats. I really hope my wife will join me this winter. It'll be the summer in Austrlalia...
The Russian specialist came to SA with the Australian pair Alexandrovskaya/Winsdor.
EV: Andrey, after the team triumph in the Sochi Olympics you disappeared from the Russian media. What happened?
AH: Private matters. My mom got very ill in Novosibirsk during the Olympic season. She lost her sight. While I wasn't there my friends took care of her and made sure she didn't lack a thing. Once the Olympics were behind us I decided there will be no coming help and it's my duty to take care of my mother. She waited for me her whole life while I attended the competitions and the training cams. Once I retired from the competitive skating I didn't know for how long it will last. This year on March 11th my mother passed away. Just by chance it was then that Alexandrovskaya called me and said she and the partner are looking for a coach and would love to come back. There were other offers which I didn't even consider. After all Katia and Harley are my athletes, I was coaching them for many years together with Andrey Pashin right till the Korea Olympics, it was with me they became the Junior world champions in 2017. They then worked for a while in Canada with Gothier, but something didn't work out there. Hence I really wanted to work with them again. Though it was tough at first.
EV: Too far away?
AH: It's not that. Katia gained too much weight while Harley lost all his strength. When I saw them in the state they were my first instinct was to get on a plane back to Russia. There was no question about a serious work. Hence they first had to get back in shape.
Harley had another problem, which first seemed unsolvable - his leg would inflammate and swell up so badly it became purple and he couldn't fit it in the skating boot. That was the reason they skipped the last Worlds. We changed he boots model for a wider ones, did some injections and for 2 months we would freeze the foot before the practice so it would shrink a bit, but nothing worked. I was cursing and not understanding how can an athlete allow himself to get to such a state. It was a desperate measure to offer changing the boot model and quite surprisingly it solved the problem. Of course we lost time - it was just 1.5 weeks before the Nebelhorn trophy, but from that moment on we started improving.
EV: I was watching your team in Las Vegas and couldn't help thinking I watch Tarasova/Morozov at their best times. You have a recognizable style. I can't believe your previous team did not try to get you back once you returned working.
AH: And yet it's so. I was not offered a job. It's probably for the best. At least that's what I told myself when I realized I was left redundant.
EV: See, before the Sochi Olympics the whole Mozer team seemed like a fist that strikes at once. When right after the Olympics you and Stanislav Morozov left and there was no place for Maksim Trankov there left and then Mozer herself semiretired it was quite upsetting.
AH: It was quite painful at first of course. But I took it quite calmly. At least when Tarasova/Morozov decided they wanted to work with Trankov I had no hard feelings they chose him and not me. I'm very close to Volosozhar and I knew Maksim's father quite well. We never fought. Hence when Maks had some coaching defeats last year I was upset. I really wanted him and the athletes to be successful. I still do.
At the same time I was confident I'll find a job. More than that - that the job will find me. I did not attend the rink, I did not ask for a job. I sometimes traveled around within the Russian regions and helped the coaches. I spend most of my time now in Australia. Though after the Olympics in Korea I had an offer from a different country. But it mean to move there for good. For a 100% job.
EV: I'll risk to guess it's China?
AH: How did you know?
EV: As far as I know the Chinese are now building a huge skating preparation programme. So it's easy to guess who all of a sudden needs high class specialists.
AH: In my case it wasn't about moving to Beijing. It was a completely different region where they built a crazy facility, a lot of skaters work there and they decided to start developing the pairs skating there as well. I once worked in the region - while still living in Siberia. Can you imagine how long ago it was? At the time I was invited by a man who worked in the Russian Chinese embassy. He is not an athlete, but he really wanted to develop our sport there. It were tough times and that job helped me to survive. I was touring with my athletes in various shows and the money we earned there were used on the boots, blades and the costumes. We didn't really get any salary back then - all the industry in Siberia stopped and many families were close to poverty.
The flight company `Siberia' supported us so much - they gave the guys almost free tickets. All the international competitions my athletes attended - they payed pennies for the flights.
As for the work with Tarasova/Morozov - I wish them success. It's a great team and it's not for nothing Stanislav Morozov and I worked with them for so long.
EV: How comfortable are you in Sidney?
AH: I have a very good relationship with the heads of the national sports, with the one who is responsible for the Winter Olympic sports and we have a complete understanding. Besides, I think Alexandrovskaya/Winsdor are capable of a much higher result than what they show now. They just need help to get there.
It's hard to get used there are other people on the rink at the same time we are there - those who payed for the mass skating. It happens that I want to snap really. But every time there is a grandmother or a grandfather who approaches and says `Super, Andrey! You have great athletes and it's a honour for us skating next to them'. What can I say? So I learn to collaborate. Of course when we have some skates scheduled everyone is really understanding and they clear the ice.
EV: Did you family move with you to Australia?
AH: Not yet. We have a lot back in Russia - a country house and 5 cats. I really hope my wife will join me this winter. It'll be the summer in Austrlalia...
