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Elena Vaytsekhovskaya's interview with Yulia Lipnitskaya `At some point I didn't know how to go on with my life' for sport-express.ru
The Olympic champion sums up the hardest season of her life and tells how she gave up the idea switching to the ice dance.
A week ago she finished the far from easy season, which included a coaching switch, moving to Sochi from Moscow and the beginning of an independent life. We set up the interview in February when going back together from Saransk where the Russian cup final took place, and knowing the conversation would be long Yulia asked to postpone it - once the competitions will be over and she'll be able to breath again. We met in Moscow - almost immediately after the 17y.o. skater won the first competition of this season - Cup of Tyrol in Innsbruck, Austria.
EV: Lets start from the very beginning. When you made a decision to move to Sochi you were optimistic. What was the reality?
YL: Interesting. It was not only about the practices but also starting living alone. I was going away alone for the first time in my life. First of all I learned the food does not grow in the fridge and the shampoo does not materialize in the shower. I wasn't even thinking about such things before. First I had to walk or bike to the practices and it was not so easy. After the route for Formula I was built in Sochi I have to take a huge round and if am using a bicycle I have to lift it and carry it over all the bridges on the way.
I was shocked every day in the practice. Everything was new. For example a huge amount of general shape practice which I had to combine with the work on the ice. In Moscow we were not doing the general shape as part of the process - just choreography. Everyone had to take care of their shape themselves. In Sochi we work on the choreography every day as well, but it's an addition to everything else.
First I could skip some of the off ice work since I had to get ready for the nationals and I had to work a lot on the ice. But it was not easy. Apparently compared to the other guys who are skating in Urmanov's group I don't have any muscles. His attempts to make me grow some in such a short time resulted me being unable to get up the day after a full gym work out day.
EV: At the very beginning of the season, while you were still working in Moscow I was, frankly, surprised by the way your programmes were set. Especially all your jumps being at the first part of the programme. Was it the top of your ability at that moment?
YL: Why it happened that all the jumps were in the first part of the programme, especially the SP? I don't really remember, frankly. I did have troubles in the LP though. If you recall, my Olympic season programme had 5 jumps in the 2nd part of the programme. The next year as if nothing had changed, but I was able to pull the first part of the programme with 2 jumping combos, a spin and a step sequence. And that was it, the programme was over. Through the whole season I was unable to skate a single clean skate. Not even during the practice.
The competitions were even worse. When you realize you can't skate your programme, that it never happened during the practice it's the only thing you can think of. Obviously it does not boost the confidence.
EV: It went on for the whole past Olympic season?
YL: Even longer. The only time I was able to pull a clean, even if a weak programme was last October in Skate America. The next two clean skate happened before the Nationals when I was practicing with Urmanov and once again just before the Russian cup in Saransk.
EV: I.e. there was a reason to be optimistic right after switching the coaches?
YL: Not really. First thing I encountered in Urmanov's group were unfamiliar jumps entries. It's the most important thing for the skater: if the entry is wrong there will be no jump. I always though it would be the same. And there Alexey Evgenievich would ask me to do a 3lz from the steps. For example: rocker-counter turn-jump-jump-edge change- a jump.
Every day we jumped from different entries, i.e. I couldn't even get used to a certain set of elements. It was a nightmare. And all the guys around were jumping the triplles with no difficulty. I couldn't even do doubles. I was really feeling bad, not only for myself, but also for the coach. I thought he was looking at me and thinking `What did I get myself into? And that's the girl I have to go with to the nationals?'
And then suddenly it all became allright. The jumps were back and we even changed the order of the elements.
EV: During the last several month, I think, you had to answer yourself only one question.
YL: Whether I want to go on skating? I do. Of course I have my ups and downs, sometimes things work and somethings nothing works, but it happens to every athlete and it's ok. The most important is that I know what my goals are and I know they are within my reach.
EV: Is it interesting working with Urmanov?
YL: Very. It's an endless variety. If something doesn't work he offers 800 other things I can do to fix the error. It feels that Alexey Evgenievich is a single skater himself and knows exactly how the elements should be done and how the hardest things can be done easily.
EV: Do you have ideas for the next season's programmes?
YL: Yes, but only general. My short term goal is working in the gym and preparing my muscles for the work. I will be doing that while Alexey Evgenievich is away - going with Deniss Vasiljevs to the worlds in the USA. It's not just my upper body that is weak, it's also my legs.
EV: And yet your jumps seem to be higher.
YL: Yes, indeed but it's mainly thanks to fixing the technique. By the way jumping tano helps me. Previously I would jump up and would be as if afraid of being in the air, I would go stiff. Think it's the reason I was missing the 2nd 3T in the combos. The lifted arm helps me keeping the rotation and not bending in the air. It was quite by mistake I started doing that: I was doing the double jumps and then attempted a 3F, which was unexpectedly easy.
EV: Are you following the ladies skating?
YL: I try.
EV: Are you worried there are more and more little girls who skate so well it's not even obvious how can they be beaten?
YL: Most importantly I understand what I should do and how. Of course the situation in the ladies skating changes. Previously the older skaters would get higher 2nd mark and it would be enough to compensate the lack of difficulty. Now the juniors get high 2nd mark from the very beginning, hence competing with them is harder. But as Alexey Evgenievich says, I just have to do my job and let the time make things right. So am doing my job: improving my jumps, expressiveness of my skating, new spinning positions. We will be working on all of that during the off season in Sochi. Perhaps towards the Autumn we'll go somewhere to a training camp just to change the environment, even though we have absolutely all we need for work in our rink and I don't really want to go anywhere and waste time. It seems as if I had plenty of time, but it's not the case.
EV: How long did it take you to adjust in Sochi?
YL: First days I didn't have time for anything. Everything was new. I was doing my best to do all that was planned. I would oversleep the first practice all the time. In Moscow we began skating at 1am, so I never had to set the alarm and I could go to sleep whenever. I still can't get myself to sleep early, so it's hard to wake up. I tried reading and painting, walking, listening to the music - the sleep just doesn't come!
EV: Are you eating in the hotel as well?
YL: Usually just the breakfast. The rest- whatever. I can have lunch in the hotel, but it's a bad idea - the food is too tempting. Hence I usually have lunch elsewhere, or just buy a ready food that I can eat in my hotel room. I don't have an option to cook myself. But I like it. Living in Moscow was harder, even if it was just about talking a walk.
EV: Have you thought about renting a flat in the city?
YL: No. It's not quite safe in my case. There are, apparently, too many people who are trying to get into my life. They get my address, my phone number. I don't understand how can they invade someone's privacy so rudely thinking they are expected. At this point of time the hotel is the most convenient.
EV: Are you recognized on the streets?
YL: Sometimes a person sees me on a street and their eyes go huge. I understand they are trying to recall who am I. In such cases I just go faster and disappear.
EV: Do you miss Moscow?
YL: No. I came for a couple of days, visited all the familiar places, spoke to everyone. I can go back now. I'll move back to Moscow after my Sochi adventure is over.
EV: How long do you think they'll last?
YL: For two years at least. We'll see what then. Perhaps I'll want to skate for another 8 years.
EV: Is fighting with the weight less hard than it used to?
YL: There were problems at the summer. I was trying to lose weight, I was running, giving up food and nothing helped. I used to think `gaining weight out of the air' was just an expression, but what happened to me was just that. I put a spoon of honey in the tea - hello an extra kg. I didn't understand what was going on. I didn't believe all the horrors we were told about puberty will not happen to me.
By the nationals I worked really hard to lose 1kg. By the Russian cup the weight started going down - I started falling out from the dresses. It's easier in Sochi with the food - I eat lots of fruits, vegetables and I love it.
EV: While you were still dealing with all the hardships in Moscow, did you consider leaving the singles skating? For instance Sofia Biryukova, who switched to pairs and is quite successful there.
YL: After I skated in Marina Zueva's group at the Autumn I really wanted to try ice dance. So bad that when I came back to Moscow I was driving my mother nuts to send me to the ice dance. I thought everything would work great for me there: I'm tiny, flexible, it would be easy to lift me and am not afraid. In the USA I even tried skating with a partner, it was so cool!
EV: What stops you from doing just that after the Olympics in Korea?
YL: I will be 19y.o. which is a lot. It takes a while to get used to a partner in the ice dance. It's what I was told when I shared the idea with someone: `Are you nuts? People spend 8 hours a day just learning to glide together'
EV: You could switch to pairs.
YL: No, I don't want that. I love watching Volosozhar/Trankov and Stolbova/Klimov, but I can't even imagine being a female partner. It's scary even just looking at some of the elements.
EV: Who does your hair before the competitions now?
YL: I do. Frankly I don't have enough patience for the small braids like my mom used to do. I know how it's done and if needed I can create any hair style.
EV: Why are you laughing?
YL: I recalled how hard I worked on my hair before the competition in Austria. Everything there went wrong starting with the warm up. I did a first jump and scratched myself to blood, though the tights didn't tear. I attempt a 2nd jump and get the blade on a shoe lace cutting it completely. Attempting a tano flip, hit that hairstyle and understand all these pins I spent ages putting in are in my glove together with a lock of hair. And I was the first to skate...
EV: It seemed you had no mood skating in Innsbruck, as if you didn't understand what it was all for.
YL: Should I tell you why? I couldn't step on my left foot. In Sochi we started practicing on the new combinations for the next season. Guess some muscles were not ready for such pressure, or perhaps I just tried too hard. Anyway, one of the muscles was hurt. I was checked and given procedures, I was given some medicine, but in general the doctors' advice was lying flat and not even attempt walking. That was 4 days before a competition.
EV: Have you considered not going to Innsbruck?
YL: There would be much more problems if we didn't go. I needed another competition, needed the points. Hence we decided whatever will be will be. We reached the goals in the end.
EV: If you began working on the new combos you have a clue what you want to show the next season?
YL: It's still in the air. We are fixing some technical elements, then we'll start reviving the lutz/toeloop, loop-toeloop. I have a decent - covering half a rink 2A-half turn-3S, it looks good apparently. Before the competition in Innsbruck the 3Lz/3T was working, but I was injured right after. But it's clear now the jumps are coming back nicely.
EV: Why will be choreographing your programmes for the next season?
YL: There are several ideas, all the choreographers are from abroad, but I can't voice the names since we haven't even started negotiating.
EV: You have quite a temper when it comes to the choreography, right?
YL: It's more about me being hard on the new people. And don't agree on anything new till understand it will not hurt me,
EV: During the whole season I keep hearing Evgenia Medvedeva skates a programme that should had been yours. If it's true, frankly, it's a shame. Such a programme, I think, would suit you.
YL: True, the programme was choreographed for me. Perhaps it would indeed suit me, but the thing is that I hated the music. I really tried to get used to it, I was told that I will in a week. But it didn't happen. It's not my music. I was enduring it. But when I asked myself why would I suffer the whole season I couldn't find an answer. When Evgenia started skating to it I thought it would annoy me hearing the music on the rink, but that didn't happen. Guess subconsciously I knew it was not my music anymore and I didn't care about it.
EV: Do you like the part of your life related to commercials, travels, shootings?
YL: It depends. I try not to take it too seriously. It's just something I have to do by a contract. It was interesting taking part in the commercial ad. The creators wanted to show figure skating the way the skater sees it using the selfie stick. A view from the ice, so to say.
EV: I recall when we spoke in Budapest right after Europeans 2014 you hinted you didn't like figure skating, but endure it.
YL: That was the case in the Olympic season. After that, however.. I had a chance to get into a real life and understood I have no idea what is it. The things on the ice didn't work either. At some point I stopped understanding how should I live and what should I do. I didn't care about anything. Now I just try to enjoy it. The skating, meeting friends, the independence. I understand the real life only begins now. In sports as well. I don't endure figure skating, but understand I need it. Perhaps the coach and I will make it?
I also like the mood in the group. I was never exposed to that before: I've been to several groups that were in an inner war so to say. It's an individual sport and we were competing all the time. Even when it seems as if the butterflies were flying above the ice. More than that: I realized figure skating was a very cruel world, which I had to get used to it. And then I switched to Urmanov... I thought they were hiding something at first.
EV: And?
YL: And came to a conclusion I shouldn't even think about it. I just have to cherish the relationship. It's a rare in our sports.
EV: What do you miss the most in Sochi?
YL: I guess the close people. Though on the other hand I learned to cherish the moments I get to spend with the beloved ones.
The Olympic champion sums up the hardest season of her life and tells how she gave up the idea switching to the ice dance.
A week ago she finished the far from easy season, which included a coaching switch, moving to Sochi from Moscow and the beginning of an independent life. We set up the interview in February when going back together from Saransk where the Russian cup final took place, and knowing the conversation would be long Yulia asked to postpone it - once the competitions will be over and she'll be able to breath again. We met in Moscow - almost immediately after the 17y.o. skater won the first competition of this season - Cup of Tyrol in Innsbruck, Austria.
EV: Lets start from the very beginning. When you made a decision to move to Sochi you were optimistic. What was the reality?
YL: Interesting. It was not only about the practices but also starting living alone. I was going away alone for the first time in my life. First of all I learned the food does not grow in the fridge and the shampoo does not materialize in the shower. I wasn't even thinking about such things before. First I had to walk or bike to the practices and it was not so easy. After the route for Formula I was built in Sochi I have to take a huge round and if am using a bicycle I have to lift it and carry it over all the bridges on the way.
I was shocked every day in the practice. Everything was new. For example a huge amount of general shape practice which I had to combine with the work on the ice. In Moscow we were not doing the general shape as part of the process - just choreography. Everyone had to take care of their shape themselves. In Sochi we work on the choreography every day as well, but it's an addition to everything else.
First I could skip some of the off ice work since I had to get ready for the nationals and I had to work a lot on the ice. But it was not easy. Apparently compared to the other guys who are skating in Urmanov's group I don't have any muscles. His attempts to make me grow some in such a short time resulted me being unable to get up the day after a full gym work out day.
EV: At the very beginning of the season, while you were still working in Moscow I was, frankly, surprised by the way your programmes were set. Especially all your jumps being at the first part of the programme. Was it the top of your ability at that moment?
YL: Why it happened that all the jumps were in the first part of the programme, especially the SP? I don't really remember, frankly. I did have troubles in the LP though. If you recall, my Olympic season programme had 5 jumps in the 2nd part of the programme. The next year as if nothing had changed, but I was able to pull the first part of the programme with 2 jumping combos, a spin and a step sequence. And that was it, the programme was over. Through the whole season I was unable to skate a single clean skate. Not even during the practice.
The competitions were even worse. When you realize you can't skate your programme, that it never happened during the practice it's the only thing you can think of. Obviously it does not boost the confidence.
EV: It went on for the whole past Olympic season?
YL: Even longer. The only time I was able to pull a clean, even if a weak programme was last October in Skate America. The next two clean skate happened before the Nationals when I was practicing with Urmanov and once again just before the Russian cup in Saransk.
EV: I.e. there was a reason to be optimistic right after switching the coaches?
YL: Not really. First thing I encountered in Urmanov's group were unfamiliar jumps entries. It's the most important thing for the skater: if the entry is wrong there will be no jump. I always though it would be the same. And there Alexey Evgenievich would ask me to do a 3lz from the steps. For example: rocker-counter turn-jump-jump-edge change- a jump.
Every day we jumped from different entries, i.e. I couldn't even get used to a certain set of elements. It was a nightmare. And all the guys around were jumping the triplles with no difficulty. I couldn't even do doubles. I was really feeling bad, not only for myself, but also for the coach. I thought he was looking at me and thinking `What did I get myself into? And that's the girl I have to go with to the nationals?'
And then suddenly it all became allright. The jumps were back and we even changed the order of the elements.
EV: During the last several month, I think, you had to answer yourself only one question.
YL: Whether I want to go on skating? I do. Of course I have my ups and downs, sometimes things work and somethings nothing works, but it happens to every athlete and it's ok. The most important is that I know what my goals are and I know they are within my reach.
EV: Is it interesting working with Urmanov?
YL: Very. It's an endless variety. If something doesn't work he offers 800 other things I can do to fix the error. It feels that Alexey Evgenievich is a single skater himself and knows exactly how the elements should be done and how the hardest things can be done easily.
EV: Do you have ideas for the next season's programmes?
YL: Yes, but only general. My short term goal is working in the gym and preparing my muscles for the work. I will be doing that while Alexey Evgenievich is away - going with Deniss Vasiljevs to the worlds in the USA. It's not just my upper body that is weak, it's also my legs.
EV: And yet your jumps seem to be higher.
YL: Yes, indeed but it's mainly thanks to fixing the technique. By the way jumping tano helps me. Previously I would jump up and would be as if afraid of being in the air, I would go stiff. Think it's the reason I was missing the 2nd 3T in the combos. The lifted arm helps me keeping the rotation and not bending in the air. It was quite by mistake I started doing that: I was doing the double jumps and then attempted a 3F, which was unexpectedly easy.
EV: Are you following the ladies skating?
YL: I try.
EV: Are you worried there are more and more little girls who skate so well it's not even obvious how can they be beaten?
YL: Most importantly I understand what I should do and how. Of course the situation in the ladies skating changes. Previously the older skaters would get higher 2nd mark and it would be enough to compensate the lack of difficulty. Now the juniors get high 2nd mark from the very beginning, hence competing with them is harder. But as Alexey Evgenievich says, I just have to do my job and let the time make things right. So am doing my job: improving my jumps, expressiveness of my skating, new spinning positions. We will be working on all of that during the off season in Sochi. Perhaps towards the Autumn we'll go somewhere to a training camp just to change the environment, even though we have absolutely all we need for work in our rink and I don't really want to go anywhere and waste time. It seems as if I had plenty of time, but it's not the case.
EV: How long did it take you to adjust in Sochi?
YL: First days I didn't have time for anything. Everything was new. I was doing my best to do all that was planned. I would oversleep the first practice all the time. In Moscow we began skating at 1am, so I never had to set the alarm and I could go to sleep whenever. I still can't get myself to sleep early, so it's hard to wake up. I tried reading and painting, walking, listening to the music - the sleep just doesn't come!
EV: Are you eating in the hotel as well?
YL: Usually just the breakfast. The rest- whatever. I can have lunch in the hotel, but it's a bad idea - the food is too tempting. Hence I usually have lunch elsewhere, or just buy a ready food that I can eat in my hotel room. I don't have an option to cook myself. But I like it. Living in Moscow was harder, even if it was just about talking a walk.
EV: Have you thought about renting a flat in the city?
YL: No. It's not quite safe in my case. There are, apparently, too many people who are trying to get into my life. They get my address, my phone number. I don't understand how can they invade someone's privacy so rudely thinking they are expected. At this point of time the hotel is the most convenient.
EV: Are you recognized on the streets?
YL: Sometimes a person sees me on a street and their eyes go huge. I understand they are trying to recall who am I. In such cases I just go faster and disappear.
EV: Do you miss Moscow?
YL: No. I came for a couple of days, visited all the familiar places, spoke to everyone. I can go back now. I'll move back to Moscow after my Sochi adventure is over.
EV: How long do you think they'll last?
YL: For two years at least. We'll see what then. Perhaps I'll want to skate for another 8 years.
EV: Is fighting with the weight less hard than it used to?
YL: There were problems at the summer. I was trying to lose weight, I was running, giving up food and nothing helped. I used to think `gaining weight out of the air' was just an expression, but what happened to me was just that. I put a spoon of honey in the tea - hello an extra kg. I didn't understand what was going on. I didn't believe all the horrors we were told about puberty will not happen to me.
By the nationals I worked really hard to lose 1kg. By the Russian cup the weight started going down - I started falling out from the dresses. It's easier in Sochi with the food - I eat lots of fruits, vegetables and I love it.
EV: While you were still dealing with all the hardships in Moscow, did you consider leaving the singles skating? For instance Sofia Biryukova, who switched to pairs and is quite successful there.
YL: After I skated in Marina Zueva's group at the Autumn I really wanted to try ice dance. So bad that when I came back to Moscow I was driving my mother nuts to send me to the ice dance. I thought everything would work great for me there: I'm tiny, flexible, it would be easy to lift me and am not afraid. In the USA I even tried skating with a partner, it was so cool!
EV: What stops you from doing just that after the Olympics in Korea?
YL: I will be 19y.o. which is a lot. It takes a while to get used to a partner in the ice dance. It's what I was told when I shared the idea with someone: `Are you nuts? People spend 8 hours a day just learning to glide together'
EV: You could switch to pairs.
YL: No, I don't want that. I love watching Volosozhar/Trankov and Stolbova/Klimov, but I can't even imagine being a female partner. It's scary even just looking at some of the elements.
EV: Who does your hair before the competitions now?
YL: I do. Frankly I don't have enough patience for the small braids like my mom used to do. I know how it's done and if needed I can create any hair style.
EV: Why are you laughing?
YL: I recalled how hard I worked on my hair before the competition in Austria. Everything there went wrong starting with the warm up. I did a first jump and scratched myself to blood, though the tights didn't tear. I attempt a 2nd jump and get the blade on a shoe lace cutting it completely. Attempting a tano flip, hit that hairstyle and understand all these pins I spent ages putting in are in my glove together with a lock of hair. And I was the first to skate...
EV: It seemed you had no mood skating in Innsbruck, as if you didn't understand what it was all for.
YL: Should I tell you why? I couldn't step on my left foot. In Sochi we started practicing on the new combinations for the next season. Guess some muscles were not ready for such pressure, or perhaps I just tried too hard. Anyway, one of the muscles was hurt. I was checked and given procedures, I was given some medicine, but in general the doctors' advice was lying flat and not even attempt walking. That was 4 days before a competition.
EV: Have you considered not going to Innsbruck?
YL: There would be much more problems if we didn't go. I needed another competition, needed the points. Hence we decided whatever will be will be. We reached the goals in the end.
EV: If you began working on the new combos you have a clue what you want to show the next season?
YL: It's still in the air. We are fixing some technical elements, then we'll start reviving the lutz/toeloop, loop-toeloop. I have a decent - covering half a rink 2A-half turn-3S, it looks good apparently. Before the competition in Innsbruck the 3Lz/3T was working, but I was injured right after. But it's clear now the jumps are coming back nicely.
EV: Why will be choreographing your programmes for the next season?
YL: There are several ideas, all the choreographers are from abroad, but I can't voice the names since we haven't even started negotiating.
EV: You have quite a temper when it comes to the choreography, right?
YL: It's more about me being hard on the new people. And don't agree on anything new till understand it will not hurt me,
EV: During the whole season I keep hearing Evgenia Medvedeva skates a programme that should had been yours. If it's true, frankly, it's a shame. Such a programme, I think, would suit you.
YL: True, the programme was choreographed for me. Perhaps it would indeed suit me, but the thing is that I hated the music. I really tried to get used to it, I was told that I will in a week. But it didn't happen. It's not my music. I was enduring it. But when I asked myself why would I suffer the whole season I couldn't find an answer. When Evgenia started skating to it I thought it would annoy me hearing the music on the rink, but that didn't happen. Guess subconsciously I knew it was not my music anymore and I didn't care about it.
EV: Do you like the part of your life related to commercials, travels, shootings?
YL: It depends. I try not to take it too seriously. It's just something I have to do by a contract. It was interesting taking part in the commercial ad. The creators wanted to show figure skating the way the skater sees it using the selfie stick. A view from the ice, so to say.
EV: I recall when we spoke in Budapest right after Europeans 2014 you hinted you didn't like figure skating, but endure it.
YL: That was the case in the Olympic season. After that, however.. I had a chance to get into a real life and understood I have no idea what is it. The things on the ice didn't work either. At some point I stopped understanding how should I live and what should I do. I didn't care about anything. Now I just try to enjoy it. The skating, meeting friends, the independence. I understand the real life only begins now. In sports as well. I don't endure figure skating, but understand I need it. Perhaps the coach and I will make it?
I also like the mood in the group. I was never exposed to that before: I've been to several groups that were in an inner war so to say. It's an individual sport and we were competing all the time. Even when it seems as if the butterflies were flying above the ice. More than that: I realized figure skating was a very cruel world, which I had to get used to it. And then I switched to Urmanov... I thought they were hiding something at first.
EV: And?
YL: And came to a conclusion I shouldn't even think about it. I just have to cherish the relationship. It's a rare in our sports.
EV: What do you miss the most in Sochi?
YL: I guess the close people. Though on the other hand I learned to cherish the moments I get to spend with the beloved ones.
in Boston!)
