Interview with the centurion. Adelina Sotnikova: “They scold me for not acting like a girl
1) Girl-ray
Dear figure skating friends, I am very glad to welcome you again to our blog. I have no doubt that you remember the post.
Today I am pleased to provide you with a continuation. I dedicate this collection to one figure skater, the first Olympic champion in figure skating in the history of Russia - Adelina Sotnikova. I think it deserves its own post. These photos are a real treat for the eyes! Let's dive into the world of sports, beauty, grace and splendor!
Adelina Sotnikova - started skating at the age of 4, at the Yuzhny skating rink near her home, in the regular regional figure skating section.
Every child has a dream...
Will it come true? - There are reasons for that.
Become the best figure skater on earth
There was the desire of young Adeline.
Having set your goal above all tasks,
Using persistence and zeal,
Bypassing the sequence of failures,
The athlete deserves respect!
She reached an unimaginable milestone
Captivating the entire audience with his charisma
And this was not a girlish rebellion,
And skill for glorifying the Fatherland
“Clean” skating, self-confidence,
Elegance, grace and superfluity - not an ounce.
Calculation with a combination of steps...
The program is thought out to precision!
Let Sotnikova’s name “shine” for a long time,
Decorating the figure skating formula.
To Russian athletes, like a magnet,
“It will attract gold” as a reward for your efforts!
(Natalia Saprykina)
Skates melting the perfection of lines,
Interrupting them only for flight,
She skated just like a goddess
Came down on the ice for the occasion!
7) Adele and the sea
Not afraid of complexity on the brink -
In harmony of tracks and jumps!
The delight of the soul is the same as from Tanya!
Besides, Trankov commented!
And everything turned out to be gold for Adele!
Russia breathed out with her: “Yes!”
The Olympic weeks have flown by,
But she became a champion forever!
(Vladimir Kostarev)
Adeline is a real prodigy. At just 12 years old, she already won her first adult Russian Championship in 2009. By the way, her coach, Elena Buyanova (Vodorezova), did the same at one time.
10) Seven-flowered flower
Despite the time- and energy-consuming sport, the young Russian champion still had to go to school. Adeline’s favorite subjects were algebra and physics: “Figure skating is physics, so it’s a very useful science for me.”
On February 14, 2012, Adeline was awarded the title “Master of Sports of Russia of International Class” - after her third (out of four) victory at the Russian Championship and a silver medal at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria.
The figure skater doesn’t have to worry too much about her figure, since she is practically indifferent to sweets and prefers vegetables, especially boiled carrots. Adeline has had this extremely atypical love for children since kindergarten.
The choice of Adeline's figure skating idols is quite unusual - these are the French figure skaters Brian Joubert and Stéphane Lambiel, and the Japanese Miki Ando and Mao Asada, who also competed in Sochi, but took only 6th place.
Adeline loves to surf the Internet, communicates on VKontakte and maintains Instagram. In addition, among the champion’s hobbies is visiting cinemas and theaters.
And the first Olympic champion in women's single figure skating in the history of Russia prefers to compete under the last number, considers her mother to be her best friend and plans to become a coach.
18) A difficult road ahead
- How easy is it for you to succeed in life?
It may seem from the outside that they are easy, but in reality they are not. I am very jealous of people who work little but get everything they need. I have to put a lot of effort into this. You constantly have to sweat, overcome yourself, cry. Victories are given only thanks to the love for my work and the work that I put in.
19) Girl wind... Wild field
I constantly want to work, improve and delight people with my successes
20) Bright, enthusiastic bird in winter
21) Adeline-bouquet
" After I started participating in Dancing with the Stars, many people advised me to take up pairs figure skating."
- What did you like to do most of all that you have already tried?
While I like everything, I can’t single out just one activity. As I said, I think I could even sing. True, this takes time - you need to take vocal lessons to achieve the necessary skill.
And, for example, in one of my performances in “Dancing with the Stars” I read poems by Pushkin. It was quite difficult to do it beautifully. But thanks to one person, I was able to read the poems in such a way that even the producers of the show were surprised...
22) Sophisticated Larina
I want to create and produce clothes not only for athletes, but also for ordinary people
23) Fresh spicy chrysanthemum
- Do you yourself adhere to a certain style of clothing?
Everything depends on the mood. I usually like to wear ripped jeans, loose sweaters, a leather jacket and a backpack. There are times when you want to be an office lady. Then I wear a blouse with a skirt or trousers. It also happens that I go to some events in dresses.
If we talk about clothing brands, I prefer the mass market. Even abroad, I usually buy things in chain stores, because they always have something that we don’t have in Russia. In general, I believe that only bags and shoes should be expensive and branded, because this often implies quality and convenience.
ElenaGri
Adelina Sotnikova: “Now the main thing for me is to get back on the ice”
Outstanding figure skater, Olympic champion of Sochi 2014 Adelina Sotnikova, recognized this year as “The Most Stylish” according to the HELLO.RU website at the “Most Stylish in Russia” ceremony, spoke about her plans to return to big-time sports after an injury, about her personal life and love to decorations.
First, a dizzying rise and victory at the Olympics, and then an injury and a forced pause of several seasons. Adeline talks about that period without drama and very sincerely - however, when necessary, she knows how to control herself perfectly. Either she seems very young and open, then she suddenly transforms and insists on her own in a firm, quiet voice. She maintains her athletic concentration in front of the camera, including an Olympic smile at the right moments, and at the same time, she is girlishly happy when she is offered to try on a red dress: “That’s my color!”
Adeline, when do you feel most comfortable?
When I am active, when I go towards my goal. There are many such girls around me - they live their lives to the fullest, achieve what they want, and this is very inspiring. If I set a goal for myself, then I am ready to give up everything for it. I missed several seasons due to injury, and now the main thing for me is to get back on the ice.
Such a goal truly requires complete dedication. What about your personal life?
You always have to choose, and at the moment my choice is to give myself to the sport. I don’t know yet how I will combine it with my personal life. And I don’t know whether the person who is next to me will go with me to the end. But I'm not rushing things. Time will show. And, after all, I'm only 20 years old!
When I hear your reasoning, it seems that you have more.
Sometimes it seems like that to me too. I often talk about this with my mother. So much has happened to me: betrayals, breakups, ups, and dark streaks... It’s as if I’ve been living for at least half a century. And for many at this age, life is just beginning!
Speaking of a bad streak, do you mean injuries after winning the Olympics?
Of course, that too. At first it was very difficult: you train, make plans - and suddenly one day everything collapses. A ligament rupture, a cast - and complete uncertainty lies ahead. At first I was completely devastated. What's next? Will I be able to go on the ice again? Work pulled me out: I continued to go to figure skating school, coached children, and practiced myself. That is, she remained active.
Have you trained while wearing a cast?
Yes, in a cast - on the floor. Thanks to this, the healing process went faster. But when the plaster was removed, it became clear that we had to start all over again: there were no muscles, the ligaments were not pumped...
Why did you decide to take part in “Dancing with the Stars” and in Ilya Averbukh’s ice show?
This helped me keep myself in good shape, support myself mentally and physically. I learned again to cope with internal pressures and overcome fear of public - after all, I had a long break. Although no show can compare with big sports. When you step onto the ice during a competition, see a huge hall in front of you and understand that you must now overcome your anxiety and turn the spectators and judges in your direction - this is a very special drive!
Are you open-minded? Do you easily make contact with people?
First, of course, I take a closer look - what kind of person he is, what he wants from me. In general, I know how to find a common language with people. But if I quickly make contact and communicate casually on various topics, this does not mean that I will open up completely.
At the Olympics you amazed everyone with your “Carmen”. How did you manage to enter the image of a sophisticated, passionate woman?
I love playing strong characters. It’s interesting for me to let their stories pass through me and add something of my own. It’s the same with Carmen: I didn’t set myself the goal of showing the passion of an adult woman, I wanted to create my own image - the way I felt it. And I think I succeeded.
How do you feel when you have to appear somewhere in a floor-length evening dress?
This doesn’t happen often, but when I have to go out like this, I view it as a kind of task: so, today I need to look presentable. I choose a hairstyle, a dress, and then I get involved and enjoy the process.
What kind of jewelry do you like?
I love rings, earrings, bracelets, especially when I go out to serious events. PANDORA really like the idea - I can assemble my own jewelry!
That is, here too you prefer to act yourself! Have you already thought about what you will do next?
Certainly. I admit that someday I will work as a coach, I already have experience. I really want to go study acting - this is the dream of my life. But for now I’m drawn to the ice!
Style: Yuka Vizhgorodskaya. Stylist assistant: Alina Frost. Makeup: Valentina Shabanova. Hairstyle: Anastasia Tkacheva/Britana beauty studio. We would like to express our gratitude to the beauty studio "Britana" and the salon of home accessories, gifts and floristry "Objects of Desire" for their help in organizing the shooting
Russian figure skater Adelina Sotnikova, who became an Olympic champion at the Sochi Olympics, spoke about her performance in the free program.
“This is my happiest moment in my life. But there was no excitement before the screening at all. I went out and realized that I really loved my job, that I could skate very well.
I walked towards the Olympic gold medal for a very long time. Even though I’m only 17 years old, I’ve long dreamed of going to the Olympics and winning at least some medal.”
A year ago, then 16-year-old Adeline spoke in an interview with the Sports.ru portal about preparations for the Olympics in Sochi and about her dreams:
Adeline, many noticed that you were unhappy with your second place.
- Not at all. My goal was to skate cleanly in both programs, to show what I can. Unfortunately, not everything worked out at this competition. I'm unhappy with the free skate because I didn't do what I should have done. Judging by the training, I'm ready for the season. But if we take specifically the start in Oberstdorf, the performance was not very successful. Some elements that I usually do with my eyes closed did not work out this time.
“It’s not that I rejoice at other people’s failures”
Admit it, how did you feel last season when you beat Makarova, Leonova, Korobeynikova, but did not participate in the main tournaments due to the age limit?
- Well, how can I say... When Alena, Ksyusha and Polina (Leonova, Makarova and Korobeinikova - Sports.ru note) were performing, I was desperately rooting for them, because this, first of all, was our Russian team, and the girls had to perform well . I was very happy when they succeeded. There is no such thing that I rejoice at other people's failures. Although, of course, if I get to Europe and the World this year, I will fight for myself.
Does high competition in the national team help or hinder?
- Of course it helps. You just need to be responsible for yourself, go out on the ice and do everything to the maximum.
In recent years, Russia has hosted a lot of television shows related to figure skating. Have you been following them?
– Sometimes I looked, although, of course, I couldn’t keep track of everything at once. It’s interesting, I really like it – you just look and it pleases the eye.
Wouldn’t you like to participate?
– Maybe in the future, yes... But I haven’t thought about it yet.
You have long been called a figure skating prodigy. Tell me, did you come to this sport consciously or was it more by chance?
– To be honest, it just happened that way - my parents sent me to the figure skating section, and I liked it. Actually, I had a choice between figure skating and rhythmic gymnastics. True, this was in childhood, maybe I didn’t fully understand what was what then... But I chose figure skating.
You're probably watching your rivals. Do you notice anything about them?
– I always try to analyze the performances in my head and highlight the best for myself. Although at competitions I usually don’t follow others, except perhaps if I skate in one of the first warm-ups, then I watch the remaining skates.
“I had a choice between figure skating and rhythmic gymnastics”
Tell us, who chooses the music for your programs?
– My coach Elena Buyanova and Tatyana Anatolyevna Tarasova. Although, of course, we discuss everything. For example, we listen to some melody, and if I like it, then I say that it could be used, say, for a short one, and some other one for a free one. Then we try to play something and are already looking at whether to keep this music or change it to something else.
Is this music very different from what you listen to in life?
– In my free time, I most often listen to English-language music, and in style it is, of course, very different from the music I skate to - sometimes I listen to rap, for example.
Would you like to make a program to some modern melody?
– Well, this year we staged the program to music from the film “Burlesque.” In general, I always wanted to skate to “Burlesque,” and as soon as Tatyana Anatolyevna gave me this melody to listen to, I immediately said: I want to!
How do you manage to combine training and competitions with studies?
– I have now entered the 11th grade and will take the Unified State Exam this year. Of course, studying and training at the same time is not easy, but I do a lot of extra work to pass the exams well. C's are not my grades, I want A's and B's.
Have you already thought about who you will apply for?
– Yes, to become a coach, as I always wanted. Maybe in the future I will also study to become a judge.
Do you follow changes in the rules?
– I trust the coach, but at the same time I monitor myself. This year they seriously complicated the rotations and put a choreographic spiral after the tracks, and this is difficult to do. Now, of course, I’m already used to it, but before it was possible to make a spiral where you wanted, but now I need to think, choose a place to rest, have enough strength for the remaining elements.
“This year they seriously complicated the rotations and put a spiral after the tracks”
And the problem, accordingly, lies in the new judicial system?
– I don’t know, it’s been used for a long time, many people are used to it. Of course, with this electronic system, the pros and cons and filming on camera, it has become much more difficult for athletes. Previously, for example, you slightly missed the jump, but the judge didn’t notice - everything is clear. And now there are no concessions, although over time you get used to it... Now I don’t even think about it.
What is the most difficult thing about figure skating for you?
– Well, for me there is no such thing anymore (laughs).
But what if we talk not about the elements, but, for example, about psychology, motivation or getting up early for training?
– Yes, I’m already used to everything, so getting up early doesn’t scare me. Probably the most difficult thing for every athlete is preparing for a competition. It happens = that in training you do absolutely everything, but in competitions nothing works. Sometimes I don’t understand how it’s like this - you seem to go out calmly, not worry, but then suddenly everything is wrong.
Last year, this is exactly what happened to Yuzuru Hanyu in Oberstdorf. During all the training, he jumped forty quadruples, and fell from two - in the short and in the free.
– Yes, this happens, although Yuzuru skates, I’m not afraid of this word, he’s just awesome and literally churns out quadruples. He and I performed together at exhibitions in Japan, and at the finale of the show, already at the bows, he suddenly jumped a quadruple toe loop-jump-triple axel.
They say there are two methods of work - carrot and stick. Should you be scolded or praised during training?
– It’s difficult... I need to be scolded and praised.
Do you think it’s difficult to train Adelina Sotnikova at all?
– It’s not difficult to train me: I don’t argue, I listen to the coach, I do what I’m told. Of course, I don’t always succeed in everything at competitions, and I usually get very upset. In the end, it’s the coach who gets it for the athlete, and I’m very offended by this.
Is the media attention a big distraction?
- Somewhere in the way, of course. I prefer to give interviews after all competitions, but if I have to answer questions immediately after a short one - at the Grand Prix stages, for example - there’s nothing you can do, I obediently stand in front of the recorders.
“Sometimes you read your interview and think: “Did I say that? I don’t remember something like that..."
Do you follow what is written about you?
– Sometimes I watch, yes. It’s funny, sometimes you read it and think: “Did I say that? I don’t remember something like that...”
Do they recognize you on the subway or on the street?
- No. And don’t (laughs). I don't like being recognized at all. At competitions, of course, it’s a different matter, but I just don’t want to go on the street.
The press is very fond of mentioning your confrontation with other figure skaters, be it Liza Tuktamysheva or Polina Shelepen. However, I you and Polina watched some training sessions in Oberstdorf together. Are you able to make friends despite competition?
— Well, firstly, Polina moved to CSKA this year to Svetlana Vladimirovna (Sokolovskaya - note Sports.ru). We all communicate with each other, and the girls on our team are very friendly. It's always a big plus when everyone on a team understands and supports each other.
Athletes are often psychologically much older than their years. Do you still manage to communicate with your peers or are you no longer interested in them?
– Basically all my friends are the same age. There are, of course, exceptions - for example, Katya Bobrova, with whom we understand each other very well, despite the fact that she is older than me - she is 22 years old, and I am 16. I thank her for having her.
Adelina Sotnikova was rightly called a “prodigy”, because already at the age of 13 the girl performed two extremely difficult cascades in one program: triple Lutz - triple loop and triple Salchow - triple loop.
2. Almost a record
She won her first international tournament, the 2010-2011 Junior Grand Prix Series in Austria, beating her closest rival, American Christina Gao, by more than 10 points. Moreover, her score, 178.97 points, was only 0.27 less than the highest ever received by a singles skater at junior competitions.
3. The student surpassed the teacher
Adelina Sotnikova's coach is the famous former figure skater Elena Buyanova, née Vodorezova. At one time, she won the first bronze for the Soviet Union in women's single skating. Elena immediately began to treat Adeline like a daughter. “She knows me by heart, she sees what I need - to yell at me or, on the contrary, to praise, lisp with me so that everything is fine,” Adelina Sotnikova told Vesti on Saturday in an interview. - Elena Germanovna knows what I need at different moments. Sometimes I need to be yelled at."
4. Passed school exams as an external student
Adelina is 17 years old and now she should be in the 10th grade. But last year, Sotnikova passed all the exams as an external student, left school and entered the Russian State University of Physical Culture, where she is now studying to become a coach.
5. All life is a tight schedule
Today, Adeline’s whole life is devoted to sports, and all her friends are athletes, with whom Sotnikova likes to go to the movies or sit in a cafe in her free time (which she doesn’t have much). The athlete is very close to her mother and believes that she has a wonderful family, to which she, unfortunately, cannot pay as much attention as she would like.
6. Adeline dedicates all her victories to her sister
Adeline has a younger sister, Maria. Unfortunately, the girl was born with a congenital disease. Over the past few years, Masha has undergone three expensive operations in Germany. Adeline donates all the money she earns from competitions to her sister’s treatment, and dedicates all her victories, including the victory at the Olympics in Sochi, to her. “I love my little sister very much. And, having won my first major tournament - the European Youth Championship, I help her. My sister is a heroic person whom I follow as an example. Now she has taken up dancing, and this is also an act,” the athlete said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
7. Resentment helped me win the Olympics
Adelina was very upset when she was not accepted into the team competition. For her it was a real tragedy. It took her trainers to get her out of depression for a long time. “It was a shame when I wasn’t accepted into the team tournament. I was very angry, because it was clear that we would have a medal there,” Sotnikova said in an interview with “Evening Moscow”. “After that, I promised myself that in personal competitions I would do everything to win gold. Russians, if they set a goal, always achieve it.”
8. Adeline rides for people.
In an interview with Izvestia, which Adelina Sotnikova gave after winning the Olympics, the athlete admitted that she skates not for awards and titles, but to please people. “First of all, I skate for people, not for results. I want them to like it. I was filled with good emotions and convinced myself that I could do everything well. Go out and have a blast. I wanted to show that my skating has become more mature and better.”
9. Koreans protested the victory
After Adelina Sotnikova won gold, representatives of South Korea sent a protest to the International Skating Union (ISU), believing that the judging was biased; their athlete, figure skater Kim Yu Na, who took second place, should have received the gold. The protest was rejected. “I learned that the ISU rejected the protest of the South Koreans, and this is logical,” the honored coach of Russia told ITAR-TASS. – The ISU trusts its judges, the Olympic team was absolutely qualified. As for Adeline, her result was quite fair. Yes, she touched the ice with her foot, and for this her grade was reduced by 0.9 points. But in the second half of the program, Sotnikova did a two-and-a-half-turn axel with a triple toe loop, which Kim Yu Na did not do. For this, the Russian woman received several points more.”
10. Today Adelina Sotnikova was awarded the Order of Friendship
Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with members of the Russian national team - champions and medalists of the Olympic Games in Sochi and handed out well-deserved awards to them. Adelina, and along with her other athletes, were awarded the honorary Order of Friendship.
Figure skater Adelina Sotnikova became famous by winning the gold medal at the Sochi Olympics and becoming the first champion in women's singles skating in Russian history.
Photo: DR
After this victory, her life changed greatly. Adeline talked to OK! about her dreams, disappointments, growing up, and her role in the ice show “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.”
Adelina Sotnikova is an incredibly sweet and fragile girl. And although she herself assures that fragility has nothing to do with her, it is difficult to agree with this. “My parents are prone to being overweight, naturally, I also need to take care of myself,” says Adeline. - If a person wants, he will do everything to please himself and others. If this requires not eating, he will not eat.” And this self-discipline is felt in Sotnikova all the time. For example, she is never late and calls herself a “time person.” And Adelina really doesn’t like it when people take offense at her. “I am the kind of person that I always need to be good for everyone. I always try to help everyone, give advice... But in our world this is not valued,” says Sotnikova.
And how do you react to negativity?
I paid attention before and was very worried. Now - apparently, having matured - I began to understand that there will always be negativity. I'm probably developing thick skin. ( Smiles.) After the Olympics, they wrote both good and bad, but I didn’t care anymore - the Olympic gold was in my hands, I achieved my goal.
Was there any moral devastation after the victory?
It definitely was. And I wanted to leave the sport. But these are momentary impulses. There was such an episode in the Olympic season: at one of the Grand Prix competitions, due to absent-mindedness, I failed the free program. After that, I came home, sat down and said to my parents: “Maybe that’s it? It’s not a fact that I’ll get to the Olympics in Sochi. There’s also the Russian Championship and the European Championship, what if I can’t stand it?”
My parents never persuade me. So then they said: “If you feel this way, then what can we say? Don't perform." I’m sitting, tears in my eyes, I don’t know what to do. In the end, I decided: I’ll give myself one more chance. And then everything got better.
A year ago you received a serious injury, but still continued to go to the skating rink in a cast. For what?
I missed ice and my usual way of life. Literally a week before the Grand Prix stage, during training, I tore the ankle ligament in my right leg. Naturally, they put me in a plaster cast. I needed complete rest. But I understood: if I want to continue playing sports, I must stay in shape and train under any circumstances. Moreover, I had an example to follow: we used to have a boy skating who broke his leg and came to the skating rink every day in a cast. Literally two months later he went to the competition. Therefore, when I was put in a cast, I also continued to come to the skating rink, trained small children and terribly missed those times when I skated myself. Despite this, it was still difficult to return to the big ice. There have been no competitions for too long. It was a very serious injury for me.
Adeline, who instilled in you a love for figure skating?
I don't know. There were no athletes in our family. Only my grandfather on my father’s side was a master of sports in freestyle wrestling. Probably, all the strong-willed qualities of character were passed on to me from him. ( Laughs.) My parents didn’t even think about sending me to sports. They wanted their daughter to receive a music education, but figure skating delayed ahead of time.
How did you first get to the skating rink?
At the age of four, my parents took me to the Penguins skating rink, which was located not far from our house in Biryulyovo. Of course, I don’t remember my first time on the ice, but they told me that I got on my skates and walked around. The coach was very surprised that the child fell, got up and continued to move on, and said that he needed to practice. I really liked it there.
It so happened that I went to the same kindergarten as the child of a CSKA coach who was friends with my mother. She once saw me skating and recommended taking me to a more serious sports school. And that’s how she lured us over to her place. I studied with her for a year, and then I came to my coach Vodorezova-Buyanova. Elena Germanovna liked me, she took me into her group. In the first years, I didn’t set high goals for myself, but I always tried to please her.
And did you succeed?
Not right away. She was hooked by my persistence. She saw that I always did everything I was told and never argued.
They say that children who play sports professionally have no childhood. This is true?
I won't say that we don't have a childhood. It exists, but we spend it with those children who, like us, play sports. During the breaks between training sessions, we went crazy, played tag, catch-up, Cossack robbers, and jumped with the girls in rubber bands. If you fall and break, that's your problem.
Did your parents watch you closely?
Yes, until I was fourteen, my mom and dad took me to training. The whole family was involved in my sports life. My parents dedicated their entire lives to me and my younger sister Masha. She is disabled since childhood, in medical language her disease is called “Treacher Collins syndrome”... A terrible disease! Tatyana Anatolyevna Tarasova helped us. If it weren’t for her, we probably wouldn’t have decided to take radical steps. Tatyana Anatolyevna contacted Chulpan Khamatova, and thanks to this actress, we were given money for treatment. A few years ago, Masha had three operations, and now she is a completely different, cheerful person. She wants to see everything, to know everything... Masha is my little angel, and more than anything else I want to help her.
Adeline, you mentioned that the coach paid attention to you because you worked so hard. Do you think it takes talent or a lot of training to achieve success?
Talent is born through perseverance. If a person is stubborn, he will move mountains. I just know from myself: if I want, I’ll do anything. When I won the adult Russian championship at the age of twelve, I felt that I wanted something more. If I hadn’t won that time in Kazan, maybe I would have left the sport already.
How were you, just a child, allowed to compete with adult athletes?
An exception was made. We saw that the girl was small and did difficult elements, so she was allowed to participate in the Russian Championship. I won it and repeated the achievement of my coach Elena Vodorezova-Buyanova, who at the same age became the USSR champion.
Adeline, do you consider yourself strong?
Yes, sure. When my mother and I talk about relationships with boys, she always says: “A girl must be weak.” But how can you be weak when you do everything yourself all your life?
I am constantly scolded for not acting like a girl. For example, my Ice Age partner Alexander Sokolovsky tries to open the door for me every time we go to the skating rink, but I always forget about it. Then he becomes indignant: “You’ve already got me!” Enough, be a girl." I say: “Well, I can’t. I don't know what it means to be a girl.
What about your confession that after the Olympics you became feminine and started wearing dresses and high heels?
This is true. I used to wear jeans, hoodies, jackets, now I wear dresses and coats. My own style has appeared. I associate this with victory. Without her, this might have happened, but much later. Well, age probably took its toll. ( Smiles.) It feels like I’m not twenty years old, but already approaching forty. ( Laughs.) So much has happened in my life...
And how many more will there be! I read that you are going to become an actress. This is true?
Yes, I have been dreaming of entering GITIS since the ninth grade. At some point I even started preparing, but then I realized that it was either a theater university or the Olympics, and, of course, I chose sports. GITIS will not run away anywhere - I can become an actress at any time, but sport does not last forever for me. Therefore, first you need to finish your sports career gracefully, and then think about the next step in your life.
What about your participation in the ice show “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”?
After Ice Age, Ilya Averbukh invited me to play the role of Queen Myshilda in his ice show, and I agreed. First of all, this is a performance, and the bet is on the game. But there will definitely be difficult elements! Of course, I’m interested in this, but I plan to return to big-time sports and go to the Olympic Games in 2018. These shows are just a temporary pleasure. They are needed to cool down, come to your senses and return to the sport with a cool head and delight everyone with your performances.
Text: Yulia Krasnovskaya. Photo: Anya Kozlenko. Style: Polina Shabelnikova
Makeup: Elizaveta Ilyina. Hairstyles: Danila Mileev/Kérastase