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The Star Of Saint Petersburg Show

Your performance at Artur Dmitriev show is said to be your farewell skate…

I felt that I have to say “thank you” to the Russians, and mainly to St Petersburg people for their support throughout the years. I always felt their support while I was skating in eligible competitions. This is no way a farewell to figure skating. I went professional, I skate in shows and I try coaching, but figure skating is still my life.

Why didn’t you do this kind of "thank you" performance right after the Olympics?

I didn’t have time, and besides, nobody asked me. When Artur Dmitriev called me and said he wanted to do a show with me, I agreed right away.

At the presentation of his show Artur Dmitriev said that he offered you two solo skates, but you insisted you’d have four…

I have a lot of programs to pick from. Russian fans could only see the recent show numbers on TV. Why not to make people happy if I can do so? The number dedicated to Formula 1 racers was prepared for the first post-Olympic season. “Winter” became my trade mark program after SLC, I can skate this number any time in any part of the world and it will always have a great reception.

What other programs you also see as your signature?

I really liked my free program with which I won the 1999 World Championship in Helsinki, it was done to oriental music from “Lawrence of Arabia” movie soundtrack. I even named my dog after it – Lawrence. Then there was “Gladiator” which was a huge step forward for me. With that program I could show how I can feel the music. The actor who played in that movie sent me a signed picture of himself for my birthday. I remember I was shocked.

Did you consider working in Hollywood?

At that time I had only one thought in my head: how to survive 4,5 minutes on the ice and skate without mistakes. But I've seen the movie where Ilia Kulik made his debut as an actor. I liked it.

A Pro from Stars on Ice

You’ve waited for a year before you announced your decision to turn pro. Did you hope to continue your career untill Torino and to win the second Olympic gold there?

The year after the Olympics was all about hesitation. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. After I spent the season skating in shows, I realized what a professional skater’s life is like, and I decided to quit eligibles. It is not an easy moment for any person to change their life status. You have to get this inner realization of what your new life is going to bring you. It took me a year on SOI tour to leave my doubts and to make a decision.

What was a decisive factor?

Everything was very interesting to me from the very beginning. The first rehearsals, the first performances. It was nothing like the shows I used to skate in.

What do you think is the reason for all the injures you had during the last years of your eligible career?

It's the age, of course. In figure skating, if you skate at the top level for several years, at the age of 20 you are already “old”. I admit, there also was the lack of physical training and sometimes ridiculous things would happen. I could stumble at nothing, literally. In pre-Olympic season, just before the Grand Prix Final, I was walking up to my car, I slipped, fell and twisted my ankle. Just like in “Diamond Arm” movie (cult Russian comedy, the main character slipped on banana peel (?) on the street – T).

Figure skating fans get a picture of eligible skater's life, more or less. How the life of a pro skater is different?

Absolutely different in style and tempo. Usually the show begins at 7 p.m. and lasts for 2-3 hours. By midnight we must be on the bus going to another city. We have a good service there, worthy of a showbiz stars, we can even sleep in real beds. But a road is still a road, we arrive to another city at 2-3 a.m., or sometimes in the morning. Then everyone can do whatever they want before the practice. I never sleep on the bus, I prefer to read a book, or to listen to the music, or to watch a movie. I usually sleep at the hotel till 2 p.m., then we practice, do a show, and then on the road again...

Is there a time to rest?

Sometimes we have a few days off. I try to go to a hockey game, or to attend a Russian pop star concert – they are frequent visitors in the U.S.

How making of a show program is different from a competitive one?

In the first year (as professional) I was working with Tarasova because while skating in shows I was still a competitive athlete inside. This season I started to work with new choreographers, with those who are show-orientated. Show and sport are really two different things. In eligible sport there are rules you have to follow, there are same required elements every skater must complete. Even a person as talented as Morozov cannot create two completely different short programs. Year after year it's he same program with few variations. Professionals have creative freedom. This season I'm doing an acrobatic, almost circus-like number. It’s very interesting to skate with props. You can skate with a chair or with a broom, you can shout into the microphone – you can do anything as long as it is interesting to the public.

The Beginner Coach

You began your coaching career as an assistant to Tatiana Tarasova. Was it a kind of “thank you” gesture towards a tutor who made you an Olympic Champion?

In some way, yes, but that’s not the main reason. I have already decided for myself that I will definitely become a coach. But if I want to be really good at it I have to study. I have to get to know the secrets of this work, to understand what I have to pay attention to. I’m so thrilled that I’m doing my first steps in that field under the guidance of Tatiana Anatoljevna.

Yagudin on the ice and Yagudin at the boards – are they two different people?

They are! To be behind the boards is much harder. First of all, you carry a responsibility for your student. On the ice, I can turn myself on, I can fool around, but when I’m coaching I have to be very serious and composed.

I remember you told this story about how you used a hockey stick while coaching one young American skater and she immediatelly started landing the jump she had troubles with...

I remember that episode. The girl couldn't do a jump, but I saw that she is capable of landing it. Then I did something totally unacceptable by American standards – I took a hockey stick and told her: “If you don't land this jump now, I'll hit you!”. I could be thrown to jail for that, so it was a big risk. But my “student” landed the jump three times in a row and rarely missed it afterwards.

Do you use the same “pedagogical” methods working with Griazev and Joubert?

No, these guys perfectly realize what they need to do. Well, sometimes I have to pressure Andrei with this horrible menace: if you don’t complete the element I won’t drive you home. Considering that one can wait for hours for a public transport in America, this joke is very efficient.

Do you have this kind of a special “key” to a French skater as well?

Every person is so different, everybody needs their own special “key”. Griazev needs to be pressured sometimes, but it won’t work with Joubert. He is a person with a lot of power and energy and sometimes I have to stop him at the practices.

Do you work with the students who ask for your service in front of Tarasova?

Sure. I work with American kids. When I have time, why not to try to do something on my own?

Are the Amercian and Russian ways of training really different?

Americans do run-throughs of their programs at the practices, Russians – never. We prefer to work on jumps, to practice one part of the program, then another... In Russian system the most important thing is fanaticism and love for figure skating, which Americans don't consider as important. But I like the principle of doing run-throughs of the programs.

How figure skating is going to develop in the upcoming years?

We can't speak of figure skating in general. Each discipline has its own specifics. The men reached a certain top in technique, they now try to create interesting programs; ladies start to master difficult combinations, but as we can see this season, this progress takes the great strides forward.

What is more important today: technique or artisrty?

Both. Or rather the balance of these two components. If we start to reward the jumps only, there won't be any need to hold competitions because no one can rival Chinese skaters. On the other hand, we have skaters like Angelo Dolfini - we used to practice togehter during the last years of my eligible career. He was always very emotional, his performances could touch everybody's heart and he had charming programs, but so what? He often failed to pass the qualifying round at Worlds.

Board Specialist

How do you split your time between coaching and skating in shows?

When we were making the new programs for the shows I was coming to the rink at 8 a.m. and worked with my students for a couple of hours. Then I went back home to rest, and the second part of the day was starting with practicing my own programs. It was taking me about an hour or an hour and a half. Then I switched to the students again. Sometimes I was taking the ice with Andrei Griazev, Brian Joubert and Shizuka Arakawa. I did jumps for fun, trying to combine two different activities. Of course, when I’m on tour there is no time to think about coaching. Students cannot travel around USA with me.

How long the tour is?

The obligatory rehearsals start in November and last for a month. Then I have two shows in Japan, 60 shows in the U.S. and 12 in Canada. 74 performances in four months.

With such a schedule you have a very slim chance to bring up an Olympic Champion…

This is not what I’m aiming at right now. I don’t even consider myself a coach yet. I do a consultive work helping Tatjana Anatoljevna. A smart person won’t hire me as a full-time coach knowing that I’m on the road for 6 months in a year. A week of intensive consultations – that’s maximum what I can give to a skater during the competitive season. Although, at summer it sometimes happens that I take Tarasova’s students when she is busy.

But still, working with Joubert, do you dream about having your share of input in preparation of Olympic Champion of Torino?

Whether he wins 2006 Games or not, that’s a big question. The chances are not so good. I can’t say that I give my students a task of winning the Olympics, or the U.S. Nationals. Every person has a limit, my purpose is to help to reach that limit. Sometimes mothers come to me and demand such things that would beat the requirements of our sports officials by far.

Is it Joubert’s mother?

No, they are regular American moms whose kids just barely started to land doubles. And those moms ask me if I could pay more attention to their kids and to coach them to the Olympic Champion’s level. Joubert’s mother is very calm. She comes to the practices but she sits quietly and she never disturbs.

The Master of Teaching Jumping Techniques

In Salt Lake City when you were overcome by emotions of your victory, in the presence of Alexei Mishin you stated: “My coach is Tatiana Tarasova”. Today, when the stir is in the past, do you still deny Mishin's credit to your victory?

He has been my coach for a long time, but Tarasova made me an Olympic Champion. I said so in Salt Lake City, and I can repeat it here. I have to give credit to my first coach, Alexander Mayorov, who brought me to quite a good level before he left for Sweden. I never was Mishin’s favorite student which is understandable: Olympic Champion Alexei Urmanov was number one in the group, and then Evgeni Plushenko started to progress. Had I stayed with Mishin I would never won Olympics. I am sure of this.

I guess you will take your own experience into account if you get asked to work with several students claiming for the same place?

Sure, when there are such skaters in the same group the problems will occure. Even if the coach tries to treat all the students equally, there will be a rivalry between them, or maybe even a hostility based on jealousy. It's better to train a boy and a girl of the same level rather than two boys or two girls who compete against each other. In Tarasova's group we have a company like that: Griazev is not competing with Joubert, and Sebestyen is not a direct rival to Arakawa.

Mishin says you use his methods when you teach your students jumps. Is that true?

I just know how jumps must be done. Of course, I learned a lot about this when I was training under Alexei Nikolajevich. But there are no perfect systems, no perfect people and no perfect rules. Mishin’s system, as well as the system of some American coach whose name won’t tell you anything, have their own positive and negative points. Besides, every skater needs an individual approach. We are all different, and the guy who finishes 20th at Worlds still has his own something special. Someone is good at spinning, another one may have interesting step sequence, someone else is good at mimicry. You have to bring out the best from every person. Same about jumps:every skater needs to be taught in a special way that would take into consideration the individual traits. Mishin’s system doesn’t suit everyone.

Olympic Champion

After Salt Lake City I remembered the popular saying: “A victroy has many fathers”. Some people were very vocal about their input into Alexei Yagudin's triumph. What can you say about the input of physical trainer Leonid Raitsin, choreographer Nikolai Morozov, IMG agent Dmitri Goryachkin, psychologist Rudolf Zagainov...

I say that I won the Olympics. All the people you mentioned helped me to reach that goal. As well as all other people who supported me throughout my skating career. If I didn't work as hard as I did in the summer of 2001, no matter how much Tatiana Anatoljevna and her team would try to help me my victory wouldn't happen. I don't mean to praise myself, but as Tarasova says: “No matter how great the coach is, s/he can't do anything if the skater doesn't deliver.”

Then why did you have to invite a psychologist?

I was very nervous before the Olympics, I was afraid of losing. It was a big mistake to take part in Good Will Games in the summer of 2001 in Australia. After the huge work that was done in summer I needed a break. But I didn't listen to Tatiana Anatoljevna, I went to Brisbane and lost ignominiously. I also needed to lose weight. I didn't do it, and I paniced. At that moment Zagainov joined our team. And of course he has his share in our success.

Elena Vaitsekhovskaya - Olympic Champion in diving and now the best sports journalist in Russia - often quotes her father, a long time aquatics coach: “A real champion doesn't need a psychologist”...

If a person is weak, no any genius psychologist will ever help. A strong person needs psychological help in a stressful situation. I'm thankful to Zagainov, he helped me to obtain harmony inside myself on the threshold of the main competition of my career.

Was the PR camapign from IMG necessary for the Olympic win?

No matter the promotion, the decisive factor at the competition is the way you skate. Although in America name matters a lot, especially at commercial events. If you are famous, you headline the shows and set the ticket prices. PR campaign wasn't crucial for my success at the Olympics, but there was some use to it.

The Co-Author of Japanese Bestseller

Does your Olympic title benefit your salary at the show?

I’m not going to tell you any numbers, but I can say that if I skated at Stars on Ice without having an Olympic title, I would get twice lesser salary.

Do you have any endorsements in the U.S.?

No. I only endorse a non-alcoholic beverage in Japan.

Do you envy Michelle Kwan who earns up to 6 million dollars a year with endorsements?

I absolutely don't. I'm enjoying my life now, I am perfectly fine with my current income. The hockey players in America earn much more than figure skaters – am I supposed to envy them too? Or maybe I should envy the golf masters who earn more than NHL players? Then probably it's better to compare skaters' income with the earnings of fencers or riflemen. I earn more than enough.

Do you plan to settle in the U.S.?

I have a job there and I don’t want to get back to Russia where nobody is waiting for me. I could be left without job.

You are not going to look for the job in Moscow or St Petersburg on principle?

I'm not going to look for the job, or let alone to ask for anything. This is my principle position. Let them look for me. I am invited to skate at shows and to coach students. In this situation I don’t see any sense in coming back to Russia.

Is it true that you wrote an autobiography?

Yes, it must be on sale in Japan now. A publisher from Japan offered me a contract. I worked with an American journalist – I dictated the text and then read through the material. Of course, I’m not able to read the published version because I’m not familiar with Japanese yet.

Independent Man

How do you feel about the reproaches of not being patriotic enough?

I don’t care what people say. I’m going through a wonderful period in my life: the inner hesitations and doubts are gone and I’m happy with the way I live now. It is common for Russia to put down those people who have become successful and brought fame to the country. It’s better to ignore this. I’ve always been and I will always be Russian regardless of what kind of passport I have travelling around the globe. Viacheslav Fetisov, the current Sports Minister, spent the best years of his sports career in America. Alexander Popov, who carried the flag at the Olympic Games in Athens, lives in Switzerland. When Russia provides the proper conditions for all athletes and coaches, not only for the chosen ones, they will all come back.

What kind of conditions must be provided?

Respect and deserving salary.

If it’s not a secret, can you tell me how much you get paid per hour (as a coach)?

$ 120-150. It’s not my main income. The best money I earn in shows.

Will you get the same money for your performance at “Ice Olympus” as you get for shows in America?

In this case I don't care about the money. I came to skate in front of my audience.

How often do you manage to visit St Petersburg?

I come to see my mother and grandmother. My mom sometimes spends a month with me on tour in USA. But I miss my granny dearly. Although I'm used to living on a road since my childhood.

When did you first feel that you were a completely independent person?

In 1998 when I moved from St Petersburg to Moscow, and then to USA with Tarasova. Since that moment I've been living on my own.

Desirable Bachelor

You still keep the status of one of the most desirable bachelors in Russia. Why do you participate in the “bride contests” organized by certain newspapers?

They asked, I agreed. I didn't make any promises, I didn't commit to marry anyone.

But the girls were hoping for something serious, especially the contest winner!

Well, what can I do about it? The contest took place, I fairly went out for the dinner with the girl who won. We didn't stay in touch after that. I wasn't choosing any brides.

But do you ever think about this matter (marriage)?

For several months I lived with my girlfriend in a civil marriage. At some point I thought it was serious. Now that affair is over. I'm 24, I still have plenty of time to get married.

Skating in professional show, can you allow yourself to relax after the performance, to sit late in the bar, to drink some beer...

I could allow all that to myself when I was eligible too. The thing is to know your limits and to behave.

Wealthy Landlord

What has changed in your life off the ice during the past two years?

I have more everyday worries. I have other interests besides food, sleep and practices. I own realty in Vancouver. I let out the apartments and get income from that. I even decided to refuse the special service and deal with all the papers myself. Right now I’m studying the real estate market in Connecticut. I build my own house.

What is the most important thing for you in your home?

Bed. I like to sleep with comfort.

Did you hire a designer to realize your wishes?

I tried to do everything myself at first. Then I realized I'm not good at it so I bought the completed project and adjusted it to my wishes.

You mean you didn't ask for any advice about developing your kitchen?

That's not the most important thing for me. I solve all the cooking problems easily – I can cook everything myself. Except for complicated soups.

Even you favorite sushi?

No, I don't risk cooking Japanese food. Too complicated and too much trouble with the fish.

What do you do with the apartment in St Petersburg which you bought at the reduced price after your win in SLC?

The process is still on. Some papers are still not signed. But really, I don’t need that apartment much. My mom and granny live in a good conditions. When I visit my hometown I can stay with them. But I guess, like every person who was brought up in Soviet Union I live on principle – if the state offers you something at a reduced price, you have to take it. In the U.S. my attitude is different.

The Hero of Our Times

You have special feelings for Canada, your fans there are very enthusiastic and the journalists there even called you a Esenin on ice...

Really?! I never heard of such comparison.

Do you resemble those heroic characters you present on the ice in your real life?

Off the ice I am a bit disorganised, funny, spoiled, but people seem to enjoy being around me. I'm very happy about it. A job is a job, but when practices and perfomances are over, there is another life. I have to enjoy that life too, not only my medals and fees.

Evgeni Plushenko says he is not really friendly with you. But while you were training together, you used to share a room in your trips to European and World Championships…

Even back then our relationships could hardly be called friendly. Sports rivalry does have an effect on personal relations. Especially when the Olympic gold is at stake. We both have our own lives now, we rarely meet.
excellent_girl