Room in memory of the choreographer and sensual Kostornaya
In French Grenoble, the third stage of the Grand Prix in figure skating has ended. At the traditional gala evening, its winners and prize-winners presented their show numbers.
One of the most touching moments was the performance of the winner of the silver award of the tournament Alina Zagitova. Her program was dedicated to the mother of the choreographer Daniil Gleichenhaus Lyudmila Shalashova, who died in late August. A famous choreographer, she took a direct part in the work of the group Eteri Tutberidze, in connection with which many students still remember her with warmth.
The number to the lyric music of the French group M83 reflected the life cycle - from birth to death and the transition to a new life. Zagitova admitted that this program is very personal for her, since she perceived the death of her mentor as her own tragedy.
On a page on Instagram, the skater quoted Gleichenhaus words describing her feelings when working on this number.
“She didn’t leave, but was reborn into something beautiful connected with nature, and life goes on,” Zagitova wrote on Instagram.
Stage winner Alena Kostornaya amazed the fans in her adult way. As in the case of the free program, she drew inspiration from the world of cinema. However, this time it was not about the romantic “Twilight”, but about the provocative “50 shades of freedom”.
The skater took to the ice in a tie, trousers and with a cane under the soundtrack of this film. Interestingly, not everyone liked the performance. Some fans considered him too sensual for a 16-year-old Russian woman.
The silver medalist of the men's tournament Alexander Samarin continued the cinematic theme and presented his number to the soundtrack from the movie "Joker". The image was complemented by a costume and mask depicting the face of the main character of the film.
French fans were pleased with the sports couple Daria Pavlyuchenko - Denis Khodykin. Their demonstration performance was again inspired by the venue of the stage. If at the tournament in Las Vegas the skaters played cards to the song of Elvis Presley, then in Grenoble they went on the ice under the composition Formidable performed by Stromae. To create an entourage, viewers were asked to light lanterns that mimic the starry sky.
“Alina’s mission is very important”
With the completion of the discussion stage, the skaters' performances do not stop. So, one of the central topics was the future of Zagitova, who demonstrated in Grenoble not the most successful rentals. Many experts expressed concern that the Olympic champion will not be easy to compete with her young compatriots, whose arsenal contains more complex elements.
However, the athlete herself said that at the moment she was not ready to radically complicate the programs. At the same time, she emphasized that she enjoys the competitive process, while not thinking about the results.
“I am such a person that at first I do, then I say. That's why now I’ll definitely not say anything about quadruple jumps. To begin with, I need to do a lot of things, prepare both physically and mentally. Losing at least three kilograms is a must. If not more, ”quotes Zagitova TASS.
In addition, the Olympic champion admitted that she is not under pressure due to increased competition from other students of Tutberidze.
“Yes, of course, I want to stand on the podium, but even more I just want to ride. As for the girls, they are still a little childish to this, and I understand them like no one else, since I myself have recently been the same. Now I am more balanced about everything, ”added Zagitova.
At the same time, the 1988 Olympic champion Natalya Bestemyanova suggested that the skater is somewhat disingenuous, saying that the result for her has faded into the background. She expressed confidence that Zagitova will continue to fight for the first places.
“I would like to note that it is very difficult to set yourself up for a fight when you do not own quadruples, an axel in three and a half turns. And she somehow motivates herself, and from this the beauty that comes from her, simply absorbs. Alina gives hope to those skaters who do not have multi-turn jumps. Her mission is very important, ”the“ Team of Russia ”portal quotes Bestemyanov.
"These" if only "would make me angry."
At the French stage of the Kostornoy Grand Prix, for the second time in his career, he managed to execute triple axels. According to her, the decision to include this element came not so long ago. The skater admitted that the complicated pride helped her to complicate the program.
“Even before the September test rentals, when discussing plans, I was really hurt internally when I heard from different angles:“ Well, yes, you did a fine job, but if you had jumped something like that. ” How could these “if only” make me angry! It turns out that with such a set in the second half of the season I will ride juniors again? ”Kostornaya said.
She said that at first she planned to work out the quadruple salchow, but this idea had to be abandoned. Instead, she set to work on a triple axel, with which some difficulties also arose, however, numerous trainings paid off.
“Then Daniil Gleichengauz arrived and said:“ They told me, are you jumping axels? Show it. ” But I haven’t rolled any programs with him yet. In general, two rentals were falling again, and on the third day I started to leave this jump, ”the skater added.
The character of Kostornaya manifested itself at the very stage of the Grand Prix. She was dissatisfied with the judges' ratings, which lowered her scores for a shortage, which she openly stated after a short program. According to Bestemyanova, henceforth, the athlete should follow her words.
“I would make Alyona a comment. We all heard her say, “Why did I even jump the triple axel?” Such things cannot be done, because the judges are people, not robots. Personal attitude matters too. The next time they will avenge her words. This must be accepted. If today they sued like that, then they will return it. In figure skating they always pay off debts, ”said Bestemyanova.