“Zagitova took a share of intrigue with her”: Butyrskaya about the favorites of the Chechen Republic, Trusova’s quadruple jumps and Kostornaya’s mature skating

- Can the Russian championship in women’s single skating turn into a fight between the three winners of the Grand Prix: Alena Kostornaya, Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova?

- In my opinion, the girls already this season showed that the struggle not only in Russia but also in the world takes place mainly between them. We lost another “fighter” when Alina Zagitova decided to suspend her career. In my opinion, she too could have wedged herself into this struggle.

- Will the Russian Championship fade without it?

- Of course. Alina is a decoration of any competition. Now she shows so feminine skating that she wants to watch and watch, she wants to admire. It is very unfortunate that she decided to take a break. There may be different opinions, but in the end, all that remains is to accept what has happened.

- Could a recent scandal involving the Tutberidze team affect its wards?

- Not. And, of course, I really want this to not happen again. Yes, such things sometimes help to increase interest in figure skating, but our sport is already exciting.

- Can Yevgeny Medvedev and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva compete for medals, or is this only possible if the favorites break down?

- Honestly, I really believe in Lisa. She does not stand still, and today she has a very strong weapon - her quadruple sheepskin coat, which is very expensive and significantly increases the score. Yes, obviously, she won’t fulfill it, but Tuktamysheva has an axel of three and a half turns in stock that no one else jumps except Kostornaya and Trusova. And Sasha, in turn, will probably go on this jump once again after the Grand Prix finals, and now she will be much easier. If in a free program she succeeds in performing five quadruples, then all chances will appear to become the champion of the country.

- Tuktamysheva can counter the “youth” with a quadruple jump. And what is Medvedev capable of?

- It’s hard for me to talk about Wife. Of course, she is also well done: she has not abandoned anything, she is moving on. This season is better for her than the previous one, but from somewhere it is necessary to take a technical assessment.

You do not need to be seven spans in the forehead to understand: quadruple jumps should appear. Without the elements of "ultra-si" today it is unlikely to achieve high results. Yes, Medvedeva also shows a very beautiful, feminine skating, she has a high second rating. But maybe they and Brian Orser came up with something else and a surprise awaits us?

- Daniil Gleichengauz said that Kostornaya will also work on the study of quadruple jumps.

“And I think they will come easy enough for her.” She performs jumps in three and a half turns so that it seems as if Kostornaya is jumping without any effort at all, with a large margin. But now you can’t work on quadruples so as not to spoil anything - only after the end of the season. And so I agree with all the compliments that Alena has been receiving lately. The recent junior does not feel at all in her: Kostornaya rides very ripe, consciously, emotionally and harmoniously.

- Do you expect a breakthrough from someone else?

“I wouldn’t set anyone apart - all the girls are cool.” I just picked up a very strong team of participants, especially considering the latest breakthroughs in technology. Everyone is gradually learning to jump.

- From the point of view of intrigue, the current Russian championship will not be as interesting as in Saransk a year ago?

- I would not say that, but Alina, of course, took a small fraction of the intrigue with her. Viewers will still be interested, given the highest competition, but if she came to Krasnoyarsk, it would be crazy at all.

- At the Russian Championship there will be no juniors Daria Usacheva and Kamila Valieva, winners of the Grand Prix finals among juniors. Would you like to see them?

- Girls still have a lot of time ahead. Let them get ready for the junior world championship. In their niche, they are also the strongest. I am sure that at the adult level, both will amaze, delight and make everyone afraid.

- But last year, juniors did not miss the national championship ...

- This is not an indicator. They would have reached their level anyway. The girls already had a lot of competitions.

- Who, in your opinion, has the greatest chance of winning the national championship?

- The odds are equal. Everyone starts from scratch, everyone rolls two programs. Of course, I want to hope that the athletes will not give up, looking at the favorite, and try to show themselves. It will be a very exciting match. I think, given the intensity of emotions that awaits us, the one that turns out to be psychologically more stable will prevail.

- Against the background of interest in the figure skater tournament, the rest of the competitions fade a little, although there is enough intrigue there. This is true?

- Fair, because popularity depends on skiing. It is known that among the fans of this sport there are more women, so single people have every chance to become as famous and win the love of female fans. Yes, while they can’t achieve such successes as girls, but they need to compete, create and show that they are able to ride cool. Especially when such outstanding examples stand before your eyes.