Kostornaya’s ambitions and training with Shcherbakova’s pets
It is not often possible to hear compliments from representatives of figure skating towards each other, because usually athletes say that there can be no friendship between rivals on ice. However, Russian woman Alyona Kostornaya admitted that she has something to learn from her group colleagues Eteri Tutberidze. So, she sometimes borrowes a model of behavior from Anna Shcherbakova, who restrains herself more in her statements, from Alexandra Trusova learns fearlessness, and from Alina Zagitova - control over her emotions.
In addition, the 2020 European Champion gave short definitions to three skaters.
“Let's start with Sasha. She is unstoppable. Anya is a real intellectual, with a capital letter. Alina is inflexible. No matter what happens, they cannot break it. Like in her Survivor showpiece, ”Kostornaya said in an interview with Business Online.
Alyona differs from most of her colleagues by the fact that she does not seek to win all possible rewards. The athlete already had a clear idea of the future: she hopes to get to the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, and then end her career to devote herself to medicine.
“I do not have a race for titles, as, say, Alina Zagitova. It was important for her to collect all the medals. Or like Zhenya Medvedeva, who became second at the Olympics and now continues to ride to become the first, ”Kostornaya explained.
The skater is still studying at school, but she has already decided on the direction of the future profession - neurosurgery. And here her ambitions are fully manifested.
“(After 20 years, I would like to see myself. - RT ), a world-renowned neurosurgeon. Perhaps a Honored Doctor of Russia. I would like to be realized in another area, not only in figure skating and to benefit society. To save people, to pull out the most difficult patients, ”Kostornaya concluded.
Meanwhile, Shcherbakova continues to talk about her training during a forced pause. Like other athletes, it is not easy for her to keep fit in conditions of self-isolation, but her pets come to the rescue - Boni’s dog and cats Mafia and Shayni. The skater mounted an amusing video clip that repeats the movements of animals. The result is a complete set of stretching exercises, muscle strengthening and even a jump block.
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Publication by Anna Shcherbakova (@anna__shcherbakova_) Apr 21, 2020 at 2:07 PDT
A big lover of animals is known for Trusov. On self-isolation, she is compiled by two dogs and a cat, Chloe. The last figure skater decided to teach a trick: with the High Five team, she holds out her hand to the pet, and she responds with a paw.
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Posted by 🆃🅴🅰🅼 🆃🆁🆄🆂🅾🆅🅰 (@teamtrusova_official) Apr 21, 2020 at 10:55 PDT
Tarasova’s proposal and Konstantinova’s plans
The International Union of Skaters (ISU) is discussing the possibility of replacing a short and free program with an artistic and technical one, which, according to some experts, will reduce the level of complexity of the skaters' performances. In Russia, such an initiative was sharply criticized, as athletes with quadruple jumps in their arsenal would suffer.
According to the Honored Trainer of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova, there is no need for such an innovation, since it is skaters with complex programs, especially Russians, who move this sport forward. Moreover, she called for the ban on quadruple jumps in the short program to be removed from the rules.
“Let everyone take what he can. This will be the development of sports! Yes, and why forbid? This will not bring athletes new victories. Even above yourself. Why bring figure skating back 40 years? Why to arrange a ballet on ice? ”, - quotes the Tarasova website of the Russian Figure Skating Federation.
The specialist also complained that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, skaters are not able to fully train. She invited the members of the national team to resume training at several closed ice rinks as soon as possible - after the peak of the incidence rate in the country and the decline, as well as with the observance of precautionary measures. For a cautious approach to the future resumption of the training process, the 2015 world champion Elizabeth Tuktamysheva also spoke out.
“It seems to me better to wait out once such a terrible situation has developed. But if closed small skating rinks for ten people are one thing, and Novogorsk is another. Even if the base is closed, there are a lot of people there, if no one can go in and out, ”said Tuktamysheva.
At the same time, the student of Alexei Mishin admitted that she was looking forward to returning to the ice.
“Now, not so much time has passed, but the lack of meetings, training with the guys, lack of movement, in the literal sense, has nowhere to put energy. And this is despite the fact that I have two workouts a day. I represent in paints my first meeting with skates, ”Tuktamysheva joked.
Many experts practice distance learning with their wards. Ekaterina Kurakova, a student of Brian Orser, who speaks for Poland, spoke about the features of such training. She noted that at first she was skeptical, but the specialist was able to competently organize the process.
“Brian, Page and the students are connecting, there are always different numbers. We warm up, jump, and at the end, together with Paige, we are standing in different shapes: swallows, pistols. We are trying new positions outside the ice ... Brian wants to express respect, because there may be 15 people in the lesson, but he manages to follow everyone. He’ll look at everyone and make comments. He is a great fellow, ”quotes Kurakova Sport24.
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Posted by Evgenia Medvedev (@jmedvedevaj) Apr 23, 2020 at 7:12 am PDT
In mid-March, fans of Stanislava Konstantinova were disappointed with the news that, based on the results, she was expelled from the Russian team. Now the skater told what she felt at that moment. According to her, non-inclusion in the team was not easy for her.
“But from the deduction, as stated in the press, I am neither cold nor hot. The fact that the formalities on the eve of the World Cup turned into hot news did not touch me, ”Konstantinova told Instagram.
At the same time, there is no question of ending the career of the bronze medalist of the Universiade 2019. She emphasized that she had not yet said the last word in figure skating, so the temporary exclusion from the national team only motivated her.
At the same time, the athlete thinks about what awaits her after she hangs her skates on a nail. Her plans include participating in ice shows, staging her numbers, working in the field of fashion or design, as well as temporary relocation to another country.
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Publication by Stanislava Konstantinova (@stasya_konstantinovaa) Apr 14, 2020 at 8:28 PDT
Yagudin's trick and the story of Bobrov’s son
Sochi 2014 Olympic champion in team competitions Elena Ilinykh thought about returning to sports. In January 2020, the skater first became a mother, but after that she repeatedly admitted that she misses the ice. The last time she participated in the competition in the season 2016/17. Then her couple Ruslan Zhiganshin took fourth place in the championship of Russia.
“I’m sure that nothing is impossible! If I want to return, if I accept this challenge for myself, or if it strikes me in the head that I am everything, I will return - there are no restrictions. This means that I will go out on the ice and I will plow, as always, ”- said Ilyinykh RIA Novosti.
It can be assumed that the success of young colleagues inspires her to return to the rink. In particular, the Ilyins admitted that she is a big fan of Trusova.
“I appreciate the qualities of all the girls who perform, they are all great fellows, but for some reason Trusov likes me. They are all incredibly cool, but when you single out a pet for yourself, then this is without a chance for the rest. And here is my favorite there - Sasha! And she reminds me of Yulia Lipnitskaya, and I’m her longtime fan. I’m still reviewing her performances, and Sasha is similar to Julia in her character, ”Ilyinykh noted.
While the current skaters try not to relax and not lose shape, their older colleagues experience numerous challenges. So, two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko, along with his wife Yana Rudkovskaya, participated in an unusual test. Its participants must stand in such a way as to keep each other in a horizontal position on the balance without the help of hands.
“What it cost me! She didn’t put on a skirt and didn’t set up a chair, but she rowed to the fullest! Watch to the end! It was already the 50th day of quarantine with me and the 32nd day with Eugene, ”Rudkovskaya signed the video.
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Publication by Yana Rudkovskaya (@rudkovskayaofficial) Apr 22, 2020 at 8:09 PDT
The former rival of Plushenko, Alexei Yagudin, is not discouraged in self-isolation. Every day he shares his everyday life with subscribers of social networks and shoots funny videos. In one of the last posts, the Olympic champion showed what could happen if you dance too expressively around the pool, and in the other, as “standing on your head”.
At the beginning of the video, it seems that he really is in an upside down stance: a clock is hanging on the wall, and his daughter Elizabeth is sitting next to the chair. However, then it becomes clear that this is just an illusion, and the athlete actually lies on the floor.
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Publication by Alexei Yagudin (@ alexei.yagudin) Apr 24, 2020 at 4:48 PDT
A funny story about her son Alexander was shared by Ekaterina Bobrova, who completed her career in July 2019. According to her, the boy who recently turned one year old was afraid of a vacuum cleaner. During the cleaning, he even had to be taken to the next room, since all attempts to explain that the household item was not dangerous ended in hysteria. However, soon everything changed.
“Now they are best friends. Seriously! Sasha clearly knows where he is! When the word “vacuum cleaner” is pronounced - that’s all, he is not interested in any toys! When you take him out for cleaning, Sasha is instantly nearby! It seems to me that he learned to crawl only in order to quickly find himself next to a "friend," said Bobrova.
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Posted by Ekaterina Bobrova (@ekaterinabobrova) Apr 22, 2020 at 2:26 PDT