"Our alliance with Tutberidze could have turned out to be exciting": Orser on Medvedeva's decision, her aching back and the production of Bourne

When asked for an interview, Orser responded in a businesslike manner: “Now I have a practice, but in 45 minutes you can dial.

I will answer all questions. "

- When did you first talk to Zhenya about her possible departure from your group?

- We had a conversation on this topic a few days ago.

As usual, we contacted via Facetime, as we did throughout the entire time that Zhenya was in Moscow.

This time the topic of conversation was the training process.

Both me and Zhenya understood how important it was to be able to work with a coach in real time.

The need to study remotely was a serious challenge for both of us.

We did everything in our power to ensure that the training was carried out with maximum efficiency.

But the work, of course, could not be considered complete.

As for the decision made by Zhenya, I understand what a shock such news can cause in the world of figure skating and how much it will entail all kinds of discussions, but I can say one thing: I personally will support any decision of my athlete, both now and in the future.

Zhenya and I do not have the slightest problems or omissions in our relations with each other.

The only problem that we have not been able to cope with is a pandemic.

- Was it a surprise for you that Medvedeva wanted to return to Eteri Tutberidze after such a painful parting with her in 2018?

- I didn’t ask whose decision it was.

Was it advised to Medvedeva in the FFKKR, with whose leaders Zhenya discussed her future, or did she discuss her plans directly with Eteri.

I'm not sure if it is important for me to know this, and most importantly, I would like to know it.

But I value very much the relationship that we have developed with Medvedeva during our joint work.

They are very sincere, very trusting.

I am 100% sure that Zhenya is now driven by only one thing: she really wants to skate and she needs a coach.

In the conversation that I said at the beginning of our conversation, we came to a common conclusion: if a pandemic had not happened, which turned out to be a much more serious disaster than we all thought at first, we would never have discussed the topic we are discussing now.

After all, it was planned to spend the summer in a completely different way: calmly work in Toronto, prepare for the season and come together to Moscow in September for open skates.

I am sure that in this case the result of the first performances would have turned out to be completely different - not what the audience saw in Megasport.

Neither I nor Zhenya were definitely not striving for such an effect.

Actually, even in Moscow in training before the skating, Zhenya looked much better - I saw how she skated with my own eyes.

- Tatyana Tarasova, under whose supervision Medvedev studied at CSKA, also noted that two weeks ago, Zhenya was in perfect order.

What happened next, do you know?

- From what I know for certain, Zhenya is periodically worried about a chronic back injury, which happened not today or yesterday, but much earlier.

I think the current aggravation was due to too active work on rotations in the Biellmann position.

Zhenya came to my group at one time, already having a back problem, and from her stories I realized that Medvedeva had to fight with pain in the spine throughout the Olympic season.

When an exacerbation occurs, and in the case of chronic injuries this is inevitable, you have to take a break from training, perform many different procedures, and then start working on many things over again.

Plus, stress could have affected.

Training at a home skating rink is not at all the same as broadcasting a program in a large stadium in front of spectators, especially if the event is of increased importance for the skater.

For Medvedeva, open skates were very important, I know this for sure.

- Did you feel the mood with which she spoke about the new season, talking to you on the phone?

- Will there be a season, that is the question.

In the world now, everything is highly uncertain, and accordingly, this greatly depresses athletes emotionally.

When I work with those who stayed in Toronto, I try to do my best to keep the skaters confident that the season will happen.

That there will definitely be a junior world championship, then an adult.

That we must be ready for this, which means that we must continue training, do what we have always done in our previous life.

It is always easier for athletes in a group: they see that they are not alone with their problems, that there is a coach nearby, which means that there is someone to support you.

Keeping motivated when you are cut off from your daily routine is much more difficult.

That is why I have absolutely no right to argue how right Zhenya is doing now, and what will come of it in the future.

I am on her side and really want her to be healthy.

This is the most important thing now.

- Are you going to contact Eteri Tutberidze the way you previously contacted with Tatyana Tarasova and Elena Buyanova?

- It is logical that you asked about it.

For my part, I am open to any kind of cooperation.

As for the opposite side, it is better to address a similar question to Eteri and her colleagues.

It seems to me that such cooperation could turn out to be not only curious, but exciting.

- If the current coaching staff of Medvedeva expresses a desire to change the programs already set for the season, will it upset you?

- Not enough to suffer deeply about it.

It seems to me that my opinion on this matter should no longer concern anyone.

- And still?

- We didn't really see Zhenya's free program, which was staged by Shae-Lynn Bourne.

With the performance that happened at the test skates, I am afraid it was difficult to make an impression of the program.

In my opinion, this is an outstanding production, a masterpiece.

The process of work itself was unique: the idea of ​​the program and the music was proposed by Medvedeva herself, and Bourne somehow immediately felt her character very well, understood how to use and show the inner strength of an athlete correctly.

In a sense, that work of Zhenya with Shae-Lynn nullified all our frustration over an unsuccessful performance in the Russian championship (Medvedeva was forced to withdraw from the competition due to problems with boots.

): Zhenya returned from Krasnoyarsk immediately went to Los Angeles, where Bourne lives, to begin work on new programs.

I don't know if this experience will be continued, but I can say for sure that thanks to this experience, Zhenya has changed a lot, as a figure skater, has incredibly added in artistic terms.

By the way, absolutely stunning costumes are already ready for this program, so the spectacle, if properly performed, should be unforgettable.

I can say about myself: I would definitely like to see Zhenya in this program.