📃| ALEXANDRA TRUSOVA ~ INTERVIEW
On her comeback, Team Tutberidze, and the return of her ultra-C elements.
── Eteri Tutberidze
“Eteri Georgievna… She has always been someone I look up to, and that hasn’t changed. It’s just that now we can talk about more things.
That’s understandable, because when I was 13, I wouldn’t have understood a lot of what she says now, and I wouldn’t have understood why I needed that information. But now, well, it’s interesting to talk about these things… I keep saying that by the end of the season, I’ll be able to write a whole book about her.
As for trust in Eteri Georgievna, I’ve always had a very good relationship with her, and there was never a moment when that trust was somehow broken.
If you’re talking about the Olympics, then pretty much everything had been shaken for me at that point.
During that time, I also took part in her shows, and everyone treated me well. When the rink was built, they invited me to come and see it. Eteri Georgievna herself showed me around and explained where everything was. So it seems like there wasn’t really anything we needed to rebuild in our relationship. And we eventually came to the decision that we would continue into the upcoming seasons together.”
── Return Plans and Doubts
“I remember going to the rink. I had talked about returning and thought about it even when I was still pregnant. When I came to watch training sessions, I would say, ‘Well, I’ll come back.’
Everyone would just smile. Of course, nobody told me, ‘No, that’s impossible.’ but I think that’s what they were thinking. My belly was already huge by then.
Then, just two weeks after giving birth, I went out and did an interview. They had asked me to do it for a film. I said, ‘Please, no questions about my return.’
The woman looked at me and said, ‘Well, we know that’s impossible.’
Honestly, that really hurt me. A lot. I didn’t say anything to her, but I remember thinking. ‘Why?’
And when I told Eteri Georgievna about it, she also said, ‘Oh, come on. That’s strange. Why would she say something like that?’ ”
── Starting Work with the Plushenko Angels.
“After that, I continued my recovery with Plushenko’s Angels because I was preparing for his show.
Evgeni Viktorovich spent a lot of time with me and told me, ‘I made a comeback, too. Yes, it’s difficult. But you can do it if you focus. Overall, you’re doing well.’
Little by little, I started landing high triple jumps and the double Axel. Then we began working on the triple Axel with the harness.”
── First Steps Toward a Comeback
“I didn’t tell anyone about it, but I wanted to return right from the beginning. I just didn’t know how everything would work out after Misha was born, because I had very little time. And then there was the C-section, which left me unable to straighten up for a week.
As soon as I could straighten up, I went onto the ice.
It was the ninth day after giving birth when I first went skating. I skated for about 15–20 minutes.
I only started skating with any regularity around three months later.”
── Returning to Team Tutberidze
“I went to see Eteri Georgievna and told her my minimum and maximum goals, which we won’t reveal.
She smiled and said, ‘Well, let’s do it.’
There was no hesitation or doubt. She only asked me a couple of times about my schedule and my projects.
Sergei Viktorovich happened to be walking by, and Eteri Georgievna told him, ‘Sasha wants to come back.’
He said, “Well, let’s go!”
He didn’t have any questions at all. None.
I came whenever I could. When I came, we trained fully and did everything we could. It wasn’t as though I was doing everything on my own.
From the very beginning, we were focused on getting me back out there the following season and working on my programs.”
── Quad Lutz
“When I landed the Lutz again, I think I told Sergei Viktorovich first.
And he was like, ‘Seriously?’
I said, “Yes.”
Then, when they told Eteri Georgievna about it, she said: ‘Well, that can’t be true. It just can’t be.’
And when she saw it herself, of course, she was surprised. Everyone was surprised. I think I was the most surprised of all, because I certainly hadn’t planned on jumping quads while breastfeeding.
After that, I unexpectedly started being able to land the Lutz at any moment. It wasn’t particularly difficult for me.
Of course, at first, my success rate with the Lutz in shows wasn’t especially high, even though by that point I was already landing it very well in training.
But performing in front of an audience made me nervous, and little by little, by the final show, I attempted two Lutzes.”
── On the Performance of the Free Program
“Everyone says that you forget the pain of childbirth. Well, yes, that’s a fact. But I honestly don’t know how you forget the feeling you get after skating a free program. It’s absolutely insane.
I didn’t enjoy skating the free program. I still don’t particularly enjoy it. It’s gotten better, of course, and it looks better now, too, but in the beginning, it was really brutal.”
── Triple Axel and Quad Toeloop
“I regained the triple Axel and the quadruple toe loop.
Now the Axel has somehow disappeared, and I have no idea where it went. Well, it disappeared along with my breasts.
As for the toe loop, I landed it just once during a show in Astana, Kazakhstan.
And that was it. Once again, nobody believed me. I said, ‘I’m going out there now, and I’m going to land the toe loop.’
I knew I could do it, although I actually thought I might have to do a step-out.
It was just that there were so many people there, and everyone was cheering me on. I knew that, with all that adrenaline, I could pull it off. And when I landed it, everyone was surprised again. They were all in shock.
But I didn’t do it again after that. We needed to start working on the programs.
The next time I jumped the toe loop was after Japan. I understood that I needed a second quad because attempting two identical jumps is very disadvantageous.
Under the new rules, repeating the same jump is particularly disadvantageous, especially doing two Lutzes, because there’s a difference of one and a half points.
Why would I push myself so hard just to gain one and a half points? It’s easier to get the toe loop consistent, and that would already give me a strong enough jumping layout to compete at any competition.
So, the Lutz and the toe loop are definitely the goal now. That’s how it is.”
Embarrassing way to go out, so proud of what me and my team could do. It’s always eu man they got it. Happy I could play with bobby on his last tournament but all good things must come to an end. LAN is so fun I wish I could do it all again. Love you all, ggs see you next year.
At the end of the day the Europeans are just too good.
When I came to this tournament my goal was to make worlds so I can be proud that I left competitive at the highest level.
Even though that wasn’t the case, I’m proud of the way I played. And felt like I showed myself at least that I can still do it.
Sadly, it takes my parents flying across the word, my brother taking the coach spot. My teammates doing everything I need. And the BSC staff letting me get away with things I shouldn’t. Just to be able to play healthy and normal. I’m so thankful for everyone I’m surrounded by who let me for the first time in a few years actually feel healthy and normal while playing.
Even in defeat, I have so many fans and friends who left me up and make me feel good about myself. The fans in China were so nice and supported us the entire way.
Even though I lost, I’m proud of what I accomplished in my brawl career. I’ve done as well as anyone who has lived on my side of the earth, I’ve created a community and fanbase which somehow truly touches every spot on the earth. And I’ve created a life for myself I’ve never envisioned myself living.
For all of this, even in defeat today. I feel like a winner. Thank you everyone for supporting my journey.
Alexandra Trusova: “I realized that I needed a second type of quadruple jump because, under the new rules, doing two identical quads is not very beneficial. I’m trying to put together two quadruple jumps, and it worked today.”
https://t.co/9M1QZO6bJV
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photo: Evgeni Semenov / Sport24
#iceskate #iceskating #フィギュアスケート #figureskate #figureskating
The ISU has invited Alexandra Trusova and Evgeni Semenenko to the 🇨🇳 Grand Prix stage in Shenzhen.
This was announced by the Secretary General of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, Alexander Kogan.
Source: RIA.
📰| RANKINGS UPDATE
Alexandra Trusova tops the Challenger Series standings with 447.07 points earned across two events and climbs to 85th place in the ISU World Rankings for women’s singles following the Challenger event in Kazakhstan.
📢| Alexandra Trusova tops the reserve list for the ISU Grand Prix events!
The International Skating Union (ISU) has updated the official waiting lists for this season’s Grand Prix series. If any of the currently assigned skaters withdraw, Sasha will be the first eligible to be assigned to an event.
via ISU