Tamara Moskvina: “Quad throws and twists have been performed for a long time. However, due to the ISU rules, which do not provide additional bonus points for such elements, skaters have stopped performing them.”

Interview with Tamara Moskvina.

source: MatchTV dd. 28th August 2023 by Sergei Astakhov

Recently Tamara Moskvina has attended the presentation of a hockey club as a honorary guest.

When Dmitri Guberniev (journalist – ed.) invited you on stage, was it unexpected for you?

Tamara Moskvina: Yes, it was a complete impromptu moment. It’s nice that such a well-known journalist knows figure skating and pays tribute to some coaches.

It seemed like you were a bit surprised when he called you the queen.

Tamara Moskvina: Yes, because queens are usually of a certain age, and I’m still young! Just kidding, of course. We have many good coaches, specialists, and figure skaters. I prefer to stay behind the scenes.

How do you feel about Aleksandr Galliamov playing for the football team? How risky is it for a figure skater to engage in other sports besides their main one?

Tamara Moskvina: Generally, it is a risk to engage in sports that carry a high risk of injury. But I know that Aleksandr has a level head on his shoulders and common sense. Therefore, he will likely pursue his hobby only to the extent that it doesn’t interfere with his main pursuit, in which he is a specialist and a role model for the public.

You mentioned that many people attend football games, but the stadiums are half-empty, while in figure skating, arenas are full.

Tamara Moskvina: Stadiums have very large stands, so it’s easier to fill them for figure skating. This is our task: to prepare programs that attract the audience.

Five years ago, an ice rink was installed at the “Gazprom Arena,” and the SKA hockey club played there to sold-out crowds. If you were to organize exhibitions for figure skaters there, could you realistically expect 60-70 thousand people?

Tamara Moskvina: Please reach out to those responsible for organizing events at the stadium and propose this idea. We would be happy to participate.

Last season, Boikova/Kozlovskii performed a quad throw. Will the ultra-c elements become common in pair skating, and are any of your current students learning these elements?

Tamara Moskvina: Elements of this kind, such as quad throws and quad twists, have been performed for a long time, even in competitions. However, due to the rules of the International Skating Union, which do not provide additional bonus points for executing such elements, skaters have stopped performing these elements both in training and in competitions.

Nevertheless, life moves forward, athletes search for ways to win and stand out. Therefore, the performance of this element by Dima and Alexandra and other athletes who attempt difficult elements is commendable. As a coach, I always have to ensure that adding complexity to programs is not hazardous in terms of injuries.

Is there a limit in figure skating in terms of the development of elements because each year the programs become more complex?

Tamara Moskvina: There is a limit. Because our sport is not only a technical one with complex elements but also one that involves an artistic side. The balance between art and sporting elements tends to lean more towards the technical aspects, which should still be presented artistically.

Many years ago, no one thought that men would perform 5-6 quad jumps. Now, more and more skaters are doing them. This will also happen in other disciplines of figure skating, such as pairs. In ice dance, skaters are performing several twizzles, even though it was considered a difficult element in the past. Life is constantly changing, and athletes are always searching for ways to win and keep the audience’s interest in our sport.

Are all your students ready for the season?

Tamara Moskvina: People are preparing for the season, for test skates for specialist judges. New programs, new elements.

Tell us about Alexander Smirnov’s role in Moskvina’s club.

Tamara Moskvina: Alexander Smirnov, like other coaches in our sports club, contributes to the training of figure skaters. In pair skating, we have the strongest pairs in Russia among seniors, and we are actively working with junior pairs who are taking their first steps. We hope that under the guidance of the coach, they will quickly progress in their development.

There are also single skaters in our club: Petr Gummenik, Nikolai Ugozhaev, Andrei Kutovoy – these are athletes who are among the strongest single skaters among seniors and juniors. We expect them to continue developing.

How do you motivate athletes and coaches to continue competing in the current situation in world figure skating and in sports in general? How do you support them to ensure they don’t give up and end their careers?

Tamara Moskvina: Why do you think they are giving up and ending their careers? Nobody is doing that.

Some may feel sad, but not those whose main and proper goals are to represent their country, city, and club in competitions, to entertain and amaze the audience. In our club, there is no room for doubts and regrets. Competitions in any city in Russia are the same as in any city in the world.

The figure skaters are focused on delivering their programs perfectly in any competition and city. Tournaments are held for the spectators, and it doesn’t matter which country those spectators are from or what language they speak. Performing for the spectators in our country is even more honorable.

The entire country has been concerned about Kamila Valieva for the past two years. Hearings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport will begin in a month. How will this all end? Will we get the team gold?

Tamara Moskvina: Competent individuals from the ISU, IOC, and hired lawyers are handling the resolution of this matter. I’m not an expert; I’m awaiting the decisions of these organizations. We’ll learn the verdict and move forward. These organizations must resolve everything fairly, so why should we suspect them of unfairness? Although anything can happen in life, so we await the verdict.

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