Alexandra Trusova: “For me, sports will always remain sports. You can showcase how beautifully you skate in shows. I’m just the kind of person who has always taken risks.”
Interview with Alexandra Trusova.
source: Okko Sport
Alexandra Trusova shared her impressions of the test skates.
Alexandra Trusova: Good impressions, I really love watching figure skating. Test skates are always the starting point; some are prepared, and some are not yet in top shape. Everything will be clearer at the competitions.
Do you have any regrets about watching the test skates from the stands?
Alexandra Trusova: No, I really enjoy watching live, it’s a completely different experience. And if I have the opportunity to attend competitions or test skates, I try to do it.
Which season’s test skates are your favorite?
Alexandra Trusova: Of course, the Olympic ones. And not just because everything worked out for me, but in general because these were very important skates; I prepared for them as if it were the Olympics. I was fully prepared, and all the elements were restored. I think all the athletes were working very hard as well.
Did you feel that this season’s test skates were weaker compared to previous ones?
Alexandra Trusova: Perhaps they decided to approach it a bit differently. It’s very difficult to maintain top shape from the beginning of the season to the end. Maybe they decided that it’s better not to perform at maximum yet and save it for the major competitions.
Who among the ice dancers did you like the most?
Alexandra Trusova: I’m not very knowledgeable about ice dance, honestly. But I do have favorites, of course, Sasha and Vanya (Stepanova and Bukin). I really love them; they skate wonderfully, beautifully, sensually.
I think they are great. I’m very happy for Sasha that she gave birth and came back very quickly; it’s tough, and I’m glad she succeeded. Of course, I’ll be rooting for them; they are in the first place.
Who do you think will be competing for the top 3 in the Russian Nationals this season?
Alexandra Trusova: Khudaiberdieva-Bazin, Shanaeva-Drozd, Havronina-Narizhny. Sasha and Vanya – no discussion needed. But everything can change; there’s still a long time until the Russian Nationals.
Who among the men impressed you the most?
Alexandra Trusova: In the short program, Mark (Kondratiuk), Zhenya (Semenenko), and Gleb (Lutfullin), and in the free skate – Mark, Zhenya, and Dima Aliev. Mark and Zhenya are in good shape; they both skated their programs well.
Were you present during the choreography of Alexander Samarin’s programs? Tell us about it.
Alexandra Trusova: Sasha often jokes. An interesting choice. I think he did everything more openly during the performances, and that’s what was so exciting. He’s more reserved in practice.
Who among the men can land five quads in one program in the near future?
Alexandra Trusova: There are many possibilities: Kondratiuk, Semenenko, Lutfullin, Gumenik. It’s whoever wants it more and is willing to work for it.
Maiia Khromykh and Sofia Akatieva went out for the short program after injuries. Did you have any injuries that affected your preparation for the season?
Alexandra Trusova: In the Olympic year, I had an injury. I missed three weeks; I simply didn’t skate at all to heal and get back in shape.
They told me to put on a cast, but I refused because I might not have had time to recover if there was a cast. I always think it’s important to fully heal and then start training again from scratch. It’s easier to recover that way.
Were you disappointed that you couldn’t go to the Grand Prix in Japan because of the injury?
Alexandra Trusova: Well, of course, I was. I really wanted to compete in all the competitions and perform at my best. But this was the only chance to compete at the Russian Nationals and then in the following competitions.
During this year’s test skates, there were only 4 attempts at the ultra-C element by the ladies, and you performed 5 in one program. What do you attribute this decline to?
Alexandra Trusova: Everyone has started to emphasize choreography, clean execution, and the program itself. Currently, these aspects are evaluated more favorably than jumps. Probably, everyone has adapted to the system. It’s the choice of each individual, absolutely, how they see it.
I’m just the kind of person who has always taken risks, and I will continue to do so. In my opinion, it’s not interesting to skate just as everyone can. Performing five quadruple jumps is very challenging.
For me, sports will always remain sports. You can showcase how beautifully you skate in shows.
What did you feel when you performed five quadruple jumps in the free program at the test skates?
Alexandra Trusova: I always perform better at the test skates than in competitions. I didn’t go there to do five quadruple jumps – I just wanted to showcase my program and skate well. There was no moment when I absolutely had to do five quadruple jumps.
It happened, and of course, I was very happy. I was pleased with the audience’s reaction, the standing ovation. It was all very gratifying, but I understood that it wasn’t my ultimate goal because I wanted to compete.
Do you believe that at 18, you can show the same level of technical difficulty as you did at 16?
Alexandra Trusova: Yes, of course. I competed in the Olympics when I was almost 18. I’m sure that, in principle, everything you showed at 16 or 15 can still be shown.
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